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Seven Kingdoms: The Princess Problem DEMO Review

Synopsis: (taken from Kickstarter)

Every seven years the seven kingdoms send their best and brightest young people to be their delegates at the Vail Isle Summit, a tradition where seven weeks are spent together to form friendships, alliances and marriages. This year, however, things are different. Since the Great Peace, never have alliances been so close to collapse. The seven nations on the razor's edge of war. What happens at this summit could very well determine the fate of the known world.

You are one of the delegates.

In this world of politics, intrigue and danger, will you find love? Make friends? Alliances? Or will you fail and be forced to watch as the world once again crumbles into destruction and despair?

It is your story and it is not yet written.

Genre: Visual novel, romance, fantasy, life-sim and political intrigue Age: Young Adult Playable Character: Female 👩 Perks: Choices to shape your character's appearance, define their personality, background, ambitions, acquire unique skills and knowledge. Engage in romances, forge friendships, ignite rivalries and use your skills to dig out everyone's secrets! Lots of freedom to roleplay the character you want to be. Tons of replayability. Cons: Still a work-in-progress (development hell) and has been since 2014, the demo's art for backgrounds and CGs hasn't been updated like in the alpha version (limited to Kickstarter backers).

Content Warnings: Contains themes of death, war, murder, cheating and abuse

My blog was inspired by a somewhat hidden gem called Seven Kingdoms: The Princess Problem by Azalyne Studios. ✨✨ Your choices shape your background, personality, story, and skills. It has a hard mode (though the game is already pretty hard), romance, rivalry, and friendships. And guess what? You can even be a bit mischievous and pursue relationships for personal or political gain! Though the game remains unfinished after all these years, it's one of the most ambitious indie visual novels I've encountered! (๑˃̵ᴗ˂̵)و 💖✨ A special, extended demo was apparently released at one point in the official forums, but the forums are gone, and so is the extended demo. Since the game is VERY LONG and unfinished, I'll mostly talk about the official demo found on the developer's website. WARNING: SPOILERS

Character Routes

❤️ = Romanceable 😊 = Friendship 🤝 = Respect ⚔️ = Rivalry

Jasper ❤️😊🤝⚔️ • One hell of a butler • Cares deeply for his duties and MC • Secret romance route

This intense and handsome island native has been assigned as your personal butler during your stay on the Isle. It will be his job to assist and help you. He claims to have no other goals, but can that really be true?

End Thoughts There's more in alpha but I have to say although in demo it's lacking, the scenes you get really make you want to see more of his route. It might be because I'm a sucker for "forbidden love", and playing as an actual Princess having her butler fall for her is very romantic.

Ria ❤️😊 • Sweet • Superstitious • Easily flustered

This cheerful and friendly red-head is one of the two lady’s maids you have been assigned for your stay during the Isle.

End Thoughts Ria's route isn't really my cup of tea, because there's not much to her character. Other than the scenes where she gets flustered I found myself skipping a lot of her dialogue. I can't say much about her!

Anaele ❤️😊🤝⚔️ • Is here to get a wife (you) • From matriarchal society • They say you don't really know a Nord woman until you've had a strong drink and a fist fight with her

The second daughter of the Queen of Skalt is a famed warrior, seen by many as her mother’s most likely heir. She is blunt and open, making her perhaps unsuited to such events as the Summit.

End Thoughts Ana's route is also one of my favorites because she's so entertaining! She's very different from the other delegates by the way she uses certain words (what did you mumble-bumble?), and her straightforwardness and disregard of what's "proper". She's a breath of fresh air among characters that must hide and restrain themselves (it's a political game), or who are just naturally inclined to being passive. I like to imagine a scene in the future where she's shown battling and maybe MC can join her if she has the skill. If you like lighthearted, fun character maybe give her a chance?

Clarmont ❤️😊🤝⚔️ • Genuinely good but shrewd • Secret ambitions

The handsome young lord seems different than the rest of his Revaire counterparts. Charming and considerate, occasionally he seems to hidden bite. Still, he must have some favor with the current court, or he wouldn’t be here. It should be interesting to see his true objective at the Summit.

End Thoughts This route feels canon if there ever was a canon route. You'll see in the rest of the game that he plays a significant role in the story, if you already figured out what it'll be. Like with Jasper there's a bit of a "forbidden love" where he at the same time wants to be with MC but also his plans have become significantly more harder, because now MC is someone he cares about, and could possibly lose like his family. I like that although Clarmont starts off as being genuinely good natured it's revealed that there's more to him than just good ethics (looking at you Emmett....). He's a bit opposite to Gisette because he'll test the MC's moral standing, but he's as ambitious as her.

