Kismet's Gaming Ramblings

Off to Slay Her - Again!

Slay the Princess Has Slain Me

A friend gifted Slay the Princess to me out of the blue yesterday, and I just got through my first complete playthrough.

Wow, folks - just, WOW.

Backgrounds in fulgor

There's a lot to be admired in the setting of fulgor: i hate, therefore i am.

Setting

The codex, which can be accessed from the main menu, has 31 entries with information about gods, cultures, places, and events. Some of the entries include quotes from ancient texts; most are fairly brief. Many of the longer ones cover scenes from Thanchvil's past that showcase the terms.

Etruscan gods and otherworldly creatures are often compared (and sometimes contrasted) with their Greco-Roman counterparts. The differences between them are fascinating, as are the creatures that come from Etruscan beliefs alone.

Art

The art backgrounds of the scenes are always interesting to examine, along with being lovely. I knew the game was made for me when I spied Janus, the god of thresholds, in the design of this gate. Janus has always been special to me but I didn't learn about him until I was an adult.

Quam Pulchra*

Did I mention before that fulgor: i hate, therefore i am is beautiful?

This time, let's talk sprites, which are all evocative and distinctive!

All characters shown are in ancient-style designs. Some may be in rough, handspun clothes but have wonderfully detailed hair or wear accent pieces that complete the image. This messenger stands out not only for his youthful, strong body but the dotted trim of his garment and the beautiful blue that stands out against the white.

Don't even get me started on Tulchulcha, whose appearance is on the furthest end of complexity and so neat to look at!

The characters have a lovely range of expressions, as well. We don't just see happiness or sadness doubt, worry, and anger are expressed just as clearly. As their facial expressions shift, so do their character poses, making what they feel easy to interpret most of the time.

The demo has no voice acting but I didn't feel like I missed it much because the character designs helped me load voices for them in my head without an issue.

Suffice to say, I wanted to see and hear more from every character I encountered.