Deception IV: The Nightmare Princess

 PlayStation 4
User Score
7.1

Mixed or average reviews- based on 37 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 37
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 37
  3. Negative: 8 out of 37
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  1. SIPPIO
    Jul 15, 2015
    10
    Helping the undecided DECIDE..

    --I've been going strong for 24 hours. --if you missed Tecmo's deception on PS1 back in late 90's then this game might rub people the wrong way at 1st.. With that being said,,,here's my simple breakdown.. ---Tutorial is a must!! -Tutorial 2.0~~ this game is simple in theory, but knowing the controls & the trap workings isn't difficult, BUT it's not    Helping the undecided DECIDE..

    --I've been going strong for 24 hours.

    --if you missed Tecmo's deception on PS1 back in late 90's then this game might rub people the wrong way at 1st.. With that being said,,,here's my simple breakdown..

    ---Tutorial is a must!!
    -Tutorial 2.0~~ this game is simple in theory, but knowing the controls & the trap workings isn't difficult, BUT it's not a control scheme we are all used to like in all shooters the RT/R2 is shoot and the other trigger aims..

    ---people/victims enter AFTER you are all set.. So you are setting the stage for a performance and the results are based on you're strategy that is different everytime. Not just because of AI but because you're approach changes..
    ---trap combos...a wall pushes a guy into spikes, then he staggers as the fall gives way to a pit with spikes in the bottom...

    ---addicting--if a game is addicting and ya can't stop playing it & you're thinking about it when you're @ work or putting in annoying but necessary 'qualityTime', then you know the game is fun....reminds me of Xcom. But not the base part of Xcom, but the actual battle setup. Except Deception is waaaaay more setup...

    ---remembering Warhammer games back before Warhammer got all good
    Fly with futuristic settings etc. Warhammer Dark Omen & the horned Rat etc--you pick you're 10 units.. Maybe 1 unit is a ice wizard, another is Wood Eli's who snipe with arrows, and another is a cannon that shoots evil guys from across the map, and then Calvary or swordsman..THIS REMINDS ME OF DECEPTION because of the setup before you hit ". G O " and then the battle takes place...games with setting up are lots of fun...

    ---the PS3 Deception game 2 years ago was awesome BUT I had to force myself to play it because the controls were advanced... The controls weren't bad or broken, they were just complicated and took memorizing em. Kinda like the 1st time you played WOW or StarWars Galaxies or Everquest..but after a week you've forgotten keyboard struggles.....

    ---so that's my best attempt to let undecided gamers decide if they will lie,Mathis game...
    Yes it's a great game and of course it has replay value because that's the type of game it is. Similar to a madden or FIFA.l it's designed to replay maps and scenarios because you'll want to capture the bad guys instead of killing em or instead of just surviving...

    -be patient with controls..
    -average good HD graphics, not mind blowing beauty and nothing to complain bout either,,average,
    -no framerate issues.
    No ai path problems or noticeable bugs,
    -music/soundtrack is very good. Very eerie and scary..

    --If you enjoy being the villain = :)
    -if you're wanting a simple easy or quick pickMeUp game = :(
    -- if you like creating the perfect scenario = :)
    -if you repeat missions to grind for loot or money or performance = :)

    In the end it doesn't effect me if anyone plays this or talks smack..I enjoy it and I explained why,,but it required patience....    … Expand
  2. chesaro
    Dec 22, 2017
    8
    This one was a surprise, just got it for the lets play videos i watched, but it is really fun to play (frustrating, but fun), so i recommend this if you are out of strategy games
  3. Philli_86
    Jul 25, 2015
    7
    I really wanted to give this game high marks because the cover looks sweet and the game lured me in as I am a huge fan of Japanese titles. I was let down by how frustrating the game can be. It is a very fun game if you enjoy nosebleeds from the anyurism you will likely get from the stress of retrying missions over and over again to get the timing absolutely perfect to achieve theI really wanted to give this game high marks because the cover looks sweet and the game lured me in as I am a huge fan of Japanese titles. I was let down by how frustrating the game can be. It is a very fun game if you enjoy nosebleeds from the anyurism you will likely get from the stress of retrying missions over and over again to get the timing absolutely perfect to achieve the requirement to unlock a new trap or the star version of a trap in quest mode. The game also forces you to re-select all of the traps for each mission if you have to retry, which is pretty lame when you may have to retry some of the later stages 10+ times if your not extremely good at the game (me lol). It isn't all bad though. The game is entertaining and it is rewarding when you finally pull off some of the more insane trap setups you have put together. Overall I would say the game is fun and different but should be taken in small doses to avoid burnout from pure frustration.… Expand
  4. Crappy
    Jul 29, 2015
    5
    You might think it’s okay to insult someone based on the outfit they are wearing and not worry much about the outcome of doing so, but if said person turns out to be the daughter of the devil himself it might have been best to not insult her at all, because now comes the punishment.

    She will likely start by locking you in place with a bear trap and then unleash a giant hammer to hit you    You might think it’s okay to insult someone based on the outfit they are wearing and not worry much about the outcome of doing so, but if said person turns out to be the daughter of the devil himself it might have been best to not insult her at all, because now comes the punishment.

