Austin strongly recommends: Prince of Persia - The Lost Crown (Review)

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown had underdog status, but Ubisoft held their nerve and released one of the best Metroidvania's we've seen in a long time.
Video written and voiced by Austin B, edited by Stuart K.
#Review #PrinceOfPersia #TheLostCrown
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[@abdalla8558]

First Ubisoft getting “Strongly recommend” in a while

[@waynewayne8419]

Like they need it, their games sell like hotcakes

[@abdalla8558]

@@waynewayne8419i need it, cuz I aint paying a bit without a good rating

[@rogerarayasaborio549]

was the avatar game not also recommended?

[@dragonhunterx5929]

@@rogerarayasaborio549 but not "strongly"

[@T0asty-]

Ubisoft just strongly recommended you get used to not owning your games as well. Lol

[@ewjiml]

In case you guys didn’t know, the devs of PoP are the same devs who created Rayman, one of my FAVORITE side-scrolling series. That’s why the combat, the metroidvania, and the level design are all top notch.

[@joreck]

oh right, that explains a lot.

[@yahia5476]

Also, hollow knight was a huge inspiration for them, and it shows, the game is amazing

[@thesean161]

This is important information to note! Thanks. Legends ruled

[@raresmacovei8382]

I need Rayman 4 in 3D, God damn it

[@gen0cider]

@@yahia5476 its more like blasphemous than hollow knight

[@JDLaney-zk4wb]

It’s amazing that Austin, formerly just an editor, has a better speaking voice than 90% of KZbinrs out there.

[@swaggle69]

It’s amazing that someone who spends all day doing KZbin knows how do KZbin? 🤔

[@dogg92]

I can't even tell the difference between Austin and ShillUp. They almost seem like the same person to me.

[@DsgSleazy]

@@dogg92If you can’t tell the difference between their voices you might have erectile dysfunction

[@Bustaperizm]

They just use the same cadence of speech.

[@TheBrownLamb]

⁠@@dogg92They have the same cadence but they do not sound very alike to my ear voice wise. I’m assuming you’re not Australian?

[@ChrisCirruzzoSD4]

7 hours into the game, 28% completion. As a huge fan of Metroidvanias this game really pulled me in. The combat and puzzles are challenging but satisfying to overcome. I was really pleased with how enjoyable this game is and I cannot recommend it enough! People are apprehensive about paying $50, which I can understand, but considering the depth of the world and amount of content and collectibles, I think it is well worth the price for what you get. Can't wait for the speedruns!

[@chubeatle]

it took me 8 to finish the main story and a bunch of the side content (77%) wouldnt call it short, but it surprised me the difference in the hours played to what you said lol

[@ChrisCirruzzoSD4]

@@chubeatle lol I was just taking my time messing with a lot of the mechanics, to each their own though

[@soulonwire7754]

@@ChrisCirruzzoSD4this is me 😂. I also take my time and enjoy the game. Not to mention sometimes I fall alseep with it in my hands sometimes and my save file comes included with sleep time🤣

[@aes1373]

Being Iranian (or Persian in a way) born and raised, this game actually has a lot of ancient Iranian/Persian mythology and implemented very well with western standards (seriously Bravo on that) even more than the PS2 trilogy. Also, Persian dub is a huge win. Hopefully, the series can have a good 3D return as well, kinda like GoW.

[@IoFoxdale]

I really like when games lean into the languages and culture of wherever they're cribbing from. Last Train Home really ruled last year for having a 'native' voice over that spanned three different languages across Russia.

[@jurtheorc8117]

I was aware of Immortals being a name of a kind of elite military unit in the ancient Persian military, that Ahura Mazda was the ancient pre-Abrahamic Vedic supreme deity of all that is good, and had *heard* of the Simurgh, but this game got me looking up stuff about other names like King Darius, Mount Qaf, Kushan and the Chinvat Hell Bridge. This attention to source inspiration material to make a cool new world out of reminds me a bit of Darksiders. The dialogue isn't on the same level as that series for me, but in a similar way i have gotten more intrigued by this game *because* of all this background research and information and being interested in learning more about the sources of said inspiration.

[@leithaziz2716]

Games have usually been the medium to expose me to interesting cultures, history and mythology I probably wouldn't have known about on my own. The Witcher games, God of War (either mythologies), Sekiro, etc.

[@abrokehardhead681]

How do you feel about a Persian being black in this?

[@saschaberger3212]

​@@IoFoxdaleyeah we in Germany got them all the time. Super cool

[@amirgarcia547]

Getting a Metroidvania-esque PoP game from the Rayman devs definitely wasn’t on my bucket list, but this game is just so fun, addicting and well-designed that I’m certainly glad it was still made. It takes clear inspiration from Metroid Dread while still putting its own unique spin on it, and I definitely hope we get more games on this caliber from the studio in the future due to them being dormant for so long.

[@narwhalgamingvariety]

It's one of those games you have to hold the controller for a few minutes to really understand why it's so good.

[@Mintcar923]

I feel like I’m in some alt dimension where the guy who created Symphony of the Night had the rights to PoP lol

[@RGabrielR]

This style and quality bar should be the focus of Ubisoft as a whole, cause they can deliver so big on this front

[@IncognitoActivado]

No, not really.

