There are games that, at the mere mention of their name, take you back decades in a pleasant bubble of nostalgia. Prince of Persia, a legendary license in the video game space – oh, those endless GameBoy games – is one of them. This is because the ingenuity of Jordan Mechner, creator of the first work in 1989 on Apple II, helped create an entire segment of video games, namely Metroidvania.
Its legacy has been maintained ever since and Ubisoft, which bought the rights to the license in 2001, even developed it further and moved to 3D in the 2000s. After a long absence of 14 years, the Montpellier studio took control of the franchise. “The Lost Crown” is a return to basics, but does not limit itself to a simple homage. He also wants to revive a concept that still has a great future ahead of it.
Meet at Mount Qaf
The four pillars of the saga – narrative, platforming, exploration and combat – are now more than ever at the heart of the gaming experience. This dates back to the ancient times of the Persian Empire, some thirty years after the death of King Darius. As the Immortals, elite soldiers who ensure the kingdom's security, celebrate a new victory, the kidnapping of Prince Ghassan will disrupt their composure. And on Mount Qaf, the furthest point on earth according to Persian tradition, a mountain carved out of emerald by the deities themselves, and the abode of the jinns, in short, a mysterious and mystical place, the gameplay will be able to flourish .
This time we don't slip into the role of the prince, but into the role of Sargon, an intrepid young hero whose resentment, which he naturally arouses, tends to disappear during his odyssey, which is also an inner journey. The classic scenario distills its fairly expected twists. It is, above all, the excuse for exploring a convoluted universe the way we like it. Exploration extends far beyond the palace and through various locations – catacombs, forest, desert, etc. – that mark our progress. The downside is that despite the often colorful paintings, the Persian touch of the decor sometimes tends to fade. The environments then become more neutral and similar to other productions in the genre.
Lose yourself to move forward
However, this does not detract from our enjoyment of exploring a rich and labyrinthine map. The work on level design more than lives up to the expectations of Metroidvania fans. The comings and goings are numerous and would undoubtedly have benefited from reduction, even if a network of stelae (not numerous enough) allows for rapid movement. Going back to 2D or 2.5D is a worthwhile choice. In this return to the basics of the license, the developers decide, as they did with the Apple II in 1989, what they want to show us on the screen, even if it means confusing us a little. You have to pay attention to your surroundings to solve the puzzles and find the secret passages.
Mount Qaf reveals itself slowly, through the new abilities that Sargon learns from touching the Simorg's feathers. In order not to go into the unknown (again), it is better to find the young girl in the most remote corners, who will gradually update our database. The developers have also thought about adding the ability (in a limited number) to take screenshots that will be integrated into the map. Effective to remind us of the places where we were stuck… The Wak-Wak trees, which reveal their position thanks to a golden trail, serve as a checkpoint and allow us to manage our equipment. Scattered everywhere but just enough, they take part in the dice and replay side (difficulty is configurable) of The Lost Crown.
The platforming itself is pretty exciting. We think Ubi Montpellier is on the cutting edge by looking at what big names in the genre like Ori have done to offer an ever-increasing challenge. A form of creativity accompanies our movements, allowing us to renew exploration. It's all a question of skill, timing, speed of execution and reflection. To solve some timed puzzles, you'll have to grope around before finding the solution. The level design is well thought out and regularly surprises us. And being curious also means going on treasure hunts and completing many side objectives.
Deadly battles
If the plot does not dominate the title, its dimension remains significant. Sargon faces a range of enemies, from soldiers trapped in the temporality of Mount Qaf for ages to the most mystical creatures. Encounters become increasingly difficult, so it's important to regularly improve your avatar's skills. Fights against his doppelgangers allow Sargon to learn new “super moves” that he can trigger using the Athra Gauge. Handling amulets is at least as important. By strengthening followers, we strengthen the hero's powers while giving him dominance (attack, defense, magic, etc.).
With the controller in hand, the care comes through in the fights, which are often nervous. And for a Metroidvania, the number of combos available is more than respectable. We feel the influence that Street Fighter or Mortal Kombat, to name a few, might have had on the sequence of punches. This is also noticeable in the special effects that saturate the screen and in the fluidity of an animation that perfectly supports what is happening. It's quite simple, sometimes it feels like a Japanese anime, with a bit of clutter when there are too many protagonists in a small space.
Constantly moving, jumping or sliding to strike first with the blades, bow or chakram are the basics, especially since the parries are done in a (very) close stance. Most of the time we get away without much damage, but the difficulty becomes even more difficult when we are attacked from all sides. Obviously, “The Lost Crown” offers some unforgettable encounters with mystical creatures that give the game the longed-for Persian coloring. And when faced with these bosses, it's better to learn their ways to give yourself a chance to win. Note that errors – poorly managed collisions, invincible bosses – can sometimes spoil the experience. But it's important not to generalize.
Because overall, this new edition of Prince of Persia is a real overhaul of the license. Both retro with the return to 2.5D and powerful with muscular action, it follows in the footsteps of Darius. A path that, we hope, will not be without return…
In summary
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, developed and published by Ubisoft, for PS4 and PS5, Xbox One and Series, Switch and PC
We love :
– A very intelligent level design that sequences our progress
– A return to 2.5D, in keeping with the spirit of the license
– Energetic battles with many possibilities
– A sometimes tricky platform that requires skill
– Garteh Coker's exhilarating music overlays the exploration
A more than decent lifespan (around twenty hours for the main adventure alone)
We like less
– The steles are a little too far apart for fast travel
– A Persian print that could have been even clearer
– Battles that can become chaotic
– A scenario that never happens