InPrince of Persia : The Lost Crown , even the tutorial are fun .
A match of hours into Ubisoft ’s absorbing 2D dangerous undertaking , the heroic Sargon arrives at The Haven . snuggle in the eye of the large interlink mapping , this place serves as a hub for all ofThe Lost Crown’smost important vendors . One such character reference taking manse here is Artaban , a fellow Immortal helping Sargon on his seeking to find the kidnapped prince . Artaban decides to help Sargon understand and refine his combat power as he easy explores every corner and cranny of Mount Qaf . Artaban ’s challenges serve as basic tutorials for systems like parrying and atmosphere juggling , but the banter intersperse between those tutorial show to be worthful brainwave into each character .
By doing this , Prince of Persia : The Lost Crownearns engagement in something gamers usually have to slog through . complete these challenges made me care deeply for Sargon and Artaban , all while make me a better player . It attend as a microcosm of whatPrince of Persia : The Lost Crowndoes so well : taking tried - and - dependable secret plan figure elements and making them utterly captivating .
Prince of Persia : The Lost Crownis the best Metroidvania since 2021’sMetroid Dread . It stick to the rewarding vogue of geographic expedition that piddle this writing style great while control that experience is as unlined as potential thanks to the innovative Memory Shards organisation and helpful Guided Mode option . All of that is check up by a vertebral column of silklike smooth platforming and combat that ’s as light or difficult as you want it to be .
A lot of lore
Prince of Persia : The Lost Crownfollows Sargon , a phallus of the Immortals , who wait on as Queen Thomyris ’ champions in struggle . Led by purple - looking warrior Vahram and teach by the cunning Anahita , this group of seven warrior feels unstoppable inThe lose Crown‘s activity - tamp down intro . One betrayal by and by , Sargon recover himself hunting down the nobble prince Ghassan , who has been take to Mount Qaf . That position moderate the ruin of the previous King ’s conglomerate and time flows oddly here . That only scratches the aerofoil of the narratively load escapade .
My main qualm with the otherwise splendid dangerous undertaking is its narrative bloat , especially in its opening move . It introduce so many character so quickly that it ’s hard to care much when one character betrays the group and snatch Prince Ghassan because you barely be intimate either of them . Metroidvania narrative tend to be best when theysay less and show more , but early on , The Lost Crownattempts to explain it all . In that way , it feels like a sequel to a Prince of Persia secret plan that does n’t exist , as this is the dealership ’s first game in years and a complete reboot of the serial that does n’t require knowledge of any previous titles .
Thankfully , this issue resolves itself over time . Through smaller , more personal moments with characters like Sargon , Artaban , and Vahram , I came to care more about their struggle and notice more subtle and well - scripted moment as the story progressed .
As a fillip , I also appreciate how it approaches telling a story about multiple timelines . Thankfully , it does n’t fall into zeitgeisty multiverse idea that have acquire tiresome in medium over the past few years . Even if you do n’t loveThe misplace Crown’sstory , it ’s a minor part of a much grander Metroidvania game , one of the good unity I ’ve played in years .
Metroidvania done right
If you ’ve play a Metroidvania before , whether they be more hardcore title likeHollow Knightor lighthearted affairs likeDisney Illusion Island , you ’ll recognize the canonic structure ofThe Lost Crown . Mount Qaf is made up of several biomes , all of which lead into each other and are full of interconnect room . Access to certain path is linear at first , but as Sargon obtain new abilities , more course open up , enable story advancement and adding unexplored depth to previously natter areas . On a surface level , The Lost Crownnails its world design ; each way has a clear sense of situation within the wide of the mark scene of Mount Qaf , and most of them have a mystery or two that make them deserving revisit later in the risky venture .
It ’s a strapping Metroidvania too ; it train me 20 hours to complete the primary write up , and even then , I ’d only hear about 70 % of the biz ’s content overall , according to in - game information . news report progression is the main purpose for geographic expedition , butThe Lost Crownrewards players who search and take on challenges with optional Bos fights , sidequests that add more personality to this plot ’s world , various currencies , combat modifying amulet , and more . When I unlocked new abilities ( like a double jump ) , I always take the time to revisit some older domain and see what new secret I could uncover with those powers . That ’s one of the braggy compliments I can give a Metroidvania .
Part of why I did that is becauseThe Lost Crownoffers gameplay systems that make exploration seamless . When the dangerous undertaking set about , players can choose between an Exploration Mode , which gives less information to players about where they want to go next and what paths they can potentially open with their new abilities , and a more enlightening Guided Mode . For most of my playday , I stuck with Exploration Mode , andThe Lost Crown’sworld intention and in - plot hint system were visceral enough that I seldom felt recede or unsure of where to go next .
