Introduction
Basic information
- Developer Name: Ubisoft Montreal
- Full Name: Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
- Release Date: January 15, 2024
- Released on: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Nintendo Switch
- Cross Play: Not Available
Initial thoughts
As avid fans of the Prince of Persia series, we were initially thrilled to hear about The Lost Crown, especially with its return to a 2D format reminiscent of the original classics. The anticipation was high, expecting a nostalgic yet fresh experience. Unfortunately, that initial excitement began to wane as we delved deeper into the game, uncovering several shortcomings that dampened the overall experience. Let’s get right into it!
Story and setting
Plot overview
The Lost Crown follows the journey of Sargon tasked with restoring balance to a kingdom plunged into chaos by a mysterious dark force. While the premise holds promise, the storyline unfolds predictably, lacking the twists and depth that made previous entries memorable. The narrative feels rushed and often leaves important plot points underdeveloped.
World building and immersion
The game attempts to recreate the enchanting Persian landscapes, but falls short in creating a truly immersive world. The environments, though aesthetically pleasing at times, feel repetitive and fail to convey a living, breathing world. There is a noticeable lack of lore and contextual depth that could have enriched the connection to the game’s universe.
Character development
Characterization is one of the weakest aspects of The Lost Crown. The protagonist lacks a distinct personality, making it difficult to empathize with his journey. Supporting characters are scarcely fleshed out, serving more as plot devices than contributing meaningfully to the story. This lack of depth results in a cast that is forgettable and unengaging. I don’t even know the name of prince anymore.
Emotional impact
Given the shallow narrative and weak character development, the game struggles to evoke any significant emotional response. Moments that are intended to be poignant or thrilling often fall flat due to poor execution and a lack of build-up. You are left feeling detached, reducing the overall impact of the game’s climactic moments.
Rating for story and setting
I have visited multiple aspects of the story and after some thought and objective thinking, I rated the story and setting with an 4
Maybe I should rate it lower, but points for trying to make an impactful narrative, I guess.
Gameplay and mechanics
Core gameplay mechanics
The Lost Crown sticks closely to traditional 2D platforming mechanics, incorporating parkour elements and combat sequences. While these mechanics are functional, they offer little innovation, resulting in gameplay that feels dated and uninspired. The platforming sections lack fluidity, and combat encounters are repetitive, failing to provide the engaging experience expected from the series.
Difficulty and balance
The game’s difficulty curve is inconsistent, with sudden spikes that can be frustrating and sections that are overly simplistic. This imbalance detracts from the overall enjoyment, as it oscillates between boredom and irritation rather than experiencing a smooth, challenging progression.
Pacing of the game
Pacing issues are prevalent throughout the game. Some sections drag on unnecessarily, filled with mundane tasks and backtracking that add little value, while other potentially exciting segments are rushed and underdeveloped. This uneven pacing disrupts the flow and can make the experience feel disjointed.
Innovation and uniqueness
Regrettably, The Lost Crown offers minimal innovation, relying heavily on tried-and-true mechanics without adding new or unique features to set it apart. The game misses opportunities to introduce fresh ideas or modernize the classic formula, resulting in a lackluster and forgettable experience.
Controls and user interface
While the controls are generally responsive, they can feel clunky during more complex maneuvers, leading to unnecessary frustration during platforming and combat. The user interface is simplistic but lacks intuitive design, making navigation and access to menus less seamless than desired.
Microtransactions
Surprisingly, the game incorporates one form of microtransactions, namely by offering a deluxe edition. This grants cosmetic items and minor gameplay enhancements. This inclusion feels improper and somewhat exploitative. Especially in a single-player experience where, as far as I know, there is no other way of gaining these items.
Rating
After combing through many of the mechanics, the pacing and other factors of this game, I rated the gameplay and mechanics with a 5.
The gameplay mechanics do not work properly at all.
Graphics and art style
Quality of graphics and art direction
The art style attempts to blend modern visuals with the series’ traditional aesthetic but achieves mixed results. While some character models and environments showcase detailed and vibrant designs, overall, the graphics appear outdated and lack the polish expected from a contemporary release.
