Highlights

  • Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is taking a bold new direction by embracing side-scrolling platforming, pushing the boundaries of the franchise and the side-scroller genre.
  • The inclusion of cinematic cutscenes in The Lost Crown is a departure from typical side-scroller storytelling, potentially revolutionizing how stories are told in this genre.
  • While unexpected, the combination of cinematic moments and side-scrolling gameplay in The Lost Crown has the potential to breathe new life into the Prince of Persia franchise and bring a unique and exciting experience to players in 2024.

With the release of Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown now only a little over a month away, the newest game in the series is changing the usual formula fans are used to and opting for a side-scrolling platformer. The rebirth of the Prince of Persia franchise has been anticipated for a long time, and The Lost Crown has the potential to be an exciting new take on the games' legacy. From the art style to the gameplay, The Lost Crown is setting itself up to push the boundaries of the franchise, but it also looks to be pushing the boundaries of side-scroller games in general.

When Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown was first announced, it was a surprise for many fans of the games to see the next chapter in the series would partially return to the franchise's side-scrolling roots, but with a twist. A more stylized look and embracing Persian mythology promises a fun new approach to Prince of Persia, and early previews of The Lost Crown's gameplay show that it could also be a game changer for how stories are told in the world of side-scrollers.

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Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown Promises a Cinematic Platformer

Trailers and early gameplay footage of Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown show that the game has included one feature that isn't really embraced in side-scrollers; cinematic cutscenes. When it comes to a side-scroller platform, the story is usually told through the gameplay itself, and if the game has any type of cutscene, the camera angle is usually still kept at a side-scrolling angle. However, The Lost Crown is clearly steering away from this method and is using beautiful cinematic cutscenes to help move the plot forward.

The Lost Crown Could Signal a New Era for Side-Scroller Storytelling

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown using side-scrolling gameplay while pushing the plot via compelling cutscenes could start a new chapter for this particular genre. There are many ways The Lost Crown differs from previous Prince of Persia entries, but the side-scrolling aspect is without a doubt the boldest change to the franchise.

Even though the franchise started as a side-scroller, returning to this style was an unexpected development for many eager fans. When it was initially revealed that The Lost Crown would be a side-scroller, some Prince of Persia fans were critical of how Ubisoft chose to evolve the franchise. However, it's clear that the developers aren't letting this approach to platforming effect the game's ability to tell an interesting story.

Subverting Expectations May Be What Prince of Persia Needs

Although this may not be the version of Prince of Persia some fans were expecting, mixing cinematic moments with the fun of side-scroller platforming has the potential to be something incredibly unique. The Lost Crown could be a breath of fresh air for the Prince of Persia franchise, which is something many gamers have been anticipating for thirteen long years.

Taking Prince of Persia's original 2D platformer approach and blending it with 3D cinematics could be an exciting way to bring a new story in the franchise to life. With a new protagonist in the form of Sargon and a blend of old-fashioned style platforming and cinematic narratives, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown has the potential to start 2024 off in a surprisingly great way.