Lisa Dawn's Blog: The Princess Blog, page 40
January 28, 2022
Review: The Princess Switch 3
I realize I'm a bit behind with this review. After sharing my thoughts on the first Princess Switch movie in 2018, I didn't find it necessary to review every pointless sequel that came after it. This one qualifies as another Netflix surprise for me because The Princess Switch 3 wasn't nearly as terrible as I was expecting it to be, even after watching a hilarious review of it on YouTube. While it is not a classic by any means, it does get some props for originality by diverting from the standard script of two girls who look alike living out a day in each other's lives. The "switch" part doesn't even happen until the third act. Even then, it isn't about these characters getting to know each other better by walking in their shoes since that was already covered in the first film. Instead, it's a weird espionage thriller with a surprisingly heartfelt ending.
If you missed the second movie (in which case I don't blame you), there are now three lookalikes living in the same universe. The princess from the first film is now queen, and she has a cousin named Fiona who looks exactly like her but in a tacky blonde wig. While the first two movies were Stacy and Margaret's stories, this one is all about Fiona. Since she is a bit of a troublemaker, it takes the trilogy in a new direction from the squeaky clean stereotypes that we were following in the first two films. This one follows the current trend of princesses forgiving characters who betrayed them in the past and exploring why those characters turned out the way they did. Queen Margaret's heart gold allows her to forgive Fiona for her past transgressions and give her a chance to redeem herself by recovering an ultra-rare Christmas tree topper that was stolen from the palace.
I liked that the romance in this film was somewhat unconventional compared to standard Netflix or Hallmark princess movies. Instead of meeting someone outside of her regular circle, Fiona is reacquainted with her childhood friend, Peter, who she has held feelings for most of her life but is afraid to admit to them because everyone she gets close with eventually abandons her. She and Peter have mad chemistry, and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the unexpected twists and turns that their story took before they could ultimately achieve their happy ending. It makes sense that this movie focused on giving Fiona a love interest since the first one ended with Stacy marrying a prince, and the second one saw Queen Margaret finally commit to Stacy's friend, who she was attracted to in the original film. Now that all three royal Vanessa Hudgens characters found their happy endings, does that mean she's going to have a fourth lookalike? Let's hope not...
I was genuinely surprised by how choked up I got at the end of this film. Fiona seems like such a silly character who was only there as sequel bait, but the movie succeeds at fleshing out this former throwaway character and giving her a lot of heart. It demonstrates how children who are separated from their parents struggle to find the right path in life and how family can show them the way back. Don't get me wrong; she still provided tons of comic relief, especially when she Kim Possibles her way through a series of laser traps. That's why the reunion with her family at the end is so unexpectedly emotional. This movie is superior to the other two in the trilogy because its lack of predictability makes the ending more meaningful and earned.
There are many cases where a movie trilogy doesn't find its groove until the third film. Look how much better Cinderella III: A Twist in Time is than Cinderella II: Dreams Come True or how much stronger the plot and soundtrack are in Aladdin and the King of Thieves compared to Return of Jafar. I think The Princess Switch 3 was an unnecessary sequel that still managed to find its direction by taking a comic relief character from The Princess Switch 2 and giving her a soul. Maybe there's something in the water at Netflix right now. They might not know how to start a series of films or episodes, but boy do they know how to end it.
January 26, 2022
Princess Surprises on Netflix
Aside from Maya and the Three, I've recently discovered some unexpected princess stories and announcements from Netflix. One came in the form of a show I didn't expect to like, and another in the form of a cheeseball movie with a plot that I've seen a million times before. There was also an unexpected announcement about a new season of a show I had all but forgotten about due to its lack of compelling continuity. All in all, Netflix is doing a lot better in terms of content right now than Disney+, which brought very little else to the table outside of WandaVision. Keep those recommendations coming, though! Maybe there's something else I've missed.
From an outsider's perspective, Centaurworld does not look like the type of show that would have a strong plot. It's zany, nonsensical, and occasionally breaks the fourth wall. However, when it wants to be serious, it can so serious that you might even end up questioning the show's target audience. The heart of the Centaurworld is the unbreakable and almost supernatural bond between the Horse and her Rider (those are their actual names in the show). In the first episode, Horse and Rider get split between the human and centaur worlds, which have very different animation styles, color schemes, and rules. No matter how deeply Horse gets absorbed into the magical and absurd Centaurworld, she never gives up hope that Rider will find her again. Their bond bares a strong resemblance to that of the Jewel Riders and their unicorn friends from Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders.