Gisette ❤️😊🤝⚔️ • Ice Queen • Surprisingly affectionate The princess of Revaire She has all the beauty of a masterwork sculpture, and all the warmth of the same. It would be foolish to underestimate her simply because of her ethereal looks. She is as potentially dangerous or useful as her brother.

End Thoughts Getting to know Gisette and understanding why she behaves the way she does is interesting, and there might be a possibility of guiding her towards a better path. Unfortunately you can’t be married to her but that doesn’t mean much in the world of political marriage.

Jarrod ❤️😊🤝⚔️ • Anger • Possessive • Violent Intense and handsome, Prince Jarrod is the heir to the throne of Revaire. Still, the rumors that surround both him and his family are dark, especially in the wake of the blood coup that put his family in power twenty years ago.

End Thoughts The route involving Jarrod doesn’t offer many likable qualities (except the character art). He has a short temper, frequently criticizes the main character’s appearance (emphasis on gaining more romance points if the character is more beautiful), and displays some…. very aggressive behavior. (っ °Д °;) The only fun part of this route is you might be able to change him for the better, but it’s not like you’re discovering some hidden gem of a man within.

Lisle ❤️😊🤝⚔️ • Sister complex • Duty • FRIENDSHIP

The perfect prince has it all: looks, talent, respect and most of all, a very bright future. Still, no one really knows what’s going on inside his head, since he is a very private, serious sort of person.

End Thoughts I surprisingly enjoyed this 2 for 1 route despite the lack of romance. Lisle really loves his sister and Penelope really adores MC. He and Penelope make for genuine close friends who care about MC and vice versa. I'm very keen on the ending of this route after the game is finished!

Penelope 😊🤝⚔️ • Sweetheart • Best girl • FRIENDSHIP

Prince Lisle’s handsome younger sister is famed for being sweet and good-natured. This doesn’t help your feeling that the sheltered girl is doomed to be out of her depths in the rough waters of the Summit.

End Thoughs She's like the Sheltered Princess MC in that she's very naive and lacking in skills to be at the summit. There's a point in alpha she confides in you about her father forcing her to marry a Duke, and you get to tell her whether she should go through with it or not. She's a bit opposite to Lisle in that she believes you should marry for love. There's a debate you have to solve about that with the two siblings.

Woodly ❤️😊🤝⚔️ • Married and cheating eek (it gets worse) • Secret romance route • Spicy?

The striking and imposing Grand Duke of Wellin serves as one of the four Chaperones. You aren’t certain what he is up to, but you are certain it is something.

End Thoughts When first time playing this back in 2017 sweet ol' lil me was stocked for this route because it's a spicy older man hahahaHA. Now reviewing this I don't have much understanding why this is a route, but this isn't really a typical romance novel. There's no reforming, unless the engagement "dance with Woodly" means you're attempting to make him head over heels in love with you. Regardless I'm very excited to see how this ends and hopefully MC gets to ruin him somehow.

Emmett ❤️😊🤝⚔️ • Wholesome • Optimistic and good natured • Childhood friend (sometimes)

The young earl of Arland spent most of his youth traveling and being fostered around different kingdoms. Following the recent death of his father, he has returned to Arland (and is attending the Summit) to finally take up his duties. He seems a friendly, good sport, with no particular ambitions.

End Thoughts On my first playthrough I was expecting Emmett to be some kind of twisted character with an obsession towards MC (especially with the princess MC childhood friend situation) but that wasn't the case. His route is very vanilla.

Zarad ❤️😊🤝⚔️ • More than a flirt • Political savvy • Knows things

The handsome third prince of Corval is an irredeemable flirt with a reputation as caring for nothing more than fine jewels, pretty girls and aimless pleasures. Whether that can possibly be true is yet to be seen.

End Thoughts Zarad's route is fun because he's more than what he seems. Throughout the route Zarad's character is slowly unraveled, revealing depth beneath his superficial charm. If you like witty and charming characters then this route's for you, and there's plenty of playful banter between Zarad and MC.

Cordelia 😊🤝⚔️ • MANNERS RULE • FRIENDSHIP

The pretty Princess of Hise and cousin to Hamin doesn’t match the rest of her Hise relatives. She is proper, prim and elegant. It seems obvious she has come to the Summit in search of a better life.

