“Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown Draws Inspiration from Rayman’s Imaginative Universe”

Tomorrow, January 18, marks the launch of Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown for modern consoles and PC. This highly anticipated adventure game, inspired by Persian mythology and the Metroidvania genre, allows players to embody Sargon, the youngest member of Persia’s elite warriors known as the Immortals. Sargon embarks on a perilous journey to save the kidnapped Prince Ghassan, navigating the treacherous Mount Qaf. Armed with acrobatic parkour abilities, mystical time powers, and fluid sword skills, Sargon must confront sand zombies, formidable monsters, and even alternate versions of himself.

Developed by Ubisoft Montpellier, the studio behind Rayman Origins and Rayman Legends, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown shares some similarities with its platforming predecessors. Like Rayman, Sargon’s movements possess a rhythmic flow that enhances the joy of exploration. Much of the game revolves around navigating challenging platforming sequences filled with spikes and traps, requiring players to exhibit precision and adaptability.

To delve deeper into the connection between Rayman and Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, we spoke with Game Director Mounir Radi. While the combat mechanics differ significantly between the two games, Radi acknowledges that Rayman served as a starting point for the platforming aspect. The team focused on conveying the weight and musicality of Sargon’s movements, emphasizing the importance of establishing a good flow and feel before adding animations and visual effects. By meticulously fine-tuning even the smallest details, such as the length of specific animations, Ubisoft Montpellier aimed to create a satisfying sense of weight and physicality for Sargon.

In terms of character design, Radi highlights the separateion between cartoon characters like Rayman and more anime-inspired heroes like Sargon. While Rayman’s lack of arms and legs allows for more creative freedom without triggering the uncanny valley effect, Sargon exists in a semi-realistic world where certain expectations of movement exist. The team meticulously balanced Sargon’s animations, visual effects, and 3D models to ensure a believable and immersive experience. Flashy colors are employed during special abilities to signify the unleashing of superhuman powers, rewarding players for successfully executing challenging maneuvers.

The concept of musicality plays a significant role in both the Rayman games and Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. Radi explains that level design aims to foreshadow the path for players, utilizing camera angles and blocking elements to guide them. The team sought to avoid repetitive button inputs and animations by introducing short and long notes in the gameplay, allowing players to create their own musical compositions. Achieving this balance required extensive iteration and observation of players’ reactions to challenges, ensuring they can predict and navigate levels with ease.

One notable similarity between Rayman Origins and Legends and Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is the inclusion of Xerxes Coins, reminiscent of Skull Coins in the former games. These coins hover near hazardous areas, challenging players not only to collect them but also to land safely to claim their rewards. This design choice allows developers to exert more control over players’ experiences, guiding them to play as intended and emphasizing specific gameplay elements.

While combat in Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown shares some similarities with Rayman, such as aerial slam attacks, it offers a much more elaborate and responsive system rarely seen in Metroidvania games. Radi emphasizes that the team’s primary goal was to create an authentic Prince of Persia experience. Previous games in the series relied on animation-driven combat, where executing a button press triggered a specific animation. In The Lost Crown, the team wanted players to have more agency in choreographing their own combat moves using the tools provided. This approach fosters fairness and empowers players to develop their own playstyles within the game’s framework.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown launches on January 18 for XBOX One, Xbox Series X|S, Playstation 4|5, Nintendo Switch, and PC. Players with a Ubisoft+ subscription or those who purchase the Digital Deluxe Edition can dive into Sargon’s adventure immediately. Brace yourself for a journey filled with secrets, dangers, and opportunities to test your combat and platforming skills. Mount Qaf’s time-cursed citadel awaits exploration, promising a warped and captivating experience.

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