Even though Centaurworld has many embarrassing moments that made me wonder why I was still watching it, the ultra intense ending makes it all worthwhile. The series does have a princess in it, but it is the last character you would expect her to be. When she is revealed, the heartbreaking story behind the Nightmare King that wreaks havoc on both worlds and started an endless war comes to light and brings the show to a surprisingly emotional conclusion. Centaurworld has a beautiful soundtrack with new songs in almost every episode, including one that was heavily inspired by Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats. With only 18 episodes, it's a pretty quick watch, but be prepared for an unexpected tearjerker of an ending.
Another surprise was a stereotypical Hallmark princess movie called The Royal Treatment . While this is quite possibly the most predictable movie I have ever seen in my life, I did a double take when I saw the names of the two main actors. , who played Aladdin in Disney's 2019 remake stars as a modern prince from yet another made-up country who is forced into an arranged marriage with someone he doesn't love. The gender-bent Princess Jasmine reference is pretty clear, as well as the not-so-subtle reference to The Princess Diaries, another movie about an ordinary girl becoming a princess. The main reason I was surprised to see Mena is that I read a while ago that he had trouble getting cast in any roles after Aladdin. I guess Netflix saw the same article and thought he was an easy target. The "ordinary girl" who becomes royalty in the film is played by , another talented Disney actress who played the title character in the Disney Channel show Austin and Ally. She puts on a fake New York accent in this film and does her best to make an annoying character likable. This is a good example of a project where the entire budget went into the cast and no one cared about the story.
Last but not least, there is a new season of Disenchantment coming out in just a couple weeks on February 9th. I have lost interest in this show with each progressive season, but maybe things will pick up this time. Part 3 was so disjointed that I honestly can't even remember if it ended on a cliffhanger or not. The only thing I remember is that it had a mermaid in it. However, if you need something new to stream after finishing Centaurworld and The Royal Treatment, this could be a viable option. What's your favorite princess show or movie on Netflix right now? Let me know in the comments!
January 23, 2022
Review: Fae Bloodlines Duology
Fae Away and Fae Fractured make up the first Fae Bloodlines duology by Rose Garcia. The title of the first book may sound like some sort of weird supernatural insect repellent, but the story is much better than its namesake. I was drawn to this series by the description of a fae princess who falls in love with a boy from the human world. It sounded like a fairy version of "The Little Mermaid." While it does read a little like that, Fae Away is very much its own story with lots of worldbuilding and character development. The book is told from the perspective of both lovers, so it provides lots of insight into the human and fae worlds. I wasn't able to get quite as into the sequel, Fae Fractured. Like most epic fantasy conclusions, it focused more on war and death than further developing the protagonists' love story, but it does provide a satisfying conclusion to the two-book series.
Princess Celyse grew up feeling like she never fit in among the fae court, but she couldn't understand why. Celyse carried an odd affinity toward the human world, and her mother favored her twin sister, Malena. One day, Celyse discovers a shimmer--a portal to the human world--that leads to the bedroom of a young man named Julio. She communicates with him in secret for many months but never dares to cross all the way through the portal for she understands her responsibilities as princess of Strong Haven and knows the dangers of crossing into the human world. However, when she learns of a threat to both her family and the human realm, she has no choice but to trust in her beloved secret companion for help to save both worlds. Despite her desire to be with Julio, she must to keep her distance. Like most fairy tale princesses, Celyse is trapped by the obligation of a marriage alliance to support her kingdom and is also bound by the fae race, which is rumored to have a deadly kiss.
Julio is not just a generic protagonist for the readers to latch onto like many of the human counterparts in other paranormal romance stories. He has struggled with supernatural experiences of his own, most notably, the ability to see ghosts. His psychic mother is aware of his abilities and willing to train him as soon as he is ready. Julio's mother is one of the best characters in this series. She is loving, supportive, and understanding, but never pushes Julio to use or not to use his powers. Unfortunately, Julio, like a normal teenage boy, is unwilling to confide in his mother for the majority of Fae Away. I felt sorry for her throughout most of the book since she always sensed when something bad was happening to him, but he would never tell her what it was. This changes in Fae Fractured when he finally tells his mother the truth, and her strength of character shines through at last.
