The Lost Crown
The Lost Crown is a 2D action-adventure game that brings the Prince of Persia franchise back to its roots. Players take control of Sargon, an immortal warrior blessed with extraordinary abilities, as he embarks on a rescue mission to save the titular Prince.
Gameplay
The demo I played threw me quickly into the action. I had to learn to slide, dash and wall jump my way into brand new areas, hitting switches and manipulating platforms. Moving past spiked logs and spinning blades is a Prince of Persia staple, so long-time fans will appreciate that this makes a return here. Many of the puzzles have a magical or time manipulation element as well, and that’s where Sargon’s other abilities come into play.
The Lost Crown is sure to be a hit with Prince of Persia fans, old and new. With its unique take on the story, exciting gameplay and magical elements, it’s sure to be an unforgettable adventure.
Sargon: The Agile Fighter
Sargon is the protagonist of the Prince of Persia game, and he is a strong and agile fighter. The game director describes him as having the grace and energy of a caged tiger, and he wields two blades with context sensitive attacks. He also has a very satisfying combo system that can be used on telegraphed enemy attacks.
Range Attacks
Sargon has a few range attacks that make short work of foes from afar. With the tap of a button, he can shoot arrows in any direction for a quick hit of damage. By holding down that same button, he can throw a strong bouncing, chakra type disc thingy that has all kinds of cool combo potential.
Movement Options
Sargon’s suite of movement options is further rounded out with a dashing slide, which is perfect for going under low ceilings and slipping into secret areas. He can also do an air dash, which is perfect for making it across large gaps and other platforming challenges.
Parkour Skills
Sargon has the agility and parkour skills of other Prince of Persia protagonists. The blend of Titan, trolls, platforming and exploration is a direct callback to the original Prince of Persia game even from 1989. With his range of attacks and movement options, Sargon can clean up the dangerous enemies that suddenly appear on the sacred mountain.
Sargon: A Game of Player Expression
Sargon is an upcoming game that allows for a great deal of player expression. The game follows the story of Sargon, a character with a meter that charges with successful combo strikes. This meter allows Sargon to unleash either a defensive or offensive ultimate at the end of each session.
Unlock and Swap Out Ultimates
At different save points, players can unlock and swap out more ultimates. This allows players to tailor Sargon to their preferred playstyle. Sargon has a core set of skills and moves, but there is plenty of room for player expression.
Magical Trees and Amulets
Throughout the game, players come across magical trees that act as healing checkpoints. At these checkpoints, players can refill their arrow quivers and equip different amulets. These amulets allow players to change their playstyle wildly. For example, one amulet turns Sargon’s three hit combo into a four hit flurry, while another one allows his charged ranged attack to gain burst damage.
Advanced Techniques
Sargon also has a time-freezing teleport. This skill is necessary for certain puzzles and can be supercharged when messing with amulets, allowing players to chain a laser when they warp or cause a concussive blast to erase their frozen echo. Players can expect approximately 40 different amulets available when the game ships in January of next year. During a later gameplay session, a helpful developer even showcased some advanced techniques.
The Unique Combat and Traversal of Ubisoft’s New Game
Ubisoft’s new game offers a unique combat and traversal experience. With the ability to use freeze and tandem with charged range attack, reflect your own chakra with sword strikes, and charge a strike only to freeze it and rewind time back to that moment for two attacks in a row, the game keeps combat and traversal feeling fresh. Air juggling enemies allows for meaner combos to be built more quickly.
Enemies and Bosses
The game features a variety of enemies, from weaker ones with basic, easy to parry attacks, to spear wielding foes with shields, to flying enemies, and even stronger enemy types. Fantastical creatures inspired by ancient Persian folklore, as well as a slew of bosses and mini bosses, push the player’s skill to its limits.
Manticore Boss Battle
At the end of the first gameplay section, the player is faced with a massive boss battle against a manticore-like creature. The battle has multiple phases, and the player must use every trick in the book to parry and dodge the creature’s attacks. Charging up and utilizing ultimates is rewarded with a fun cinematic cut scene.
The demo of Ubisoft’s new game offers a unique and exciting combat and traversal experience. With a variety of enemies and bosses, as well as fantastical creatures inspired by ancient Persian folklore, the game offers a challenge that pushes the player’s skill to its limits. The manticore boss battle is a thrilling and rewarding experience, and the player can get quicker with each subsequent run.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
I recently had the chance to play the upcoming Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown and I’m excited to tell you all about it. The game offers a mix of exploration, combat and platforming, with plenty of secrets to uncover.
Exploration and Combat
The first 45 minutes of the demo were spent exploring the map and uncovering hidden entrances to secret mini-bosses. I had to use all of my skills and powers to vanquish this foe and earn an incredible ultimate attack. The rest of the demo was spent in several late game locations, where I had to be aware of my traversal abilities and powers. I also fought several different enemies and found countless secrets.
Visuals and Animation
The visuals and animation effects in Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown are clearly influenced by anime, superheroes and even fighting games. I didn’t get to see much of the story play out, but what I did see promised a wide, diverse cast of characters.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
The Prince of Persia franchise is set to make a triumphant return with the upcoming release of Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. Developed with the Nintendo Switch in mind, this game promises to deliver a captivating experience with buttery smooth 60fps performance, even in handheld mode.
A Metroidvania-Style Adventure
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is a game that revels in style and flair. It is a game that takes its legacy seriously, and is sure to please fans of the Metroidvania genre. After playing an early version of the game, I can confidently say that this is a game to look forward to.
Releasing in January 2024
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is set to be released on all platforms on January 18th, 2024. I cannot wait to play more and see the final product that Ubisoft Montpierre delivers.
Learn More
If you want to learn more about the game, you can click the links in the box down below, including a link to the trailer. Stay tuned for more updates and news about Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown.
