Twenty years ago, Prince of Persia was a popular franchise owned by almost anyone with a PlayStation 2 or Xbox. Sands of Time, arguably the best game in the series, was set for a remake last year but faced significant delays, leading to widespread disappointment. Furthering fans lost hope in the franchise, the reveal of Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown last year, a 2D Metroidvania experience featuring an all-new protagonist, was received poorly. Fortunately, Metroidvania and Prince of Persia are a match made in heaven, as The Lost Crown is not only a lot of fun but also the perfect title to introduce the series to a new generation of gamers.
“The narrative becomes a much grander and surprisingly engaging affair as time goes on.”
In Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, you assume the role of not the prince himself but Sargon, a non-immortal hero. Following a brief prologue, your mission unfolds: to rescue the captured Prince of Persia from the clutches of a once-trusted ally. Accompanied by the group of immortals, you pursue the prince’s kidnappers, finding yourself in the unusual Mount Qaf, a space where time and reality don’t function like the real world.
While the overarching objective remains the prince’s rescue, the twists and turns throughout extend the narrative to a substantial 20-25 hours. Naturally, the narrative becomes a much grander and surprisingly engaging affair as time goes on. Complete with voice acting, the story adds a welcome layer of depth and detail uncommon for a Metroidvania. While not the primary reason to purchase the game, it adds additional elements to an outstanding gameplay experience.
“Navigating diverse paths and unlocking new avenues remains a constant until the narrative concludes.”
A crucial aspect of any good Metroidvania is a compelling, interconnected world. Despite not being my favorite element in the genre, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown made this journey surprisingly enjoyable, particularly in the early stages. Navigating diverse paths and unlocking new avenues remains a constant until the narrative concludes. As a bonus, the eventual introduction of fast travel streamlines any arduous journeys, but it doesn’t steal any fun away from exploration.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown features an array of side quests centered around discovering collectibles scattered throughout the world. While these quests yield rewards for locating rare items, the story beats are rather forgettable. You can also uncover secret rooms, which offer enticing rewards, including the aforementioned collectibles tied to side quests. Collectively, these elements contribute to a more engaging world and incentivize exploration despite the lack of solid narrative elements.
“With a total of six powers, they significantly transform gameplay dynamics in Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown.”
Enhancing The Lost Crown’s allure are the numerous upgrades available. Like all good Metroidvanias, character progression is essential, and the game provides ample avenues for improvement. Whether expanding health capacity or weapon strength, these enhancements, combined with amulets offering passive boosts and abilities, contribute to a personalized and evolving gaming experience.
A pivotal aspect of gameplay depth lies in Time Powers, which gradually unlock as the narrative unfolds. These powers allow you to dash through the air, teleport back to a nearby location, and view elements from alternate dimensions. With a total of six powers, they significantly transform gameplay dynamics. They not only grant you access to once inaccessible areas but also influence boss fights, which require you to use these abilities strategically. Moreover, Time Powers elevate platforming difficulty, adding a layer of complexity to the overall experience.
“Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown excels thanks to the fluidity of its movement”
The Prince of Persia franchise has always emphasized platforming and The Lost Crown is no exception. While not as punishing as some might desire — imposing a health penalty for failure rather than instant death — navigating the treacherous landscapes is no easy task. The challenge intensifies tenfold as the game develops and you unlock new abilities. In later areas, to avoid failure, I found myself frantically pressing various buttons — reminiscent of inputting cheat codes in GTA. Thankfully, for those seeking a formidable challenge, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown undoubtedly delivers, but there are more than just deadly spikes that want to kill you.
Combat in Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown presents a substantial challenge and demands precision right from the get-go. With standard attacks and two distinct indicators—yellow and red—you must anticipate each move and be ready to dodge and parry. Beyond these basics, combat in Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown excels thanks to the fluidity of its movement. The inclusion of various combos, crucial for survival and learned through combat tutorials, enhances the combat experience. Athra Surge powers, ultimate abilities with very impressive cutscenes, add a sense of weight and power to the overall combat dynamic. Despite only two weapons, the potential for upgrades and diverse fighting styles keeps combat consistently engaging.
“Bosses evolve in complexity to the point where it’s hard to discern if you are playing a video game or are the main character in an anime.”
The game provides diverse enemy varieties across different biomes, ensuring a unique experience with each encounter. Each enemy introduces distinct combat styles, moves, and countermeasures, which prevents any monotonous combat from seeping in. Additionally, you’ll face a diverse and deadly cast of boss fights throughout your adventure. As the narrative progresses, these bosses evolve in complexity to the point where it’s hard to discern if you are playing a video game or are the main character in an anime. Late-game bosses, notably the final one, pose formidable challenges, but their animations and abilities are spectacles to behold, even when beating you to a crisp. Fortunately, a solution exists for those struggling without impacting your chances of unlocking Platinum Trophies or Achievements.
Designed with accessibility in mind, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown offers a plethora of customization options that benefit players of all skill levels. From adjusting intricate enemy difficulty options to fine-tuning parrying mechanics, the game provides a welcoming experience for everyone. Notably, the platforming assist feature allows players to skip challenging sections, allowing you to alleviate any built-up frustration. This is splendidly done without compromising the overall experience.
“Metroidvania and Prince of Persia are a match made in heaven.”
In my PC playthrough, I encountered minor glitches, such as graphical anomalies where Sargon momentarily failed to latch onto platforms. This happened occasionally, but it never hindered me in any way. Infrequent map discrepancies also surfaced, such as a one-way passage still being labeled as a one-way entrance despite the door being open. However, these glitches were few and far between, and overall, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown feels polished.
With the gameplay providing 20-25 hours of content, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown presents a captivating 2D Metroidvania experience that is well worth the slightly lower price point. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown provides a brilliant return for the franchise and is a great way to kick off 2024.
Disclosure: Game Crater was provided the game for this review. Some links provided in this article are affiliate links. Game Crater will be paid a commission if you use this link to make a purchase.