My favorite thing about this story is the romance. After visiting each other in secret for so long and teaching each other everything about their worlds, I wanted nothing more than for Julio and Celyse to be together. The evil forces pulling them apart wae more than enough motivation to read the second book and complete the series. To make matters worse, Julio's best friend, Manny, gets caught up in the war between the fae, despite being an ordinary teenage boy who has no idea what's going on. Though I don't regret reading Fae Fractured, I felt like it was dragged out by lengthy descriptions of war and battles and had less time to focus on the romance between Celyse and Julio, which serves as the heart of the series.
I highly recommend the Fae Bloodlines books to anyone who loves fairy tales and paranormal romance. Though the story is far from original, it has enough unique elements to make it enjoyable to people who have read many other books with this plot. I like that it takes place in modern times because that allows it to highlight the contrast between the modern world and the fae world and provides opportunities for some hilarious dialogue when characters from both worlds come together. My favorite thing about the books is the love story between Celyse and Julio, which beautifully highlights how two different people can learn to love each other and respect their differences.
January 21, 2022
Review: The King's Daughter
The king's daughter, Marie-Josephe, was brought up in a convent for most of her life similar to the princess who married the prince at the end of "The Little Mermaid" until King Louis XIV invited her to live in the opulent palace of Versailles under the guise of the new court composer. However, that is where the similarities to the famous mermaid-centric fairy tale end. Instead of a catty love triangle, Marie discovers the magical mermaid trapped in the dungeons of Louis's palace and bonds with her instantly due to their shared ability to use music to communicate. When she learns that the mermaid is a prisoner who was separated from her underwater family, she begs the king to release her. King Louis's greed over the promise of immortality overshadows his love for his illegitimate daughter, and he continues his plans to slay the mermaid in secret so he can use her heart to rule over France forever. It is only through the help of a loyal priest and an adventuresome sea captain that Marie has any hope of escaping the prison that she and the mermaid are trapped in.
The King's Daughter is that it takes popular fairy tale tropes and enhances them in a way that sets tit apart from other movies with similar themes and ideas. Even though it has a traditional storybook opening narrated by Julie Andrews like Enchanted , it doesn't take place in a generic faraway kingdom. Instead, it is set in the palace of Versailles, a real place that I have been to, under the rule of Louis XIV, a real king. This setting makes it feel even more authentic and grounded in the historical elements of the film. It truly does justice to the sweeping gardens and countless golden statues embedded throughout the palace with its many scenes that were shot on location in France. Like Anastasia , Marie-Josephe is a lonely girl who thinks she is an orphan until she learns that she is secretly a princess and is forced into an arranged marriage like Jasmine. However, Marie is not a generic princess heroine. She is an individual, defined by her talent for composing beautiful music and her equally beautiful heart that she expresses through her desire to free the mermaid.
I loved the way that the mermaid was presented as well. Played by a Chinese actress named , the mythical being is unable to communicate with words, similar to the sea creature from The Shape of Water . Her desire for freedom is made clear through her beautiful song and her story. She too has a heart as big as the ocean, for she is willing to use her powerful healing magic on the very humans who hold her captive, which makes it even more tragic that King Louis desires to take her life. She does not have the traditional mermaid appearance with a fully human upper half, but she is still beautiful. Scales cover her entire body, and her arms end in fins instead of hands, giving her an mystical otherworldly feel. When her backstory is revealed later in the film, her connection to Marie-Josephe becomes even stronger as well as Marie's resolve to return her to her family after having experienced what it was like to to grow up without one.
I strongly recommend this movie to all lovers of mermaids or fairy tales. It is a original story that incorporates everything that makes fantasy movies memorable memorable in the timeless setting of Versailles. Due to its slow release, it doesn't feel like a modern princess movie, and I think that's a good thing. It takes cinema back to a time of peak nostalgia and proves that Hollywood is still capable of telling original stories despite their strong inclination not to. The King's Daughter is a timeless film for princesses of all ages that gives a new perspective on mermaids. Not all mermaid want to become human or fall in love with them. Some just want to go home and be with their families like anyone else.
