Category: Games

Fat Princess
Logo
Developer(s)	Titan Studios
Publisher(s)	Sony Computer Entertainment
Engine	Unreal Engine 3
Platform(s)	PlayStation 3 PlayStation Portable
Release	July 30, 2009 PlayStation 3 WW: July 30, 2009 JP: December 25, 2009 PlayStation Portable PAL: March 11, 2010 JP: March 11, 2010 KO: March 12, 2010[1] NA: May 4, 2010
Genre(s)	Action, real-time strategy
Mode(s)	Single-player, multiplayer

Fat Princess is an action real-time strategy video game developed by Titan Studios and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 3. It was released in North America, Europe and Australia on July 30, 2009,^[2] and in Japan on December 25 the same year, as Pocchari Princess (ぽっちゃり☆プリンセス, Pocchari ☆ Purinsesu).^[3] It was included on the Best of PlayStation Network Vol. 1 compilation disc, released on June 18, 2013.^[4] A PlayStation Portable version, titled Fat Princess: Fistful of Cake,^[a] was released in 2010.

Fat Princess is a multiplayer game for up to 32 players, with the basic goal of rescuing the Princess and bringing her back to the team's base, a twist on capture the flag.^[6] The players pick up and carry cakes to feed the Princess, which makes her heavier and harder for the enemy to carry back to their own castle. The game contains six character classes (Villager, Worker, Priest, Ranger, Mage and Warrior) and three downloadable classes (Pirate, Ninja and Giant), each of which contributes to the team's task of capturing the princess in a unique way.

Gameplay[edit]

In Fat Princess, players play as team members. There are two teams, red and blue, with up to 16 members each (32 players in total). To make their opponents' task more difficult, players can feed the captive princess cake slices. With each slice, she becomes heavier and harder to carry back to her respective castle. Over time, the effect of the cake wears off.^[7]

Players can change their character classes and abilities by picking up hats that are generated by the hat machines at their team's castle. Hats can be found on the warzone where enemies have fallen. The game's six classes are the Villager, Priest, Mage, Warrior, Ranger, and Worker with three additional classes (Pirate, Ninja, and Giant) from Fat Roles add-on pack. Each class has its own unique set of abilities and skills, and different amount of health. When damage is taken, the health level is reduced and all classes except giant can sit to eat cake in order to restore health. The three classes from Fat Roles add-on do not come from hat machines, instead they come from a magic hat. Players can pick up this hat and switch between the three classes.^{[citation needed]}

Players can upgrade hat machines, and construct fortifications and siege equipment using resources like woods and ores, which can be gathered from various locations on each map. Upgrades provide alternative weapons or attacks to each class. The three classes that do not come from hat machines cannot be upgraded, but they have magic points that will accumulate as time goes and once the bar is full, they can use special abilities. Pirates can fire cannonballs, Ninjas can turn invisible, and Giants can eat enemies and regain health.^{[citation needed]}

Other interactive objects are bombs, potions that turn players into chickens when thrown, and torches that most classes can use to ignite their weapons to do additional damage.^{[citation needed]}

There are several modes featured:

• Legend of the Fat Princess: This is the story mode. It contains seven chapters and six levels, comprising all the other modes.
• Rescue the Princess: This is the main mode of the game. The main objective is to rescue the princess from the opposing team's castle, while simultaneously keeping the enemy's princess imprisoned in their own castle.
• Team Deathmatch: The objective is to kill members of the opposing team. The first team to reduce the opposing team's life to zero is the winner. No princess to rescue in this mode.
• Invasion: The objective of this mode is to capture outposts. As soon as a team controls 50% of all outposts, the opposing team's counter will start to count down. The first team to have their counter reach zero loses.
• Snatch 'n Grab: This mode is very similar to Rescue the Princess. However, instead of rescuing the princess, both teams already have their princesses in their castle at the beginning of the game. The objective is to kidnap the opposing team's princess and imprison her. As soon as the enemy's princess is put in the dungeon, she will disappear and re-spawn in her castle. The first team to kidnap and imprison the opposing team's princess three times is the winner.
• Queen's Rule: This is a special mode that is only available in soccer map. As soon as this map is selected, the game mode will automatically switch to this mode. There is no princess and hat machines in this mode. Occasionally, hats, bombs, and resources will drop from the sky. The objective of this mode is to put the soccer ball into the opposing team's goal post. The team with more goals at the end of the game wins.
• Gladiate: In this mode, the player plays solo instead of being in a team most of the time. The player choose a hat at the beginning and they will stay in that class throughout the game. There are 12 rounds to win, and some rounds introduce new enemies.^{[citation needed]}

