Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown – A Game of the Year Contender in 2024?
The year 2024 has just begun, and we already have a strong contender for the Game of the Year title. That game is “Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown”. Even from what I have played so far, I can confidently say that it is truly impressive. Allow me to captivate you with this description.
“The Lost Crown” is a 2D metroidvania game. Players take on the role of Sargon, a member of an elite immortality unit in the Persian army. When the prince is kidnapped, Sargon, along with the immortals, embarks on a journey to Mount Qaf to save him. Throughout the journey, Sargon will acquire an arsenal of tools, weapons, and ornaments that will aid him in overcoming dangers and navigating this mysterious (and massive) mountain.
It may sound strange, but what is interesting about “The Lost Crown” is that it doesn’t introduce anything new in terms of mechanics. The abilities Sargon gains to solve various platforming puzzles are already familiar to players. There’s the dash in mid-air, the bow and arrows (which transform into a boomerang-like weapon bouncing off surfaces), the power to shift into another dimension revealing intangible platforms, and the ability to leave a mark at a specific location, allowing Sargon to teleport back. This is not a comprehensive list of abilities one can acquire since the game has yet to end, but Ubisoft doesn’t deviate from the platformer rules. What they did, however, is create a game where each of these standard powers is incredibly satisfying. I’d like to thank the level designers because the best part of “The Lost Crown” is uncovering the intricate dance of buttons I need to press to get from point A to point B, executing that sequence, and delighting in my divine talent. Sargon’s movements are fluid, and the cooldown time of abilities allows for trial and error, so even though the puzzles are not easy (and oh boy, they’re not), I don’t feel frustrated or the need to repeat a sequence until I get it right. One of my favorite puzzles, which appears a bit later in the game, involves being trapped in a room, with the only way out using Sargon’s spiritual forms to retrieve a key placed out of reach. The spirits have only a limited amount of time to complete one part of a larger puzzle, for example, activating a lever that opens a door through which another spirit can go. With three spirits, I had 12 seconds to quickly pass through an axis, create a duplicate, stand on a resting spot, jump over another axis, activate a lever, teleport to my duplicate’s position, and then perform a wall-jump to reach the goal. I hate repetition, it’s the most frustrating part about challenging games, but I was so focused, like a saxophonist in the middle of a Charlie Parker solo, that it didn’t bother me that it took me over 40 attempts to not only solve the puzzle but also execute it properly.
Incredibly technical platformers require time crawling and activating intangible platforms while avoiding spikes.
The combat is equally challenging and satisfying. Throughout the gameplay, you’ll have to master the use of all of Sargon’s abilities to survive both regular fights and boss battles. Like in the platforming puzzles, you’ll need to memorize attack patterns, choose the right tool from your inventory, and then execute a complex dance to defeat a boss who punishes you severely for overcommitting to dealing damage. As you progress, Sargon gains new combat abilities like a healing wave or a powerful strike, but even though some of these are useful in very specific encounters, I noticed that I could ignore any additional abilities beyond the first two. They simply didn’t feel significant or diverse enough for me to use them.
Due to the complexity of the puzzles and boss fights, while still providing relative ease in utilizing tools and weapons to overcome these challenges, “The Lost Crown” reminds me more of a soulslike game rather than a typical metroidvania. Although not a metroidvania classification-wise, what is required from you as a player in combat and puzzle-solving never feels unfair or tedious, but rather progressive in evaluating your growth. I felt like the game was saying, “Alright, you’ve had the ability to dash in mid-air for some time now, let’s see how effectively you operate with it.” My favorite aspect of video games is when gameplay enhances the narrative. When you add to that the idea that the game tests your mastery of skills and combine it with Sargon’s narrative of being a younger immortal member striving to prove his worth, it becomes evident that “The Lost Crown” is a game where, as a player, you feel like you’re growing alongside Sargon. Besides the smooth movement and complex combat, the most innovative aspect of the game is the map. Yes, the map. Firstly, it is massive. There are so many places to discover and secrets to uncover that even when you’re not heading towards the next story objective, every time you arrive at a location, you’re rewarded with something – either currency for purchasing hints, materials for upgrades, or amulets that enhance Sargon’s abilities. Furthermore, each area has its own unique theme, impacting the type of platforming tricks you can expect. There’s a sand area where sandwaterfalls push you through tight spike-filled corridors, and in the cursed library, you have to use…
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
1. What is “Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown” about?
“Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown” is a 2D metroidvania game in which players control Sargon, a member of an elite immortality unit in the Persian army. The objective is to rescue the kidnapped prince by embarking on a journey to Mount Qaf.
2. What abilities can be obtained in the game?
The main character, Sargon, acquires various abilities such as mid-air dash, bow and arrows, dimension shifting, and teleportation. While the game doesn’t introduce anything new in terms of mechanics, it offers a satisfying system for utilizing these abilities.
3. What are the challenges in the game?
The game requires players to solve intricate platforming puzzles and overcome challenging enemies. Combat and puzzle-solving demand mastery of Sargon
The source of the article is from the blog anexartiti.gr