January 17, 2022
Review: Belle
Belle is the first movie I had the pleasure of seeing in theaters since the lockdown, and it was absolutely worth it! This is an anime film that I watched in the original Japanese with English subtitles, so I can't comment on the dub, but the Japanese voices were great. Though it is not exactly a retelling of "Beauty and the Beast," there are many references to the animated Disney version in particular, including several shots that looked like they were copied directly from the film. The story is still unique in its own way, however. It feels fresh and modern without forcing strong feminist stereotypes onto its audience. The animation is visually stunning and is accompanied by a beautiful soundtrack. The story incorporates modern technology in a way that doesn't demean it and shows how we can take advantage of the digital era to turn our own lives into a fairy tale.
Like many Magical Girl anime stories, Belle focuses on an ordinary schoolgirl named Suzu who gets wrapped up in an extraordinary situation. Though she is only a teenager, Suzu struggles with PTSD after seeing her mother sacrifice herself to save another child when she was young. Due to the emotional trauma of this experience, Suzu is not able to sing without crying because it reminds her too much of her mother. When her friend, Ruka, creates an avatar for her in a virtual reality universe called U, Suzu finds that her pink-haired avatar is able to sing everything she is feeling without being held back by her emotions. This creates a phenomenon for people inside the U and those watching it in the real world that turns Suzu's avatar, Bell, into a pop sensation overnight. Her adoring public later changes her name to "Belle," signifying her status as a pop princess icon.
One of my favorite things about this movie is the visuals. Suzu looks very different as Belle with long flowing pink hair and exotic makeup that gives a subtle nod to the freckles that make her plain in the real world. Yet, her dreamy-eyed expressions and awkward movements make it clear that this is still the same shy girl as opposed to a confident pop star. The world inside the U contains beautiful crisp CGI animation, while the "real" world looks more plain and uses traditional drawings. The "Dragon" or "Beast" character, who she encounters when he crashes one of her concerts, is quite different from the traditional Disney design. He has a large snout like a wolf, long scraggly hair, and odd patterns on his cape that represent bruises. Belle follows a series of mythical-looking pixies to find his castle in the U, but he is afraid to get close to her for the fear that she will discover his true identity. Self-acceptance and identity are the main themes of this film. While most girls would be thrilled to lead a double life as a pop star, Suzu hates attention and is terrified by the thought of so many eyes on her, which is a refreshingly humble perspective for a female role model. Her avatar as Belle serves as her armor.
The final act of the movie is where it hits a home run. Instead of a twist villain, the movie introduces the concept of a twist hero by revealing the Beast's identity as someone the audience never would have guessed. Instead of focusing on the romance, the climax forces Suzu to embrace her inner princess by helping those in need. Her trials allow her to come to terms with her mother's final act of kindness and to accept herself for who she is. Once she does, she is able to truly embrace the fantasy world of the U along with the intimidating pressures of the real world and the importance of doing what is right. This is a princess story for the modern era that brushes upon both the positive and negative aspects of social media and internet culture. It shows us that technology does not need to be a roadblock to being a good person, and if used properly, it can actually help the process along. It is not until Suzu accepts herself for who she is that she can truly become the image that the public created in Belle.
Belle is a lovely movie with a lovely message. In some ways, the "Beauty and the Beast" imagery is a hindrance to its implicit originality, but other movies about VR like Ready Player One also incorporate pop culture properties in a less creative way, so the subtle nods here provide some fan service to hardcore fans of the 1991 Disney classic. The film is visually stunning, especially to those of us who miss the look of hand-drawn animation after seeing so many Disney remakes and CGI action movies. I would recommend this movie to anyone who wants to see something new and different with nostalgic undertones and stunning visuals. Suzu is a heroine for shy girls everywhere who don't have the confidence or physical prowess of modern warrior princesses.
January 16, 2022
Review: Time Princess - The Sacred Beast
The Sacred Beast was the third and final story released in the massive update from Time Princess a little over a month ago. Set in Persia, this is the second middle eastern visual novel in the game since Magic Lamp. It focuses on the mythology of the manticore, the legendary beast with the body of a lion and a scorpion tail. I found this story charming and different from the other visual novels in this game so far. Instead of focusing on romance or history, it follows the formula of movies like Lassie, emphasizing the love between a human and her loyal pet. The cultural fashions in this book were stunning. I found that I liked them much better than the craftable items in Magic Lamp. There were also many different directions that the player could take, resulting in a variety of endings, unlike Cleopatra, which was deceptively linear.
