Code of Princess

Code of Princess is a 2012 action-RPG and side-scrolling beat 'em up developed by Studio Saizensen and published by Agatsuma Entertainment (and by Atlus in North America) for the Nintendo 3DS, later ported to Windows and other platforms. Spiritually descended from the Sega Saturn cult classic Guardian Heroes, with character designs by Kinu Nishimura, it follows Princess Solange of DeLuxia, who wields the legendary sword DeLuxcalibur and gathers a band of eccentric companions to restore order to a kingdom overrun by monsters. Gameplay blends fast 2D brawling with RPG systems: characters move along multiple depth planes in the Guardian Heroes tradition, chain combos and special moves, and gain experience to raise stats and unlock abilities, with a large roster of playable fighters earned through the story and free-play modes. The game also offered local and online multiplayer for cooperative and competitive play. Critics enjoyed its charming, humorous writing, stylish presentation and the satisfying depth of its hybrid combat, while noting balance quirks and a slim single-player length. As an unabashed throwback for genre fans, Code of Princess earned a devoted niche following and a 2018 enhanced re-release, Code of Princess EX, on Nintendo Switch. Its enhanced re-release, Code of Princess EX, arrived on Nintendo Switch in 2018 with rebalanced combat and extra content.