    She will likely start by locking you in place with a bear trap and then unleash a giant hammer to hit you square in the face sending you flying onto a springboard that will bounce you through the air and into a basketball hoop.

    Welcome to Deception IV: The Nightmare Princess.

    Believe it or not that elaborate display of sadistic behaviour is what makes up the core gameplay of Deception IV: The Nightmare Princes and ultimately what is the single factor between a satisfying experience and a forgettable announce.

    Deception IV: The Nightmare Princes see you taking up the role of Valgyrie who is the second daughter of ‘the chosen one’ or simply the devil, and who must harvest the souls of humans in order to bring about the devil’s great return. Deception IV: The Nightmare Princes takes place shortly after the end of Deception IV and is in a sense an expansion of that game. In fact Deception IV: The Nightmare Princes comes with Deception IV as well so you can experience both the core game and the Nightmare Princess all in one nice package.

    The main difference with the two however is that Deception IV is a more linear level based game with Nightmare Princess being quest based along a quest tree with many different paths that at times is a bit overwhelming.

    Once you are past the story cutscenes and set up page where you pick your traps and abilities, alongside checking enemy information, it is time to begin the stage. This is where we run into the first gripe I have with Deception IV: The Nightmare Princes and that is the timer.

    Stages are more often than not timed with a 300 second timer. Plenty of time once you know what you are doing but when you’re facing harder to kill enemies it can sometimes be a close call. Each stage however has three objectives you can complete to unlock new traps and routes on the quest tree. Some of these can be a right challenge to work out but once you do it is a rather proud moment. Other than that there isn’t a lot to Deception IV: The Nightmare Princes other then looking at the backstory of your enemies and studying their weakness so you can ensure the most effective and sometimes psychopathic method of torture.

    It’s worth noting as well that each stage is themed in a different way and offers a number of different stage traps you can use as part of your combos. These range from castles to children’s playgrounds and even a school gym because honestly, why the heck not? Your placement of traps is down in a pause screen of sorts when you place your traps like chess pieces using the on screen information to create a good flow to then unpause and lead your victim into.

    I’m personally fond of using the garden rake as a start point for my combos as the victim is smacked in the face becoming confused and dazed as they walk into the next installment.

    Speaking of traps there are three categories of traps available to you throughout the course of the game: ‘Elaborate’, ‘Sadistic’ and ‘Humiliating’. These add up at the end of each stage to give you an overall score but it does not affect the game much more than that. A number of multipliers are available as well that add to your score and increase your combo. This included things such as a mid-air hit or using a trap to trigger another trap and so on. There are a great deal of options available to the player to use including the option to just straight up kick your victim in the face if you really want to. The only downside is that after a few levels it can start to get repetitive.

    Generally speaking though the only real issue I have with Deception IV: The Nightmare Princes is the AI. Some of the later stages become a nightmare (pun intended) to deal with because of how crazy some of the enemies you face are. What I mean by that is anyone who can heal himself should just go away. Forever.

    The problem is that some enemies when given even just a second of alone time are able to fully heal their health, and given that stages are timed it becomes a bit stressful. More so when your options to heal are very, very limited.

    Deception IV: The Nightmare Princess is an odd game and there really isn’t much I could add. It is overly fun to play and makes you free great when you pull off insane combos with even more insane objects just to kill a gym teacher but that is about it.

    The story alone is interesting enough but if you’re hoping for something to keep you interested for a long time I would suggest looking elsewhere. Deception IV: The Nightmare Princess is an average title that is worth a look if nothing else. Still, rakes to the face are and will always be funny.    … Expand
  5. aosan
    Jan 4, 2021
    7
    Not bad game with interesting mechanics. I like character design in this game, but sometimes difficulty is annoying, lol. Healing enemies and enemies who can break your traps are so irritating. Overall this game even fun.
  6. frederik1478
    Nov 20, 2021
    7
    A very unique experience I would recommend to people who have good taste in anime and culture. trap gameplay is one of the more fun and unique experiences you can have on your PS4 and the story is kinda good and , fun way you can combine the trip to make som evil combo always keeps you on your toes because change setting and Castle very often. And it once at 60fps so go and play it

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
69

Mixed or average reviews - based on 33 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 33
  2. Mixed: 25 out of 33
  3. Negative: 0 out of 33
  1. SpazioGames
    Oct 28, 2015
    65
    High on content, but still full of the flaws that plagued its predecessor, Nightmare Princess is an intriguing romp that can't satisfy discerning palates. It remains quite extravagant in the strategic genre though.
    Read full review
  2. Playstation Official Magazine UK
    Sep 21, 2015
    70
    Just beware a few sharp edges. [Oct 2015, p.91]
  3. games(TM)
    Aug 31, 2015
    50
    If you are willing to put a lot of time and effort in with The Nightmare Princess in order to unlock the more elaborate traps and levels, then you’ll find a game which will perfectly scratch that sadistic itch. Otherwise, the game’s shortcomings continue to botch a series we would otherwise love.
    Read full review
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