The Sacred Beast is about a young lady named Asha, who works hard to care for her sick brother. When she learns of a valuable mushroom that could treat his illness or grant her the money she needs for medicine, she braves the dangers of the forbidden forest and encounters a fearsome manticore. If the player chooses to help the manticore, he becomes Asha's loyal companion and her gateway into a life of leisure at the palace. From this point, the story can take many different turns depending on who the player chooses to trust. I enjoyed all of the twists and potential outcomes. The only thing that bothered me is that there is no option for Asha to give the healing mushroom to her brother, and very little of the story focuses on her desire to save him despite that being her original motivation. Her brother is even the one to name the manticore Corey, which sticks for the remainder of the story.
There are three companions in this story, but only one of them has the potential to become a love interest, and it was not the one I was hoping for. Each of these companions is hiding a dark secret. These twists provide excellent motivation for players to play each available path and uncover their mysteries one by one. Aside from their secret motivations, each companion also has a secret superpower. Yasmin, the king's guard, is the first to reveal her special ability, which is the power to know when someone is lying. Reza, the palace secretary, has a mysterious ability that is revealed later on, as well as Yazdan, the lazy prince. Since this is so common in this world, the king assumes that Asha has the ability to control the manticore, but in actuality, Corey is simply indebted to her after she saved his life. The true love story is between Corey and Asha, which gives it some vague similarities to "Beauty and the Beast" without the romantic aspects. Corey is by far the most loyal and genuine character that Asha encounters even though some of the others may seem that way at first.
The Sacred Beast has some striking ancient Persian fashions that include some of the most beautiful veils that Time Princess has to offer. There is an outfit for every occasion, including one that mirrors Yasmin's royal guard uniform, which looks like fantasy video game armor. My favorite dress is the formal one that makes Asha look like an exotic flower. It has a pink off-the-shoulder bodice that flairs out into a green and gold overskirt and a split pink underskirt with a partly transparent midpiece. Even the maid uniform that Asha uses for disguises is lovely with a long flowing mint green top over matching pants and a silver tiara-like headpiece. These are the sorts of fantasy looks that I would have preferred over the neutral-colored heavy desert robes of Magic Lamp.
Overall, The Sacred Beast is an excellent addition to the Time Princess library. It has a few familiar elements, such as the middle eastern setting and the twist villain ending, but it's a pretty original story in terms of plot. It's the first time I've seen the "boy and his dog" trope taken in this direction with a young woman instead of a boy and a loyal manticore instead of a dog. I enjoyed seeing a story that focuses so heavily on the manticore, a mythological creature that is often referenced in stories such as Dark Angel and The Last Unicorn but rarely focused on. Anyone who has a pet would particularly enjoy this visual novel as Corey often behaves just like a real puppy.
January 9, 2022
Maya and the Three Is a Typical Modern Princess Show, But Is That Really a Good Thing?
When I first saw the trailer for Netflix's Maya and the Three, it looked like the most generic modern princess show I'd ever seen. Now that I've actually watched it... I feel pretty much the same. Though not produced by Disney, this show takes all the modern-age princess tropes that Disney developed over the past decade leading up to Raya and the Last Dragon and drags them out over the course of ten episodes. If you want to see what the media is currently pandering to the next generation, you need look no further than Netflix, the wokest streaming network around. Maya and the Three is produced by the same people who worked on the 2014 animated film The Book of Life and shares many of the aspects that made it both memorable and not so memorable. Like The Book of Life, Maya has a unique and creative art style inspired by Aztec, Mayan, Caribbean, and Incan influences, making it a visual feast for the eyes. Yet, its story leaves much to be desired, and its modern influences act as a hindrance to its otherwise unique form of storytelling.
