Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PS5, and PS4
The Forgotten Sands, a 2010 film that mostly designed to enhance the beloved Sands of Time storyline, was the penultimate installment in the Prince of Persia trilogy. However, neither the game nor the movie took the globe by storm, and the franchise stalled.
A lot is riding on The Lost Crown, but instead of playing it safe and serving up something you’ve seen before, developer Ubisoft Montpellier took a chance with a makeover that takes inspiration from later 3D adventures, goes back to the series’ early 2D roots, and wraps everything in an eye-catching new visual style. Overall, it’s a gamble that pays off.
To finally be able to explore areas of the map that were previously unreachable is incredibly satisfying.
Players take control of Sargon, a youthful fighter in the elite Immortals cadre, drawing inspiration from Persian mythology. Following the kidnapping of young Prince Ghassan, Sargon and his companions find themselves at Mount Qaf, a bizarre compound where reality folds in on itself and time is broken. Similar to Metroid, players navigate this vast, perplexing labyrinth by utilizing Sargon’s athletic prowess and an increasing array of special powers bestowed by the fabled Simurgh bird to reach new sections.
Even though this requires a lot of backtracking, it’s incredibly satisfying to be able to explore previously unreachable areas of the map. Additionally, it offers some incredible platforming difficulties. Imagine wall-hopping, double-jumping, and chaining air dashes to go through dangerous mazes where one mistake would send you back to the beginning. These cleverly crafted parts are challenging but never unfair—a difficult balance that gives players a genuine sense of mastery at the end.
Combat is just as precise, combining ranged arrow attacks and twin-sword melee combos with Simurgh abilities like teleportation to overwhelm adversaries. The timing of a parry is crucial; if Sargon mistimes one, he will take a lot of damage, but well-timed counterattack enable spectacular kills versus opponents. Amulets that modify abilities and charged “Athra surges” that have the power to reverse an opponent’s position further reinforce this. Each boss fight is a real set piece, and fearsome boss fights need experimenting with loadouts and tactics.
Unfortunately, The Lost Crown suffers from a lack of polish. Character pictures during dialogue are erratic; for example, one character wears a half-face mask that alternates sides. The English voice acting seems stiff and flat, however a more natural Farsi accent is appreciated. It’s disappointing, but The Lost Crown excels when it concentrates on its deft navigation and combat systems. You might never want to leave Mount Qaf’s twisting corridors, even though Sargon might be attempting to flee its temporal paradox.