The Rogue Prince of Persia: A Promising Yet Familiar Roguelite Adventure

by Arthur Herring
in Action, Adventure, News, Release
on 27 May 2024

Ubisoft has recently released The Rogue Prince of Persia on Steam Early Access. Developed by Evil Empire, the creators of the renowned game Dead Cells, this new addition to the Prince of Persia series brings a fresh twist by incorporating roguelite elements. While the game showcases solid combat mechanics and an impressive movement system, it falls short in terms of storytelling and originality.

The game centers around the protagonist, the Prince, who is fighting against a horde of invaders empowered by shamanic magic. To combat this new threat, the Prince possesses a Bola that allows him to reverse time repeatedly, creating a roguelite experience. However, the current early build of the game offers just a glimpse of the story, leaving much to be desired.

The characters in The Rogue Prince of Persia don’t break free from their archetypal roles, resulting in a lack of personality and depth. The writing lacks humor and emotional impact, failing to complement the stunning pop-art-inspired visuals. While the combat and movement mechanics shine brightly, the overall experience feels safe and formulaic compared to its predecessor, Dead Cells.

Although the game introduces a variety of weapons and a badge system for buffs, it doesn’t quite reach the level of excitement needed to set it apart from other roguelite titles. The enemies, bosses, and puzzles lack memorability, and the biomes present little meaningful differentiation. The game’s potential lies in its solid core, but it needs to take more risks and venture into unconventional territory to truly stand out among the saturated market of roguelites.

While The Rogue Prince of Persia is by no means a bad game, it struggles to escape the shadow of the franchise’s previous installment, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. With its repetitive nature and lack of originality, The Rogue Prince of Persia falls short in comparison to its predecessor. If the development team aims to achieve the same level of success as Dead Cells or The Lost Crown, they must embrace innovation and break free from the boundaries of the genre.

Ultimately, The Rogue Prince of Persia shows potential and provides some entertainment value. However, it needs to evolve and take more daring leaps to captivate players and leave a lasting impression in the highly competitive world of roguelite gaming.

Additional facts:
– The Rogue Prince of Persia is a 2D sidescrolling action-adventure game.
– Evil Empire, the developer of the game, is a subsidiary of Motion Twin, the studio behind Dead Cells.
– The game features a procedurally generated world, offering different layouts and challenges in each playthrough.
– The art style of the game draws inspiration from traditional Persian art and culture.
– The game incorporates roguelite elements such as permadeath, randomized levels, and a progression system.

Most important questions and answers:
1. What is the gameplay loop of The Rogue Prince of Persia?
– The gameplay loop revolves around exploring challenging levels, engaging in combat, acquiring new weapons and abilities, and attempting to progress as far as possible before dying. Upon death, players start over and repeat the process.

2. How does the Bola mechanic work in the game?
– The Prince possesses a Bola that allows him to reverse time when used strategically. This mechanic creates a roguelite experience where players can learn from their mistakes and find new strategies for success.

Key challenges or controversies:
1. Lack of storytelling depth and originality.
– The game falls short in terms of storytelling, with limited exposition and character development. It also struggles to bring fresh ideas to the Prince of Persia franchise, resulting in a lack of originality.

2. Lack of differentiation and memorability in enemies, bosses, and puzzles.
– The game’s enemies, bosses, and puzzles do not offer significant variety or memorable encounters. This can lead to a repetitive gameplay experience lacking in surprises and challenges.

Advantages:
1. Solid combat mechanics and impressive movement system.
– The game shines in terms of its combat mechanics and fluid movement system, which provide satisfying gameplay experiences.

2. Potential for innovation and captivating gameplay.
– The game has the potential to stand out by embracing innovation, taking risks, and offering unconventional gameplay experiences.

Disadvantages:
1. Lack of personality and depth in characters.
– Characters in the game do not break free from archetypal roles, resulting in a lack of personality and depth.

2. Lack of differentiation and excitement compared to other roguelite titles.
– The game struggles to set itself apart from other roguelite titles, lacking the level of excitement and differentiation needed to stand out in the saturated market.

The source of the article is from the blog klikeri.rs