Summary
With more heavy-hitting franchises releasing each year, the existing ones have to innovate in order to compete. There are gaming staples likeSuper Mario,The Legend of Zelda, andPokemonthat will stand the test of time, but being relevant matters, and Ubisoft is one of the developers and publishers that has to fight the coming tide as new companies find their footing in the medium.Prince of Persia: The Lost Crownis an ambitious new entry in a property that started on the Apple 2, but caught traction on the PlayStation 2 withThe Sands of Time.
Returning to a 2D view is a bold choice, but one that can ultimately benefit it in the long run.Assassin’s Creedhas taken the mantle from the Prince in recent years, so it makes sense to deviate into a new philosophy. The decision could also be useful for Konami, asPrince of Persia: The Lost Crowncould provide a good blueprint forCastlevaniato make a return, and have an immediate positive impact right out the gate.
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Prince of Persia is Going Back to its 2D Roots
WiththeSands of Timeremake nowhere to be seen,Prince of Persiahas to find a new way to satisfy audiences and stay relevant. It’s an IP that has its fair share of fans, but with no new mainline entry in 13 years, it simply must come out strong withThe Lost Crownto reestablish people’s interest while attracting a fresh audience. It seems wise to change things up, and a 2D perspective is doing something new while sticking to its roots. This also helps to prevent the Prince from stepping onAssassin’s Creed’s toes, which would have been entirely possible if it had stayed in its 3D action-adventure model.
Prince of Persiais a hugely influential series in gamingwithUncharted,Tomb Raider, and the aforementionedAssassin’s Creedtaking something from it. Its age may have caught up to it recently, butThe Lost Crownseems like a reinvention that it needs to stay relevant as more franchises find success in the space.Castlevaniais in the same situation thatPrince of Persiawas in before the new game was announced at Summer Games Fest in June. It needs something to kick-start a reemergence, or it runs the risk of being forgotten.
Castlevania is Nowhere to be Seen
Save for the successful Netflix series of the same name,Castlevaniahas been largely dormant in recent years. It’s been decades since the series' heyday, and most would argue that the success it had in the 2D space bested any three-dimensional offerings likeLords of Shadow. Navigating the dangerous halls of Dracula’s castle in1997’sSymphony of the Nightis one of the best experiences on a PlayStation system littered with amazing games, and after a good run of leaning into this philosophy, Konami has largely abandoned it.
SeeingPrince of Persiamake a successful shift back to a side-scrolling perspective could be further proof to Konami that the philosophy still has significant room for innovation.Bloodstained: Ritual of the Nightmay have shown that people will still gravitate to aCastlevania-like product, but Ubisoft may very well be the company to shine a light on the monetary and creative value of going back to the basics. With titles likeDead Cells,Celeste, andHollow Knightthere is a thirst for more, andCastlevaniacan reclaim its own crown bylooking toPrince of Persia: The Lost Crownfor guidance.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crownlaunches on July 03, 2025, for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
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