Preview Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown surprises with its Metroidvania

When we think of one of the most important franchises at the beginning of this century, we think of the Prince of Persia trilogy, which began with The Sands of Time. The way this series was revived was one of the strongest moves Ubisoft made at the end of 2006. And although the titles that followed were more stumbles than successes, it was time for the brand to return with a new offering. While we know that a remake is still alive, it was only a few months ago that a new 2D adventure was presented that takes advantage of the cell-shade and Metroidvania mechanics to bring this classic gameplay to our hands. A few weeks ago, we had the opportunity to play the first hours of Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown to take a look at one of the games that we believe will make a big step at the beginning of 2024.

From Prince to Warrior

Our preview consisted of playing the first 4 hours of this new installment and getting to know the events that led to this adventure. One of the first details to highlight is that, unlike all previous titles in the series, here we do not control the titular Prince of Persia, but Sargon, one of the members of the elite corps of the Persian Empire known as the Immortals. However, after the Persian victory over the Kushan Empire, it is the kidnapping of Prince Ghassan that triggers our adventure.

The group of Immortals heads to Mount Qaf, a strange place where time seems to be corrupted, and time seems to flow in very different ways for the people who are there. This effect causes both companions and enemies to be affected by these time changes and gives rise to interesting stories and in some cases some side quests with some of the characters who have come to this mountain.

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This is where the Metroidvania format begins, with a huge map to explore and a promising level design by the Ubisoft Montpellier team. This design makes backtracking easier thanks to points that allow you to travel quickly and cover very large distances, but at the same time, you have to save constantly thanks to the Wakwak trees. Each area of the map has its own design and backgrounds that can be seen from a distance.

The game system is deeper than it seems, since on the one hand we have a series of talismans that we hang on Sargon’s neck to get some bonuses in our attacks, as well as the skills and powers that we will get along the way, as the good Metroidvania that strives to be. The short game time allowed us to get more than 5 amulets and two of the special skills and items that will allow us to advance in the story. There are also items to buy and our weapons can be improved in the forge of the goddess Kaheva.

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Speaking of skills and items, it is also important to highlight the combat system, which allows for encounters that require the player’s concentration. Of course, there are easy fights, and you will even find some enemies that require a certain tactic or item to defeat, but without a doubt, boss fights are some of the most difficult. This is where the skills you have learned, such as parrying, or learning to read patterns, such as in Soulslike, come into play. One of the most complex fights was against a kind of giant Manticore, where every parry, use of powers, healing items, and skill was essential to victory. Again, Ubisoft’s distance gameplay system may have made it a bit more difficult, especially when it came to parrying.

Let me tell you a story...

One of the parts that will also catch your attention is the storytelling and aesthetics. Even as you roam the “corridors” of Mount Qaf, you’ll encounter characters and elements that advance the story, as well as learn more about the mythology of the place. The story has many engaging elements, and certainly, this preview left us on a cliffhanger with a plot twist we simply weren’t expecting. This is supported by an art that may look simple, but it is a style that suits this story and helps the scenarios become the protagonists. There are moments, especially with the Parrys or when they use a special power, that we seem to be entering a very bizarre Saturday morning cartoon, but otherwise everything looks good.

The promise of content

One of the details we were promised during the presentation is that Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown will have a duration of about 20 to 30 hours, and with the little time we had to go through it, we believe it. We have a huge map to explore and as a good Metroidvania it will have backtracking and surely a handful of secrets to discover.

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Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown gave us a strange feeling as we walked through its corridors, that feeling you get when you see a person you think you know, but who shows you a different side. Although the game retains many of the details that have made this franchise a classic with its exploration and combat system, the new movement and attack mechanics make it feel like a fresh experience. While the difficulty of some encounters may catch some off guard, we are excited to see what the game can become. In the meantime, we look forward to January 15, 2024, when we get our hands on this installment.