Prince of Persia The Lost Crown review: Old school side-scrolling puzzle fun

The Prince of Persia franchise has returned after 13 years and delivers a fun, challenging action game straight out of the local arcade.

The Lost Crown goes backwards to go forwards with the series, by returning to it’s 1989 side-scrolling puzzle roots.

And the result is an addictive, colourful Metroid-like video game that wouldn’t go amiss in a coin-operated arcade.

The story involves you taking up the role of hunky immortal Sargon, who, despite this supposedly being ancient Persia, talks with a plum British accent.

Muscles ripped, you’re tasked with tracking down the kidnapped Prince Ghassan alongside your six other immortal warrior buddies as the kingdom turns on its head amid time warps and the rising of the undead.

To help, you’re gifted with an arsenal of extraordinary abilities and dual-sword combat attacks.

This is where it gets fun.

Developer Ubisoft does well to quickly build a new-look world packed with standout baddies and monsters while maintaining a familiarity with the overall franchise.

You’ll find yourself dashing back and forth across the game screen, swinging your trademark swords as Sargon, while bouncing around and unleashing the odd super move when topped-up action bars allow.

The difficulty is high from the off and ramps up speedily, meaning you’ll die a fair bit at the hands of evildoers before mastering a new attack, especially on 2D boss fights akin to the epic battles enjoyed in something like Star Wars: Jedi Survivor.

Gameplay is incredibly tight and can get quite twitchy at its peak, as you smash your fingers around the controller to try to outpace and outwit your enemies.

Sometimes it’s not quite as reactive as you want it to be, often leading to a frustrating death.

But generally Prince of Persia plays simply and well, like an old school arcade button basher.

And as you unlock new abilities and weapons like bows and time manipulation, it gives you greater options to battle to the win.

It looks okay, with a mid-tier budget sheen over colour popping cartoon graphics, and the voice acting is a little ropey with its gawd blimey English accents everywhere.

The main story lasts about 20-odd hours and there are nine side quests to enjoy as well as 13 distinct biomes to explore across the Mount Qaf backdrop.

A decent and difficult start to console gaming in 2024.

VERDICT 4/5