Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown marks a bold, modern rebirth of Ubisoft’s iconic franchise. Mixing stylish 2.5D platforming, fluid combat, and time-manipulation powers, this game delivers a fresh yet nostalgic experience. Here’s a deep dive into its story, mechanics, features, and why it stands out among recent action-adventure releases.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown – Full Review & Gameplay Breakdown
Overview
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown returns the series to a side-scrolling format but with modern animation, dynamic combat, and an open-ended Metroidvania world. You play as Sargon, a young warrior from the elite Immortals squad, tasked with rescuing the kidnapped Prince Ghassan in the cursed land of Mount Qaf.
The game combines puzzle-solving, precision platforming, and fast-paced battles while rewarding exploration with new abilities, hidden rooms, and powerful amulets.
Story & Setting
The story begins when Prince Ghassan is abducted by mysterious forces and taken to Mount Qaf, a mythological land where time flows unpredictably. As Sargon, you navigate a world full of corrupted soldiers, mythical beasts, and time-warping anomalies.
The narrative unfolds gradually as you unlock new zones, meet allies and foes, and uncover the dark secrets behind the prince’s kidnapping. While the plot is straightforward, it is strengthened by strong voice acting, cinematic cutscenes, and the game’s Persian mythology aesthetic.
Gameplay & Core Mechanics
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown shines the brightest in its gameplay design. The mix of exploration, puzzles, and combat keeps the experience fast, engaging, and rewarding.
Platforming
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Tight, responsive movement
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Wall-running, double jumps, ledge grabs
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Environmental puzzles requiring timing and skill
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Unlockable abilities for backtracking and new route access
The platforming is heavily inspired by Metroidvania classics but retains the acrobatic identity of the original series.
Combat
Combat is fluid, aggressive, and combo-driven. Sargon wields dual blades and gains multiple new abilities as the story progresses.
Key features include:
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Light & heavy attacks
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Air combos
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Dash attacks
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Parry & counter moves
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Special Athra-powered abilities
Enemies range from possessed warriors to huge mythical bosses, each requiring timing and strategy.
Time Powers
Time manipulation plays a major role in both combat and exploration:
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Shadow of the Simurgh – Leave a temporary clone to teleport back to
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Rush of the Simurgh – A quick-dash mobility technique
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Time-Freeze mechanisms – Used to interact with puzzles and traps
These mechanics add depth without becoming overly complex.
World Design
Mount Qaf is divided into distinct biomes, each filled with:
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Hidden treasures
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Optional challenges
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Lore fragments
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Secret bosses
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High-difficulty puzzle rooms
The map encourages backtracking and rewards curiosity. Thanks to the stylish 2.5D art direction, each area feels both fresh and atmospheric.
Graphics & Art Style
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown uses a colorful, stylized art direction rather than realism. Animations are smooth and expressive, giving every movement a strong sense of energy.
Visual highlights:
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Hand-crafted environments
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Beautiful, mythology-inspired designs
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Crisp lighting effects
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Smooth 60+ FPS performance
The art style may differ from past Prince of Persia titles, but it strengthens the game’s modern identity.
Sound & Music
The soundtrack blends traditional Middle Eastern melodies with modern electronic tones. Music changes dynamically during platforming sections and boss fights, building immersion.
Voice acting is solid, and combat sound effects—slashes, parries, impact—are sharp and satisfying.
Key Features
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Fast-paced 2.5D action-combat
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Metroidvania-inspired exploration
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Time manipulation powers
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Large, interconnected world
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Challenging boss battles
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Multiple difficulty options
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Amulet upgrades to customize your build
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Rich Persian mythology themes
Performance & Optimization
The game is lightweight and runs smoothly even on mid-range PCs and consoles. Loading times are short, and in-game performance remains stable at high framerates thanks to the optimized engine.
Who Should Play This Game?
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is perfect for:
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Fans of Metroidvania titles (Hollow Knight, Ori series, Metroid Dread)
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Gamers who love fast, stylish combat
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Players who enjoy exploration and skill-based platforming
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Fans of the Prince of Persia series looking for a modern reinterpretation
Pros & Cons
Pros
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Excellent platforming mechanics
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Fast and fluid combat
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Creative time manipulation abilities
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Beautiful art style
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Lots of hidden content and rewards
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Strong replay value
Cons
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Stylized art may not appeal to players expecting realism
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Story is good but not groundbreaking
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Some difficulty spikes during puzzle challenges
System Requirements
Minimum
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OS: Windows 10
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CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 / AMD Ryzen 3 1200
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RAM: 8 GB
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GPU: GTX 960 / RX 5500 XT
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Storage: ~30 GB
Recommended
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OS: Windows 10/11
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CPU: Intel Core i7-6700 / AMD Ryzen 5 1600
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RAM: 16 GB
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GPU: GTX 1060 / RX 5700
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Storage: ~30 GB
Final Verdict
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is a standout action-adventure game that successfully revives the classic franchise while introducing fresh gameplay, modern combat, and an engaging world. Its mix of precision platforming, stylish battles, and time-based abilities creates an experience that feels both nostalgic and innovative.
If you’re searching for a visually stunning, fast-paced, and rewarding Metroidvania-style adventure, this is one of the best releases in recent years.
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