Prince of Persia The Lost Crown Interview – Devs Dish on Metroidvania Exploration, Progression, and Combat
Game Rant Interviews Prince of Persia The Lost Crown Developers About Its Metroidvania Gameplay, Exploration, and Sargon's Abilities
🎮 Welcome Back to Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown!
It’s finally happening, gamers! After a 14-year absence, the legendary franchise is making its triumphant return with Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, set to release later this month. This new installment promises to combine the series’ iconic sidescroller roots with open-world Metroidvania exploration and progression elements, creating an exciting and natural evolution of the beloved franchise.
We had the opportunity to sit down with senior producer Abdelhak Elguess and game director Mounir Radi to get a sneak peek into the desGameTopics behind the highly anticipated return of Prince of Persia. From addressing the shortcomings of the Metroidvania genre to the game’s immersive combat and puzzles, we’ve got all the juicy deets. So, grab your time-turner and let’s dive in!
🔥 Q: 2024 is already shaping up to be an awesome year for gaming, and Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is leading the charge. How does it feel to kick off the year with such an anticipated release?
Elguess: We’re absolutely thrilled to be opening the year with Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. The game is of the highest quality, and we believe it’s great news for players to start the year by embracing the challenges of this long-awaited title.
Radi: We couldn’t be prouder to set the stage for what will undoubtedly be a rich and exciting year in gaming. After 13 long years, the return of the Prince of Persia brand is a momentous occasion, and we’re honored to be a part of it.
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⚔️ Q: Being a Metroidvania game, what were your team’s main sources of inspiration for Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown?
Elguess: The original Prince of Persia game from 1989 and Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time served as our primary inspirations for the gameplay and structure. In terms of influences, Castlevania and Metroid played a significant role as well.
Radi: When we decided to dive into the world of Metroidvanias, we extensively played and analyzed the genre’s most successful titles. Games like Super Metroid, Hollow Knight, and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night stood out. However, while we drew inspiration from these titles, we were also keen on addressing the weaknesses of the genre and introducing new mechanics. For example, we introduced the Memory Shards feature, allowing players to mark important points in the game world for easier navigation.
🗡️ Q: What led you to choose the Metroidvania format over a linear action-platformer for The Lost Crown?
Elguess: The desire to create a Metroidvania-style game for the Prince of Persia franchise has been brewing for a long time. It gives us the opportunity to truly capture the essence of what makes Prince of Persia special. By combining combat, platforming, and puzzles at a high level, and by emphasizing immersion and freedom in exploration, we believe we’re staying true to the spirit of the franchise.
Radi: As the series has evolved over the years, we wanted to recapture the essence of the very first Prince of Persia game from 1989. It featured dungeon exploration, deadly dangers, and the need to memorize enemy placements and traps within a time limit. This sense of isolation, autonomy, and constant reflection on the architecture of the world reinforced our belief that embracing the Metroidvania genre was the right choice.
🛡️ Q: Would you classify The Lost Crown as a “Soulsvania” like Hollow Knight and Blasphemous, or is it more of a traditional Metroidvania experience?
Radi: Hmmm… Neither, I would say! The Lost Crown, like its predecessors, is first and foremost an action-adventure game that incorporates Metroidvania elements to enhance its gameplay. While the Metroidvania genre highlights a world structure governed by a progression loop, it cannot fully encapsulate all that the Prince of Persia series represents. We prefer to classify The Lost Crown simply as a “Prince of Persia game”!
When working on a game like Prince of Persia, it’s important to start with the core pillars of the series. For me, these games are action-adventures that strike a delightful balance between storytelling, action, platforming, and puzzles. The same goes for Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. While the game draws inspiration from the Metroidvania genre, it’s important to remember that the term primarily represents the structure of the world and the rules that govern the player’s progress. It cannot encompass the entirety of the Prince of Persia experience, but it certainly enhances it.
đź’Ą Q: Were there any specific Metroidvania elements or features that your team aimed to include or avoid in The Lost Crown?
Radi: Absolutely! We made sure to incorporate essential Metroidvania elements, such as a map for players to organize their exploration and a progression loop where discovering special abilities unlocks new areas. However, we wanted to avoid elements that didn’t align with our vision or created unnecessary friction in the gameplay. For instance, we steered clear of enemies that act as topological obstacles (damaging the player upon contact) since they wouldn’t fit our combat system. We also eliminated the loss of resources upon death, instead offering ways for players to recover what they’ve lost. We aimed to minimize friction and create a seamless experience.
⌛ Q: In terms of size, how does The Lost Crown’s map compare to other modern Metroidvania titles?
Radi: Our map’s size and the diversity of its biomes have nothing to be modest about when compared to other modern Metroidvania titles. But, of course, I’ll leave that judgment to you once you experience the game for yourself!
🔑 Q: Could you explain the game’s progression systems and how backtracking, a hallmark of Metroidvanias, works in The Lost Crown?
Radi: The progression system in The Lost Crown is built on two main pillars. The first, and most crucial for the genre, is exploration. To grow stronger, Sargon (our protagonist) must thoroughly explore Mount Qaf. This exploration will help uncover new abilities that unlock previously inaccessible paths. Additionally, players will discover amulets, Athra Surges (special attacks), and resources to upgrade equipment.
The second pillar is experimentation. Each tool in Sargon’s arsenal is designed to encourage experimentation and combinations. It’s a horizontal approach to progression that doesn’t exclude one tool in favor of another. Instead, it pushes players to make decisions that shape their playstyle.
