Princess of the Water Lilies is a bit of a deceptive game. It is described as a puzzle-platformer and seems to have cozy and casual vibes, at least at first. That does not last long, however, and the game quickly reveals itself to be a brutally intense experience and one that is requiring patience.
To be honest, the shift is rather jarring, and throws you for a loop. The game starts out so sweet with a story about a cat rescued by frogs and cared for in their home. The story is told without text and is extremely easy to follow, and the hand-drawn art of the world is amazing, and you think you are in for a wholesome time.
But after just a few moments, you are taking on difficult bosses that can overwhelm you in seconds if you are not careful. Princess of the Water Lilies sets the mood by changing the music to one that is atmospheric and builds tension, and the platforming becomes much more challenging. Checkpoints are available but are too spaced out and enemies and difficult stages can prove frustrating.
If you were able to move at different speeds, then Princess of the Water Lilies would be a lot more manageable, but the attacks from enemies come very fast and even a small interaction can send you back a ways. Deaths will add up fast and you will rage quit more than once due to this frustration, but it does manage to be worth it. Yes, the game billed itself as a casual puzzle platformer, but turned into Mario meets Ninja Gaiden, but there is charm here,
There is a good story, and the platforming sections may be difficult but are still well thought out overall, and the game can get pretty deep as well. There is a real emotional current to how you interact with the other characters and the enemies and it will make you feel something after getting a victory. You do not go into the story expecting something like this, but become glad when you encounter it.
One thing that Princess of the Water Lilies does extremely well is introduce new elements in each stage. The gameplay never ends up feeling repetitive and there is always just enough variety to keep you wanting to try again to see more of it. The art style and music lend themselves extremely well here, giving the feel of a playable Studio Ghibli film, mixed with a classic action adventure game. The best way to explain it is that Princess of the Water Lilies feels like a good mix of old and new, while never being condescending to the player or feeling like nostalgia-bait.
The lack of dialogue and text, mentioned above, works to the game’s benefit in a great way. Because the story is told through animations and movement, you feel a lot more involved and thus have more of a connection when fighting the bosses and seeing the aftermath. It is something that I would like to see more of in gaming.
Overall, Princess of the Water Lilies is not what I expected at all, but I am not upset about that. I was expecting a puzzle-platforming with a nice atmosphere and got a deep challenge in terms of gameplay, and a story that really connected. It definitely stood out more than many other indie games this year, and is a title I can see myself coming back to more than once. Recommended, but be aware of what it is.
Disclaimer: A review key was provided