My biggest issue with Maya and the Three stems from one of the show's greatest strengths--its character designs. The level of creativity in this show can give Disney a run for its money, right down to its gimmicky occasional breaking of the aspect ratio bars. Despite such a heavily stylized look, the animators failed to consider the physics of their whimsical world. The women are built like little toothpicks, while the men are massive brick houses. That would have worked okay if the show wasn't trying to establish (like many other modern princess properties) that women are just as strong, if not stronger, than men, especially those born into royalty. That makes the opening scene of tiny little Maya beating up a world-renowned fighter who is at least ten times her size feel campy instead of empowering, even in a world filled with magic. In fact, Maya is so tiny in comparison to the other characters that I thought she was an eight-year-old girl until several episodes in when it was revealed that she was supposed to be eighteen. Her childish appearance made the romantic aspect of the show feel even more awkward in a story that was already bloated with other characters and subplots.
I can't blame Maya and the Three for ruining princess culture. That has been a slow and ongoing process for at least a decade. I can, however, blame it for pandering to it and exacerbating the process. I did not find this show as problematic as the live-action Mulan remake since Maya is willing to ask for help from the "three" warriors referenced in the title. Still, it is difficult to take her seriously when she appears to be a small child leading a group of gargantuan fully-grown warriors. Some of this could be explained by the truth behind Maya's origins, which is revealed early in the show, but it never establishes whether or not that is actually the reason that her physical ability is not reflected in her appearance. Still, the series proves that not all hope is lost for modern princess culture. It demonstrates the benefits of modern princess stories just as much as the faults. Maya shares more in common with Elena of Avalor than just her Mesoamerican heritage. Both are strong leaders who understand the importance of teamwork and must occasionally make amends for their own shortcomings, which are all positive lessons for children. However, Maya is less feminine than Elena overall, which furthers the more problematic aspects of modern-day princess culture, even after studies have proven that feminine heroines actually have a positive impact on the development of young girls.
The story behind Maya and the Three may not have been so bad if I hadn't already seen so many similar properties within the past year or two. It has a lot in common with Raya and the Last Dragon with the concept of a warrior princess needing to gather a colorful cast of companions from various lands in order to form a team powerful enough to save her kingdom. There were a few surprises that gave the show some heartwarming moments, such as the reason her kingdom was being threatened, which leads back to the age-old tradition of princesses as targets. It may have worked better as a movie than a series because so much of it felt like filler or just animators showing off. I realize the irony of this statement since I thought Raya and the Last Dragon was too rushed to develop its large cast of warrior companions, but I didn't care enough about Maya's companions to desire extended episodes about their backstories. As much as I liked that show included a romance for the princess heroine, even that felt underwhelming and superficial.
Maya and the Three succeeds as a perfect time capsule of what fairy tale princesses are supposed to be like in the 2020s. For that very reason, it cannot stand on its own as a great show. The mythology and creativity behind it are certainly impressive but are not enough to make up for how obviously the series panders to modern feminist ideals. Even the twist ending demonstrates this lack of attention to creativity with its innovative concept that is so rushed in the form of a voiceover that it never gets the opportunity to leave the impact that it was meant to. Maybe I'm too old-fashioned to truly appreciate these types of stories, but I still find it difficult to relate to a 50-pound girl who is capable of beating up a 500-pound brute.
January 2, 2022
Review: Time Princess - Cleopatra Visual Novel
Cleopatra's tale begins with a massive betrayal from her brother, Ptolemy. In a surprisingly gender-equal monarchy, Cleopatra was supposed to rule peacefully at Ptolemy's side as co-rulers. However, Ptolemy was greedy and wanted to be the only pharaoh during his reign, so he turned the people against Cleopatra and had her banished from the throne. Cleopatra's loyal sister, Arsinoe, sought vengeance against their greedy brother and led an army to overthrow him and restore Cleopatra to the throne. Many of the decisions that the player must make throughout this story involve keeping Arsinoe's violent instincts in check. Despite her sisterly love for Cleopatra, she is a heartless warmonger who is bent on nothing but revenge. Even though Cleopatra is the one who should desire vengeance the most after she was betrayed, she decides to play the long game by joining forces with Julius Caesar and seducing him into lending her his armies to support her cause.
