The Lost Crown Could Be Just What the Franchise Needed

The first Prince of Persia was pretty groundbreaking when it first released in 1989. Made by just one man, Jordan Mechner, Prince of Persia broke new ground with its detailed character models and fluid, realistic platforming animations, achieved via rotoscoping technology, and it quickly became a major critical and commercial success. Though a few sequels to the original Prince of Persia were made, they came years after one another, letting fans forget about the franchise between entries. But the franchise returned with a bang in 2003 with Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, a 3D time-bending action-platformer, and one of the beloved games of the PS2 generation. And now, two decades later, Ubisoft looks to combine both gameplay styles with the upcoming Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown.

First announced back in June of this year, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown looks to be a game that merges the weighty and responsive 2D platforming of the 1989 original, and the fast-paced combat and supernatural abilities of Sands of Time to create a brand-new Prince of Persia experience. And hopefully, that fresh experience is just what the Prince of Persia franchise needs right now.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown Can Breathe New Life Into the Franchise

The Prince of Persia Franchise Is Stagnating

After Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time‘s release in 2003, Ubisoft wasted no time in embracing the series’ newfound success. A sequel, Warrior Within, was released just a year later, with The Two Thrones dropping a year after it. While Two Thrones was another critical and commercial success for the series, Ubisoft took a few years out, returning to the series in 2008 with a reboot simply titled Prince of Persia. But when that reboot wasn’t received too well, Ubisoft returned to the Sands of Time continuity with 2010’s The Forgotten Sands, the last mainline Prince of Persia to be released so far.

It’s been over a decade since the last Prince of Persia mainline release, though that isn’t for a lack of trying on Ubisoft’s part. Back in 2020, Ubisoft announced a Prince of Persia: Sands of Time remake, with a reveal trailer accompanying it. The reaction to Sands of Time Remake‘s trailer was abysmal, with the game’s poor visuals being fairly viewed as sub-par by fans. Ubisoft was quick to delay the remake, and fans haven’t seen anything of it since, and have only been given vague updates on the status of the remake’s development.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown Is Taking The Franchise In a Bold New Direction

Despite being 34 years old, it still feels like one is only scratching the surface of what the Prince of Persia franchise has to offer. A series that isn’t afraid to explore lesser-seen mythologies and experiment with some innovative reality-bending mechanics, Prince of Persia should be one of Ubisoft’s flagship franchises in the modern age, just as God of War is for PlayStation, and hopefully, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown can be the start of that.

Releasing in just a month, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown looks as though it might be the breath of fresh air that the franchise so desperately needs. Returning to the series’ 2D side-scrolling roots, The Lost Crown looks as though it’s diving head-first into some very intriguing concepts, from Persian mythology, to an antagonist that’s able to wield the Sands of Time. If Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown ends up being as fun and innovative as it looks, then it could start a whole new era for the Prince of Persia franchise.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown

Ubisoft’s The Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is a throwback to the franchise’s early 2D days, albeit with a heavy focus on stylish combat. Inspired by Persian mythology and set on Mount Oaf, the game features platforming, parkour, action, and storytelling.

Released

January 18, 2024

Developer(s)

Ubisoft Montpellier

Genre(s)

Action , Platformer , 2D