After years away from the spotlight, in early 2024 we saw the launch Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, of which you can check our review here. The work of Ubisoft Montpellier marked the return of this beloved series. Best of all, we didn’t have to wait long to find out the next step for this franchise, since a couple of weeks ago it was revealed that the French company hired Evil Empire, the people responsible for Dead Cells, to take the reins of the next Prince of Persia game. In this way, and after a short waiting period, The Rogue Prince of Persia has arrived in the form of early access on Steam, and I recently had the opportunity to try this preview, something that has left me very excited for the future of this property.
Yes ok The Rogue Prince of Persia It is only available in its early access version, at least for the moment, the game has great potential, to the extent that many will feel satisfied with the product they can currently buy, even if there is still room to improve and expand certain sections. . Like Dead CellsEvil Empire’s new work is a rogue-lite, only this time a greater focus has been given to the movement of the protagonist and the challenges dedicated to the platforms.
The mechanics that give a special touch to The Rogue Prince of Persia It is the possibility of walking through walls, something that plays in a great way with the background of the stage. By pressing a button, the protagonist is able to run for a moment on the walls that we find in each scenario. This allows us to reach platforms out of reach, evade enemy attacks, or simply create a unique sensation of movement. The title makes great use of this ability. Some sections eliminate the floor entirely, forcing us to experiment with all the movement options available to us, which include the ability to climb and jump from wall to wall.
This is such a well built item that gives a unique touch to The Rogue Prince of Persia and the same what The Lost Crown, preserves the identity of the series, since control and the platform element are an important key to the level design. Best of all, it doesn’t end here, since the combat and progression are quite interesting.
Here we are offered multiple weapons to complete our main task. We start with just daggers and a sword, but as we unlock blueprints, it’s possible to get more complex tools, like a javelin, axes, and more. Each one feels unique, with a certain weight that affects the speed with which we can attack, and a special ability that is performed when the hit button is pressed. However, this element will clearly change in the future, since currently each piece of equipment only offers greater damage, and we do not find the now classic variants that provide some passive advantage or increase a certain type of year.
At the same time, we also have access to a projectile that works very similar to short-range weapons, but with the difference that here we are presented with an energy meter that determines how many arrows or discs we can launch. Fortunately, attacking enemies normally restores energy quickly and easily. The third important element for the combat system is a kick, with which we can push enemies. Although this sounds very simple, it has decent depth, since if two opponents collide, both will be stunned. Some rivals have shields that can be eliminated immediately if someone collides with them. As if that were not enough, it is possible to throw them off cliffs or into the traps that we find throughout the stage, which eliminates them instantly.
Last but not least, it is possible to equip four badges, which offer some ability that is activated by performing a certain action, such as kicking enemies or dodging attacks. The interesting thing is that, depending on the way we arrange them, they can improve the badges they have together. This means that it is possible to find one that is very effective for your playstyle, but has no synergy with the rest, or get one that manages to benefit the rest of the ones you have equipped, even if it is not useful to you at the moment.
All of this is wrapped up in an addictive progression. Like any good rogue-lite, you embark on different levels, finding momentary improvements that only serve for the current game, defeating bosses and overcoming platform challenges that unlock plans that give us access to a greater arsenal, and obtaining special coins that are used to release more content.
When we die, we return to the Oasis, a space where it is possible to improve and unlock equipment. As if that were not enough, depending on the actions throughout a game, it is possible to find NPCs that help us throughout your adventure, or talk about a completely new area. Each level has more than one exit, so it is necessary to properly plan our route. This means that the first few hours of the game can feel very linear, but eventually we will have multiple progression options at our disposal, encouraging us to do the same thing over and over again, even if we have already reached the end.
Now, it is important to mention that this is only early access, so Evil Empire will substantially modify the experience between now and the release of version 1.0. This is positive, because there is clearly still room to improve the experience. For starters, enemies need more balance, as there are moments that feel harder than they should be. Along with this, the story is an element that clearly requires more work. While there are a couple of well-handled moments, a lot of the context of what’s happening isn’t present, or at least doesn’t come sooner than it should.
The Rogue Prince of Persia It is a game with immense potential. The wall running mechanics and heavy focus on platforming add a special touch to the experience. This is perfectly complemented by phenomenal control. While aspects of progression and combat feel solid right now, they clearly have room to improve and grow. The progression and story are interesting, but they are not clear to the player in the way they work. As early access, it is a package with a lot of content, but my recommendation is to wait for version 1.0. It is clear that The Rogue Prince of Persia It will be one of the best games of the year whenever it reaches our hands.
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