If you are looking for a romantic story to get lost in, this isn't it. Cleopatra's tale is one of seduction, bloodlust, and vengeance. Even if the player tries to make decisions that imply Cleo's feelings for Julius Caesar are genuine, at the end of the day, she is still using him for his power to restore her throne. Pursuing a romance with Caesar further complicates Cleopatra's relationship with Arsinoe, who believes that allying with anyone outside of Egypt is no different than betraying their homeland. Someone gets hurt no matter what decision you make, which tends to be the biggest struggle of real-life monarchs. In that sense, the game gives off some vibes of Yes, Your Grace, which also results in losses no matter which decision the player makes. The one thing I didn't appreciate about the Cleopatra visual is that, unlike Queen Marie, all paths lead to the same ending. While this may be more historically accurate, it makes all the story paths and choices feel like a sham. I was pretty surprised by this since most of the other visual novels in this game are more dynamic.
The gorgeous fashions in this story vastly make up for my disappointment with Whispers of the Rain. It's easy to show off the exotic and mystical fashions of the great Cleopatra. This game exceeds expectations with its signature attention to detail and historical accuracy. The ancient Egyptian robes and golden accessories are not only authentic but also breathtaking as the player is transformed into a pharaoh who was famous for being so beautiful that some said she was the reincarnation of the goddess Isis. It is difficult for me to pick a favorite since each piece is uniquely crafted with golden accessories and hieroglyphics. Cleo's golden coronation dress is particularly stunning with its serpent-inspired crown, belt, and armbands, but her casual lotus dress is a breath of fresh air with its flowing pink and blue petal-like layers. I also appreciate the subtle hieroglyphic design embroidered onto the skirt of her battle dress.
This story is a vast improvement over the last one for its educational value and stunning outfits. The only thing I would change is the lack of dynamic endings. Though Cleopatra's story tree branches out in many different directions, they all lead to the same place. One of the joys of visual novels is being able to change the outcome, and I did not feel like that was the case here. No matter what happens, Cleopatra must ultimately accept Caesar's help and be scorned by the people for faltering in her Egyptian pride by allying with Rome. I would have liked to see an option for her to betray Caesar and side with Arsinoe instead or even to try to convince Ptolemy to see reason. Still, this story taught me a lot about history and allowed me to indulge in ancient Egyptian riches, and for that reason, I would recommend it to newer players of Time Princess.
December 26, 2021
How To Design Your Dream Castle
I've been living in my new castle for almost three weeks now, and it's been a lot of work. As promised, I'm ready to tell you all about the homebuying process. Before I begin, I would like to point out that buying a house is a personal process that varies with each individual. Something that worked out for me might not work so well for you, and that's perfectly fine. After all, a "dream" castle is entirely dependent on the dreams of the person living in it. For smaller spaces, please refer to my "How To Decorate Like a Princess" post, which focuses on individual rooms or small apartments. I've realized that decorating a small space is a very different process from transforming an entire house into an enchanted home. For example, it's better to put up as many decorations as possible to make a smaller space feel larger, while houses are more about using little touches to show off the space you have.
The first step in the home-buying process is picking a blueprint that works best for you. We had our house custom-built, so it was very important that we picked the right blueprint that would determine everything that the builders would work on over the course of the following year. If you are on a set deadline to move, having a house custom-built might not be the best option for you. There are tons of unexpected delays that could push back the move-in date by many months. However, if you are not in a hurry, customizing a new house can be a magical process that allows you to get involved in the magical transformation of a plot of land into your dream castle. For the modern princess who commutes to work, a one-story house could be ideal with its spacious and cozy living area to come home to. Since I plan to work from home, like many others in a post-COVID world, I opted for a two-story home with a smaller living room but lots of extra space upstairs for a home office.
One of the great things about floor plans is that you can upload them to websites like floorplanner.com to create a 3D rendering of what your house will look like and easily add furniture and other customizations to get an idea of how you want it set up. I used Photoshop to edit some of my more specific options from the Design Center into my 3D renderings to have an even more accurate picture of what the completed house would look like. The Design Center meeting can be exciting because it gives you the opportunity to pick the final colors and patterns for everything in your house, but the options they offer tend to be rather neutral, such as grays, browns, and beiges. If you want to give it that magical fairy tale touch, you have to be willing to splurge a bit on art deco tiles or higher-tier options. I found my touch of magic from the holographic tiles in two art deco sets called "Baroque" and "Rain Drop." Though these patterns use neutral colors, they are interspersed with shimmery rainbow-reflecting tiles that make our kitchen and shower shimmer like an enchanted forest.
