Preview: ‘Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown’ tries to upend Metroidvania formula

The normal course of a Metroidvania campaign is that players acquire a feeling of being more powerful as they earn more upgrades, but with 'The Lost Crown' that isn’t necessarily the case. Players will find that though they’ll earn new abilities that doesn’t make the campaign easier. They won’t mow through enemies. — Photos: Ubisoft/TNS

Depending on who you talk to Prince of Persia can bring up two different images. The first is the original title by Jordan Mechner, a 2D classic that seems primitive now but was groundbreaking at the time. The second is Sands of Time series that features more complex and elaborate gameplay in a three-dimensional world.

Those phases constitute the two main chapters of the series, and Ubisoft is trying to ignite a third. Created by Ubisoft Montpellier, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown aims to bridge the legacy of those two branches into one game. This entry follows the adventures of Sargon, a gifted warrior among the Immortals.