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Some of the best platforming you will find 👑

It's been ages since we last got a new Prince of Persia game. The most recent was 2010's The Forgotten Sands. The most famous of course is 2003's The Sands of Time.

At last, as of January 15, 2024, we finally have a new Prince of Persia game thanks to Ubisoft. This one is called The Lost Crown and I recently had the chance to play nearly an hour of the game thanks to a free demo that is available on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and Microsoft Windows.

If you are unfamiliar with the Prince of Persia franchise, let me explain a bit of history. Prince of Persia is a long-running series of action-adventure and platforming games known for its engaging storytelling, acrobatic gameplay, and time manipulation mechanics. The series made its debut in 1989 with the release of the original Prince of Persia game, which gained acclaim for its fluid animation and challenging platforming puzzles. However, it was the 2003 release of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time that rejuvenated the franchise and introduced a new generation of players to the charismatic prince and his time-altering abilities.

The central element in many Prince of Persia titles is the ability to manipulate time, allowing players to reverse mistakes or perform seemingly impossible acrobatic maneuvers. This mechanic not only serves as a key gameplay feature but also integrates seamlessly into the narrative. The franchise has evolved over the years with various sequels, spin-offs, and a critically acclaimed 2008 reboot, Prince of Persia, which featured a unique artistic style and a different approach to storytelling. While the series has been on hiatus for some time, fans have finally been gifted a revival of Prince of Persia with The Lost Crown.

One thing to know about The Lost Crown is that there no longer is the same type of time manipulation in the game. Well, at least not what you are used to. You can't rewind time when you die, instead, you just quickly respawn at your nearest checkpoint. There are however some levels where time is frozen. I cannot say there is zero time manipulation, but it's not exactly how some would remember it to be.

The Lost Crown is a 2.5D side-scrolling action-adventure platform video game. The game's protagonist, Sargon, can jump, slide, and air dash to quickly travel between platforms. He can use his pair of blades to defeat enemies, his chakras or arrows to attack from afar, or a well-timed counter to survive in combat.

I'll just go ahead and say it straight up, this game is badass! It's not an easy game though. Even the early stages of the game had some difficult platforming and battles. There are different difficulty levels to choose from though, so everyone should be able to find one that suits how they wish to experience the game.

Another thing to note is that this is a rogue-lite game. You don't start over each time you die, but you will be doing a lot of backtracking to familiar locations once you unlock new abilities. Luckily, there is a smart photosystem to leave reminders on your useful map so that you don't forget about once-unreachable locations.

This demo allows you to experience quite a bit of the game and I think might even have two pathways you can experience. This means you may be able to play it twice and see some new things whether you go to the upper or lower part of the city.

If you are a history nerd like me, then you already know this. I do want to mention it though. Persia is ancient Iran. You can expect some middle eastern desert vibes in this game. I loved the world instantly and noticed quite a variety of terrain. in a short amount of time.

Without further ado, let's jump into my gameplay and first impressions of Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown.