Prince of Persia: The Misplaced Crown Assessment (PS5)

Prince of Persia: The Misplaced Crown is the primary main sport in Ubisoft’s beloved collection in a really very long time, so we now have to provide the writer some kudos for not taking part in it secure. Whereas an easy remake of The Sands of Time can also be on the way in which, this entry is a side-scrolling motion platformer with a Metroidvania construction. It concurrently calls again to the franchise’s previous and takes it in an attention-grabbing new route, and thankfully, the formulation works a deal with.

You play as Sargon, a younger warrior and the most recent member of the Immortals, an elite group defending Persia from invading forces. When the titular prince Ghassan is kidnapped, you are ordered to deliver him again secure and sound. Nonetheless, the perpetrators lead you to Mount Qaf which, unbeknown to the Immortals or the enemy, is cursed; time’s linear path is fractured, resulting in all kinds of weird, paradoxical conditions. It is a neat setup that makes for a enjoyable narrative through-line.

The story is first rate and intriguing sufficient to see by way of to the tip, however it is a sport all about the way it feels to maneuver, and struggle, by way of its intricate world. Ubisoft Montpellier is greatest identified for the Rayman collection, and its strengths in side-scrolling design actually present up right here. Sargon strikes tremendous easily with snappy animations and tight, responsive controls. Equally, fight is slick, lethal, and surprisingly technical after getting all of your skills. All of it feels improbable, little question helped by the unshakeable technical efficiency and classy visuals. Talking of which, we moderately like how the sport appears to be like, however it does sometimes seem considerably dated if you see characters shut up.

Anyway, it is a good factor it is so satisfying, since you’ll be taking part in it for some time. Relying on how a lot you discover the massive, interconnected map, you are taking a look at something between 20 and 30 hours, extra if you wish to see and do the whole lot. As talked about, it is a Metroidvania; by design, you will be wandering by way of its dozens of rooms, seeking each the trail ahead and hidden secrets and techniques. The map progressively opens as much as you as Sargon is outfitted with extra time-manipulating powers, which means plenty of backtracking to find new areas branching from outdated territory.

There’s plenty of selection within the map’s design and in every location. Whereas a lot of the setting takes place inside an ornate citadel, you will even be taken to spooky catacombs, a forest filled with ruins, an icy tower, and lots extra. There are some nice environments in The Misplaced Crown, every one filled with hidden areas, challenges, and secrets and techniques. One draw back to a map of this dimension is that the backtracking inherent to Metroidvanias can really feel exacerbated. There are quite a few quick journey factors, however some areas nonetheless take some time to get again to — and the paths that take you there aren’t at all times a stroll within the park.

Nonetheless, it is an important match for Prince of Persia, a collection that has a historical past in lethal platforming gauntlets specifically. Ultimately you will achieve skills like a double leap, an air sprint, the ability to warp to the precise stance and site of a previous level, and extra. All of those will trivialise earlier platforming paths, however from the start your expertise are recurrently examined as you swing from poles, wall leap by way of spikes, and dodge whirring dying machines.

Fight progressively grows extra complicated, too. Not solely is there all kinds of enemies to struggle, every bringing one thing new to the desk, however Sargon can utilise a few of his skills to get the higher of baddies. You possibly can set down a projection and use it to warp behind an enemy, for instance, or get one up within the air and use the air sprint to proceed your combo earlier than you contact the bottom. When you have a variety of choices, fight isn’t any joke, and even fundamental unhealthy guys can knock you down should you’re not paying consideration. Parrying hits is usually key to success right here, and the timing may be difficult.

You possibly can complement Sargon’s array of skills by equipping amulets to his necklace. These present a wide range of passive bonuses, like reducing incoming injury, or restoring well being with profitable parries. You can equip increasingly more of them as you progress, and there are tons to select from, so it is value experimenting to search out what works greatest. It is not too lengthy earlier than you discover a shopkeeper, who sells extra well being potions and extra, and a smith, who can improve amulets, in addition to Sargon’s essential weapons.

It is value popping again to The Haven, a sort-of central hub, recurrently to see what you’ll be able to put money into, since you’ll want all the assistance you will get. Fundamental enemies should not be underestimated, however there are greater opponents to face all through the journey. Boss fights punctuate the journey, with many on the primary path and a handful of elective bouts. These may be robust encounters, however by no means took us quite a lot of tries. You are rewarded for enjoying these battles neatly — on the lookout for alternatives to parry, making use of all Sargon’s skills, and firing off a strong Athra Surge when the time is correct. On this sense, these are profitable bosses — assessments of your expertise and pushing you to make use of all of your choices.

As talked about, a few of these fights are elective, which leads us onto the sport’s number of aspect missions and collectibles. The map is massive and sophisticated, and each nook of it has one thing to supply — whether or not that is a bunch of time crystals (your forex for upgrades), a treasure chest containing a brand new amulet, or an attention-grabbing character with a process for you. Some aspect quests will span the entire sport, whereas others are faster. Most are value it, although, rewarding you with assets, max well being boosts, and extra moreover. Additionally they result in a few of The Misplaced Crown’s hardest fights and platforming challenges.

There’s rather a lot on this sport, and finally that is nice, as a result of the vast majority of it’s tremendous enjoyable and satisfying to find. Nonetheless, given the general size, we could not assist however really feel our enthusiasm lull just a little in direction of the tip. A couple of times, it feels as if it ramps as much as the story’s climax earlier than providing you with a brand new energy and sending you off on one other quest. Once more, a lot of the sport is improbable and price experiencing, however it is a massive Metroidvania — particularly if you wish to do completely the whole lot.

Conclusion

Prince of Persia: The Misplaced Crown places its greatest foot ahead with rewarding and satisfying gameplay at its core. Combining the collection’ 2D previous with the time-bending powers from later video games, this Metroidvania is an excellent mix that brings the franchise again in a contemporary new method. Whereas it might probably generally look just a little underwhelming, and the sheer dimension of the sport threatens to gradual its personal momentum, the fluid, difficult platforming and fight are so enjoyable that any shortcomings fade into the background. That is an total nice motion journey with rather a lot to supply.