Prince of Persia: The Misplaced Crown is the primary main recreation in Ubisoft’s beloved sequence in a really very long time, so now we have to provide the writer some kudos for not enjoying it secure. Whereas a simple remake of The Sands of Time can be on the best way, this entry is a side-scrolling motion platformer with a Metroidvania construction. It concurrently calls again to the franchise’s previous and takes it in an attention-grabbing new course, and thankfully, the formulation works a deal with.
You play as Sargon, a younger warrior and the most recent member of the Immortals, an elite group defending Persia from invading forces. When the titular prince Ghassan is kidnapped, you are ordered to convey him again secure and sound. Nonetheless, the perpetrators lead you to Mount Qaf which, unbeknown to the Immortals or the enemy, is cursed; time’s linear path is fractured, resulting in all kinds of weird, paradoxical conditions. It is a neat setup that makes for a enjoyable narrative through-line.
The story is respectable and intriguing sufficient to see by means of to the top, however this can be a recreation all about the way it feels to maneuver, and struggle, by means of its intricate world. Ubisoft Montpellier is finest identified for the Rayman sequence, and its strengths in side-scrolling design actually present up right here. Sargon strikes tremendous easily with snappy animations and tight, responsive controls. Equally, fight is slick, lethal, and surprisingly technical after getting all of your skills. All of it feels implausible, little doubt helped by the unshakeable technical efficiency and classy visuals. Talking of which, we quite like how the sport appears, nevertheless it does sometimes seem considerably dated whenever you see characters shut up.
Anyway, it is a good factor it is so satisfying, since you’ll be enjoying it for some time. Relying on how a lot you discover the massive, interconnected map, you are something between 20 and 30 hours, extra if you wish to see and do all the things. As talked about, this can be a Metroidvania; by design, you may be wandering by means of its dozens of rooms, looking for each the trail ahead and hidden secrets and techniques. The map steadily opens as much as you as Sargon is outfitted with extra time-manipulating powers, which means a number of backtracking to find new areas branching from outdated territory.
There’s a number of selection within the map’s design and in every location. Whereas a lot of the setting takes place inside an ornate citadel, you may even be taken to spooky catacombs, a forest stuffed with ruins, an icy tower, and lots extra. There are some nice environments in The Misplaced Crown, every one stuffed with hidden areas, challenges, and secrets and techniques. One draw back to a map of this dimension is that the backtracking inherent to Metroidvanias can really feel exacerbated. There are quite a few quick journey factors, however some areas nonetheless take some time to get again to — and the paths that take you there aren’t at all times a stroll within the park.
Nonetheless, it is a terrific match for Prince of Persia, a sequence that has a historical past in lethal platforming gauntlets specifically. Finally you may achieve skills like a double soar, an air sprint, the ability to warp to the precise stance and placement of a previous level, and extra. All of those will trivialise earlier platforming paths, however from the start your abilities are repeatedly examined as you swing from poles, wall soar by means of spikes, and dodge whirring dying machines.
Fight steadily grows extra complicated, too. Not solely is there all kinds of enemies to struggle, every bringing one thing new to the desk, however Sargon can utilise a few of his skills to get the higher of baddies. You may set down a projection and use it to warp behind an enemy, for instance, or get one up within the air and use the air sprint to proceed your combo earlier than you contact the bottom. Whilst you have lots of choices, fight is not any joke, and even fundamental dangerous guys can knock you down in case you’re not paying consideration. Parrying hits is usually key to success right here, and the timing could be difficult.
You may complement Sargon’s array of skills by equipping amulets to his necklace. These present quite a lot of passive bonuses, like reducing incoming injury, or restoring well being with profitable parries. You can equip increasingly of them as you progress, and there are heaps to select from, so it is value experimenting to search out what works finest. It is not too lengthy earlier than you discover a shopkeeper, who sells extra well being potions and extra, and a smith, who can improve amulets, in addition to Sargon’s major weapons.
It is value popping again to The Haven, a sort-of central hub, repeatedly to see what you’ll be able to spend money on, since you’ll want all the assistance you may get. Primary enemies should not be underestimated, however there are larger opponents to face all through the journey. Boss fights punctuate the journey, with many on the primary path and a handful of elective bouts. These could be powerful encounters, however by no means took us quite a lot of tries. You are rewarded for enjoying these battles well — searching for alternatives to parry, making use of all Sargon’s skills, and firing off a strong Athra Surge when the time is true. On this sense, these are profitable bosses — exams of your abilities and pushing you to make use of all of your choices.
As talked about, a few of these fights are elective, which leads us onto the sport’s number of aspect missions and collectibles. The map is massive and sophisticated, and each nook of it has one thing to supply — whether or not that is a bunch of time crystals (your foreign money for upgrades), a treasure chest containing a brand new amulet, or an attention-grabbing character with a job for you. Some aspect quests will span the entire recreation, whereas others are faster. Most are value it, although, rewarding you with assets, max well being boosts, and extra apart from. In addition they result in a few of The Misplaced Crown’s hardest fights and platforming challenges.
There’s loads on this recreation, and in the end that is nice, as a result of the vast majority of it’s tremendous enjoyable and satisfying to find. Nonetheless, given the general size, we could not assist however really feel our enthusiasm lull a bit of in the direction of the top. A couple of times, it feels as if it ramps as much as the story’s climax earlier than providing you with a brand new energy and sending you off on one other quest. Once more, a lot of the sport is implausible and price experiencing, however this can be a massive Metroidvania — particularly if you wish to do completely all the things.
Conclusion
Prince of Persia: The Misplaced Crown places its finest foot ahead with rewarding and satisfying gameplay at its core. Combining the sequence’ 2D previous with the time-bending powers from later video games, this Metroidvania is a superb mix that brings the franchise again in a contemporary new means. Whereas it could possibly typically look a bit of underwhelming, and the sheer dimension of the sport threatens to sluggish its personal momentum, the fluid, difficult platforming and fight are so enjoyable that any shortcomings fade into the background. That is an total nice motion journey with loads to supply.