Summary
The firstPrince of Persiawas pretty groundbreaking when it first released in 1989. Made by just one man, Jordan Mechner,Prince of Persiabroke new ground with its detailed character models and fluid, realistic platforming animations, achieved via rotoscoping technology, and it quickly became a major critical and commercial success. Though a few sequels to the originalPrince of Persiawere made, they came years after one another, letting fans forget about the franchise between entries. But the franchise returned with a bang in 2003 withPrince of Persia: The Sands of Time, a 3D time-bending action-platformer, and one of the beloved games of the PS2 generation. And now, two decades later, Ubisoft looks to combine both gameplay styles with the upcomingPrince of Persia: The Lost Crown.
First announced back in June of this year,Prince of Persia: The Lost Crownlooks to be a game that merges the weighty and responsive 2D platforming of the 1989 original, and the fast-paced combat and supernatural abilities ofSands of Timeto create a brand-newPrince of Persiaexperience. And hopefully, that fresh experience is just what thePrince of Persiafranchise needs right now.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown Can Breathe New Life Into the Franchise
The Prince of Persia Franchise Is Stagnating
AfterPrince of Persia: The Sands of Time’s release in 2003, Ubisoft wasted no time in embracing the series' newfound success. A sequel,Warrior Within, was released just a year later, withThe Two Thronesdropping a year after it. WhileTwo Throneswas another critical and commercial success for the series, Ubisoft took a few years out, returning to the series in 2008 with a reboot simply titledPrince of Persia. But when that reboot wasn’t received too well, Ubisoft returned to theSands of Timecontinuity with2010’sThe Forgotten Sands, the last mainlinePrince of Persiato be released so far.
It’s been over a decade since the lastPrince of Persiamainline release, though that isn’t for a lack of trying on Ubisoft’s part. Back in 2020, Ubisoft announced aPrince of Persia: Sands of Timeremake, with a reveal trailer accompanying it. The reaction toSands of TimeRemake’s trailerwas abysmal, with the game’s poor visuals being fairly viewed as sub-par by fans. Ubisoft was quick to delay the remake, and fans haven’t seen anything of it since, and have only been given vague updates on the status of the remake’s development.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown Is Taking The Franchise In a Bold New Direction
Despite being 34 years old, it still feels like one is only scratching the surface of whatthePrince of Persiafranchisehas to offer. A series that isn’t afraid to explore lesser-seen mythologies and experiment with some innovative reality-bending mechanics,Prince of Persiashould be one of Ubisoft’s flagship franchises in the modern age, just asGod of Waris for PlayStation, and hopefully,Prince of Persia: The Lost Crowncan be the start of that.
Releasing in just a month,Prince of Persia: The Lost Crownlooks as though it might be the breath of fresh air that the franchise so desperately needs. Returning to the series' 2D side-scrolling roots,The Lost Crownlooks as though it’s diving head-first into some very intriguing concepts, from Persian mythology, to anantagonist that’s able to wield the Sands of Time. IfPrince of Persia: The Lost Crownends up being as fun and innovative as it looks, then it could start a whole new era for thePrince of Persiafranchise.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
WHERE TO PLAY
Dash into a stylish and thrilling action-adventure platformer set in a mythological Persian world where the boundaries of time and space are yours to manipulate. Play as Sargon and evolve from sword-wielding prodigy to extraordinary legend as you master acrobatic combat and unlock new Time Powers and unique super abilities.UNLEASH YOUR INNER WARRIORUse your Time Powers, combat, and platforming skills to perform deadly combos and defeat time-corrupted enemies and mythological creatures.LOSE YOURSELF IN THE PRODIGIOUS MOUNT QAFDiscover a cursed Persian-inspired world filled with larger-than-life landmarks and explore a variety of highly detailed biomes, each with their own identity, wonder, and danger.LIVE AN EPIC ADVENTUREImmerse yourself in a Persian mythological fantasy through an intriguing and original story as you use your wits to solve puzzles, find hidden treasures, and complete quests to learn more about this corrupted place.
