I think most gamers nowadays that they find Ubisoft games to be very formulaic. However, every once in a while, we have titles like Immortal: Fenyx Rising and this title coming out that feels like a smaller budget title that someone made with passion. The thing I've noticed about these titles is that they tend to wear the game that influenced the design pretty prominently. In the case of Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, that game seems to be Hollow Knight and Dark Souls.
The strengths of this comes from its satisfying traversal and rewarding exploration. Sargon is a joy to control from the start of the game and it becomes even more so as you unlock new powers. In addition, the game allows you to save locations you know you need a power for using memory shards which I found to be game-changing mechanic for metroidvania. I found the joy of exploring and finding little nooks and crannies to be an element I enjoyed from start to end.
Accompanying this traversal system is a frankly pretty brutal combat system. I honestly underestimated how difficult this game was going to be when I started it. Especially early on, a couple fodder enemies can quickly kill you. Once you get into the rhythm of combining attacks / dodges and parries, it becomes a very satisfying combat system. However, you always have to be on your toes and have the right amulets equipped (Another influence from Hollow Knight) or you will meet your demise pretty quickly.
The game truly tests your combat prowess with challenging boss battles. I found these, especially the ones early on, to be the highlights of the game with satisfying mechanics and a good level of challenge. I found the later bosses, to start bordering onto being a bit of a chore which is worsened by the fact that the bosses strong attacks trigger an unskippable over-the-top flashy attack scene that not take the control away from the player, but also stops the pacing of the battle dead in its track. I found these interruptions insufferably annoying towards the end of the game with how much later bosses do these ON TOP of phase change cutscenes. One boss in particular mixes these interruptions with time-based mechanics that had the player helplessly watch as the boss kills Sargon with zero ability to provide input.
Finally, the biggest gripe I have with this game is the story and characters. I'm rarely the type of person that skip cutscenes or dialogues in this game but I seriously could not have cared less about any of these characters. Sargon in particular is just so bland and half the conversations doesn't even sound like the characters are talking to each other. Combining these with aesthetics and dialogue that is ripped straight out of anime that its so clearly influenced from and it had me skipping full dialogue sequences.
All in all, I think I enjoyed my time with this game but was pretty soured on the annoyances that the game presented by the time I reached credits. However, I also quite appreciate that Ubisoft is willing to fund these "smaller" titles that is doing something different from their very comfortable formula. I didn't love everything about Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, but I can certainly see the talent and passion behind it.
The strengths of this comes from its satisfying traversal and rewarding exploration. Sargon is a joy to control from the start of the game and it becomes even more so as you unlock new powers. In addition, the game allows you to save locations you know you need a power for using memory shards which I found to be game-changing mechanic for metroidvania. I found the joy of exploring and finding little nooks and crannies to be an element I enjoyed from start to end.
Accompanying this traversal system is a frankly pretty brutal combat system. I honestly underestimated how difficult this game was going to be when I started it. Especially early on, a couple fodder enemies can quickly kill you. Once you get into the rhythm of combining attacks / dodges and parries, it becomes a very satisfying combat system. However, you always have to be on your toes and have the right amulets equipped (Another influence from Hollow Knight) or you will meet your demise pretty quickly.
The game truly tests your combat prowess with challenging boss battles. I found these, especially the ones early on, to be the highlights of the game with satisfying mechanics and a good level of challenge. I found the later bosses, to start bordering onto being a bit of a chore which is worsened by the fact that the bosses strong attacks trigger an unskippable over-the-top flashy attack scene that not take the control away from the player, but also stops the pacing of the battle dead in its track. I found these interruptions insufferably annoying towards the end of the game with how much later bosses do these ON TOP of phase change cutscenes. One boss in particular mixes these interruptions with time-based mechanics that had the player helplessly watch as the boss kills Sargon with zero ability to provide input.
Finally, the biggest gripe I have with this game is the story and characters. I'm rarely the type of person that skip cutscenes or dialogues in this game but I seriously could not have cared less about any of these characters. Sargon in particular is just so bland and half the conversations doesn't even sound like the characters are talking to each other. Combining these with aesthetics and dialogue that is ripped straight out of anime that its so clearly influenced from and it had me skipping full dialogue sequences.
All in all, I think I enjoyed my time with this game but was pretty soured on the annoyances that the game presented by the time I reached credits. However, I also quite appreciate that Ubisoft is willing to fund these "smaller" titles that is doing something different from their very comfortable formula. I didn't love everything about Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, but I can certainly see the talent and passion behind it.