Ubisoft's track record with the Prince of Persia franchise has been a bit of a mixed bag. One on hand, Ubisoft is responsible for publishing Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, by far the most beloved entry of the franchise, and one of the most adored action-platformers of all time. On the other hand, Ubisoft hasn't put out a new Prince of Persia game in over a decade, with 2010's Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands being the last mainline game released. But that's all about to change with Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown.
Just announced at Summer Game Fest, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is a 2D platformer that takes the best elements of the modern Prince of Persia franchise and gives them a Metroidvania overhaul. Debuting alongside a rather lengthy gameplay trailer, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown doesn't look like any old cash-grab, with visuals, music, and gameplay that all seem worthy of the franchise, at long last.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown Finally Looks Like a Return to Form
It's been 13 long years since fans last played a new Prince of Persia game, and in that time, many fans have expressed their deepest desires for a hypothetical next entry in the series. While many fans longed for a return to the 3D action-platforming that The Sands of Time offered, a good portion of the fanbase was hoping for a true return to form, hearkening all the way back to the very first game in the series, and Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown looks like it might finally deliver on both of those wishes.
Set in the mysterious region of Mount Qaf, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown returns the franchise to its 2D roots. Released in 1989, the first Prince of Persia and several of its sequels pioneered next-generation 2D platforming gameplay, offering realistic animations and pinpoint accurate jumps and acrobatics. Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time took this general premise 14 years later, and translated it to a 3D plane, revolutionizing platforming for a new age. From what fans have seen so far, it seems like Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown marries both of these gameplay styles, taking Sands of Time's fluid parkour mechanics and translating them back into a rich 2D plane.
It's not just platforming that Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown seems to get right, either. Throughout Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown's gameplay trailer, the game's player-character, a Persian warrior named Sargon, is seen battling a number of foes, both real-world and mythological. From the glimpses fans have seen so far, The Lost Crown's gameplay looks incredibly fluid and smooth, channeling the best parts of Hades and Dead Cells.
Ranged combat, close-quarters combat, a parrying system, and cinematic special moves are all shown off repeatedly throughout the trailer, all looking very stylish and satisfying to pull off. And to top it all off, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown teased a few of its boss battles, all of which appear to be against some kind of intimidating mythological beasts, such as a manticore or giant snake.
While Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown looks and sounds great, this trailer could all still be smoke and mirrors. That said, the game's developer should be enough to inspire true hope in fans. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is being developed by Ubisoft Montpellier, the studio best known for its leading work on Rayman Origins and Rayman Legends. If any studio can create a fluid, satisfying 2D Prince of Persia game, it's Ubisoft Montpellier.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown launches January 18, 2024, for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
