Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown Review – A Successful Return of the Iconic Series

Contents:

• Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is an exemplary 2D Metroidvania
• Contrary to popular belief, The Lost Crown's setting is fine — it features Persia and its prince.
• The only "critical flaw" of Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is that it's not an expensive AAA title.

Many gamers have negative feelings towards Ubisoft, despite continuing to enjoy its games. The main reasons for this dissatisfaction are threefold: the regular release of Far Cry and Assassin's Creed games that follow the same formula, the desire to keep up with aging trends in the gaming industry, and the abandonment of old franchises, such as the once-popular Prince of Persia. In the eyes of many, Ubisoft is perceived as a soulless corporation run by efficient managers, which is associated with a lack of creativity.

The announcement of the game Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown on the Internet was met with irony, and many users even dubbed it "The Lost Clown". However, the new "Prince" was released and demonstrated not only the high quality of gameplay, but also became one of the best releases of Ubisoft in the last five years. Game mechanics and storyline attract attention, and the graphics and level design allow you to enjoy the atmosphere of adventure. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown deserves attention for both fans of the series and new players.

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Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is a masterpiece 2D Metroidvania.

The game has everything you need for immersion. The unique world design creates an atmosphere that makes the player want to explore every corner for dozens of hours. The levels are designed so that backtracking doesn't become tedious, a must-have element of Metroidvanias. New skills are regularly unlocked, encouraging players to step away from the main quests and re-explore previously completed locations, providing satisfaction and a sense of achievement. The controls are intuitive and responsive, comparable to Nintendo games. The combat system is deep and offers a dynamic hack-and-slash experience. The ability to perform impressive combos evokes associations with Devil May Cry, as the combat mechanics focus on juggling enemies and performing S-Class combos in the air. Everything is perfectly thought out and executed with attention to detail.

The Lost Crown offers an accessible experience even for newcomers, offering directional hints and marked objectives on the map. However, players who prefer a more hardcore approach can explore the world without explicit directions, as is common in Metroidvanias. The game has minimal obstacles, simplifying the learning process—you won't have to run long distances from bonfires to difficult bosses, as checkpoints are conveniently located. The Lost Crown also features elements reminiscent of Dark Souls, including a melancholic mood and original boss designs. The game also features mimic chests, which adds an element of surprise.

The choice of genre is consistent with the spirit of the series. Initially, in the late 1980s, the game was a 2D puzzle platformer, and its creator, Jordan Mechner, praised The Lost Crown. Iconic Prince releases like The Sands of Time and Warrior Within can also be considered 3D Metroidvanias, incorporating backtracking elements and significant freedom of movement. Acrobatics in these games have always been at their best, and in The Lost Crown it reaches new heights, offering hardcore platforming comparable to games like Super Meat Boy and Celeste.

Contrary to popular belief, the setting in The Lost Crown is in order—Persia and its prince are both here.

You play not as the prince himself, who is a key figure in the plot, but as a warrior named Sargon. This character embarks on a dangerous journey to rescue the prince, which adds depth and dynamism to the game. Sargon is not just a hero; he embodies courage and strength, which makes his mission important and exciting.

Diligent fans immediately noticed the changes to the character's appearance after the announcement. Firstly, the protagonist is no longer the classic "prince," and secondly, he has become a dark-skinned fashionista with dreadlocks. It's worth noting that barbershop-style dreadlocks look unnatural and are common on many dark-skinned characters in modern games. Therefore, Sargon's appearance feels artificial, which slightly disrupts the harmony of the overall style and may initially provoke a negative reaction from players.

The developers at Ubisoft Montpellier, known for the Rayman and Valiant Hearts series, set themselves the task of updating the game, integrating it with modern street culture. However, they overdid it a bit. Nevertheless, streams and walkthroughs on YouTube show that the situation has partially improved thanks to the nostalgic skin from Warrior Within. This element has become popular among players, and dissatisfaction with the changes has subsided. Perhaps the reason lies in the distinctly masculine character of Sargon, who appears pompous and stern, which also attracts the audience's attention.

Otherwise, there are no complaints about the game's style. The developers aimed to immerse players in little-studied Persian mythology, and they succeeded. The events unfold not simply in Ancient Persia, but on Mount Kaf, which holds special significance in Parsian mythology. This creates a deep connection with the cultural heritage of the region and allows players to better understand the uniqueness and richness of Persian myths.

The Lost Crown sometimes resembles a light version of God of War, but with a focus on Persian themes. The game offers a rich, exotic atmosphere that even surpasses the authenticity of the cult trilogy of the early 2000s. At the same time, the new game respects and preserves the spirit of the classics, which makes it an interesting choice for fans of the genre and new players.

The game references the trilogy, combining gameplay situations, environments, and magnificent music by Mentrix and Gareth Cocker, known for the Ori series. Against the background of Iranian motifs, powerful guitars periodically sound in the compositions, reminiscent of Prince of Persia: Warrior Within. This combination creates a unique atmosphere that immerses the player in a world where traditional and modern elements are harmoniously intertwined.

The only "critical flaw" of Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is that it is not an expensive AAA game.

The plot of The Lost Crown, unfortunately, suffers from a lack of depth and expressiveness. The game attempts to present an epic story about time and its paradoxes, but does not provide sufficiently developed characters and means to convey emotion. Although the concept is reminiscent of ambitious projects such as the Final Fantasy 7 remake, the result is chaotic and superficial. Nevertheless, the game is still capable of captivating to a certain extent, but it also leaves a feeling of incompleteness and incompleteness.

The Lost Crown is a cartoon-style game, rendered in a chopped-up pastel style reminiscent of Street Fighter 4. Despite its 2D nature, the game boasts stylish visuals and impressively scaled scenes. Bold cutscenes, created using the game engine, add dynamism and variety to the gameplay. It's worth noting that Prince had previously embraced the cartoon style, as seen in the 2008 reboot. That project, despite criticism at the time of its release, has since been re-imagined by many fans and has come to evoke nostalgic feelings. The Lost Crown continues the tradition of a bright and original visual style, attracting the attention of both old and new fans.

The Lost Crown is a game that has many merits, but still causes a slight disappointment. It’s as if the Prince hasn’t returned, but just dropped by with pleasant surprises. However, this perception is understandable. Jordan Mechner, the creator of the series, has already explained the reasons why the situation is developing this way. The game attracts attention with its atmosphere and original storyline, but some elements may leave players with mixed feelings.

On the eve of the release of The Lost Crown, Assassin’s Creed Mirage was released. This game not only continues the traditions of the franchise, but also effectively replaced Prince of Persia, which has long been obvious. Interestingly, the events of Mirage take place in medieval Persia, which emphasizes the connection between the two iconic game series.

In this situation, the Prince had to find his place again. Fortunately, he found it. Now, even if the long-suffering remake of The Sands of Time is finally canceled, it will not be such a great loss.