The Ultimate Face-Off: Prince of Persia's Lost Crown vs Sands of Time

The gaming industry has had an exciting week with several showcases and big reveals. While the PlayStation showcase may have been a bit underwhelming, fans were still treated to a thrilling preview of Marvel's Spider-Man 2. Summer Game Fest impressed with some major announcements, including the gameplay debut of Mortal Kombat 1. Xbox then delivered one of its best showcases in recent memory. Amidst all the competition, one game stood out as a surprise hit: Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. Developed by the talented studio behind Rayman Origins and Rayman Legends, this 2D Metroidvania title brings the series back to its roots with fluid combat and flashy platforming. Fans of the Sands of Time will also be pleased to see its prominent appearance in the game. This marks the first new Prince of Persia game in 13 years, and it's clear that it's been worth the wait.

How Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown's Sands of Time Stack Up to the Original

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time is a revered action-platformer from the sixth generation of consoles, and is often considered the game that introduced modern fans to the series. The unique element that sets this game apart from others is its time manipulation powers, which grant the player an array of magical abilities. The most prominent of these powers is the ability to rewind time by up to 10 seconds, which can come in handy when avoiding fatal platforming errors or unexpected attacks.

Aside from its time-reversing capabilities, Sands of Time also allows players to wield the titular Sands in combat. As they progress through the game, players unlock the ability to slow down the movements and attacks of individual opponents or entire groups of enemies. However, players must keep an eye on their sand vials, as they only have access to a limited supply of these powers at any given time. Once the vials are depleted, players must either search the environment for a new sand deposit or defeat enemies with the Dagger of Time to replenish their supply.

In the highly anticipated Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, Ubisoft has brought back the beloved Sands of Time, albeit with a unique twist. While players won't have control over the time-bending powers, the main antagonist will. However, gamers can still use these powers to their advantage, as they navigate through the convergence of past and present timelines. Long-time fans of the series will appreciate the familiar yet different feel of the Sands of Time abilities in this latest installment. Instead of being able to rewind time, players can place a shadow marker and teleport to it, presenting new opportunities for both combat and puzzle-solving. Moreover, it appears that players can create shadow clones to aid in solving puzzles and potentially in combat as well.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown launches January 18, 2024, on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.