Prinny: Can I Really Be the Hero?

 PSP
Metascore
72

Mixed or average reviews - based on 45 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 45
  2. Mixed: 17 out of 45
  3. Negative: 3 out of 45
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  1. Gaming Nexus
    100
    It's an action game full of great characters, funny writing and plenty of floating platforms. Throw in some devilishly clever level designs and a non-linear story, and you have a game that you'll want to replay over and over again!
  2. TotalPlayStation
    90
    Rarely do we get games like this, and I suspect that despite all the obvious love that was heaped on the game, we'll probably never see a sequel.
  3. Kombo
    90
    Prinny, can you really be the hero? The answer is an astounding yes.
  5. ZTGD
    85
    There's a ton of stuff to unlock, and gamers who are looking for an extra challenge can play on Hell mode (where Prinny dies after only 1 hit). The humor and charm of the game is enough to make even the most jaded of gamers crack a smile.
  6. Vandal
    85
    Nippon Ichi has brought us a fantastic game, which will please every PSP owner because of its dynamism, gameplay style and, of course, its hilarious story.
  7. IGN
    83
    If you think you can handle the absurd difficulty of Prinny: Can I Really Be the Hero?, you'll have fun with it. The charming sprites and modest 3D backgrounds work well with the PSP and the music and voice acting is commendable.
  8. Game Revolution
    83
    A humorous, beautifully-presented, straight-up, side-scrolling, hard-as-a-Hero's-honker, silly spin-off action-platforming game that has some serious legs—even if its hero doesn't.
  9. GameShark
    83
    There’s little doubt that Prinny is good old-fashioned frustrating fun, with loads of replayability granted by its six difficulty levels packing myriad trinkets to be picked up along the way.
  10. AtomicGamer
    83
    Longtime gamers, especially those who dug this type of game back in the day (controller-chucking fits and all), will find Prinny a breath of fresh air on the content-starved platform, even if that fresh air is pierced by your own frustration-powered F-bombs.
  11. GameZone
    82
    Prinny is an absolutely charming, funny and downright fun handheld gem we wish popped up on the PSP more often. This is a side-scrolling platform game with a lot to offer those gamers that appreciates an enjoyable, bite-sized adventure that is close to giving a certain Italian plumber some competition.
  12. Cheat Code Central
    82
    The game is short if you're only into a single run-through, but all the unlockables and multiple endings give this game serious legs.
  13. Games Master UK
    81
    Charming to look at, but a real sod to play. Prinny provides a classic platforming challenge. [Aug 2009, p.82]
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  14. GamesRadar+
    80
    Delivers all the goods where it counts most. It’s hard as hell, but won’t frustrate you to the point of despair. Its sense of humor is still charming - even though we wanted more of it - and it looks great to boot.
  15. GameSpot
    80
    This challenging, often-hilarious platformer provides a huge shift in the usually strategic Disgaea series.
  16. Gamervision
    80
    The wonderful graphics and catchy music feel almost wasted in this release, and it definitely feels more like a series of side-missions than its own adventure.
  17. Worth Playing
    80
    Prinny: Can I Really Be the Hero? is perfect for platformer lovers and Disgaea fans alike. It's loaded with fan service, extremely well-polished, looks and plays good, has subtle depth despite a simple move set, and doesn't punish players for trying out new things with their huge squad of prinnies.
  18. Modojo
    80
    It's not perfect, but it's a treat for players looking to feed their PSPs with a quality game.
  19. Game Informer
    80
    To Prinny's credit, it rewards dedication with inventive stages, clever boss battles, and an enduring sense of accomplishment. [Apr 2009, p.89]
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  20. Playstation Official Magazine Australia
    80
    The Nippon Ichi crew are masters of turn-based strategy so there was no guarantee that they could do an action game, any more than Madonna was guaranteed any success in her acting career. But succeed they have; gamers can dive into their wicked anime universe with pick-up-and-play accessibility [Aug 2009, p.78]
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  21. Play UK
    80
    If you're into games like "Devil May Cry" or "God Hand" where no punch is pulled, Prinny is totally worth a look, dood. [Issue#181, p.81]
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  22. Eurogamer Spain
    80
    If we should compare Prinny to other game, we would compare to Mega Man, because of its distinct visual style and the sadistic difficulty.
  23. Gamers' Temple
    78
    Those who stick with Prinny will definitely have fun, but I feel like those people are very much a minority within the gaming world.
  24. GamerNode
    75
    Prinny's a simple throwback title for gamers who simply like to have fun with their games. Good gameplay, graphics, and sound, along with a decent challenge make this one worth picking up.
  25. 1UP
    75
    Nippon Ichi's RPGs always demand a high level of patience, persistence, and masochism; by that measure, Prinny seems like a perfect adaptation of the Disgaea mindset to an action milieu. It may only appeal to the fanatically obsessed, but it does a damn fine job of it.
  26. Gameplanet
    75
    Remember when 2D side-scrollers were on the cutting edge of video gaming? Prinny: Can I Really Be The Hero will appease both retro fans and current-gen gamers with pure, honest, no frills gameplay.

Awards & Rankings

31
#31 Best PSP Game of 2009
19
#19 Most Discussed PSP Game of 2009
19
#19 Most Shared PSP Game of 2009

User Reviews

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User Score
8.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 68 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 58 out of 68
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 68
  3. Negative: 3 out of 68
  1. YHJ
    May 29, 2009
    5
    The game itself is rather nice, with pleasing graphics and interesting music. However, the Jump controls are rather lazy, and really kills The game itself is rather nice, with pleasing graphics and interesting music. However, the Jump controls are rather lazy, and really kills the game. Once you jump, you can't change directions. Since the prinny dies the moment it gets touched by almost anything in the game, it's just unfair. Hit an enemy? Dead. Landed on a statue? Dead. The difficulty is quite high, but one of the things that make these kinds of games fair is missing. POWER UPS. There is not a single power up at all. Besides that, the prinny only has one attack. It was a game with lots of potencial. Another thing to slap it in the face is it's length. With less than 15 levels in the game, it's very very short. In the end, it's a game with a lot of interesting promises, but everything just feels lazy, and incomplete. If you really want to find a good old-school platformer, go for Henry Hatsworth in a puzzling adventure for the DS. Much better.… Full Review »
  2. ChrisBurket
    Oct 6, 2009
    10
    I am sickened....... deeply sickened by you all. How can you give this game such a low rating just because it is difficult? You guys are aI am sickened....... deeply sickened by you all. How can you give this game such a low rating just because it is difficult? You guys are a fucking disgrace to the gaming community. This game has great music, great gameplay, great humor and great action but you just sit there and bitch like a bunch of pussies that this game "is too hard." cry me a fucking river you pansies. You mother fuckers are so used to games like bioshock and gears of war and shit thats not even hard. just because a game is difficult, that doesn't make it bad. some people even went so far as to call it "masochistic." masochistic my ass, mother fuckers. you need to learn how to play a fucking game and then come back and make a review. until then, quit whining like a bunch of pussies and bashing a great game just because you have no gaming skill.… Full Review »
  3. ThomH
    Jun 3, 2009
    10
    Great, great game, really reminds me of the NES megaman series. I'm new to Disegea series, but this 2d/3d side scroller was great, greatGreat, great game, really reminds me of the NES megaman series. I'm new to Disegea series, but this 2d/3d side scroller was great, great visuals, funny story and a game that was hard enough to make you feel like you accomplished something after beating it.
    Truly one of the best PSP games I have played.    … Full Review »
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