In preview with an early build of Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, I tried out the latest entry in this much-beloved series. Even after three hours of play, I found that Ubisoft Montpellier's upcoming 2.5D platforming metroidvania never lets itself get bogged down. Much like protagonist Sargon himself, the entire side-scrolling adventure feels lightweight and agile. Combat mechanics are responsive, traversal is a joy, and the plot, while undoubtedly present, paints its mythology with broad, accessible brush strokes that don’t leave you caught up in unnecessary detail.
After a quick tutorial, we swiftly find that Prince Ghassan has been kidnapped, prompting Sargon to venture to the mysterious Mount Qaf to save him along with the rest of the Immortals - a gang of Persia’s most heroic soldiers. Soon, we’re jumping our way through puzzle rooms, avoiding magical traps, and fighting supernatural monsters, all as it gradually becomes clear that the mountain is a place of myth and legend, where time itself appears broken.
