Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown Hands-On Preview
It’s been a decade and a half since we last saw a fresh Prince of Persia game, and anticipation has been high. Ubisoft, rather than staying true to the 3D action-platforming formula, has taken a surprising turn. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown returns to the 2D roots of the series, evoking the classic side-scrolling adventures.
A Return to 2D Roots, Embracing Metroidvania
Much like the original 1989 Prince of Persia, The Lost Crown presents a side-scrolling adventure steeped in ninth-century Persia. Players navigate perilous platforming environments, avoiding deadly traps like spikes, pendulums, and collapsing platforms, much like in classic titles. A touch of innovation comes from facing your own doppelganger. Sargon, our hero, possessing a cool demeanor, brings along temporal powers – a nod to The Sands of Time.
Gameplay: A Blend of Familiar and Fresh
While retaining core elements of classic Prince of Persia, The Lost Crown evolves into a full-fledged Metroidvania. The game features a vast, interconnected map, spanning haunted dungeons to the mythical Mount Qaf. This level design is complemented by precise swordplay, featuring parries to create stylish animations. Bosses demand skill, and amulets substantially enhance abilities. In a two-hour hands-on preview, the gameplay demonstrated considerable promise.
Character Introductions and The Immortal’s Quest
The demo begins after the tutorial, introducing Sargon and his team, “The Immortals.” Their comic book/manga-inspired design and characterisations immediately distinguish this title from the classic games. The narrative focuses on The Immortal’s mission. He’s missing, and you, the player, take on the responsibility of bringing him home.
Metroidvania Exploration and Platform Challenges
The Lost Crown embodies Metroidvania design principles. The map’s structure twists and turns, presenting multiple branching paths and loops. Progression often requires taking seemingly opposite routes. Initially, platforming was straightforward, but later levels became increasingly complex, demanding precision jumps and utilizing a bow to summon platforms in intricate sequences. The 60fps gameplay maintained a smooth frame rate throughout the demo, even on the Nintendo Switch.
Combat Mechanics and Parry System
The game features a parry system that’s crucial to success. A perfect parry triggers a visually striking animation, showcasing the game’s anime-inspired design. Parrying also charges Sargon’s Athra’s Glow energy gauge, unlocking powerful abilities. The demo highlighted Sargon’s fast flurry of high-damage strikes and a healing ability. A crucial encounter involved a massive manticore, showcasing the depth and skill required for boss battles.
Time-Based Abilities and Amulets
Sargon’s time-bending abilities are less spectacular than those in The Sands of Time trilogy. One ability is a stylish dash through time to evade attacks. Another lets you create shadow markers and rewind to them as checkpoints. Amulets enhance abilities, creating diverse playstyles. One amulet allowed a laser beam to be fired from the shadow marker to the main character upon teleporting back. A wide range of amulets promise unique, innovative ways to master the combat system.
Innovative Enemy Design: The Unseen Guard
A noteworthy enemy encounter involved an invisible prison guard. His staff grants him the ability to teleport to your location, even if he cannot see you. Avoiding him required precise timing and movement. The inclusion of such innovative enemies promises a unique challenge throughout the world.
Conclusion: A Solid Metroidvania Pivot
The Lost Crown’s surprising 2D Metroidvania approach is a refreshing change of pace for the Prince of Persia series. While the time-bending mechanics may not match the visual spectacle of previous iterations, the engaging combat and platforming present a solid foundation for a challenging and rewarding experience. With intriguing bosses, diverse enemies, and a strong system of ability upgrades, The Lost Crown is poised to keep players captivated on its journey. Release is slated for January 18, 2024, on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, PC, and Amazon Luna.
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