Yeah, Ubi Montpellier can do no wrong bro. First they make Rayman Legends, one of the most amazing and polished 2D platformers of all time, and then they make one of the smoothest and most addictive Metroidvania's I've ever played. First off, the combat is just like. Oh my god. You don't just have like a repeated 3 hit combo, or a charge shot and projectile, no. They took what is basically a character action game moveset and put it in 2D. It is so addictive, and easily the best part. I was actively thinking "damn I want Sargon in a fighting game" because comboing enemies was just so fun. And on the few boss fights you could do it on, just ugh. Man it's so good. the style of the game is also great, somewhat gave spiderverse to me, in a very very loose manner. I liked it a lot, the splash screens when the bosses hit a critical attack were sick. The story was good, I liked it but it wasn't anything like spectacular. Same with the music. The traversal tools are also just great. They're pretty standard, but man everything just comes together to feel so smooth when you move. This game is so smooth. It's just so good. It's a shame it kinda went under the radar. Do yourself a favor and play it.

it has been addressed many times over but what a complete surprise. the existence of the game alone was a shock but even then in the reveal trailer it looked to be a solid effort vs how special this turned out to be.

i wasn't completely into the combat but with some tinkering in the settings it allowed me to get back to what i was enjoying much faster, which was the platforming and exploration. once you start unlocking some of your abilities this game has some of my favorite movement in a 2D game with platforming possibly ever. completing some of the trap gauntlets while firing on all cylinders with your assortment of moves was absolutely sublime.

i did love Sargon too. my only complaint is the Warrior Within skin was locked behind preorder and is now lost unless it decides to show up again/who fucking knows but it's Ubisoft so...

The Rogue Prince of Persia looks to be much less of my kind of thing but after this i'm not going to write it off.