Battle Princess Madelyn | Xbox One Review

December 31, 2018 Scott Clark

One of my favorite games from the Super Nintendo was Super Ghouls and Ghosts. The challenge was intense, the music was great, and the setting was incredibly memorable. Causal Bit Games clearly are fans of the game as well, as their latest title Battle Princess Madelyn feels like an homage to the classic. While the similarities and mechanical updates are very welcome, some of the gameplay is even more frustrating than that original game. There’s a lot to love here for fans of nostalgia, but buyers should tread carefully before purchasing.

Chasing Arthur

The first thing you’ll notice about Battle Princess Madelyn is just how much it looks and feels like Super Ghouls and Ghosts. Everything from the an running, climbing, jumping, and hurling weapons feels directly lifted from the Capcom title. Admittedly, this is what drew me to the game off the bat. The biggest difference between this title, however, is the primary character. As shown in the game’s Kickstarter campaign, Madelyn is based on the real-life daughter of the developer. She loved watching her father play Ghouls and Ghosts and told him she wanted a game with a female protagonist. It’s hard not to fall in love with the concept behind this father making his adorable daughter’s dream a reality.

In the game, Princess Madelyn is a young knight in training. Towards the beginning, she tragically loses her pet dog, Fritzy, to an evil wizard. She sets out on her quest to avenge her best friend and save the realm from tragedy. The story is told in very familiar fashion. A modern-day grandfather reads a story to his sick granddaughter after convincing her to put down her tablet. I half expected an “As you wish” to grace the dialogue, if you catch my meaning. The setup is fantastic and leads right into some very nostalgic gameplay.

Familiar…But Different

Although the look and feel of Battle Princess Madelyn is very recognizable, there are some notable nuances that set it apart. The jumping, for instance, is much more forgiving than the title it emulates. Madelyn can actually change direction in mid-air, which is very much welcome. No longer are you forced to commit to the direction you jumped, and it’s very freeing. Another significant difference is the style of gameplay. Instead of merely scrolling from left to right and fighting bosses, this acts a bit more like a Metroidvania. Madelyn will need to retrace her steps after acquiring new items, find secret passageways, and navigate dungeons. It’s a very clever twist on the formula.

The game is also a bit more forgiving in terms of taking damage. True to form, Madelyn loses her armor if she’s hit. Instead of leaving her in her underwear, however, she’s left with just a nightie. Thankfully, the second hit won’t necessarily end your turn. As Madelyn defeats enemies, she fills a meter that allows her to respawn nearby. The checkpoints are much more frequent than once per level, making the platforming completely doable.

Which Way Do I Go?

Where Madelyn sticks to its retro gaming roots lies in its difficulty. Successfully making it through each level requires a lot of trial and error, much like the games of yesteryear. You must memorize enemy patterns and have a great deal of patience. Be prepared to repeat areas quire a bit until you learn how to get just a bit further until perishing again.

My only real complaint with Battle Princess Madelyn is the constant lack of direction. I often found myself confused as to where to go next. On top of that, there’s very little information given in-game as to how to upgrade weapons and armor. Because of this, I questioned if I were playing the game correctly in between levels.

Battle Princess Madelyn Final Verdict

Battle Princess Madelyn is a game I wanted to love, but wound up feeling feeling indifferent instead. The dungeons required almost as much patience as Super Ghouls and Ghosts (in a good way). It definitely scratches the retro itch, but I wish it introduced its mechanics a bit better. My fear is that many will be turned off by the lack of mechanical guidance we’ve grown accustomed to in modern games. Still, retro fans will find a lot to enjoy here. There’s been a lot of love thrown into this one, particularly with the art style and music. Sadly, I found myself more excited to go back to my SNES Classic than I did pushing forward with this one.

This review is based on an Xbox One copy of the game provided by Hound Picked Games and is also available on PS4, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation Vita, and Nintendo Wii U.