In search of the lost crown.  

The heir has been kidnapped. Mount Qaf, once dazzling and alive, succumbs to the curses and threats imposed upon it. As one of the seven immortals, it is our duty to rescue the heir and bring peace back to the Persian lands. But everything has its price...

Alternating between beautiful landscapes and truly hostile environments, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is here to both reintroduce and revive important elements of the franchise, giving us plenty of action and adventure in a metroidvania platform game. 

Developed by Ubisoft Montpellier and published by Ubisoft, the game has a release date of January 18, 2024 (January 15 in early access), coming to Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One and X/S Series and Amazon Luna. 



A new hero emerges, Sargon.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown puts us in control of Sargon, the youngest member of the Seven Immortals, the elite group protecting the kingdom of Persia. Led by Vahram, these seven brothers in arms have fought many battles on behalf of the Queen of Persia. But this time, a threat strikes at the heart of the kingdom: the queen's son has been kidnapped. Once again, the seven are summoned and set off on a rescue mission, which takes them to ruined places shrouded in mystery and incomprehensible magic. 

Sargon is our protagonist in this adventure. Fast and very skilled with his swords, the hero must race against time if he is to rescue the queen's son. But his will be tested at every turn, as the curses surrounding Mount Qaf could make him face even those he once considered family. 

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown manages to structure a very cohesive narrative track that remains interesting throughout the game. The central plot is presented to us in the first few minutes of the game, with an emotional charge that easily engages. We are also introduced to each of the seven immortals, which not only creates a sense of belonging, but also builds empathy early on, which will be important throughout the game. The characters in the team, like Sargon, have very distinct personalities and easily stand out from each other. Whether they are humorous or more focused, the seven convince the player that their presence adds to the narrative. 



In addition to these, secondary characters also make up the game's storytelling, enriching the narrative even though they are designed as gameplay structures. By way of comparison, we can mention the NPC who provides map parts, Fariba. Unlike other games, such as Hollow Knight and Chasm, whose NPCs fulfill their purpose in a purely functional way, Fariba shows herself to be a true guide for the player, bringing insights and complementing the knowledge surrounding the story. 

In addition, the game manages to build its story from fragments and textual elements scattered around the world, which broadens the player's perception of the world and the events that surround it, but above all the local beliefs and culture. 

I was involved with the game's story at all times. Despite being light-hearted, the narrative gripped me like a good shounen anime. I was interested in learning more about the world and, as I know a little about Persian culture, the atmosphere held me without much effort due to its fidelity and quality in portraying elements of the ancient world. 



But only when I wasn't doing something:

Kicking ass in style!

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown brings gameplay that I've been waiting for a long time: simple, responsive, fast and fun. Unlike the combat in more modern games, which strives for physics fidelity or has a high level of complexity, this new Prince of Persia shows that not all depth is good, especially when it impacts on fun. 

The game features frenetic combat based on three basic mechanics: attacking, parrying and dodging. Attacking is done using swords and the bow and chakram that you unlock later. Sequential attacks generate resources for special blows ranging from pure damage to tactical resources such as healing and pushback. 

While dodging is for those blows you can't parry, parrying rewards you with powerful finishers when you block attacks at the right times. Basically, combat happens like this and it's a good thing it does. The game is completely dynamic and really fun to play from start to finish.



Traps and platforms reappear and set the tone for the gameplay. Well constructed and creative, they remind us why the franchise is so well recognized. But this time, we have a world in the best metroidvania style to make all the exploration even more fun and exciting. 

The game also features a system of relics, reminiscent of the artifacts in Hollow Knight. With unique and very functional powers, they add a lot to the experience and bring more complexity to the gameplay. They can be upgraded in the game hub to become more powerful through special materials found around the world, just like the hero's weapons and other resources. The progression is reminiscent of Steamworld Dig, which is another great compliment to the franchise. 

The controls are very well calibrated, which allows the movement to be agile and dynamic at all times, something extremely important in metroidvania games, especially when a game with the proportions of Prince of Persia is proposed.

Speaking of proportions, the game has around 20 to 25 hours of gameplay set in various different biomes, unique enemies, various side quests and special powers to be unlocked throughout the game. Sargon's journey is long, but not at all exhausting. On the contrary, it's fun all the way.

And if you're not the explorer type, the game has two experience modes: Exploration and Guided. In the former, you'll make your own discoveries in the world, while in the latter, the experience will be clearer by guiding you around the world.



A new old world 

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown brings not only an original gameplay structure to the franchise, but also a completely new aesthetic. The game is charming and convincing with a youthful look, vibrant colors, and visual elements that seem to have come out of comic books. While it seems to build a look that appeals to younger audiences, the game is very skillful at telling a story for the eyes that captivates even the elderly. 

With diverse settings that draw inspiration from the real world, the game transports you to an alternative reality where characters, monsters and powers converge to provide an immersive and truly enjoyable experience. 



In addition, the soundtrack manages to root the player in the game and in the traditional elements that permeate the ancient world. From the effects to the characters' speeches, which have Persian dubbing as an option, the game manages to take you into the ancient world in its own way, revitalizing all that is best for a remarkable experience.

For this review, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown was played on PC via Ubisoft Connect.

Many thanks to Ubisoft for providing the access key and making this content possible. 

Translated and Reviewed by Diego Lourenço