Princess Crown
Princess Crown is a groundbreaking action RPG developed and published by Atlus for the Sega Saturn. Released in 1997, the game follows the journey of Princess Gradriel as she ventures to save her kingdom from a mysterious curse. Renowned for its beautiful hand-drawn 2D animation, innovative side-scrolling combat system, and multiple playable characters with interconnected stories, it established new standards for visual presentation in video games.
Game Controls
About This Retro Game
Directed by George Kamitani, Princess Crown showcased revolutionary 2D sprite work that pushed the Sega Saturn's capabilities to their limits. The game featured meticulously hand-animated characters with detailed facial expressions and fluid combat animations that were unprecedented for its time, creating a living storybook aesthetic.
The combat system blended traditional RPG elements with dynamic side-scrolling action, featuring a unique command system where players could execute special attacks, use items, and cast spells in real-time. Each of the four playable characters - Princess Gradriel, the knight Edward, the witch Proserpina, and the pirate Portgus - offered completely different gameplay styles and story perspectives.
Princess Crown introduced innovative gameplay mechanics including a time-based quest system where events occurred at specific times of day, and a cooking/alchemy system that allowed players to create powerful items. The game's non-linear structure encouraged exploration and multiple playthroughs to experience all story branches.
Despite its limited commercial success, Princess Crown gained cult classic status and directly influenced the development of later acclaimed titles like Odin Sphere and Dragon's Crown. It remains one of the most visually impressive 2D games ever created and a landmark achievement in the action RPG genre.
Recommended Based on Your History
Related Retro Games
The radical sequel to The Legend of Zelda transforms the formula with side-scrolling combat, RPG-style leveling, and magic spells. Link ventures through Hyrule to awaken Princess Zelda from an eternal sleep while preventing Ganon's resurrection.
Legacy of the Wizard is an action RPG developed by Nihon Falcom and published by Namco for the NES. Players control four family members with unique abilities to explore a vast dungeon and defeat the dragon Keela. Known for its nonlinear gameplay and challenging difficulty.
An action-RPG based on Greek mythology where players control Orpheus on a quest to rescue his beloved Eurydice from Hades, battling creatures from ancient legends.
Embark on an epic quest as warrior princess Faria to save your kingdom from evil forces. This innovative action-RPG combines real-time combat with deep inventory management and dungeon crawling across eight vast regions.
Faxanadu is a side-scrolling action RPG set in the fantasy world of Xanadu. As an elf returning to a dying tree, players explore a vast kingdom, battle monsters, upgrade equipment, and uncover secrets to restore life to the World Tree.
An isometric action-adventure game following treasure hunter Nigel as he searches for the legendary treasures of King Nole. Features platforming challenges, puzzle-solving, and real-time combat in a vibrant fantasy world. Notable for its innovative 3D-like perspective on 16-bit hardware.