[@daksans6764]

@@IncognitoActivado Stop trolling

[@Daphoid]

Only a couple hours in and enjoying myself so far! It's challenging, but not gruelling. I'm nowhere an expert with this type of game format, bit it looks and sounds so good - I just put on headphones and sit and fight my way through things. Highly recommended thus far.

[@Daphoid]

A little farther, had my first rage quit on I suppose the second boss fight? I definitely need to fix my controller though, left trigger legitimately sticks and that's block. A weekend task.

[@stellamarie32]

Holy fuck, did you just say UBISOFT has a hand crafted Exploration VS. Guided modes?! A glimmer of hope, flickering in the darkness...

[@Nexyyy7]

they had this option available in almost all their games since assassin's creed odyssey (2018)

[@alanrobertson3734]

Ubisoft is pretty slept on for how much customization they allow in their games for difficulty, exploration, UI etc.

[@meurer13daniel]

@@Nexyyy7 those game are designed to work with full UI on and they are broken if you use "exploration" mode

[@gabriel897100]

​@@meurer13daniel no that's not true You can easily complete the game with exploration mode on

[@Dracobyte]

I mean Ubisoft Montpellier is one of the best studios from the company.

[@Crunchbite86]

This game looks awesome but seriously, I gotta give a shoutout to Austin. This review was so articulate and descriptive. You covered so much more than typical reviews of this format. Thank you for shouting out Gareth Coker as well. He's a genius.

[@sayianprincevegeta7969]

As a dad of two, working full-time, and running a business on the side, I can really appreciate guided mode. I have dropped so many Metroid-Vania's due to simply wandering around trying to discover where to go next.. For someone who only has an hour or so a day to play a game, it can be frustrating to spend that time aimlessly wandering around. I know it's not for everyone, but I hope this optional feature becomes a staple for others in the genre going forward.

[@ribbz22]

I am around 80% of the way through the game and can confirm it is a TOTAL BANGER. I really hope metroidvania is a core game type for future installments because this game was pretty much a masterpiece aside from some very very small gripes. The way Sargon is animated and how he controls as you gain abilities is literally perfect, they did such a great job. The environmental and time/ability related puzzles are just fantastic.

[@jamesverhoeven8769]

Same this and dread are competing in my head for my fav metroidvania

[@ScubaSnacks]

Rolled credits literally 5 minutes ago and can echo that, game is incredible

[@ribbz22]

​@@ScubaSnacks if you want another banger that is super under the radar check out Afterimage. I loved that game. A little more SoTN vibes mixed in with a good amount of Hollow Knight. Huge world map.

[@Braxmegaman]

My ONLY complaint in regards to animations is that the double-jump is the dweebiest double-jump I have ever seen in any Metroidvania. Apart from that, the visuals are all fantastic.

[@StillWeRide]

Yeah great way to start the year off. I love this game...about halfway through and loving it.

[@NelsonPimenta93]

It has been many years since we have had a good Ubisoft game. This franchise needed this.

[@DiogoAzambuja]

Ubisoft's AAA games are a guaranteed disappointment, but their AA or Indie-ish style games have always been amazing. They should focus more on those.

[@rockymachine]

Immortal Phenix Rising was pretty good!

[@ZephyrK_]

Last phenomenal release was ironically this studio’s previous game, Rayman Legends.

[@spacechannelfiver]

The only two good games (other than this) I can think of they've done in the last few years were Rabbids x Mario and Fenyx. There were a few others that weren't bad. Unfortunately these sort of games don't sell that well so they keep milking the big tent pole franchises. (and some stuff that isn't on our radar like Just Dance and Rocksmith)

[@Marvolo14]

AC Origins, Odyssey, Mirage, and Immortals: Fenix Rising were all good games. AC Valhalla was pretty good too in spite of its bloat. Prince of Persia deserved better than a cheap side scroller game. It should have been a full open world RPG like other Ubisoft games.

[@Hops1595]

This reminds me a lot of Metroid Dread in terms of boss fights and combat. Would be curious to hear how this new entry compares to that

[@patrickclark9642]

I'd also be curious to hear how it plays on Switch... Not just FPS performance but particularly loading times, because as much as I love tricky platforming puzzles, they are made considerably less fun by painful loading times when you die!

[@Jeremus717]

The skill up team is reaching new levels already. Very excited to see what you all have up your sleeves, and I'm definitely on the all notifications train.

[@BasementMinions]

Austin knocking out of the park with his thoughtful commentary and delivery. But I was really impressed with how fluid and on point the editing was throughout this entire video. Stu you are doing fabulous work elevating their words, thank you for all that you do!

[@M7MD-]

I liked this game so much, it finally broke the wall of fear that I had from writing game reviews. I wrote a three page review of the game just to fulfil my passion. Still did not record it or intend to any time soon, but it is a step forward for an old personal goal. Great review as always, I am happy that it is shining more light on this beautiful game.