This is a quest Ubisoft Montpellier require players to see through to the terminal .
At the starting line of a new play academic session , I would in short sprain on Guided Mode in the option menu to realign by bearing and gain a general idea of where to head . Another helpful tool that puddle it easy to break up up where I leave off is Memory Shards . By press down on the D - pad at any time , I can take a screenshot and pin it to my map . Often , I did so for puzzles or platforming challenges I knew I could n’t complete yet . The innovative feature is a godsend for a sprawling Metroidvania likeThe Lost Crown , as a Memory Shard present a much clearer picture for why the player require to return to a place than a random marking placed on the mapping ( whichThe Lost Crownalso has if you choose that system ) . It ’s such a handy tool that I hope to see in more Metroidvania game fit onwards .
No matter how often you tweak trouble , place Memory Shards , and enable Guided Mode or the Platforming Assist that skips over some toughened obstruction line , The Lost Crowndoesn’t punish or reprimand players for using them . Accessibility and difficulty optionsare thorough and highly customizable , so while Mount Qaf may seem intimidating at first , this is a quest Ubisoft Montpellier wants players to see through to the conclusion .
Great on Nintendo Switch
Memorable characters and charm Metroidvania blueprint alone makeThe mixed-up Crowna must - play , but the excellent combat and platforming help bring this risky venture to another level . The growth squad ’s root in game likeRayman OriginsandLegendsshine in the platforming , which finds creative ways to combine all of Sargon ’s tools . A particularly memorable midgame stage set piece had me following giant insects as they demolish role of a grit - filled temple . I leap through those open surgical incision , evade deadly spikes that beautify the rampart .
The Lost Crownis a swell paroxysm for Nintendo Switch .
The Platforming Assist accessibility selection will get you through taradiddle - required platforming challenges , but it does n’t apply to many of the hidden optional rooms that provide some of the most difficult moments . At time , the platforming reminds me ofCeleste , perhaps because air dashing and wall jumping are major component part . That ’s a big game forThe Lost Crownto live up to , but Ubisoft ’s former holds its own against genre great , even when played on a scheme full of them like Nintendo Switch .
Intricate , tight - paced platformers like this need to run smoothly , so I was initially apprehensive about tryingThe Lost Crownon Nintendo Switch . Thankfully , Ubisoft testify once again that it makes some of the well - performing games on the chopine . The lose Crownconsistently runs at a stable inning rate in docked and hand-held mode . I only saw some minor drop during a yoke more graphically intensive cutscenes .
The only substantial bug I find stimulate the first genus Bos ’ field to disappear during the conflict , but that quickly resolved itself after I died and did n’t hamper my enjoyment of the overall biz much . The Lost Crownis a great fit for Nintendo Switch , although you may want to use a Pro Controller if you do n’t like the Joy - Cons trigger ; this game uses them a lot for dodging and parrying .
Don’t forget to parry
fighting can sometimes feel out of place in platformers , but it ’s harmoniously handled here . Sargon ’s basic three - hit combo deal with most enemies , but has conceal depth like air juggling combos and attacks free-base on directional input . amulet get throughout the adventure can add even more skills , like a counter that slows time , while many of Sargon ’s platforming abilities also see use in battle . A teleport power , where Sargon leaves a copy of himself mid - action to quickly move back to , can make a three - hit jazz group into a six - rack up or more combo if used aright .
Enemies dotted throughout Mount Qaf constantly test my science , making me happy that Ubisoft got me to pay attending during Artaban ’s tutorials . The drop off Crown’sboss designs are spectacular too , with a wide-ranging rooms of bosses that kept me on my toe throughout every major struggle . These are the best knob fights I ’ve seen in a gamesinceRemnant II , and some of the ulterior - game ones come with an emotional heftiness that means I wo n’t forget about them anytime soon .
The first must - period of play secret plan of 2024 .
Taken as a whole , The Lost Crownis an unforgettable experience . The Metroidvania genre is a thoroughly explored one at this item , but Ubisoft ’s late breathes new life into it by offering a politic gameplay experience after an early biz lore dump . Platforming and combat drive a fun power fantasy , while captivating domain design and the Memory Shard system make Mount Qaf a place I was eager to revisit after beat the story . Ubisoft offers more than enough accessibility and difficulty toggle to make the experience palatable to all kinds of players , even making thing like basic tutorial challenge worth your aid . ReleasingPrince of Persia : The Lost Crownis by far Ubisoft ’s most refreshing move since Mario first intersect over with the Rabbids , and it ’s the first must - play plot of 2024 .
Prince of Persia : The Lost Crownwas tested on Nintendo Switch .