Development[edit]

A private beta for the game was held in June 2009.^[8]

There were several supporting reports dealing with the game's release date before it was confirmed for release on July 30, 2009. While some sources presently indicate the game should be ready by "late August",^[9] it was later revealed by the SCEE PlayStation Store team that, while the game will have a simultaneous local release, its release window could only be told as "[at] some point this century".^{[citation needed]}

PlayStation Home[edit]

In PlayStation Home from July 30 to September 10, 2009, Sony launched a new event in PlayStation Home, which involved the player embarking on a "very special confectionery quest".^[10] The event was called "Fat Princess: Quest for Cake". In this quest the users had to hunt down eight pieces of cake locked in cages and when they managed to do this successfully they were rewarded with a "Fat Princess: Throne" for their personal apartment. This event was being held in the European and North American versions of PlayStation Home in a specially decorated PlayStation Events Space. The spaces used were Events Landing and The Gallery. The event was also held in the Asian version of Home the same year, but began on 27 August and ended on 10 September. An interesting note about this event is that the redesigning of the Events Landing and The Gallery spaces and the event were done by nDreams, the company behind the world's first console-based alternate reality game, Xi, which was also based in Home.^[11]

Downloadable content[edit]

An add-on pack, named Fat Roles, was released on June 19, 2010, adding three new character classes: Pirate, Ninja and Giant. A free patch released alongside the downloadable content added support for same-screen co-op, clan tags and password-protected private games.^[12]

PSP version[edit]

A PSP port, titled Fat Princess: Fistful of Cake, was made by SuperVillain Studios and published by Sony Computer Entertainment in March 2010. There are four new multiplayer modes exclusive to the PSP version: Demolition, Dilapidation, Grim Reaper, and Jailbreak. There are also six more levels than the original, and an expanded single-player story mode with the new modes added into the storyline.^[13]

Reception[edit]

The original Fat Princess received "generally favorable reviews", while Fistful of Cake received "average" reviews, according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.^[29][30] IGN praised the PS3 version's versatility and charm.^[23] GameTrailers gave the same console version the award of Best Downloadable Game of 2009.^[31]

411Mania gave the PS3 version 8.5 out of 10 and called it "a breath of fresh air: A good multiplayer game that is not another generic shooter, with an excellent art style, quirky charm and well-balanced units. Two thumbs up for Fat Princess."^[32] However, The A.V. Club gave it a B− and said that "the core design, which seems so elegant at first, leads either to quick decisions between teams of unmatched skill, or long slogs worthy of a Russian winter campaign. When the action drags on, the not-inconsiderable cute factor starts to wear away. Fat princesses need love, sure, but they also need more complex characters to earn it."^[27] Teletext GameCentral gave it six out of ten and said: "The princess may have bitten off more than she can chew with her clever but confused multiplayer melees."^[28]

Some feminist groups criticized the game's premise, accusing it of reinforcing stereotypes and promoting prejudice against overweight women.^[33][34]

Additional games[edit]

In 2015, two additional Fat Princess titles were released. Fat Princess Adventures, a dungeon-crawler action role-playing game, was released on December 5, 2015, for the PlayStation 4. A mobile puzzle game, Fat Princess: Piece of Cake, was released on January 13, 2015, for iOS, Android, and PlayStation Vita.^[35]

The titular character was also included in 2012's PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale as a playable fighter.

