Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is one of the first titles set to ring in 2024, and with only a few weeks until its launch, there is a lot of curiosity surrounding the game’s new protagonist, Sargon. When The Lost Crown was announced back in June, many fans of the franchise were shocked to see that the titular Prince would not be leading the game’s story. While some may be disappointed, Sargon’s confirmed abilities hint at the new protagonist being a worthy main character.
A new Prince of Persia game being announced at the 2023 Summer Game Fest was one of the most surprising moments of the event, but a Prince of Persia game not featuring the Prince was even more shocking. The initial reaction to the game was quite negative, which eventually led to the trailer for The Lost Crown being bombed with dislikes by unhappy fans. However, the tide slowly turned for the game as more and more has been revealed, with the 2D Metroidvania and its gameplay abilities being an excellent direction for the franchise.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown Hands-On Preview
Game Rant’s three-and-a-half-hour preview of the upcoming Prince of Persia metroidvania showed fun exploration, tough bosses, and clever puzzles.
Sargon’s Abilities Promise Some Amazing Gameplay
The Lost Crown‘s unexpected return to Prince of Persia‘s side-scrolling roots is an exciting change for the franchise, and it looks like the game is planning to utilize this style of platforming as a way to create some fun combat moments with Sargon’s abilities. In addition to his weapons, which include two blades, a bow, and a Chakram, there are many different abilities players can look forward to using.
Athra Abilities
The special abilities Sargon has are called Athra Abilties. These specific abilities allow Sargon to unleash brutal special attacks that have been directly inspired by anime. Sargon’s Athra gauge is tied to these attacks, which increases the success of performing an Athra attack. These new abilities signal a new take on Prince of Persia‘s combat, but the franchise’s focus on time manipulation hasn’t been forgotten.
Space and Time Manipulation
Although the Prince won’t be featured as the game’s protagonist, Sargon will still have his own space and time manipulation abilities that will help players progress through the game’s obstacles. Time-based powers are essential to the Prince of Persia franchise, and The Lost Crown hasn’t forgotten this. Some confirmed space and time-based powers players can expect in the game are the Rush of Simurgh and the Shadow of Simurgh, which stay true to the roots of the series while still putting a new twist on these abilities.
- Rush of Simurgh: An air dash move that is particularly useful for platforming and defense.
- Shadow of Simurgh: Places a shadow of Sargon in a spot with the press of a designated button. Pressing the button again returns Sargon to the selected location, which is useful for time-based puzzles or as a fun defensive maneuver.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown has high expectations, but this fresh take could be what the Prince of Persia franchise needs. The game may not star the protagonist many fans had hoped for, but Sargon has the potential to be a compelling lead, especially with his weapons and abilities. The Prince of Persia franchise is a beloved series of games for many fans, which means The Lost Crown has a lot to live up to. However, previews showcasing the game’s approach to combat and platforming could make The Lost Crown one of the first hits of 2024.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
Ubisoft’s The Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is a throwback to the franchise’s early 2D days, albeit with a heavy focus on stylish combat. Inspired by Persian mythology and set on Mount Oaf, the game features platforming, parkour, action, and storytelling.
- Released
- January 18, 2024
- Developer(s)
- Ubisoft Montpellier
- Genre(s)
- Action , Platformer , 2D
