Steal Princess review

Thieves never prosper

12DOVE Verdict

Pros

  • +

    Map-making function is a stroke of genius

  • +

    Over a hundred stages

  • +

    Interesting blend of genres

Cons

  • -

    Irritating fairy companion

  • -

    So-so graphics

  • -

    Gameplay never goes above "meh"

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We relish the chance to be a thief in games, but it usually comes with caveats. You’re a good guy really; a loveable rogue who saves the world by day and robs evil barons by night. Anise, the nimble-fingered star of Steal Princess, breaks the mould a little, but even she winds up on a quest to slay a demon king.

At least she’s blackmailed into it, in a story with too much ‘funny’ dialogue and an irritating fairy companion. You’re forced into behaving under threat of your past misdeeds being exposed; this means handing back all the money you steal, unlocking bonus stages when you’ve paid enough cash.

The game comprises over a hundred tiny stages, each tasking you with releasing a key to use on a lock, making this a puzzler at heart. You pick up swords, shields and bombs, but they’re puzzle pieces rather than weapons. It’s an interesting blend of genres but, aside from the ability to create and share maps, there’s not much else here of note.

May 19, 2009

More info

GenrePuzzle
DescriptionSteal Princess is an interesting blend of genres but, aside from the ability to create and share maps, there’s not much else here of note.
Platform"DS"
US censor rating"Everyone 10+"
UK censor rating""
Release date1 January 1970 (US), 1 January 1970 (UK)
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Tom Sykes
When he's not dying repeatedly in roguelikes, Tom spends most of his working days writing freelance articles, watching ITV game shows, or acting as a butler for his cat. He's been writing about games since 2008, and he's still waiting on that Vagrant Story 2 reveal.