End Thoughts The princess seems first to be nothing but a stiff boring royal, but you do eventually manage to draw her out of her shell. She's a good friend with her own little secrets you'll learn about if you follow her long enough.

Hamin ❤️😊🤝⚔️ • Playful • The sincere flirt • Calls you Glitter because you're a treasure (aw)

The roguish Captain of the ship Blackwater is the sun of Hise’s current leader. Although there is no direct inheritance in Hise, by all accounts he is already on the path to surpass his father. He is impulsive, adventurous and irreverent and most importantly, an excellent captain and leader.

End Thoughts Hamin is like the male equivalent of Anaele. He's immediately taken by MC, he gives her a nickname, he's spontaneous and fun. I do like the idea of a pirate seducing a princess MC.

Lyon ❤️😊🤝⚔️ • Hermit • BOOKS RULE

The tall, handsome Duke is famous for being brilliant, and completely socially indifferent. He took the top score on the test for Jiyel Delegates, but he seems entirely displeased about actually being at the Summit.

End Thoughts I liked the the cute moments with Lyon where he'll blush or be perplexed by MC. There's just too much intelligent talk in the beginning that is great for roleplay but real time makes my eye gloss over, especially for someone who english is their second language. (つω`｡) I just chose whatever sounded the most smartiest answer. It was a little disappointing how "extraverted" and witty your MC becomes around him, especially as Jiyel background you're usually pretty aloof and serious around other characters. His route wasn't really my cup of java. Personally I prefer in romance games routes where the other character takes more initiative, ya know?

Aaaand that's it for the characters. There's more in the story that are significant, like Avalie, who's also your friendly rival. In alpha there's at least two extra secret romance characters for the Matchmaker's apprentice (not seen in demo) and another butler (also not seen). Next I'll briefly touch upon the main game and mechanics.

The narrator takes us to the origins of the “Vail Isle” of hundred years ago and how Princess Katyia of Revaire inspired a tradition for seven young representatives of the seven kingdoms to come together for seven weeks for arranged marriage as a way of maintaining peace. Now time has dulled the memory of war and every nation is on edge again.

After arriving at the Isle as a representative, you meet your escort, Jasper, who encourages you to trust him about your past, strengths, and flaws. You make choices throughout your life that shape your character, relationships with factions, and background. There exists multiple guides for this section and is the most fun part of the game! Once you’re done you get to greet your three servants. You might notice that you’ll be balancing your choices for either relationship or stat boost, as the choice for how you greet can either give you etiquette or friendship points.

At the Welcome Feast, you befriend characters for dates, gift exchanges and to eventually find someone to marry (or not). Befriending people helps you overcome trials and gain insights which help you deal with certain situations (Avalie’s plot with Zarad date). The next day, you meet the Matchmaker who initially judges you harshly, leading to an embarrassing test failure regardless of your high stats. However, your servants encourage you that you do get a second chance to prove her wrong. This highlights the importance of focusing on improving your stats to avoid a bad ending (very possible in hard mode).

You spend your days choosing locations around the map, skills to train, and uncovering secrets while listening to nations argue. Background related scenes and conflicts add replayability. You’ll also be invited on dates but you will miss secrets if you choose to go to all of them. You can also plan a hosted event at this point but only certain characters will accept the invite, and for some you gain bonuses.

Finally, at the last day of the week is your chosen hosted event and the self introduction day, where you can choose what your ambitions are and if you want to lie about them to your audience (phew, so much to go through).

Final Thoughts There’s many things I skipped that you can find out for yourself! The writing is excellent, the art is gorgeous and unique- although I do have some criticism on some of the alpha version's CGs looking rushed like Gisette's and Lisle's. Now I have to discuss something not gameplay related but still important. As said before this game has had a lot of trouble being in development for several years, despite having the predicted release date of 2019, and that’s because of the scale of the game and the creator not having much experience with programming. There was also issues with putting up forums for the alpha backers to download the latest version, and now it seems there exist no forum at all. Thankfully the latest news from the dev would mean that they’re working on the endings, so the full release could be coming soon. I hope that the game does well enough for the creator to make more and possibly hire a coder because there needs to be more visual novels like this.

HUH, that was a handful to write aaall of that. Thank you for reading my review!! Peeeeeeeeeeeeew (･ω<)☆