Notes[edit]

References[edit]

BlazBlue
Genre(s)	Fighting
Developer(s)	Arc System Works Bandai Namco Studios
Publisher(s)	Arc System Works Aksys Games PQube Capcom Zen United (formerly) H2 Interactive (formerly)
Creator(s)	Toshimichi Mori
Producer(s)	Toshimichi Mori
Artist(s)	Yūki Katō
Writer(s)	Mako Komao
Composer(s)	Daisuke Ishiwatari
Platform(s)	Arcade, various home and handheld console systems
First release	BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger November 19, 2008[1]
Latest release	BlazBlue Entropy Effect August 16, 2023
Spin-offs	XBlaze series, anime series, manga, and novels

BlazBlue is a fighting video game series created by Arc System Works, and later localized in North America by Aksys Games and in Europe by Zen United. An anime adaptation aired in 2013. The series has sold 1.7 million copies since August 2012.^[2]

Games[edit]

Main series[edit]

Title	Details
BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger Original release dates: JP: November 19, 2008 NA: June 30, 2009 EU: April 2, 2010	Release years by system: 2008 – Arcade[3] 2009 – PlayStation 3,[3] Xbox 360[3] 2010 – PlayStation Portable,[4] Microsoft Windows[3]
	Notes: An arcade port exclusive to the Windows Store was released on December 21, 2012[5] The original PC release was stripped down from GFWL and released on Steam on 2014 by H2 Interactive without online play incorporated[6]
BlazBlue: Continuum Shift Original release dates: JP: November 20, 2009 NA: July 27, 2010 EU: December 3, 2010	Release years by system: 2009 – Arcade[7] 2010 – PlayStation 3,[7] Xbox 360[7]
BlazBlue: Chrono Phantasma Original release dates: JP: November 21, 2012 NA: March 25, 2014 EU: April 23, 2014	Release years by system: 2012 – Arcade[8] 2013 – PlayStation 3[8] 2014 – PlayStation Vita[8]
	Notes: The PlayStation 3 port was updated to version 1.1 on May 14, 2014 in North America, the Vita version released with version 1.1 patched in[9]
BlazBlue: Central Fiction Original release dates: JP: November 19, 2015 NA: November 1, 2016 EU: November 4, 2016	Release years by system: 2015 – Arcade[10] 2016 – PlayStation 3,[11] PlayStation 4[11] 2017 – Microsoft Windows[3]
	Notes: The first BlazBlue game released in western markets without an English dub.[12]

Updated versions[edit]

Title	Details
BlazBlue: Continuum Shift II Original release dates: JP: December 9, 2010 NA: May 10, 2011 EU: May 10, 2011	Release years by system: 2010 – Arcade[13] 2011 – PlayStation 3,[14] Xbox 360[14] 2011 – PlayStation Portable,[13] Nintendo 3DS[13]
	Notes: The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions of BlazBlue: Continuum Shift were updated for free to Continuum Shift II via a downloadable patch[14] The portable versions do not feature online play
BlazBlue: Continuum Shift Extend Original release dates: JP: December 17, 2011 NA: February 14, 2012 EU: February 24, 2012	Release years by system: 2011 – Arcade[15] 2011 – PlayStation 3,[15] Xbox 360,[15] PlayStation Vita[15] 2012 – PlayStation Portable[15] 2014 – Microsoft Windows[15]
	Notes: The PlayStation Portable port was only available in Japan, which does not feature online play[16] The Steam version was initially not available for purchase in European countries,[17] the regional lockout was dropped on May 19, 2015[18]
BlazBlue: Chrono Phantasma Extend Original release dates: JP: April 23, 2015 NA: June 30, 2015 EU: October 29, 2015	Release years by system: 2014 – Arcade[19] 2015 – PlayStation 3,[19] PlayStation 4,[19] PlayStation Vita,[19] Xbox One[19] 2016 – Microsoft Windows
	Notes: Titled BlazBlue: Chrono Phantasma 2.0 instead on arcade release The PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 versions feature cross-platform online multiplayer[citation needed] Unlike the original Chrono Phantasma release in North America, Extend features a localized Library Mode[citation needed]
BlazBlue: Central Fiction Special Edition Original release dates: JP: February 7, 2019 NA: February 7, 2019 EU: February 8, 2019	Release years by system: 2019 – Nintendo Switch
	Notes: The Nintendo Switch version of the port includes all currently-released DLC Digital-only release in North America.

