In a move that feels a little like being catapulted back in time several decades, Ubisoft has released a free playable Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown demo – for Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, and PC – ahead of the game’s full launch next week.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown revives Ubisoft’s shamefully long-dormant action-platforming series for a new generation – a new generation that wouldn’t even have been born when the last game came out in 2008, thanks to Ubisoft’s dallying – this time sending the prince’s protector Sargon on a Metroidvania-style quest packed with side-scrolling combat and platform action.
Early word on Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown – which has been developed by Ubisoft Montpellier, the studio behind the wonderful Rayman Legends and Origins – is reassuringly positive, with Digital Foundry’s John Linneman calling it a “supremely polished, ultra smooth game that perfectly leverages every platform it has shipped on.”
“Platforming ramps up beautifully with players asked to navigate increasingly intricate rooms and puzzles using a mix of jumps, dashes, wall runs and more,” John wrote in his tech breakdown. “Just running through the world is a joy. Combat too, which is primarily melee based, is fast-paced and challenging [and] enemies can wipe you out faster than you’d expect.”