As for backtracking, we’ve implemented markers and visual cues within the game world. These landmarks indicate inaccessible routes but also serve as hints to stimulate the player’s memory. We introduce them subtly as players progress, allowing them to recall and revisit these areas at their own pace. When players acquire new abilities, they are immediately presented with learning opportunities tailored to those abilities. This hooks into the player’s memory, encouraging them to open their map and plan a route between the nearest fast travel point and the door they wish to bypass.
🔄 Q: Does The Lost Crown offer any replay value? Are there harder difficulties, or maybe even hardcore challenges?
Radi: Absolutely! We’ve implemented four difficulty modes and given players the ability to customize various parameters, such as enemy health, damage, parry windows, and the evolution of the Athra gauge in combat. These options provide different challenges for players to tackle. Furthermore, the progression system itself encourages players to try different amulets and powers, allowing for various playstyles and experiences.
✨ Q: The preview build showcased some impressive boss fights with multiple phases and plenty of spectacle. Can you give us a glimpse into what players can expect in terms of epic encounters and boss presentation?
Radi: Our main goal was to make players feel that, as Sargon absorbs the Simurgh’s powers, he’s becoming closer to a superhero or a demigod. To achieve this, we ensured that each boss encounter would be an increasingly awe-inspiring spectacle. Just like in a shonen anime, where each new arc pushes the boundaries of your hero’s powers, the boss fights in The Lost Crown progressively become more impressive. From their context and choreography to their animations and VFX, they’re designed to create that sense of awe and wonder. Think of it like the Dragon Ball series, where each battle raises the stakes and takes things to a whole new level!
⏳ Q: The time travel mechanic looks incredibly fun to use. How did you approach designing encounters and challenges around this potentially complex ability?
Radi: The time travel mechanic is indeed a significant part of Sargon’s arsenal. It allows him to quickly move behind enemies, position himself to exploit weak points, dodge fast projectiles, or evade wide-area attacks. While there are certain enemies and bosses that necessitate its use, players can freely utilize this skill to create devastating combinations. We wanted to provide players with the freedom to experiment and discover their own unique strategies, resulting in original and satisfying combat encounters.
🎠Q: The Lost Crown offers players a wide range of abilities and the opportunity to execute intricate combos. Will players need to skillfully utilize every tool at their disposal, or can they get by with a more simplified approach?
Radi: Great question! While certain enemies require specific skills or strategies, pushing players out of their comfort zones, we never force players to use specific techniques. Apart from bosses and a few unique enemies designed to emphasize particular abilities, we don’t impose any strict requirements. However, utilizing the entire arsenal of Sargon certainly has its advantages in combat situations.
🌿 Q: Could you delve deeper into The Lost Crown’s semi-open world approach and the freedom players have to explore its various biomes?
Radi: DesGameTopicing our approach to world-building would require volumes, but here’s a glimpse of what to expect. We created a world where getting lost leads to new adventures and significant rewards. At the beginning of the game, you’ll notice many open paths that eventually converge to guide players towards points of interest. These paths serve as “landmarks” that simulate an open-world experience. Once players become familiar with the progression loop, they are set free to explore the vast world just like Sargon. They can acquire powers in different orders, unlock shortcut gates, and even stumble upon optional areas filled with surprises. Every player writes their own unique story, making their experience distinct from others.
💎 Q: How does equipping different amulets affect gameplay and the player’s choice of playstyle?
Radi: Amulets, like the rest of Sargon’s arsenal, are tools desGameTopiced to meet specific challenges (“Oh, I need a hammer to nail this!”) and cater to playstyle preferences (“Can I kick this nail instead?”). That was our approach to designing amulets! In other words, we wanted to encourage players to experiment with different combinations. Some amulets align with specific playstyles, offering logical synergy (slow-motion aim + multiple shots + fire arrow), while others are more inventive and surprising! Our aim was to avoid enforcing the use of specific amulets for particular challenges. We allow players to adopt any strategy they desire, though some may prove more effective than others.
⏰ Q: In the 2007 release Prince of Persia Classic, beating the clock was key in rescuing the princess. Does The Lost Crown feature any similar time-focused elements, in addition to the time powers?
Radi: While there are time-sensitive challenges that require players to perform specific actions within a limited time, these challenges are more short-term in nature. We wanted to minimize frustration in case of failure. However, the theme of time remains an integral aspect of the adventure, and players can expect some pleasant surprises along the way.
And that’s a wrap, folks! We hope you’re as excited as we are for the release of Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. With its captivating blend of Metroidvania exploration, immersive combat, and intricate puzzles, this game is sure to be worth the 14-year wait.
🔔 Don’t forget to mark your calendars for the release of Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown and join us in a time-hopping adventure like no other! Let us know in the comments which feature or aspect of the game you’re most excited about. And don’t hesitate to share this article with your fellow gamers and spread the hype on social media.
Connect with us on our website for more gaming news, reviews, and future updates. Happy gaming, everyone!
đź‘Ą Reference Links:
- đź“° Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown – Incredible Metroidvania Accessibility Feature
- đź“° What to Expect From Nintendo in 2024
- đź“° Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown Targets the Weaknesses of the Metroidvania Genre
- đź“° 8 Awesome Game of Thrones Mods for Popular Games
- đź“° Fantastic Open-World Games Collection
- đź“° Like a Dragon Producer Teases New Announcement for 2024
- 🎮 Official Prince of Persia Website
- 🎮 Game Images and Videos
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