I had low hopes for this game when I purchased it from the PlayStation Network due to most of the reviews that I had seen. I played the original Fat Princess game as a demo on PS 3 and saw that this game was on sale for ten dollars so I figured why not? I was very happy with this decision. This game can be played without anyone else, but I do recommend finding a friend to play it with or several friends (you can play with up to 3). This game is a hack and slash and does not require great skill to play which makes it fun for everyone although some of the game play is not recommend for kids. Not everything in this game is great, so I will break this game down to show what I did and didn't enjoy. The subjects that I feel are relevant to discuss are Replay value, Trophy collecting, Fun Factor, Game Play and Controls, Graphics, and Story.
The story does pick up from the last game but you don't need to of play the first game to understand the story. Basically an evil queen is causing havoc in Great Bitten (Yes this game is chalk full of puns) and your sent to stop her and save a princess or two. If your into goofy puns, mentions from movies, and references from the internet that you will love the adventure. At points the dialogue is less the funny or seems to push its weaker jokes it, overall held together. There are some points you can see whats coming before it happens and others (The very last scene after completing the game) where you question what even just happened, but overall its an easy fun story which it's humor and light is a refreshing break from all the intense games that are being released.
The Graphics of this game aren't your triple A type graphics but they don't need to be. I do not need to see the shine on the cherry a top of a cake to understand what it is and I don't need to see every single hair in his beard to get that its a beard. The graphic quality is exactly where I want it to be and I wouldn't change anything about that aspect. However I find some added graphics to the game they could have just left out, such as blood splattering everywhere and limbs flying off. If this game was cleaned up there and some of the profanity removed this game could have been for everyone even kids. Overall the graphics had it almost perfect and I usually find way more holes to poke at in games when it comes to that.
The game play and controls is where I think a lot of people lose faith in this game. I need anyone about to play this game to understand that this game is an easy hack and slash. Don't expect hard combos with complex gear it is mashing buttons and matching your gear to what foes are in front of you. That being said it has that old school feel where what you had to do wasn't the hard part but getting through it is. I admit playing the game alone was pretty boring at points but playing with one or more players makes the dull times quicker and more enjoyable. There is some issues with it not being clear when you hit the enemy or when they hit you but I found it didn't happen very often. Expect to die unexpectedly it is so easy to get caught up in just hacking and slashing then your health bar. There is a special feature in the game called the "awesome sauce meter" (again trying to push those weak jokes) that makes you move faster and hit harder (your health bar and damage taken I believe stays the same but I could be wrong) I really didn't use it unless it was a boss. I feel it could have been something better or just removed all together but doesn't really affect the game play I find. The control of your character is one of the easiest due to the fact you only have two attack button, lock on button, and analog stick to play. Beginner to Pro player could play this together and have a good time and that in its self is a breathe of fresh air to the steep learning curve most games have now a days. Over the game play and controls are dull but fun, easy, and most important FOR EVERYONE! Great game to break in your significant other to games with you.
I rate the fun factor on this game very high. As I said before this game is for everyone (outside of some obvious adult content). It's easy for more then one person to jump into this game with you or find someone online. A little dull alone but the story will hold up and even give you a laugh once in awhile. There is other modes and harder difficulties to try inside the game as well. Overall I had a blast with this game.
Trophy collecting and Replay value I will do together because after your first round through story mode you pretty much have to replay the game to get the rest of the trophies. If you can handle playing it many times over then the trophies are not out of reach and should be very obtainable. Although you change the difficulty or try a different mode to get some of the trophies a different way you basically have to sit through the story over and over (you can't just skip a cut scene but you can spam X to get through it quicker). The story will be good to go through the first couple times and carries some replay value to show new people but going through to get all the trophies may get annoying.
Like I said before I got the game for ten dollars (Canadian) on sale and I believe it is well worth the ten bucks. At the time I'm writing this review it is 19.99 (Canadian) on PlayStation Network. If you want some hack, slash, and fun with some friends (or internet randys) then it is still well worth the twenty bucks. So get out there eat some cake and hit something!