Deception IV: The Nightmare Princess (PS4) Review

Ackbar would be proud.

I have been a long-time fan of the Deception series. Like everyone else, I never expected to see it return after Trapt failed to impress back in 2005. So imagine my surprise when Tecmo KOEI announced Deception IV for the PS3 not so long ago. I grabbed it of course, but never found time to really dig into it due to other games. So this time around I made sure I was the one covering this PS4 release, which not only contains the original game, but a whole slew of new additions making it worth checking out.

I am not going to go over the core game. My colleague Jae has already done that in great detail. You can check out his review here for the original release of Deception IV.

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MSRP: $49.99
Platforms: PS4, PS3, Vita
Price I’d Pay: $39.99

The entire original campaign is here, so for those that missed it, this is a great package. Players can also import their data from the original if they already owned it. Sadly, the new stuff is not available as a standalone for previous owners, so those that already laid down the full price are forced to pay it again to get the new content, which is a bummer.

The new campaign is certainly nothing to sneeze at. There are 100 new missions featuring the new character Velguirie. As with all Deception protagonists she has a unique ability. Hers comes in the form of a kick, which can be used to knock down enemies. This doesn’t make it a full-on action game by any stretch of the imagination. The kick has a cooldown, so traps are still the method of choice to take down enemies.

There is also a new studio mode that allows players to concoct their own scenarios. Much like a LittleBigPlanet, pieces for this mode are unlocked by completing the main storylines. Thankfully, user creations can also be shared online. For players like me this is the only benefit to this mode. I am not a creative game maker, haven’t been since the Doom WAD days. So being able to check out all the user-created stuff is cool. I wish it was better curated, but there are definitely some gems worth checking out.

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On PS4 the game runs flawlessly, with no performance issues. That is good, considering it isn’t exactly a technical marvel. The Deception series has evolved into a more anime-inspired visual showcase than its original games. This is fine, but also the stilted animations aren’t going to impress anyone. This is not a showcase title for your fancy new PS4.

There are two sides to The Nightmare Princess. As a standalone package it is impressive. The original game plus the new additions are more than worth the price. The downside is if players already owned the original, there is no simple way to upgrade. It is all or nothing. Deception is also more of a niche title, so anyone interested already likely purchased the previous game, and the new content is certainly not worth $50 on its own. Still, for those that missed out, or just want to another reason to retire the PS3, The Nightmare Princess delivers all the trappings (see what I did there?) of a great game.

Review copy of game provided by publisher.

Good
  • Lots of new content
  • Studio is fun to play with
  • Runs great on PS4
Bad
  • No way to upgrade
  • Visuals look dated
7.5
Good
Written by
Ken is the Editor-in-Chief of this hole in the wall and he loves to troll for the fun of it. He also enjoys long walks through Arkham Asylum and the cool air of Shadow Moses Island. His turn-ons include Mortal Kombat, Metal Gear Solid and StarCraft.