Prince Of Persia｜Demo out on Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, and PC

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.

Early word on Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown - which Ubisoft Montpellier, the studio behind the wonderful Rayman Legends and Origins, has developed. After being shelved for many years, Ubisoft finally remembered their record-setting Prince of Persia series. The installment that players are most familiar with is undoubtedly the 3D puzzle-action game represented by The Sands of Time. However, The Lost Crown pays homage to the series' origins, returning to the most fundamental gameplay of the franchise—a Metroidvania exploration game. The direction and system of the game bear the mark of Hollow Knight, yet in terms of action and combo mechanics, it offers even greater diversity than Hollow Knight.

Despite returning to its roots in the broad structure, The Lost Crown is closer to the experience of modern titles in terms of character progression and combat. The game incorporates a system for character and weapon growth. Players can increase their health cap and enhance weapon damage by collecting specific items throughout the game. Even players who are not skilled at action games can enjoy thrilling combat and the fun of the game. The only downside is that the game's performance effects are somewhat awkward, and the storyline is relatively stiff—but for an action game, a compelling narrative has never been a necessity; exhilarating combat is the top priority.

Judging purely as a side-scrolling game, "Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown" can be considered quite impressive. Even if it cannot be called a masterpiece among its peers, it surely ranks above average. However, the game's biggest issue is its pricing. Unless you're a die-hard fan of Prince of Persia, there seems little reason to specifically spend purchase this title. Yet, anyone familiar with Ubisoft knows that their games tend to discount rather quickly. If the price drops to around half, then this game would be considered quite a good deal.