With so many neutral colors from the Design Center, my castle still wasn't feeling all that magical yet. Therefore, I decided to fill it with as much purple--the color of royalty--as I could. I found some luxurious purple curtains on Amazon for the living room and master bedroom and ordered a new king-size bed with a fancy purple comforter set. The customization options on Apt2B.com allowed me to create my dream purple couch. However, they use a third-party shipper called Metropolitan Warehouse, which is extremely unreliable, so I have yet to receive the couch I ordered in October. For this reason, I do not recommend ordering furniture from them. Once the moving truck arrived with my old things, I decided to display them in a sophisticated and modern way by framing my artwork and placing my collectibles in a glass display case instead of an open plastic shelving unit. This did not allow me to display as many of my possessions as in my smaller apartments, but it allowed me to protect them better and show off more of their value.
Becoming a homeowner is a personal experience that differs for each individual. There are many steps involved in turning a floor plan into the castle of your dreams. It helps to use sites like floorplanner.com to get a solid idea of your layout and what types of furniture will look nice in your house if it is still in the building phase. Color and patterns are important for the overall feel that you would like your castle to evoke. There is an endless number of modifications you can make to a house if you aren't happy with the neutral options from the design center. You can always have the walls repainted or the carpets and tiles replaced with something more colorful. For me, I opted to keep the neutral colors of the house and accent them with curtains and furniture that emphasize my personal regal tastes. What would your dream castle look like? Let me know in the comments!
December 24, 2021
Review: Time Princess - Whispers of the Rain
Whispers of the Rain follows Time Princess's recent trend of gritty crime dramas, though it isn't nearly as dark as Have You Seen Claudia? In fact, this story could have worked well as a TV drama or novel, but not so much in the context of a dress-up game. The setting doesn't feel as culturally diverse as many of the other stories from this game, including Taisho Adventures, which also takes place in Japan. Like Dancing On Ice, Whispers features an ambitious young woman who is down on her luck due to an incompetent parent. Chie is an aspiring art curator who dreams of opening her own gallery. The art world has its share of drama between forgeries and conning patrons, but I personally did not find this setting particularly interesting. What really drives the story is Chie's quest to find out who abandoned Haruko, the baby she finds and decides to care for alongside the two new companions she meets that day.
Since Whispers of the Rain focuses more on parental love than romantic love, the two companion characters--Mr. Takahashi and Miss Ayano--take on the role of co-parents alongside Chie more so than love interests. Both Takahashi and Ayano have dark pasts. The motivation to complete the story relies heavily on how interested the player is in learning their secrets as well as finding out who Haruko's true mother is. Mr. Takahashi is a nice guy, but not particularly interesting, whereas Ayano is the exact opposite. She is stunningly beautiful in a hot pink silken gown and extravagant fur overcoat but she is also rather selfish, which is explained by the tragedy she experienced in her life prior to meeting Chie. These two unlikely companions balance each other's strengths and weaknesses well, which make them good co-parents to Haruko and supportive figures for Chie to rely on.
Since Time Princess is a dress-up game, fashion is an important aspect. That is where I think Whispers of the Rain falls short. There were a few outfits that I thought were okay, but none of them had that "wow" factor that so many other stories from this game evoke, especially the historical ones. The outfits here are pretty modern, and some of them look downright sloppy. Chie's low-cut white blouse that reveals her black bra underneath accessorized with a red plaid skirt, red lightning bolt-shaped sunglasses, and a double bun with a red streak in it made me chuckle the first time I saw it. It makes sense for an art fanatic to take some risks, but that ensemble is pretty ridiculous when all is said and done. My favorite dress is the black and white gown that Ayano gives Chie to wear to a gallery opening. It is accessorized by an oversized black hat that slants off to the side and reminds me of My Fair Lady . Chie also has many casual looks, including a soft pink overcoat that falls all the way down to her ankles.
Overall, Whispers of the Rain is nothing special compared to many of the riskier visual novels this game has tackled on history and fairy tales. It feels more like a Lifetime Original Movie than historical fiction. There is some drama and surprises, but nothing particularly mind-blowing. Nothing in this setting particularly screams Japan or the 1980s, and the outfits aren't that fun compared to some of the previous stories in this game. I think I speak for many Time Princess fans when I say I'm far more excited for the next visual novel, which will be inspired by the life of Queen Cleopatra.
