Summer Games Fest 2023 has officially kicked off, with the promise of multiple announcements and surprises over the course of the event. Many publishers and studios have been confirmed to be in attendance, ranging from Warner Bros Interactive to PlayStation. Ubisoft in particular was first up during the main presentation, with the surprise reveal of Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, a brand-new 2D platformer set to revitalize the classic franchise on most major gaming platforms.
While there is still clearly so much to learn, the reveal trailer teases an epic story, stunning new visual style, and fun 2D platforming combat that seems like a breath of fresh air for the franchise. Due for release next January, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown seems like the most logical direction to take the franchise based on the colorful teaser trailer, boasting a promising 2D game adventure set within this iconic series.
A Return to Form for Prince of Persia
The Prince of Persia franchise has had a rough few years in terms of finding its footing. The 2008 reboot simply titled Prince of Persia boasted a stunning visual look, but arguably failed to offer anything gripping in the gameplay department. Meanwhile, the 2010 installment Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands was a solid, albeit safe entry into the franchise. The latter game is already 13 years old, leaving fans starved for something new, especially in light of the troubled development for Prince of Persia: Sands of Time remake.
In an almost ingenious move, rather than trudging forward trying to find new concepts to explore from the 3D perspective, Ubisoft seems to be rewinding the clocks to bring the series back to its roots. Although the 2003 Sands of Time may be the game that elevated the series to a more popular mainstream status, it's worth noting that the franchise began as a 2D platformer on PC in the late 80s and early 90s. It emphasized stunning animation work and excellent platforming challenges, something which The Lost Crown already looks to be recapturing.
Taking Advantage of the 2D Point of View
Prince Dastan has always been a nimble protagonist, pulling off death-defying leaps and aerial acrobatics. The animations on display in Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown are already quite dazzling, blending a nice sweet spot between pitch-perfect platforming skill and fast-paced combat. In fact, it looks as if Ubisoft may have taken a page or two from Hollow Knight's book when crafting this latest Prince of Persia adventure. Dastan is able to gracefully leap and dash in the air, all while juggling enemies with his set of razor-sharp swords.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown has also been confirmed to be a Metroidvania style of game, similar to the aforementioned Hollow Knight or the iconic Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. Allowing players to explore dense environments will only further encourage players to get a full grip on the many platforming mechanics at hand in the upcoming game.
While this was certainly present in the 3D outings, it was more timing based in relation to other obstacles in the environment. The Lost Crown seems to be allowing more freedom for players to fully master their movesets, giving the game a more organic feel in the process.
This first reveal of the game is a promising direction for the Prince of Persia series and a breath of fresh air for fans awaiting the latest adventure starring Prince Dastan. It's still quite a few months away from launch, but fans will hopefully get to see more about Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown and all of its acrobatic, fantasy-themed goodness during the upcoming Ubisoft Forward showcase on June 12.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown launches January 18, 2024, for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
