So. Much. Fun.
I’m going to let you in on a little secret when it comes to video game previews: they’re certainly a mixed bag, full of good intentions, awash with bugs, and generally forcing a journalist to focus on the good bits. The bad ones? Well, we just hope that polishing can fix those before release.
You can look to one of my most recent previews and compare that to my finished review to see when I need to pull out some backflips to find some decent bits. With Prince of Persia The Lost Crown, my excitement is profound and genuine. Let me tell you, folks: from what I’ve played, this one’s a winner.
While Ubisoft graciously provided me the chance to play through the first three and a half hours of The Lost Crown, I tapped out at just over one hour. You might think that’s a red flag, but let this veteran correct you: I was grinning from ear to ear when I set my controller down, knowing I could play this title all day if Ubisoft would let me. Because I knew that wouldn’t be the case, I want to save The Lost Crown for when I can play as much as I’d like, especially considering its release isn’t that far away. I left my play session very much wanting more.
A 2.5D action-adventure game developed by those who’ve worked on the likes of Rayman and Prince of Persia, Ubisoft said that The Lost Crown is meant to be a Metroidvania-inspired title that fuses together the original Prince of Persia games with its Sands of Time trilogy. From what I’ve seen, the development team has nailed the brief, though I’d personally describe what I’ve experienced as Prince of Persia‘s concept mixed with Ori, and that’s some high praise.
You play as Sargon, the youngest member of a group of elite warriors who defend Persia and its rulers. While a tutorial section introduces you to some combat and traversal options — and quite a few of Lost Crown‘s host of characters — things move fast and keep you interested. It’s not long before you get to what things are really about: one of your own kidnaps the titular Prince of Persia in what you deem an attempt to become the region’s newest ruler.
Determined to save the prince, you and your team of Immortals — in name only, as you’re very squishy if not fighting properly — head to Mount Qaf in order to save him. Upon arrival, you see that time works extremely differently. A monolithic statue has been blown apart but has been suspended in mid-air as it should be crumbling to the ground. Enemy kidnappers who entered the region a mere hour or two before you have somehow aged thirty years. Armed only with his swords and his wit, Sargon and the Immortals split up to investigate and find out what’s happened.
Sargon’s moves are introduced in digestible bits; when moving, you can jog, slide, and jump. Before long, you’re chaining those together and able to build speed as you do so. Jumps turn into wall jumps, and that into chains using strategically placed poles or loops planted into hard-to-reach places along surfaces. It’s parkour, baby!
The same is true for combat; a simple three-attack combo can very quickly be mixed up with verticality, dodges and well-timed parries. Attacks that flash yellow from baddies can be parried, while those that flash red have to be dodged. I delighted in dodging — really, sliding under — enemies to then hit them from behind. A shield becomes pretty much useless when it’s not facing the right direction.
Ubisoft detailed a host of accessibility options available to users; while I found things challenging but not overwhelming, players have the ability to customise various pain points in their personal journey. Combat is obviously one such example, but so too is platforming; you can dial down combat difficulty or engage a platforming assistant if you’re finding certain sections just a little too much.
Ori‘s influence immediately was front of mind because of Lost Crown‘s all-imporant save state trees, ones that not only provide you with a checkpoint, but allow you to equip different talismans and the like. They’re useful to replenish supplies too, of course. Ori‘s influence also is apparent in Lost Crown‘s map system, one that looks like it’s been ripped out on the whole.
Where Lost Crown adds to the mix is a tool that lets you take a snapshot of your current environment and deposits it on the map; if you run into a puzzle you can’t solve — or one that you’re sure you can actually engage with because you don’t have the right item — that snapshot will prove a valuable tool. Instead of just marking the area as one of importance, you can almost immediately remind yourself of why.
Wherein you were filling in quite a lot of the blanks with Ori, Lost Crown has excellent exposition delivered with excellent pacing, and via a cast of engaging, entertaining characters. I was immediately immersed into its world, and I very much want to continue my journey through the mysterious, time-bending Mount Qaf.
I’m not sugar-coating this: I honestly feel like Ubisoft has a banger on its hands when it comes to Prince of Persia The Lost Crown. Bring it on; I can’t wait to play more.
Check out a compliation of some of my gameplay below, and please let me know what you think of it (and me) in the comments section, found even further below.
Prince of Persia The Lost Crown heads to Windows PC via Epic Games Store and Ubisoft Connect, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, PS4, PS5 and Switch from 18 January 2024.
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Prince of Persia The Lost Crown18 January 2024PC PS4 PS5 Switch Xbox One Xbox Series S & X
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