Princess Crown
A Japanese action RPG that shaped Kamitani's career.
Princess Crown is a 1997 action role-playing game for the Sega Saturn, later ported to the PlayStation Portable in 2007. It was developed by Atlus and published by Sega in Japan for the Saturn version. The game uses a two-dimensional side-scrolling viewpoint and a beat 'em up-style combat system that incorporates role-playing mechanics. The story takes place in the fantasy kingdom of Valendia, where the player controls Queen Gradriel. She wants to personally help her people, which leads her into a mission to stop the demon lord Lalva from being resurrected. After finishing Gradriel’s story, players unlock scenarios for other characters, though the unlock conditions vary between the Saturn and PSP versions. Completing all story routes reveals the true ending.
Development began in 1995 at an unnamed company, with Capcom veteran George Kamitani serving as director. When that company went bankrupt the following year, the development team moved to Atlus’s Osaka studio to finish the game. It was originally planned as a life simulation game similar to Princess Maker 2, but was redesigned as an action role-playing game to compete with similar titles on the PlayStation. Although it sold poorly, Princess Crown received positive reviews and was later praised for its art design. The game influenced Kamitani’s career, leading him to found Vanillaware and create the spiritual successor Odin Sphere. A planned Dreamcast sequel was canceled, but Vanillaware later revived the concept as Dragon’s Crown.
In gameplay, Princess Crown is a two-dimensional side-scrolling action role-playing game where the player controls four different characters across separate scenarios. The game world uses linear paths that connect towns and dungeons. In towns, characters can buy items with gold earned from battles. Seeds are among the items available; they can be planted to grow ingredients that restore health. Ingredients can also be cooked into meals that provide a larger health boost. Combat uses a beat 'em up-style system, divided into normal battles triggered by random encounters on roads and in dungeons, and boss battles tied to story events. Most normal battles involve a single enemy, but sometimes multiple enemies appear. The player attacks with one button, creating combos based on the number of presses and other actions like jumping or dodging. Each character has a main w
- Developer
- Atlus
- Release
- 1997 (Sega Saturn), 2007 (PlayStation Portable)
- Publisher
- Sega (Saturn), Atlus (PSP)
Lore & Background
Princess Crown began development in 1995 at an unnamed company, with Capcom veteran George Kamitani as director. The game was originally envisioned as a life simulation game similar to Princess Maker 2, but was redesigned as an action role-playing game after Sega asked if it was a lengthy RPG, a genre they wanted for the Saturn to compete with the PlayStation. The unnamed company went bankrupt the following year, and the team was absorbed into Atlus' Osaka studio to complete development. The music was composed by the Atlus Sound Team, with Toshikazu Tanaka also credited as a composer.
Reader's Guide
Princess Crown was a commercial failure but received positive reviews and was later lauded for its art design. Its significance lies in its influence on George Kamitani's career, leading to the founding of his company Vanillaware and the development of the spiritual successor Odin Sphere. A planned Dreamcast sequel was cancelled, but later revived by Vanillaware as Dragon's Crown. The game's side-scrolling 2D graphics were chosen due to the Saturn's hardware limitations, and its sprite animations were created using what was dubbed the 'Character Morphing System'. The game's development period was described by Kamitani as 'chaos', and he was surprised it was completed.
Did You Know?
- Princess Crown was originally planned as a life simulation game before being redesigned as an action RPG.
- The PSP port was released in 2007, not 2005.
- Unlock conditions for other characters differ between the Saturn and PSP versions.
- The working title 'Book of Sorcery' is a fan myth and not officially documented.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Princess Crown?
Princess Crown is a Japan-exclusive action RPG first released for the Sega Saturn in 1997, with a later port arriving on the PlayStation Portable in 2005. It was developed by Atlus and published by Sega, and it presents its world through a fixed two-dimensional side-scrolling perspective.
Who do you play as in Princess Crown?
You take on the role of Queen Gradriel De Valendia, the ruler of the fantasy kingdom of Valendia. Her wish to personally aid her citizens drives her into a quest to prevent the demon lord Lalva from being resurrected.
What kind of combat system does Princess Crown use?
The game blends beat 'em up-style brawling with traditional role-playing mechanics, all seen from a fixed side-scrolling angle. This hybrid lets you fight enemies in real time while still managing RPG-style character progression.
Why is Princess Crown considered important in gaming history?
The title is frequently cited as a formative work in director George Kamitani's career, shaping his approach to game design in later projects. It also stands out as an early Saturn-era example of merging side-scrolling action combat with RPG systems.
Is Princess Crown available outside Japan?
No, both the original Sega Saturn release and the 2005 PSP port were published exclusively in Japan by Atlus and Sega. There has been no official English-language or international release of the game.
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