Spin-offs[edit]

Title	Details
BlayzBloo: Super Melee Brawlers Battle Royale Original release dates: JP: January 27, 2010 NA: August 2, 2010	Release years by system: 2010 – DSiWare[20]
	Notes: 3D arena fighting game
BlazBlue: Clone Phantasma Original release dates: JP: December 26, 2012 NA: August 21, 2014	Release years by system: 2012 – Nintendo 3DS eShop[21]
	Notes: 3D arena fighting game
XBlaze Code: Embryo Original release dates: JP: July 23, 2013 NA: June 24, 2014 EU: September 18, 2015	Release years by system: 2013 – PlayStation 3,[22] PlayStation Vita[22] 2016 – Microsoft Windows
	Notes: Visual novel set 150 years before Calamity Trigger
Eat Beat, Dead Spike-san Original release date: WW: February 25, 2015	Release years by system: 2015 – iOS,[23] Android[23]
	Notes: Rhythm game starring Dead Spike, Ragna the Bloodedge's signature special move[23]
XBlaze Lost: Memories Original release dates: JP: April 9, 2015 NA: August 11, 2015 EU: June 21, 2016	Release years by system: 2015 – PlayStation 3,[24] PlayStation Vita[24] 2016 – Microsoft Windows
	Notes: The sequel to XBlaze Code: Embryo.
BlazBlue: Battle Cards Original release date: AU: April 30, 2015 CAN: May 6, 2015 NA: May 14, 2015	Release years by system: 2015 – iOS[25]
	Notes: Card battle game starring characters from the BlazBlue franchise.[25]
BlazBlue Revolution Reburning Original release date:[26][27][28] HK/TW: July 7th, 2015 SG/MY: April 2nd, 2016 WW: June 8th, 2016 JP: October 20th, 2016	Release years by system: 2016 – iOS, Android
	Notes: Developed and published by 91Act. Ceased services in Japan on November 23, 2018.[28]
BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle Original release date: JP: May 31, 2018 WW: June 5, 2018	Release years by system: 2018 – PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows[29] 2019 – Arcade 2023 – Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
	Notes: Crossover tag-team fighting game featuring characters from BlazBlue, Persona 4 Arena, Under Night In-Birth, RWBY, Arcana Heart, Senran Kagura and Akatsuki Blitzkampf.[30]
BlazBlue Alternative: Dark War Original release date: JP: (2021-02-16) (2022-01-31)February 16, 2021 – January 31, 2022 (11 months, 2 weeks and 1 day)	Release years by system: 2021 – iOS, Android[31]
	Notes: Announced in 2017,[32] the game resurfaced in early 2021. Developed by Linked Brain.[33] Mobile game set in an alternate timeline. Ceased services on January 31, 2022.[34]
BlazBlue Entropy Effect Original release date:[35] January 31, 2024	Release years by system: 2024 – iOS, Android, Microsoft Windows
	Notes: Developed and published by 91Act. iOS and Android versions are only available in China. Entered Steam Early Access on August 15, 2023.

Other media[edit]

Novels[edit]

Title	Details
BlazBlue: Phase 0 2010 – Light novel	Notes: Single volume written by Mako Komao, illustrated by Yūki Katō, and published by Fujimi Shobo. The story takes place before the events of Calamity Trigger, and features Bloodedge, the Six Heroes and Celica A. Mercury.
BlazBlue: Phase Shift 2011 – Light novel	Notes: Four volumes written by Mako Komao, illustrated by Katō Yūki, and published by Fujimi Shobo. The novels chronicle the conflict between humanity, the magic guild of Ishana and The Black Beast.
BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger 2013 – Light novel	Notes: Two volumes written by Mako Komao, illustrated by Yuki Sugiyama, and published by Fujimi Dragon Book. Novelization of the events that occurred in Calamity Trigger.
BlazBlue: Continuum Shift 2013 – Light novel	Notes: Two volumes written by Mako Komao, illustrated by Yuki Sugiyama, and published by Fujimi Dragon Book. Novelization of the events that occurred in Continuum Shift.
BlazBlue: Bloodedge Experience 2014 – Light novel	Notes: Two volumes written by Mako Komao, illustrated by Kyo Kuroichigo, and published by Fujimi Shobo. The novels tell the story of Naoto Kurogane and Raquel Alucard.
BlazBlue: Spiral Shift 2016 – Light novel	Notes: Single volume written by Mako Komao. The story focuses on Jin Kisaragi during the Ikaruga Civil War.

