Princess Maker 2 Regeneration REVIEW
Princess Maker 2 Regeneration is another remaster of Takami Akai’s beloved 30-year-old simulator.
The game is similar to the adventure book “choose for yourself”, where the story unfolds depending on how you raise your child. It’s incredible how much this game is ahead of its time: more than 70 possible endings ensure that each playthrough is unique and very different from the others.
Who knew that parenting could be such an exciting activity? If you’ve never played Princess Maker games before, let me tell you. The Princess Maker series is a mix of management simulator and dating simulation games in which you play as a father raising his daughter between the ages of 10 and 18. You will make choices that will shape her personality, skills, and future, requiring constant attention to her status in order to lead her to the best life possible.
Despite the fact that the user interface and graphics can sometimes look outdated, even in HD, don’t be fooled — this is one of the best and most underrated simulator management games. It is easy to master, but it has its own difficulty levels. Imagine if George R. R. Martin would create an adventure book “choose for yourself” not only because of the deep and intricate fantasy narrative, but also because of its very mature themes.
The story begins with the kingdom being besieged by an army of demons led by Lucifer, the prince of Darkness, sent by the Deities to punish the medieval city for its sins. You, a wandering swordsman, defeat Lucifer in a fierce battle, and as a reward for your good deeds, the king offers you a house and an annual salary of 500 gold.
But one fateful night, everything changes. The warrior hears a mysterious voice and discovers a girl encased in a shining ball of light descending from heaven. It turns out that she is under the protection of a deity who begs you to raise her.
This is how the story begins about the journey of a father and daughter, in which the fate of mankind is decided. The gameplay revolves around a calendar system in which you raise your daughter between the ages of 10 and 18. Every month, you determine what she will do in her daily life — study, work or a break. Each choice affects her stats, including the birthday you choose. It’s best to keep a pen and paper handy or use a notepad to plan your schedule and make frequent saves.
Managing all these details and noticing them is very useful, because it really looks like how to lead your daughter to a bright future and make difficult decisions along the way. It’s almost like a parent simulator, with lots of side quests that add depth and replayability. One moment you could see her working in a bar, the next she was teaching a student or even going on an adventure to destroy demons. The game offers complex options that radically change its path, leading to a variety of endings — a hallmark of the series that makes blind passes so exciting.
One of the significant problems I encounter with this game is that its outdated design manifests itself in a cluttered user interface, a lack of quality features for life, and there really aren’t enough add-ons that would make it attractive to buy instead of the cheaper updated version of Princess Kettle 2 refined.
Overall, this is a really addictive game that I would recommend to beginners. However, for fans of the series who have already played it, it is more difficult to justify buying this version, since in fact there are no new additional features or worthy improvements other than an improved translation. I recommend regeneration to beginners because it is the most affordable.
The English localization has undergone significant improvements and now accurately reflects the original Japanese text, which certainly deserves applause. This is a big plus for die-hard fans who want to reproduce the original vision of the game as accurately as possible.
Unsurprisingly, the Princess Maker franchise is often called an underrated gem. It’s one of the most addictive games I’ve ever played, with the perfect balance between simplicity and complexity. You are sincerely attached to your daughter, striving to provide her with the best life, knowing that every decision you make has a fundamental impact on her future. Although the game may seem outdated in some ways, especially visually, its gameplay is really ahead of its time.
This game is a great starting point for beginners who want to get to know this underrated series. However, for existing fans who already own the game, it may not offer enough new content to justify another purchase. Although improvements are noticeable, such as improved translations and improved visuals, there are not enough new endings or quests that could give more depth. However, if you are an avid fan, the improvements may still be worth picking up.
