Home

 › 

Articles

 › 

Prinny 2: Dawn of Operation Panties, Dood! Review for PlayStation Portable (PSP)

Prinny 2: Dawn of Operation Panties, Dood! Review for PlayStation Portable (PSP)

Second Verse, Same as the First

Last year’s Prinny: Can I Really Be the Hero? was a fun title that took the platforming genre to its most hardcore extreme. The premise was simple: you have 1,000 Prinnies, and each one can be killed after being touched just twice (Prinnies are highly volatile creatures). Once all your Prinnies died, you had to start from the beginning. And no, not the beginning of the level. The beginning of the game. 1,000 lives sounds like a lot initially, but when each Prinny can be killed by simply touching an enemy, your cache of Prinny reserves dwindled fast. And when you are facing Prinny supplies of less than 100 when you aren’t even halfway through the game, the game’s real challenge became palpable.

Prinny 2: Dawn of Operation Panties, Dood! Screenshot

As insane as it sounds, fans really responded to the challenge, it seems, and Prinny is back for another platforming adventure in Prinny 2: Dawn of Operation Panties, Dood!. So what has changed for this entry? Well, not much, really. You still have 1,000 Prinnies to start off with, there are still plenty of ridiculous platforming stages to overcome, and you will still probably end up failing miserably on your first attempt. Now that Prinny has come into its own as a series and not just a one-off Disgaea spin-off, the series is earning its reputation as a game only for the ultra-masochistic. If you like sinking ten hours into a game just to have to restart when you fail miserably right before the final boss’ door, then Prinny 2 is for you.

If you can stand the difficulty, Prinny 2 can be a lot of fun. As the title implies, the story is paper-thin and involves the Prinnies finding themselves under the wrath of Miss Etna (big surprise there!) who has lost her panties. Of course, she is convinced they have been stolen (and a nefarious note from a “Phantom Thief” backs up her ravings), and it is up to the Prinnies to find the stolen panties and bring them back to Etna. The game features cameos by the entire cast of Disgaea, and there are plenty of memorable moments that Disgaea fans will absolutely love. The game features the same irreverent humor that its parent series has become famous for, and the dialogue is certainly one of the game’s most memorable facets.

Prinny 2: Dawn of Operation Panties, Dood! Screenshot

Unfortunately, as much as I found the humor in the game to be amusing, the gameplay was less so. At first, Prinny 2 seems like a straightforward platforming affair, with Prinny jumping across pits and slashing enemies with his sword. However, the game doesn’t control all that well, and some of the mechanics actually work against you and cause some “cheap”-feeling deaths, which can be extra maddening considering life is so precious in Prinny 2. For example, the jumping mechanic, which is necessary not only for crossing ledges, but also for executing stun attacks and hitting switches, has a static movement arc, and once you hit the button, you can’t change your direction in mid-air. This may not sound like a big deal, but it actually hampers the game considerably, as you have to nail the jump perfectly from a distance while factoring in enemies both near and far. And if one pops up while you are jumping, that’s just your bad luck, and you’ll lose a Prinny. Although the jumping is the most egregious of these control issues, I found spinning and using jump-based attacks to also be uneven in the game, which led to more Prinny deaths than I care to admit to.

Prinny 2: Dawn of Operation Panties, Dood! Screenshot

Though the control leaves something to be desired, eventually you’ll get to the point where you’ll be able to memorize the levels and hit the buttons in sequence. Strategically, this game is a lot like an advanced shoot-em-up title (think Ikaruga) and memorizing traps and enemy locations the first time and then going through and actually aiming to beat the game is the best way to get through it. It sounds like a lot of work, and trust me it is, but if your goal is to beat the game, it’s the best way to go.

And beating the game is definitely worth all the effort, as a new mode will unlock a new Asagi Wars mode. This mode allows you to play through the game again as Asagi, who wields a gun instead of a sword. The gun changes the way you play considerably, as it is a ranged weapon, and it definitely makes the gameplay worth going through again. The bosses also change (in a humorous way–though I’m not giving anything away) so your patience with the difficulty of the original mode will definitely be rewarded with Asagi Wars mode.

Prinny 2: Dawn of Operation Panties, Dood! Screenshot

Visuals in Prinny 2 are fairly basic and follow the example set by the first game. Characters are all sprite-based and backgrounds are fairly simple, but in the context of the game, the simple-yet-cute approach to the visuals works well. The sound in the game is also fairly good with some highly entertaining voiceover performances by the regular Disgaea cast. The background music is a little bit on the repetitive side, but I might be a little jaded considering I had to repeat several levels so many times that even the sound of the background music was pressing my buttons.

Prinny 2: Dawn of Operation Panties, Dood! is a game that should only be attempted by the bravest and most patient of gamers. The 1,000 Prinny limit already makes for a challenging experience, but the at-times wonky controls bring this title to a whole new level of frustrating. Still, if you can make it past these issues, and don’t mind a little pattern memorization, Prinny 2 can be a rewarding experience, especially if you are a Disgaea fan. If not, you probably won’t get all of the jokes, but come on, panty stealing is hilarious in any circumstance.

RATING OUT OF 5 RATING DESCRIPTION 3.8 Graphics
Cutesy sprite-based graphics look great stylistically, even if they aren’t the best technically. 3.1 Control
Basic platforming controls work well at first, but inconsistent attack controls and static jumping become problematic in higher levels. 3.8 Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
Stage music is simple but cute. Voiceovers are top-notch. 3.4 Play Value
Only attempt this game if you are looking for a challenge, otherwise you are unlikely to finish. If you can get past the main story mode, there is a fun re-play mode, but it will likely go unnoticed due to the game’s punishing difficulty. 3.5 Overall Rating – Good
Not an average. See Rating legend below for a final score breakdown.

Review Rating Legend
0.1 – 1.9 = Avoid 2.5 – 2.9 = Average 3.5 – 3.9 = Good 4.5 – 4.9 = Must Buy
2.0 – 2.4 = Poor 3.0 – 3.4 = Fair 4.0 – 4.4 = Great 5.0 = The Best

Game Features:

  • Intense side-scrolling action!
  • Asagi Wars: after finishing the main game, another whole new game awaits! Change from a Prinny to Asagi, and your weapon changes from a knife to a gun.
  • Time Lapse: depending on the time of day, the stage structure and enemies will change making for a new challenge every time you play!
  • 2x the volume! Double the content of Prinny 1!
  • Battle through castles, dungeons, forests, deserts, and even underwater!
  • Secrets galore! Unlock hidden characters, enemies, bosses, and items!

  • To top