Prinny 1•2: Exploded and Reloaded Switch review: For true hardcore gamers

Prinny 1•2: Exploded and Reloaded is a charming old school collection for veteran gamers. Despite occasional spikes of insane difficulty & ‘cheap’ deaths you’ll find yourself coming back over and over again. The title is surreally addicting like the 16-bit & 8-bit Ghosts ‘n Goblins games of yore in its masochistic reward system. You’ll enjoy, no relish throwing the controller at the wall! There’s a reason you get 999 Prinny lives to begin with…

This review contains spoilers for Prinny 1•2: Exploded and Reloaded.

Don’t let the cutesy visuals fool you, Prinny 1•2: Exploded and Reloaded is one dastardly, unforgiving, platforming collection. Especially Prinny 1: Can I Really Be the Hero? which will have you launching the controller if not the entire Nintendo Switch out the window in a hurry if you’re not careful. The games won’t go easy on you in any way or spare your feelings… But the collection is oozing charm, it’s magnetic the way Disgaea is.

The stories for both titles can only be described as pure Disgaea through and through. The relaxing music & highly detailed art style will be instantly recognizable. The voice acting is top notch in its comedy delivery like usual. Prinny 1•2: Exploded and Reloaded is like your home away from home, the Disgaea tree house in your backyard. You’re just going to have to work to get up there because there’s no ladder in sight.

Prinny 1•2: Exploded and Reloaded – Nintendo Switch – Screenshot Credit: The Natural Aristocrat® via Nippon Ichi Software

Simply put, if you weren’t around during the 8-bit, 16-bit days playing through side-scrolling platformers willing to ‘die’ hundreds of times in a row to eventually win…. Then you won’t understand the beauty of this game.

In fact, those that choose to dabble or switch over to Prinny 2’s easy mode will find themselves switching back to regular pretty quickly. ‘Easy’ is called ‘Baby Mode’ and features crib life icons at the top of the screen to actively mock you. Sure, you get a couple blocks to hop on to avoid Prinny deaths… But at what cost?!

Prinny 1•2: Exploded and Reloaded – Nintendo Switch – Screenshot Credit: The Natural Aristocrat® via Nippon Ichi Software

Prinny 1•2: Exploded and Reloaded forces you to get good and weather the storm through pattern memorization and the occasional falling right into a pit. And when you do win? It feels good, like enjoying fresh cotton candy at the carnival after winning a prize at a seemingly rigged game.

Prinny 1•2: Exploded and Reloaded – Nintendo Switch – Screenshot Credit: Nir Regev / The Natural Aristocrat® via Nippon Ichi Software

It’s rewarding defeating bosses in this Prinny collection despite their cheapness. You’ll find yourself doing the jump slash attack quite often… Only to fall prey to accidentally jumping into a no-longer stunned boss.

You’ll smarten up on the fly though and stop playing so recklessly. These games will punish you if you go Sonic and try to run through everything. You will get damaged and likely lose a Prinny. Thankfully the game is filled to the brim with checkpoints to avoid the set-in of platforming madness.

Prinny 1•2: Exploded and Reloaded – Nintendo Switch – Screenshot Credit: Nir Regev / The Natural Aristocrat® via Nippon Ichi Software

Favorites like Flonne do make an appearance in the game and the Disgaea-style humor seeps through in every cut scene. NIS clearly prides itself on giving a casual feel to cutscenes with brutally hardcore tactical gaming.

Prinny 1•2: Exploded and Reloaded – Nintendo Switch – Screenshot Credit: The Natural Aristocrat® via Nippon Ichi Software

One particularly memorable battle is when you fight two bosses at once for the first time. You have to actively time your attacks while avoiding getting hit by the other one, it’s a challenge… But again immensely rewarding when you finally do win.

Prinny 1•2: Exploded and Reloaded – Nintendo Switch – Screenshot Credit: The Natural Aristocrat® via Nippon Ichi Software

Prinny 1•2: Exploded and Reloaded is just before the line of becoming so infuriating you’ll step away. It dances the tightrope of reeling you back for the challenge. The fish in the sea waiting around for a worthy adversary.

Prinny 1•2: Exploded and Reloaded – Nintendo Switch – Screenshot Credit: Nir Regev / The Natural Aristocrat® via Nippon Ichi Software

Conclusion: A must for the 8-bit and 16-bit generation to see if they’ve still got it!

You can pre-order the ‘Just Desserts’ physical edition now at Amazon. #CommissionsEarned.

Disclosure: NIS America provided The Natural Aristocrat® a coup of Prinny 1•2: Exploded and Reloaded for review. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

More Disgaea:

– Be sure to read a review of Disgaea 4 Complete+ at LiveGameDeals.com.

– Also check out Disgaea 4 Complete+ ‘False News’ storyline highly relevant today and Disgaea 6: Defiance of Destiny is arriving in Summer 2021 on Nintendo Switch

– Watch an exclusive interview with Disgaea 4 voice actress Carrie Savage from Anime NYC 2019!

Be sure to visit Prinnes.com to learn more about the title!