Pseudoregalia is not a fifth-generation console game out of time, but rather the kind of game that could only be made decades out from that era. The polygonal style, low-resolution textures, limited sound capabilities, and general haze which were borne of technical limitations have gained appreciation from those who grew up in that era for evoking a dreamlike atmosphere. Pseudoregalia could not have been made then, because this retrospective understanding of fifth-generation 3D games informs Pseudoregalia, from its design, to its aesthetic, to even its narrative framing. Its own falseness is acknowledged in the title - all media is fiction, representations of real things, but "Pseudo" implies a level deeper. This is a representation of a representation of regalia (i.e. the castle, the princess) and the unreality of it could not be more salient. Pseudoregalia evoked nostalgic feelings for me, having grown up with games of the fifth generation, while also prompting reflection on the fictional nature of these nostalgic memories, which, like Pseudoregalia, have succumbed to haze.

The gameplay itself is also a dream, in that it's superb. The platforming is a genuine delight, with a high skill ceiling enabling endless sequence breaking. A second playthrough is mandatory to truly appreciate just how intricate Pseudoregalia's design is. I went for 100% on my second playthrough and it was a joy using the knowledge and skill acquired from the first to really mix up the order I did things in, getting to places and power-ups well before I was "supposed" to by making clever use of the versatile wall-kick.

I need to acknowledge the character design of Sybil. I've seen some of the not-in-game art of her and, uh, let's just say it's not to my tastes. You do you rittzler, but I'm not down with what you seem to be down with as far as anthropomorphic animals go. With that said, her in-game, polygonal design is wonderful. Her enormous thighs may have an ulterior motive, but in-game they convey her leg-strength and acrobatic abilities, which are brought to life with beautiful animation. Her grey-gold colour scheme makes her look "regal" and thus she fits just right in these environments against a backdrop of greys, purples and light blues. Her and the environment come together to form such a cohesive picture.

Pseudoregalia is a small but plucky game, packing an atmospheric, mechanically thrilling punch in a short playtime. Not only did I want to immediately jump in and play through it again, I literally couldn't imagine just playing it once. If that's not a sign of a great game I don't know what is.