Important Importables: Princess Maker 5 Portable for PSP review

Title: Princess Maker 5 PortablePrice: $48.90System(s): PSPRelease Date: 9/23/08Publisher (Developer): CyberFront (CyberFront)ESRB Rating: N/A, Cero C (15+)Pros: New take on the series, micro-manage every hour of the daughter’s day, get to choose to be a father or mother and new classes, jobs and endings.Cons: Not import friendly, over-complicated and longtime fans may be disappointed by the change in atmosphere/setting.Overall Score: 7/10

The Princess Maker series may not have found a way overseas, but it is certainly thriving in Japan. One of the most recent releases was Princess Maker 5 Portable, a PSP port of the latest entry in the series. Princess Maker 5 Portable is a decidedly different look at child raising, and while it is an enjoyable simulation, some fans of the series may be turned off by the new direction. If you were a huge fan of Princess Maker 2 and 4, then you may want to steer clear of Princess Maker 5 Portable.

Let me say right now that if you have no knowledge of Japanese and don’t recognize hirigana, katakana and kanji, you should turn back and buy Princess Maker 4 Portable. Princess Maker 5 Portable is definitely not import-friendly, and those with little knowledge of the series or language will quickly find themselves floundering in this game. Guessing your way through isn’t an option…