"Beta" is a bit misleading, as what we lucky few have been taking part in these last couple weeks is more like a prolonged demo than anything else. With only one level playable in two modes this treat is a mere sample of Fat Princess cake, a tantalizing taste of what is to come.
Cheeky Fat Princess centers on class-based gameplay. Players spawn as a generic subject of the realm and can don any of the handful of hats dispensed from nearby machines. These hats dictate your assignment, and should you tire of a calling there is no need to hustle back to the castle you can simply pick up one of the headpieces scattered around the map by a slain foe. Archers are the long-range class, with the brutish warrior vikings for short-range combat. Priests are a valuable healing class and Mages use magic. The Engineer is perhaps the most interesting, as they harvest resources from trees and rocks. These resources can then be delivered to upgrade classes (like shotguns for Archers) as well as construct items like doors, catapults and springboards. Different classes have different health levels, which can be restored by the aforementioned Priest or by hunkering down for a spell.
There are two playable modes right now: Snatch and Grab (capture the princess-shaped flag) or Deathmatch. In Snatch and Grab each team has a svelte Princess locked away in their castle dungeon. The thirty-two players must break their Princess out of the opposing team's castle and get her all the way back to her throne, where she must reign for a brief time before the victory is won. Feeding the captive Princess magic cake (which she loves, no creepy Seven murder here) causes her to expand. The cake supply is pretty limitless, which is important since the magical cake's caloric enhancement does wear off over time. While this is the game's namesake, there is more substance beyond the enticing sugar-driven tactic. Carrying the more cumbersome lady slows you down, opening you up to a real beating if the theft is not a well-coordinated effort.
Multi-player to the max, Fat Princess allows you to play with up to thirty-one additional players, a mixture of real life teammates and bots alike. You will quickly advance past the AI, which means the amusing "Play with Yourself" option is, well, routine (hey, I'm not going to work blue!). Should you get into a tight spot or nab the Princess without back-up (teammates not only fend off attack, they lighten the Princess load), you can call for help from the AI by tapping up on the D-pad. The AI just is not clever enough to sustain interesting gameplay and challenge in either of the two beta modes, which is fine - the intent is to test the online, after all. To fully appreciate Fat Princess you need the benefit of comrades and teamwork; a real assault requires communication - and voice chat.
The control scheme is straightforward and intuitive. Square performs an action, like an attack or a repair, with a charged attack available for most classes. Circle nabs an object (like cake or a Princess) and X jumps. Holding L1 locks you onto the nearest enemy or resource. In addition to the cake and resources harvested by Engineers there are also items like a potion that can turn players into chickens - this is intended for invading enemies, though I did manage to chicken myself the first time I encountered the stuff! It is this sort of silliness combined with a squelchy death that best characterizes the Fat Princess experience.
Fat Princess proudly juxtaposes unbearable cuteness and storybook environments with ample violence and pools of blood. As you advance through gameplay, you unlock customizable features for your aggressive little muffin of cuteness. Which is good, since I started out as a bearded, square-jawed troll of a thing in pigtails. Players rack up points taking down members of the opposing team, capturing and controlling towers, collecting resources and building items, and of course stealing the princess and getting her on her throne.
The Black Forest level is laid out with the respective castles on each side of a stream, in mirror image. There are two towers outside of each castle and a centrally located tower between two bridges. Resources are distributed around the map, including a couple tiny island masses. Naturally, the central tower with both high and low ground is hotly contested, particularly since it is the safest way across the water (the plump little fighters missed swim class). However, each of the towers located in the upper section of the map acts as a direct pipeline into the castle, very near the dungeon. Seize control of this tower and you have a clear shot in.
The beta offers a narrow glimpse at a title that promises much more. The addition of maps, modes and more players can only solidify Fat Princess as a PSN gem. Perfect for multi-player mayhem, be sure to have friends on hand when the game releases this June.