Manga[edit]

Title	Details
BlazBlue: Chimelical Complex 2011 – Manga	Notes: Two-volume manga by Toshimichi Mori, illustrated by Haruyoshi Kobayakawa, and published by Famitsu Comic Clear. The story follows Ragna the Bloodedge in the adaptation of Calamity Trigger.
BlazBlue: Official Comics 2009 – Manga	Notes: Two-volume manga published to promote the releases of Calamity Trigger and Continuum Shift. Two collections of short scenarios written and illustrated by doujinshi artists.
BlazBlue: Remix Heart 2012 – Manga	Notes: Four-volume manga written by Deko Akao, illustrated by Sumeragi, and serialized on Age Premium until 2014. It follows Mai Natsume attending the Military Academy, alongside Noel Vermillion, Makoto Nanaya, Tsubaki Yayoi and Kajun Faycott.
BlazBlue 2013 – Manga	Notes: Two-volume manga written by Toshimichi Mori, illustrated by Sakaki Yoshioka, and published on Monthly Dragon Age. A second manga adaptation of the Calamity Trigger story.
BlazBlue: Variable Heart 2016 – Manga	Notes: Three-volume manga written by Toshimichi Mori, illustrated by Sumeragi, and serialized on Monthly Dragon Age until 2017. A sequel to Remix Heart taking place after the Second War of Ars Magus. Mai Natsume sets out to defeat the infamous leader from the NOL's Zero Squadron.

Anime[edit]

Title	Details
BlazBlue: Alter Memory 2013 – Anime series	Notes: One cour series by teamKG and Hoods Entertainment. Recap of the story of Calamity Trigger and Continuum Shift. Licensed by Funimation in North America.

Other[edit]

Title

Details

BlazBlue Radio 2009 – Online radio show

Notes: Ongoing official radio show aired on Nico Nico Douga, featuring the antics of the game's voice actors through chibi versions of their characters in the same style as the Teach Me, Miss Litchi! game segments. The show's nickname BuruRaji (ぶるらじ) is a contraction of "BlueRadio" in Japanese. An official yonkoma gag manga series, BuruMan (ぶるまん, contraction of "BlueManga"), has been published infrequently on the official website. Two comedic audio dramas have also been produced, titled BuruDora (ぶるどら, contraction of "BlueDrama"). A light novel based on the game and written by Mako Komao, titled BlazBlue: Phase 0, was published by Fujimi Shobo; it is set before the Calamity Trigger storyline. Starting with season 8, BlazBlue Radio NEO, the show was uploaded to YouTube with English subtitles.[36]

Characters[edit]

The main BlazBlue series iterated its roster with each new game release, growing the playable cast from 10 characters from the arcade release of Calamity Trigger to 36 characters after development concluded with Central Fiction. Several BlazBlue characters have made appearances on game crossovers and other associated media.

Events and merchandise[edit]

Two official events were held in Japan in June 2009 and February 2010, called BuruFesu 2009: Riot Summer (ぶるふぇす 2009 -Riot Summer-) and BuruFesu: Spring Raid (ぶるふぇす -Spring Raid-) (contraction of "BlueFestival"), respectively. A variety of posters, artbooks, apparel, and figurines were produced. On February 11, 2017, Arc System Works announced a collaboration with Tecmo Koei's Team Ninja to release Arc System Works Costume Set consisting the costumes of some characters from BlazBlue and Guilty Gear series in March 2017 for Dead or Alive 5: Last Round.^[37]

References[edit]