Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown Preview
After a wait of 13 years, Prince of Persia fans are finally getting a new game! Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is a 2D side-scrolling adventure that takes players back to the roots of the series. Developed by Ubisoft Montpellier, the game features platforming, puzzle-solving, time-based powers, and a sense of adventure that fans of the series will love.
Here’s what you can expect from the upcoming release:
1. World and Storyline
The game is set in a “legendary Persia,” an age of Heroes and Gods. Players take on the role of Sargon, a young and impetuous hero who is part of a superhero-like gang of seven warriors known as The Immortals. Sargon and The Immortals journey to Mount Qaf, a land cursed with time anomalies, to rescue the kidnapped son of the Queen.
2. Gameplay
The gameplay is based on traditional platforming, featuring deadly traps, massive pendulums, and collapsing platforms. Sargon has time-based powers, which he can use to manipulate the past and present to navigate through levels and solve puzzles. The combat system is a stark improvement from previous Prince of Persia titles, focusing on precise swordplay that makes extensive use of parries. Sargon also has a collection of amulets that augment his abilities in meaningful ways.
3. Level Design
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is a full-blown Metroidvania-style game, offering a sprawling, interconnected map that takes players from haunted dungeons to the heights of Mount Qaf. The map twists around itself, branching into multiple pathways that snake back around to the area’s checkpoints.
4. Environment
The game features an immersive world with eye-catching details, with big centrepieces complementing smaller, incidental set dressing. The world is stuffed with treasures and secrets for players to discover, with hidden pathways and rooms waiting to be found.
5. Graphics and Presentation
The graphics are crisp, colourful, and anime-inspired, with a look and feel that perfectly fits into the Prince of Persia universe. Cutscenes are stylishly animated, and the game’s overall presentation adds to the sense of adventure.
6. Music and Sound Effects
The music and sound effects in Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown are a perfect accompaniment to the game’s action and adventure. The music is composed of sweeping orchestral scores that evoke the sense of awe and wonder as players explore the sprawling world. Sound effects are crisp and make every movement feel impactful.
7. Preview Session
During the preview session, players had access to both a fast flurry of high-damage strikes and a healing well. The demo began simple with rows of spikes easily avoided by precise jumps and drops. Later puzzles demanded hitting targets with Sargon’s bow to summon platforms, often in quite complex arrangements and sometimes while mid-fall.
8. Characters
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown features a cast of memorable and distinct characters. Sargon himself exudes cool and is joined by other members of the Immortals, who all have unique personalities and abilities. Jahandar, a manticore boss, awaits players at the end of the initial citadel.
9. Ubisoft Montpellier’s Efforts
The developers at Ubisoft Montpellier have acknowledged it’s been a challenge bringing Prince of Persia back for a modern audience. Work started on the game around four years ago, intending to be a chaser to the revamped Sands of Time. However, with successive delays and refunds for the latter, The Lost Crown will now be first out of the gate. But clearly, being thrust into a world of baying Geoff Festers has only made the shadow of its beloved predecessor loom even larger.
10. Verdict
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is shaping up to be an impressive addition to the series, with fluid and satisfying combat, challenging puzzles, and a vast world to explore. The game’s creators haven’t strayed too far from the game’s roots, and have added enough new features to make it stand out from the previous games in the series.
Conclusion
If you’re a fan of platforming, puzzle-solving, and adventure, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is the game for you. The game’s 2D Metroidvania-style, fluid combat, and time-based powers, make for an impressive gameplay experience that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The immersive world and memorable characters only add to the sense of adventure, making this game one of the most exciting releases of the year.
FAQs
1. When will Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown be released?
The release date for the game has not yet been announced, but development is well underway.
2. What platforms will Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown be available on?
The game will be available on PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox.
3. Do I need to have played previous Prince of Persia games to understand The Lost Crown?
No, The Lost Crown is a standalone game that can be played and enjoyed without prior knowledge of the series.
4. Is there a multiplayer component in Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown?
No, the game does not feature multiplayer.
5. How does The Lost Crown compare to previous Prince of Persia games?
The Lost Crown is a return to the roots of the Prince of Persia series, with platforming, puzzles, and adventure. However, it also adds plenty of new features and a fluid combat system, making it stand out from previous titles.