Prince of Persia: The Misplaced Crown is the primary main sport in Ubisoft’s beloved sequence in a really very long time, so we have now to provide the writer some kudos for not taking part in it protected. Whereas an easy remake of The Sands of Time can also 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 path, and happily, 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 carry him again protected and sound. Nevertheless, 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 types 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 way of to the tip, however this can be a sport all about the way it feels to maneuver, and battle, by way 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 you have all of your talents. All of it feels implausible, little question helped by the unshakeable technical efficiency and classy visuals. Talking of which, we slightly like how the sport seems to be, however it does often seem considerably dated once you see characters shut up.
Anyway, it is a good factor it is so satisfying, since you’ll be taking part in it for some time. Relying on how a lot you discover the large, interconnected map, you are taking a look at something between 20 and 30 hours, extra if you wish to see and do all the pieces. As talked about, this can be a Metroidvania; by design, you will be wandering by way of its dozens of rooms, in the hunt for each the trail ahead and hidden secrets and techniques. The map progressively opens as much as you as Sargon is outfitted with extra time-manipulating powers, that means a lot of backtracking to find new areas branching from outdated territory.
There’s a lot of selection within the map’s design and in every location. Whereas a lot of the setting takes place inside an ornate citadel, you will 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, each 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 all the time a stroll within the park.
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Nonetheless, it is a terrific match for Prince of Persia, a sequence that has a historical past in lethal platforming gauntlets specifically. Ultimately you will acquire talents like a double bounce, 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 usually examined as you swing from poles, wall bounce by way of spikes, and dodge whirring dying machines.
Fight progressively grows extra advanced, too. Not solely is there all kinds of enemies to battle, every bringing one thing new to the desk, however Sargon can utilise a few of his talents to get the higher of baddies. You possibly can 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. When you have a whole lot of choices, fight is not any joke, and even fundamental unhealthy guys can knock you down in case you’re not paying consideration. Parrying hits is commonly key to success right here, and the timing could be difficult.
You possibly can complement Sargon’s array of talents by equipping amulets to his necklace. These present a wide range of passive bonuses, like reducing incoming harm, or restoring well being with profitable parries. You’ll equip increasingly more of them as you progress, and there are tons to select from, so it is price experimenting to seek out what works finest. It is not too lengthy earlier than you discover a shopkeeper, who sells further well being potions and extra, and a smith, who can improve amulets, in addition to Sargon’s major weapons.
It is price popping again to The Haven, a sort-of central hub, usually to see what you possibly can put money into, 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 non-obligatory bouts. These could be powerful encounters, however by no means took us quite a lot of tries. You are rewarded for taking part in these battles well — searching for alternatives to parry, making use of all Sargon’s talents, and firing off a strong Athra Surge when the time is correct. On this sense, these are profitable bosses — checks of your abilities and pushing you to make use of all of your choices.
As talked about, a few of these fights are non-obligatory, which leads us onto the sport’s number of facet missions and collectibles. The map is giant 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 facet quests will span the entire sport, whereas others are faster. Most are price it, although, rewarding you with assets, max well being boosts, and extra moreover. Additionally they result in a few of The Misplaced Crown’s hardest fights and platforming challenges.
There’s rather a lot on this sport, and finally that is nice, as a result of nearly all of it’s tremendous enjoyable and satisfying to find. Nevertheless, given the general size, we could not assist however really feel our enthusiasm lull slightly in the direction of the tip. 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 value experiencing, however this can be a huge Metroidvania — particularly if you wish to do completely all the pieces.
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 an excellent mix that brings the franchise again in a contemporary new manner. Whereas it might probably typically look slightly 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 rather a lot to supply.