ComingSoon was able to go hands-on with Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, Ubisoft’s upcoming reinvention of the beloved series. The first entry since 2010’s The Forgotten Sands, it is a promising and fresh entry in the series that hearkens back to the roots of Jordan Mechner’s original game while also moving the franchise forward. This is promising news, as the game is out on January 18, 2024, on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, PC, and Xbox.
The game is a throwback of sorts, going back to the 2D gameplay of the original release. However, rather than play like the game that revolutionized cinematic platforming, it’s more in the vein of a modern Metroidvania title. You’ll be getting new abilities and backtracking to reach previously inaccessible areas. It’s not revolutionary, but it relies on a familiar setup that still proves quite satisfying and is bolstered by some really great combat.
What helps The Lost Crown stand out within the Metroidvania genre is its parry-based combat system. Your character, the warrior Sargon, is able to parry most attacks and strike back with powerful counters. Not only do these attacks change the tide of battle, but they also build up a meter that can then be used to trigger special attacks (such as powerful combos and even one that drops a healing beacon). This creates a really great risk-reward cycle as players are rewarded for smart play that incorporates parrying and makes it a regular part of the combat rather than an advanced maneuver.
I played the opening three hours of Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, which was incredibly encouraging. While movement is measured at first, you soon earn an air dash that really opens up transversal. This makes getting around the environment much more fun and opens up combat opportunities, too, as you can dodge enemies and move across space quickly. All the ingredients are here for it to be something special.
The best moments in The Lost Crown were the boss fights, which were challenging yet fulfilling. These really rely on the ability to parry, plus careful usage of your special attacks. Any lapses in attention could lead to Sargon taking significant damage, so you have to play smart and skillful, tempering your attack as being overly aggressive can lead to taking damage.
The demo’s greatest moment came in a battle against a towering boss called Jahandar, which was a giant winged and horned creature. While it took several attempts to beat the foe, it was by and far the most fun I had. Winning the fight felt as if it was a real accomplishment of pattern recognition and patience.
I can’t wait to check out Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown in full when it comes out in January. It looks incredibly promising with a slick style, rewarding gameplay, and some interesting story teases that hopefully will pay off in a unique way. It’s rocketed up my list of anticipated games and has all the makings of a successful revival for the series.