About this game
Princess Crown (1997) is the Sega Saturn action RPG that served as the creative origin of Vanillaware — the studio that would later produce Odin Sphere, Dragon's Crown, and 13 Sentinels. Directed by George Kamitani, it features sumptuous hand-drawn 2D animation years ahead of its era, and a side-scrolling action RPG framework centered on a princess who fights to reclaim her kingdom. Japan-only on Saturn, it remains one of the platform's rarest and most visually distinctive titles.
Key Features
Side-scrolling action RPG with fluid hand-drawn 2D animation that was exceptional for the era — character movements and special attacks are frame-by-frame illustrated with the care of a fantasy anime film. The heroine Gradriel fights across a fairy-tale medieval world, using a combination of sword attacks, magic, and items. The game features multiple playable characters with distinct stories that intersect. The visual style directly established the template for all subsequent Vanillaware titles.
The Story Behind
Development on Princess Crown began in 1995 at an unnamed studio with George Kamitani directing. When the studio went bankrupt in 1996, the team was absorbed into Atlus' Osaka studio, where the game was completed. Released in December 1997 — near the Saturn's commercial twilight — it sold modestly but earned a devoted following for its extraordinary art. Kamitani later founded Vanillaware with former Atlus colleagues; Princess Crown's DNA runs directly through every Vanillaware title since, making it one of gaming's most historically significant Japan-only releases.
Tricks & Tales
Princess Crown was later ported to PlayStation Portable in Japan in 2005, but never received an official English localization. Fan translations exist for both the Saturn and PSP versions. The character Gradriel appears as a cameo in Odin Sphere, connecting the two games across the Vanillaware universe. The game's development history — studio bankruptcy, rescue by Atlus, limited release — makes surviving copies historically loaded artifacts beyond their playability.
Collector's Guide
Region & Compatibility
Japan exclusive on Saturn. A PSP port was released in Japan in 2005. Never officially localized into English on any platform.
Maintenance Tips
Standard Saturn disc care applies. Given the rarity and value of this title, store the disc in a protective case with care. The Saturn disc format is prone to disc rot in poor storage conditions — cool, dry, dark storage is essential.
Available in our shop
Hand-cleaned and tested units shipped worldwide from Toyohashi, Japan. HP direct purchase exclusive: we include a printed shop owner's note card with every order.
Direct purchase supports this museum directly. eBay Top Rated Seller · 1,750+ reviews · 100% positive feedback.
Unexpected Discoveries
Games you weren't looking for — but might be glad you found.
Memories from around the world
This is a young museum, and this page is still waiting for its first voices. The memories people send reach Taisei personally, and the ones that move him find a home here over time — always with the writer's blessing. Yours could be the very first for this game.
Share your memory ↑