I really enjoyed the original Prinny: Can I Really Be the Hero?. It surprised me. It was old school mixed in with some new-school sensibilities. And it didn’t hurt that it was hilarious. It is probably due to that game that I love prinnies. One of these days, I’m going to play a Disgaea game and create an army of them. Look out, Etna! Your days are numbered! However, my days are numbered with Prinny 2: Operation Dawn of Panties, Dood! for the PSP.

Prinny 2 occurs sometime after the original. Unlike the first game, which had a nice prinny, this prinny is a bit more snarky and allows for a bit more humorous occasions. You follow a prinny who has been sent to rescue Etna’s panties. And no, I’m not kidding. Now he has 10 hours or so to get them back, or she causes him to explode. You do know that hilariousness and gnashing of teeth occur now, right?

Gnashing of teeth is actually the theme of the game. Prinny 2 is a platformer that doesn’t pull any of punches and does its best to drive the player crazy. Precession is almost a requirement as the bullets and monsters are in predetermined places. Throw in some breakable blocks and a bouncing fungus, and things get even tougher. Furthermore, some of the level design makes things even more challenging than it needs to be. For example, one of the last stages has you traveling high in the sky with breakable blocks. On those blocks are “missile” generators; flyers are around as well. It took about 50 lives to complete it. And don’t ask about most of the bosses as those took hundreds of lives.

Thankfully, the controls are tight — no, they’re tighter than ever. Wait, is that a good thing? The prinny responds far more quickly than I remember. He still jumps in a tight, unmovable arc with double jumps. The air slashes allow for distance attacks. So yes, things are very familiar to the original. What’s new here is how the combo meter is handled. In the original game, one filled up the meter to boost the score. Now it is used to boost attack when it is full. It’s an awesome feature that makes certain parts easier. It is also used against you as anything nearby is destroyed, ranging from small enemies to destroyable platforms, and the prinny falls to his doom.

On the bright side, the game does look very nice. If you’re familiar with the series, then you already know what to expect from Prinny 2: high-resolution anime-styled graphics. Everything is, for the most part, reminiscent of the other games, and I like that. It feels like I could see a 2-D version of what Adell and Laharl would traverse. It also moves very smoothly.

Sound wise, everything is solid. The same old sounds are heard throughout the game. Considering that it takes place in the Disgaea universe, it is forgivable. And the same is true for the music. But nothing really sticks out except the well-done voice acting. It is hilarious! However Nippon Ichi finds these folks, it must be a well-kept secret; the voice acting is a tier above most games.

So how do I feel about Prinny 2? Despite my disappointment with how difficult the game is, I enjoyed the majority of my time with it. It was nice to have it in my PSP, play, set it aside and return. But the lack of a true suspension feature harms it. I own other games that require my attention, and there is only so much masochism a man can take. I am exhausted and frustrated.

You can find Prinny 2 for about $20. And it is a solid addition to any hardcore gamer’s library. Be warned that this game is harder than nails. Only the most patient and persistent need apply. I, on the other hand, am done with this game. I never want to see it again. This is a shame considering the caliber of the game.