I remember being so disappointed when this game was announced. I've been wanting a Sands of Time remake for a long, long time and instead of that game coming out, we were getting this 2D game that calls back to the origins of the series. But I was wrong to be concerned because Ubisoft has delivered one of the best in class Metroidvania games and proven that the IP is tailor-made to this particular style.
The balance between combat and exploration is perfect. Both are exceptional. The combat is not too difficult and there are just enough interesting combinations, great parry/counter options, and Astra surges to use that you can master it, while simultaneously being mostly possible to just button-mash main attack your way through (though it's gonna take longer and you're going to get hurt in the process). I only died a handful of times while fighting. Most of my deaths came in the platforming sections - but the controls are tight, fluid, and fast - so it was definitely me needing to master the timing and not a game issue. . The biomes and powers combine to give many unique and interesting areas to traverse, most of the hardest ones which are optional. That incredibly strong feeling of satisfaction when best one that has been giving you trouble? The best. Cheer worthy.
I also love how the game uses the story ideas of the Prince and time in this new tale. It's a surprising story with some emotional depth. Not the greatest, but very good and there's more to it than many games in this genre. And likewise the powers themselves and how they impact "time" during platforming or combat is a joy to experience.
At around 30 hours for full 100% completion, this is also a great length. There's enough variety that it never quite outstays its welcome while providing new abilities and areas to explore at a good pace. The only nitpick that I have is that I wish there were a few more fast travel points. I appreciate how many there are, but there was a quite a few times I would need to traverse several areas to get to somewhere that I needed to go. Luckily traversal is fun and quick.
AND... the best mechanic in the game helps to ensure you aren't wasting your time searching for things. The Lost Crown introduces something that I'd expect will be a genre staple going forward - the memory shard. At any time you can press down on the d-pad and snap a picture of your location, thus capturing visually a secret that you may need to come back to after acquiring a new power. It's so much more helpful than the typical unlabeled series of icons that most games use on their maps in these games and I will have a hard time playing a Metroidvania without it in the future.
This game rocks. It's one of my favorites ever in one of my favorite genres. It's a must-play. Ubisoft has nailed it and proven that they can still develop new and exciting projects outside of sticking to a typical open world formula that is comfortable and safe.
The balance between combat and exploration is perfect. Both are exceptional. The combat is not too difficult and there are just enough interesting combinations, great parry/counter options, and Astra surges to use that you can master it, while simultaneously being mostly possible to just button-mash main attack your way through (though it's gonna take longer and you're going to get hurt in the process). I only died a handful of times while fighting. Most of my deaths came in the platforming sections - but the controls are tight, fluid, and fast - so it was definitely me needing to master the timing and not a game issue. . The biomes and powers combine to give many unique and interesting areas to traverse, most of the hardest ones which are optional. That incredibly strong feeling of satisfaction when best one that has been giving you trouble? The best. Cheer worthy.
I also love how the game uses the story ideas of the Prince and time in this new tale. It's a surprising story with some emotional depth. Not the greatest, but very good and there's more to it than many games in this genre. And likewise the powers themselves and how they impact "time" during platforming or combat is a joy to experience.
At around 30 hours for full 100% completion, this is also a great length. There's enough variety that it never quite outstays its welcome while providing new abilities and areas to explore at a good pace. The only nitpick that I have is that I wish there were a few more fast travel points. I appreciate how many there are, but there was a quite a few times I would need to traverse several areas to get to somewhere that I needed to go. Luckily traversal is fun and quick.
AND... the best mechanic in the game helps to ensure you aren't wasting your time searching for things. The Lost Crown introduces something that I'd expect will be a genre staple going forward - the memory shard. At any time you can press down on the d-pad and snap a picture of your location, thus capturing visually a secret that you may need to come back to after acquiring a new power. It's so much more helpful than the typical unlabeled series of icons that most games use on their maps in these games and I will have a hard time playing a Metroidvania without it in the future.
This game rocks. It's one of my favorites ever in one of my favorite genres. It's a must-play. Ubisoft has nailed it and proven that they can still develop new and exciting projects outside of sticking to a typical open world formula that is comfortable and safe.