Since Jordan Mechner’s phenomenal release of Prince of Persia in 1989, the title has earned a permanent niche in the hearts of gamers, praised for its fluid rotoscoped animations and compelling sword-based combat. This game introduced us to a prince whose identity was never disclosed but whose adventures through numerous reimaginings have left a lasting legacy. Among these, The Sands of Time stands out, presenting Ubisoft’s iconic parkour and intriguing time-manipulation mechanics, which eventually found resonance in the Assassin’s Creed franchise. The saga now returns with a stirring iteration, The Lost Crown, embarking on yet another journey back to its side-scrolling inception, enhanced by breathtaking 2D-meets-3D visuals. This latest venture begs the question: can The Lost Crown ascend to a regal status within the Prince of Persia annals, and more importantly, can it rekindle the flames of fascination for the exalted series?
Venturing into the game, I was bracing myself for the all-too-familiar narrative of the heroic “save the prince” escapade, yet found myself ensnared by the profoundness hidden within its storylines. Sargon, a warrior among the fabled Immortals who guard the Persian Empire with unyielding fervor, is charged with the daunting task of recovering a prince held captive. This quest uncovers deceit from within their ranks, leading to the cursed elevations of Mount Quaf—mythically charged and a harbinger of a nefarious plot rooted in dark sorcery.
The universe of The Lost Crown is an intoxicating tapestry woven with historical depth and mythical lore. Sargon, in his quest, harnesses the arcane forces of time magic, dueling with mythical beasts and spectral adversaries, evoking scenes from the mammoth world of God of War. The Immortals and other characters are crafted with a keen eye for personality and design, enhancing interactions throughout the game. The innovative use of time distortions not only creates compelling platform challenges but enriches the narrative scope, injecting it with a diversity seldom seen in games of this genre.
A particular highlight that will resonate with anime fans is the game’s combat system. It artfully stitches together swift strikes, neon-lit slashes, and grandiose, screen-dominating abilities, all culminating in 2D animated finishers that are as dynamic as they are visceral. Enhanced by camera angles that shift fluidly and set against vividly painted backdrops, the game’s combat sequences are reminiscent of action-packed Spiderverse movies. This sense of spectacle imbues the game with incredibly high production values uncommon in typical side-scrollers.
The Lost Crown takes inspiration from the Metroidvania genre, renowned for its expansive, interconnected levels that beckon players to delve deep into exploration to unlock new paths. What sets this title apart is the dynamic nature of its combat. Aggressive play is rewarded, promoting a gameplay experience centered around timed evasions, precise parries, and mastery of the game’s intricate mechanics. The system transforms combat into a blade-dancing ballet, where each successful riposte is met with a burst of audiovisual gratification, though one must be wary, as errors are swiftly penalized.
Boss encounters in the game are designed with intelligence and a lack of mercy. Far from mere skill checks, they compel players to actively study and adapt to their unique patterns, with dogged persistence being the key to emerge victorious.
Traversing through The Lost Crown’s platforming segments will bring nods of recognition from fans of the 1989 iteration. The game presents fiendish obstacle puzzles, replete with spikes and traps, testing the adeptness of players. Despite the daunting nature of the action and platforming elements, the game manages to retain accessibility, thanks to intuitive controls and easily grasped mechanics that ensure the combat system is both engaging and satisfying.
My experience reviewing The Lost Crown was on the aging Nintendo Switch, which astonishingly managed to execute the game’s demands smoothly with no noticeable lags and looked visually appealing on both the big screen and the device’s OLED display. While the more hefty consoles might boast minor graphical advancements, the portability factor offered by the Switch or Steam Deck versions is a definite advantage for those on the move.
In summation, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is nothing short of a remarkable game. It’s a project that’s evidently been infused with passion, introducing new lore and embracing the Metroidvania genre to produce a dynamic and visually arresting experience. If this new trajectory will manage to captivate the hearts of longstanding fans of the series is a question left to time.
