Princess of the Water Lilies is an adorable experience that will not punish you. Instead, you’ll enjoy a captivating world that is filled with cute animals, fun puzzles, and some interesting platforming moments. The result is a modern title that has a delightful old-school edge. Additionally, although the story is a little unusual, you’ll fall for its colourful and wholesome charms.
This crisp 2D platformer was developed by Whyknot Studio and published by Red Dunes Games. It is a single-player affair, and it has a semi-open world to explore. However, the core action is reasonably linear. This wasn’t a complaint, as I like the guidance and the lack of Metroidvania gameplay.
Princess of the Water Lilies tells a bizarre plot.
You play the role of a brave kitten. This furry beast washed up in a box and was rescued by a family of frogs. As the kitten grows, it becomes a guardian for its frog family. Moreover, it is gifted with a magic collar that helps it execute some interesting special abilities.
Like its peers, Princess of the Water Lilies has some familiar core mechanics. The protagonist must leap chasms, overcome traps, and avoid monsters. However, it is the magical collar that makes this stand out from the pack. As the kitten purrs, they can make creatures move, vines grow, and mushrooms follow them. On top of this, the kitten can breathe underwater thanks to a magical diving helmet. In short, this platform game has a nice, outlandish fantasy edge.
Short levels.
The action traverses many biomes. Each area has its obstacles, puzzles, and monsters to overcome. Additionally, you’ll use the magical collar to empower different creatures. Although there was limited variety in each area, there was enough to keep you entertained throughout.
Alongside this, there are some interesting, but occasionally clunky boss encounters. The developer has created a tethering element for each boss. I understand why this design choice was incorporated, but it creates a horribly clunky and restrictive approach to each main battle. If you can cope with this bizarre design choice, the boss battles are fun and tricky while adding some fresh ideas to the well-trodden gameplay.
Princess of the Water Lilies looks amazing.
Despite the familiar and clunky elements, Princess of the Water Lilies looks fantastic. The developer has created an unbelievably crisp game with clean characters, vibrant assets, and interesting backdrops. Moreover, it has a smooth and consistent frame rate with limited visual issues. Consequently, it is a joy to play.
The audio is a delightful mixture of drama and energy. The upbeat elements are uplifting and thrilling, whereas the dramatic sounds are reserved for the cruellest of moments. This deliberate choice helps to break up the repetitive action. The result is an interesting game that keeps you going.
Simple controls.
If you’ve played any game from this genre, you’ll master it in no time. The control layout is simple to understand, and you can play with a keyboard and mouse or a gamepad. I picked the latter, and the action, controls, and story flowed smoothly.
If you’re a completionist, Princess of the Water Lilies will keep you busy for hours. However, if you like to rush through the action, you’ll invest around 5 hours. I sat somewhere in the middle as I searched for every hidden location and golden orb. Subsequently, I invested around 8 hours to see the final credits roll.
Princess of the Water Lilies is a good indie experience.
Princess of the Water Lilies doesn’t break the mould. However, it offers some fresh ideas in a well-trodden genre. I loved the protagonist, the frog family, and the sense of drama. Additionally, the lack of Metroidvania elements was a great choice. Accordingly, I think it’s good and I recommend buying it here! Can you help your frog family? Explore your surroundings, rescue your friends, and purr, purr, purr!
