Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown – Part 1-3
We came all this way looking for a bow, but instead we found a boss.
The most unexpected aspect of combat in The Lost Crown is how important meter-management is to success. The best way to capitalize on gaps in attack patterns is to use Athra Surges to force massive damage through. Yet, to build up Athra, we need to parry attacks, land some of our own, and avoid taking damage.
Thus, it is vital to master the art of parrying and dodging attacks in order to make sure that we’re ready for another Athra Surge when the opportunity presents itself. It creates a feast or famine loop where skilled play results in quick fights while more defensive and cautious play can make a fight go long. In the latter case, a longer fight is more time to take damage and make mistakes, so the less skilled player can have a still harder time.
We’re seeing similar mechanics pop up often in modern Metroidvania games, taking cues from more modern contemporaries like Devil May Cry (and Dark Souls with regards to more fundamental structures) to add extra depth to their mechanics.
I know some people who have been put off by incorporation of these mechanics. For me, they’re the perfect spice, especially for something with this very stylized, almost anime-like presentation.
No Comments