Syed Imran Haider 
In 2003, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time was introduced and it elevated the concept of 3D action-adventure games to new heights, thanks to its acrobatic and fast combat and its environmental puzzles. While a bunch of sequels were introduced later, none were able to come close to it. However, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown has brought back everything that was so great about the classic Prince of Persia games.
The great elements
It has managed to do so by bringing the best ideas of the series in a 2D Metroidvania framework that goes back to the roots of the original introduced in 1989. The Lost Crown has done an outstanding job in both elements that have made Prince of Persia so popular; combat and platforming. The problem with most 3D games is that wrangling cameras in tight spaces is quite difficult and parkour-like fighting is quite difficult to manage, particularly when multiple opponents are involved.
The Lost Crown resolves these issues by bringing the game to a 2D viewpoint and this allows it to offer precise and snappy controls that feel excellent. The concept of the series has been reimagined once more, as the game strikes out in its own direction, but still manages to maintain some of the familiarity.
The story
The Lost Crown comes with the same attractive basics like other Prince of Persia games. You are an acrobatic and quick protagonist exploring a semi-ruined location filled with deadly traps and numerous monsters and soldiers you have to overcome with cunning and strength. But, these are the only similarities you will come across.
The story is a new one and based in Persian mythology, which means there are plenty of cool characters and the adventure is very interesting. The Immortals are at the heart of the story, which is a group of seven warriors who have to rescue Ghassan, the kidnapped Prince of Persia, and travel to the legendary Mount Qaf. You are the youngest of the group and the brashest one, named Sargon.
Not only do you have to prove your place in the group, but also chase down your mentor, who is actually responsible for the kidnapping.
The combat
Sargon proves to be a fierce and fast warrior and while you do have to unlock new abilities, the character proves to be a strong fighter from the get go. As a matter of fact, The Lost Crown gives you access to a number of tools in combat straight away and this makes the game work so well. The combat places a great deal of emphasis on reaction time, speed and pressing your advantage, which makes fighting your enemies just as fun as exploring the map.
In fact, the combat system often moves at a very fast pace. While Sargon is very fast, you still need to take basic enemies seriously because they hit hard. This actually balances the situation and makes the fights quite interesting and challenging.
The Verdict
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown has managed to capture the essence of earlier games, while eliminating the issues that were associated with 3D games by offering a 2D perspective.
