Need a delightful game for “spoopy” season? Sure, we have your usual candidates like a Resident Evil game or The Evil Within, but why not try a visual novel that will mess with your head and send chills up your spine? Web-comic artist, Abby Howard, illustrated all the images in Slay the Princess. I had the pleasure of meeting her at PAX East 2023. Slay the Princess made it to the PAX Rising Showcase, and boy did it make a lasting impression!
- Title: Slay the Princess
- Developer: Black Tabby Games
- Publisher: Black Tabby Games
- Release Date: October 23rd, 2023
- Available on: Mac/PC
- Reviewed on: Steam Deck
**AUTHOR’S NOTE: This is a spoiler-free review.
SYNOPSIS
Slay the Princess turns one of the most well-known tropes onto its head–instead of saving a princess in need, a Narrator instructs you to…kill one. The game opens with you and this faceless Narrator who guides you to a cottage where a princess is chained in the basement. Along with the Voice of the Hero, you must decide what to do…each step of the way. The Narrator explains that this princess, the Princess, should she escape, would bring about the end of the world.
Quite the predicament.
The story of Slay the Princess branches off significantly after that, and it all depends on you. Do you pick up the dagger or venture to the basement unarmed? Do you intend to trick the princess into a false sense of security, follow the Narrator blindly, or release her instead?
Whether you slay the princess or choose to defy the Narrator, this story will hurtle you through wild bends and turns, twisting the plot into ways you could never imagine.
ANALYSIS
Gameplay
Slay the Princess is a psychological horror visual novel, so gameplay is simple and lets you focus on its plot. With each frame, you are given several options–more than your run-of-the-mill visual novel, mind you. Many are in the form of questions or statements from your character to gather clues in order to figure out what’s going on, and others are direct actions.
The game allows you click through dialogue quickly on replays, and you can also load your history to read anything you missed.
Another thing that makes Slay the Princess stand out from other visual novels is that your choices really do matter. Some games provide the illusion of choice and only provide minor variations in ending. No, you are handsomely rewarded with each different path you take.
Visuals and Music
The art style is the bread and butter of Slay the Princess. Everything is hand-drawn, as if you are flipping through a black-and-white comic book that’s come to life. Abby Howard shines with her work, and as you explore the various endings, you truly see the range she has!
Brandon Boone is the composer, and the tracks weave their way synergistically with Abby’s art. Fun fact, when you complete a full play-through (this includes hitting several loops in the story), you are gifted with a playlist unique to you based on the paths you took!
FINAL SCORE:
Slay the Princess is an impressive game that is a shining example of how video games are art. The twist in premise where you are instructed to kill a princess–going against every instinct you have–by a someone you aren’t even sure you can trust is refreshing, and the hand-illustration is a sight for sore eyes.
Slay the Princess will tickle all your twisted horror fancies. It is a game that will be almost impossible to put down, and you will be mesmerized by the illustrations, leaving you thirsty to play more. Can you piece together the puzzle behind this Princess? Who is she? More importantly, who are you?
The Boss Rush team (including myself) met with Abby Howard and Tony Howard-Arias in a Spotlight interview. If I piqued your interest, give it a listen!
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Featured Image: Black Tabby Games via Steam
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