Technical performances
Technical difficulties plague the experience, with frequent frame rate drops and occasional screen tearing. These performance problems interrupt gameplay and hinder immersion, indicating a lack of optimization across platforms.
Environment and design uniqueness
Environmental designs are serviceable but lack creativity and diversity. Many areas feel recycled, and there is a noticeable absence of standout locations that leave a lasting impression. The game fails to utilize its setting effectively to create unique and memorable landscapes.
Rating
It took me some time to give the graphics and art style an objective rating. There are many things to consider, but ultimately, I rated this section with a 4.5
Sound and music
Music score and how it contributed to the game
The musical score is mediocre, offering generic tunes that do little to enhance the atmosphere or underscore pivotal moments. The soundtrack lacks the cultural richness and dynamic compositions that could have elevated the gaming experience and paid homage to its Persian roots.
Sound effects quality
Sound effects are adequate but unremarkable. They fulfill their basic function without adding any extra layer of immersion or excitement. There are instances where effects feel mismatched or lack impact, diminishing the overall sensory experience.
Voice Acting
Voice acting is subpar, with performances that often feel flat and emotionless. Dialogue delivery lacks conviction, and some characters suffer from awkward and stilted lines, making cutscenes less engaging and sometimes cringeworthy.
Rating
After a lot of consideration, I rated the sound and music section with a 4.
I can barely remember the tunes, compared to other games where I can hear the music long after playing the games if done right.Â
Replayability
Game Length and content volume
The main campaign spans approximately 10 hours, which is relatively short for modern standards. The content feels stretched thin, with filler segments that attempt to prolong playtime without adding meaningful substance to the experience.
Extra Content
Additional content is sparse, consisting mainly of uninspired side quests and collectible hunts that offer little reward or incentive. There is a noticeable absence of challenging modes or engaging post-game content to encourage extended play.
Replay value
Given the linear progression and lackluster extra content, replay value is significantly low. There are minimal variations or branching paths to explore in subsequent playthroughs, making it unlikely you will revisit the game after completion.
Rating
After thoughtful consideration, I decided to rate the replayability and game length of Prince of Persia the Lost Crown with a 3.5
What replay value?
Suggestions and comparisons
Suggestions and feedback
To revitalize Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, developers should consider:
- Enhancing Narrative Depth: Invest in richer storytelling with complex characters and engaging plot developments.
- Innovating Gameplay Mechanics: Introduce new mechanics and features that refresh and modernize the traditional formula.
- Optimizing Technical Performance: Address and fix performance issues to ensure smooth and immersive gameplay across all platforms.
- Improving Audio Design: Develop a more dynamic and culturally enriched soundtrack alongside more competent voice acting.
- Expanding Content: Add meaningful side content and challenges that encourage exploration and replayability.
Comparisons
When compared to other modern 2D platformers like Hollow Knight or Ori and the Blind Forest, The Lost Crown falls noticeably short in nearly all aspects. Those titles excel in storytelling, gameplay innovation, and artistic expression, setting high standards that The Lost Crown unfortunately fails to meet.
Personal experiences and anecdotes
Our time with The Lost Crown was marred by persistent disappointment. The game’s poor pacing made progression feel like a chore, and the disjointed storytelling failed to capture our interest or investment. Repeated technical glitches further disrupted the experience, making it difficult to stay engaged. As fans of the earlier games of this series, it was disheartening to see a franchise with such a rich legacy deliver an entry that feels so uninspired and unpolished.
Rating
Taking in all the personal experiences with Prince of Persia Lost Crown, I give it a personal rating of 4
What an awkward protagonist!
Last words
Pros
- Nostalgic return to 2D platforming roots
Cons
- Weak and predictable storyline
- Lack of character development and emotional depth
- Inconsistent and unbalanced gameplay
- Technical issues across multiple platforms
- Uninspired music and poor voice acting
- Minimal replay value and extra content
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown attempts to rekindle the magic of the classic series but falls short in delivering a compelling and satisfying experience. With its numerous shortcomings in narrative, gameplay, and technical execution, the game struggles to justify its place in the esteemed franchise. It serves as a stark reminder that nostalgia alone isn’t enough to carry a game, and significant improvements are needed to meet the expectations of all gamers.
