After more than a decade without a new episode, the license Prince of Persia will finally make its return at the start of 2024 with Prince of Persia: The Lost Crownan action-adventure and platform game in side-scrolling still taking place in Persia, but in a new universe very distinct from the saga of the Sands of Time, whose remake of the first episode has disappeared from the radar. Rather than offering us an all-3D adventure, the developers ofUbisoft Montpellier behind games like Rayman Legends have therefore designed an adventure which, once the prologue has passed, takes the form ofA metroidvaniawith a vast world to roam and explore. In addition to being a return to the sources recalling the first two parts designed by Broderbund Softwareit appears to us as a logical evolution of the formula that had been attempted Prince of Persia (2008) in terms of progression, at least that’s the feeling we had when we put our hands on it. Indeed, we recently had the opportunity to play it for a little over 3 hours (we were quick and good) via a streaming solution, taking us through the entire beginning of the game to a point shown in the latest trailer for Game Awardswhich is much more than what could have been played at certain shows like the gamescom. Might as well say it right away, we had a great time and letting go of the controller was difficult.
The fluidity was top notch.
The introduction to the game in the form of illustrations plunges us directly into the action following a quick presentation of the events by a narrator, while Sargonnicknamed the Rashabarand his comrades Immortals confront the troops of General Kushan Uvishka came to conquer Persia (without electricity). It is in the form of a well-integrated tutorial that the commands are introduced to us and, if you have already played this type of production, you will have no trouble finding your bearings. Classic and wall jumps, simple melee attacks using two sabers and charged by holding the action button, use of potions in limited number to heal, slides, dodges and parries are all tools put at our disposal. available from the first minutes, this last element being the most difficult for us to master, because it requires impeccable timing, having cost us our lives on several occasions. However, it may be worth it because ward off a perilous attack (a yellow eye appears just before) allows you to trigger a counter-avenger, whose animation is particularly stylish in addition. Moves that cannot be countered in this way are indicated in red, a color code that is quickly assimilated. Accessibility options are also present and the publisher insisted on them in his upstream presentation, we will return to the subject in detail in our full test.
Following a first boss fight that is not very complicated, it is within the palace of Persepolis that we get to know the seven a little better Immortalsnot without humor, following a ceremony in their honor organized by the Queen Thomyrisin addition to being introduced to pole vault, a classic of gameplay which is here easier to access than ever. In fact, all we have to do is orient the left joystick in the direction we want to go to propel ourselves there. This can lead to very snappy sequences to navigate through the screens afterwards. Besides, the fluidity was at the top even though it was a remote session, the team wishing to offer 60 fps on all platforms.
What follows is the triggering event for the plot of The Lost Crownto know the kidnapping of the prince Ghassan by none other thanAnahitaa general who collected Sargon when he was young and then an orphan. Note that this is a deity’s name, to see if this will have an impact on the scenario or is just a nice reference. We are in passing introduced to L’Athraserving as energy to accumulate to form shards to unleash powerful attackswhich we recover by inflicting damage, but which can also be lost if we suffer damage.
After this rich prologue laying the foundations of the gameplay and the initial plot, it is therefore at Mount Qaf let the serious things finally beginancient citadel of knowledge which once served as the home of the god Symorgh. On the arrival of Immortalsthe soldiers who had been sent there a little earlier as scouts are then nothing more than putrefied corpses… Yes, time will play tricks on us once againgiving rise for example to the presence of frozen debris in levitation and even to a rather interesting paradox already seen in the promotional videos with the recovery ofa bow as useful in combat as it is for triggering remote mechanisms, even in mid-jump. Better yet, it is capable of turn into one chakram to launch.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown has totally won us over so far.
During our exploration of this vast interconnected world which will open little by little over the course of the acquired abilities, we will be able to count on trees Wak-Wak (direct reference to that of Kitab al-Bulhan) to serve as reappearance points once activated, regenerating both our life and our Athra. No minimap to find our way, accentuating the effect of discovery, but it is possible to access at any time the global map ofWanderer’s Eye which is given to us and serves as proof of the mapping of the places crossed. In addition to indicating the important elements to find, the place of our last death and some other useful information, we can place up to 100 markers there divided into different categories, but also of the Memory Fragments. The idea is as simple as it is super well thought out. We can at any time take a screenshot which will be automatically placed on the map, serving to remind us of an inaccessible area or object for example, all with the date and time of our passage. Obviously, so that we do not abuse them, their number is also limited.
THE Mount Qaf full of dangers, with an already very promising bestiary For now. We find there different archetypes of soldiers returned from the dead such as archers, very violent ax-wielding colossi or even spearmen equipped with a large shield, who are de facto insensitive to our “tackles” capable of sending other enemies into the air to chain them with combos . Fire-breathing quadrupedal beasts, members of a sort of indigenous tribe living in forest ruins, angry birds and other strange creatures like Ahriman (those from Final Fantasy) are added to the list, all these threats have unique patterns that will have to be integrated to progress without too much difficulty.
In addition to all that, the traps are also very numerous and deadlywith all kinds of picks and portcullises on the walls or on the ground, sharp pendulums requiring us to master the timing of our movements under penalty of immediate death. The result is sequences that are particularly satisfying once passedwith very often an alternative passage opening afterwards so as not to have to redo everything on each return trip. Environmental puzzles also hinder our progress. And obviously, boss fights are there for a good dose of extra adrenaline. On all those encountered during these first three hours of play, only one will have really caused us concern, the terrible Jahandar, without making us lose our composure. It was once defeated that we obtained there Symorgh RushA dash aerial more than welcome.
Like everything good metroidvania, Sargon will therefore gradually become stronger and this will partly happen through the personalization of its amuletsgiving it certain attributes, to be chosen according to our preferences and potentially depending on the situation like a Hollow Knight. In order not to make the game too simple, we can only change it by going to a tree Wak-Wak and each occupies one or more slots on our necklace, the space can be increased by obtaining or purchasing amulet holders. Two shops were accessible during this preview, selling a whole bunch of useful upgrades, those of the mage and Kaheva the blacksmith, a goddess. In both cases, these are of the Time Crystals which serve as currency. Artabanone of the Immortalsfor its part offers a mode Training free and targeted challenges teaching us some very useful tips while rewarding us with crystals during the first completion.
Side quests will distract us from the main objective who was in this part of saving the prince, at least before the plot twist final already seen in the most recent trailer, namely the betrayal of Varham. Obviously, after such a superbly staged revelation, which was partly predictable (the presence of so many allies seemed too simple to challenge us throughout), we can’t wait to find out what happens next and especially to take our revenge ! Before concluding, we also noted the presence of a small animation when Sargon stays stationary a little too long, then sitting cross-legged, before performing a pike jump. As for the French dubbing that we used throughout, it is of quality and we seem to have recognized familiar voices there.
Our first impressions: Strongly!
What can I say except that this Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown has totally won us over so far. As a fan of the genre metroidvania, he was able to transport us to familiar territory while providing his own vision of what such an experience can offer. It remains to be seen if he will be able to keep us in suspense until the end, Ubisoft promising us between 20 to 25 hours of play. In any case, it’s a good return to form for the license which promises to be at the start of 2024.
You can pre-order Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown from the following retailers:
| Alexandre SAMSON (Omega Law) Responsible Proofreader – Editor | ||
| Addicted to Assassin’s Creed and Destiny, big fan of RPGs and passionate about video game experiences in general. Reader of comics (DC) and various mangas (One Piece!). Chemist by training and Whovian at heart. | ||
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