Final Rating
4
Please let me know what you think of Prince of Persia Lost Crown in the comments!
I hope you enjoyed reading this review, I hope to see you in the next review!
If you liked reading this review, maybe you would like to share this review with your friends.
FranckCastle
Yeah, that's a big oof... I don't even understand why they had to use the Prince of Persia name when it isn't even related, lol.
Also, funny how I absolutely did not know it was sort of a metroidvania (at least looks like it from the map screenshot) before reading your review! Thought it was entirely linear, lol. Well, makes it slightly less awful than I thought.
supersven
It is linear, they use the map to make you believe you can freely explore.
fano23
Idea of the game seemed good, but they should have worked more on it
supersven
It seems like an unfinished product.
ellemby
Very disappointing game from the first look at the protagonist which does not have the looks of Persian.
BTW, you have repeated something in the cons twice "Inconsistent and unbalanced gameplay" I am not sure if this is intended to emphasize.
supersven
It indeed does not look Persian, but I have to admit, I had to google this since I am not very familiar with Persian lore.
Alamar
Looks like poor game, which is worse when comparing to the (very old already) classics. I used to like to play Prince of Persia and Prince of Persia 2, not liked those 3d. But how long time ago it has been, i was a small child i think 😉 I think first Prince of Persia i played on Amiga 500+. Still I feel those old games were better from this new title. All cons listed here are very important minuses. Not played myself but good review.
supersven
I am glad you liked the review, older games, from the bygone era. They were tested properly since updates were difficult to import. I know this was done for a few N64 games, but you had to buy a whole new cartridge, to signify the update, it usually had a different picture. (I had two different Gauntlet N64 cartridges, one with the secret wizard character update, and one without) There are sometimes also regional changes which gets confusing, lol.
FranckCastle
Quite unfortunate that the OST wasn't that good... Music is super important to me, it really adds to the immersion, as well as conveying feelings in movies and games.
supersven
Music is indeed crucial for immersion in games.
Blink
Game is ok, but still need some improvement for the story and difficulty
supersven
Yep, it sure needs improvement.
Myr
Not sure if the narrative is going to the right direction. I like your suggestions!
supersven
I am glad you liked my suggestions!
wolfmaron999
yeah that's my opinion as well lol. discord: wolfmaron999
supersven
I am glad you agree with my opinion.
Twigas_Hobbes
a bit sad to hear.... at least the map looks a bit Metroidlikey which might give it a small boost?
supersven
Depends, the controls are odd and not very responsive.
Vibe
Sad to see this review. The story seems to be its weakest aspect but I see that its other aspects are excellent from reading reviews 🙂
supersven
The story is not very good.
Delicious Bacon
OK, so it took that that long to create a Price on Persia reboot and they've done it so lousy? It might be a too harsh score, but I'll have to see this one myself first.
You seem like you didn't enjoy the game at all. :/
supersven
No, and you know, even if we dislike a game, we finish it most of the time and still give an objective rating.
Anolrana
We're back to the origins of Prince Of Persia. I like it.
supersven
I would like to play that one day!
Vitalikboykiller
I would try this game,because I like to try new experiments with game mechanics. The review is perfect. I agree with disadvantages in this game.
supersven
I am glad you liked the review!
Nicole
Wow it seems like this game doesn't have much going for it except the name and some nice aesthetics, but even the scenery was cheaped out on with it repeating scenes like that.. I would love more metroidvanias/platformers with a jungle/desert theme, Imp of the Sun or Tales of Kenzera: ZAU look amazing!
supersven
With a Metroidvania, it is useful to have multiple biomes with various aesthetics.
emperoru
I got this game in Uplay, played little bit and just deleted it. Didnt like it
supersven
I can understand that you did not like it.
Silentrets
If it should be released for 3d fps. That would be great.
supersven
I fear it will remain 2D.