[@supernova9274]

Can you post it some where I would love to read it

[@TheFantasticMrDuck]

Same

[@M7MD-]

@@supernova9274 I would really love to. Unfortunately it is not even in English. I wrote in Arabic hoping to get it published in my native language. It also does not help that I have written in a video form where I intended to have footage showing what I am talking about. I really appreciate the passion though, I haven’t got anyone asking to read it, even close friends. Despite that the Arabic gaming community is so big, small games don’t get recognition. Only AAA games are known and talked about. That is why every couple of months when I play an amazing game, especially if it was a small budget game/ indie game, I get the urge to write a review and start a channel. I just want people to appreciate the effort by small developers, and I am sick of hearing that games are not fun anymore. One day mate, one day

[@Givejordr]

I've been playing this since launch day [and the demo before that.] It's SO DAMN GREAT

[@Kekoapono]

Great work on the review, Austin! I really admire your ability to write an engaging review on top of your already excellent editing skills. I can only imagine the amount of work that goes into writing and video editing a review. Again, great work, and thank you!

[@KraniumZzZz]

love havin your reviews, Austin!

[@Lost_In_Neverwhere]

Really happy for the game. People were hating on it after the very first announcement, nice to see them being wrong.

[@mrvad3r198]

1st trailer did lot of damage

[@Dracobyte]

Yup!!

[@lukemoonwalker8444]

about 12 hours in, 40% completion, I would be really surprised if this didn't show up in my top 5 for 2024 games at the end of the year, the time shift puzzles are so tight, I was worried I'd be burned out on the platforming having played Mario Wonder recently but the Stylish Action combat gives it a whole another flavour!

[@StinOfSin]

Another great review, Austin! You guys are really keeping the quality and thoughtfulness of your videos top notch coming into the new year. This channel is still my first recommendation for gaming news and reviews. Good luck in 2024!

[@mr.b89]

The concept of meeting other more dangerous selves thematically reminds me of the SA-X in metroid fusion.. I'm excited for this

[@patrickclark9642]

Any insight into Switch performance? Particularly loading times when you die? (Thinking of tricky platofrming puzzles, where long loading times are painful)

[@sna-vsndlx88]

I been playing on switch it’s nothing noticeable at all- pretty instant

[@patrickclark9642]

​@@sna-vsndlx88 Nice, thank you!

[@RedDreamsOf1848]

Load times on death are surprisingly quick, apparently it was developed for Switch hardware and just upscaled for other platforms.

[@RedEyedJEdi410]

I'll definitely be buying (and owning) a physical copy of this as soon as I can.

[@MaximumTaco]

I like how more and more games are including accessibility features that let players customize the difficulty to their desired level or according to their needs.

[@StillWeRide]

After playing this I cant recommend it enough. True first banger of the year. Saw some reviewers like fextra say this is a hard sell for 50 and after finishing I cant help but feel that comes off as entitled. this is quality through and through. The combat...puzzles...levels..bosses ..its all top tier. This is a steal at 50.

[@Rayman_Budgie84]

Austin is back baby!

[@Jmerithew87]

This game is absolutely a must buy for me, just not day one. With how quickly Ubisoft deeply discounts all their games it’s just plain foolish to pay full price.

[@Jesse__H]

For sure. I will happy pay $20 for this. I may even get impatient and buy it for $30. But it's $50 right now, and that's just too high for me, especially for a side scroller, even a great one ...

[@Jmerithew87]

@@Jesse__H I think $25/$30 is my sweet spot for a physical copy.

[@aaronhumphrey3514]

Meh. I bought it at full price because I wanted to encourage Ubisoft to go in this direction. If everyone waits for discounts they'll probably just shrug and say to themselves that the lack of sales is exactly why they traditionally don't make games like this anymore.

[@Jmerithew87]

@@aaronhumphrey3514 Ubisoft has created this behavior themselves. I purchased Mario+Rabbids 2 for full price, and it was on sale for $35 before I got around to playing it. I almost ended up in the same situation with Avatar but gave it the wait and see approach. They’re the ones who have discouraged people from paying full price for their products.

[@jamesguerra4440]

Yup exactly. Can't wait to play it, but I can wait a few months to save 20 to 30 bucks

[@Notsodirky]

I'm so proud of austin. He really nailed this review. He's the perfect partner to make reviews next to skillup ❤

[@smoothtown90886]

The laugh after the "Sands of Time" pun. Fired immediately.

[@NickHunter]

the combat and movement looks so satisfying to master

[@jdrahonovsky]

Wasn't on my radar at all and picked it up... having a blast

[@JamesOKeefe-US]

Awesome review as always Austin!

[@spartin149]

Fantastic review Austin, I'm getting this game on ps5, finished the demo and this is just amazingly fun to play and the music is on point very immersive, definitely support this title gamers

[@tangentkatz]

This is the review I needed to see. I appreciate you showing the variety of environments, puzzle mechanics, platforming puzzles, etc. So far the only thing I'd heard about the game was related to the combat. While great combat is cool, it's not what defines PoP for me. I'm excited to give this a go.

[@chaserseven2886]

so did anyone find the crown yet?

[@JJsiN84]

Good question, now you mention it. The only crown I ever saw in the game so far was being worn by the queen. She never “lost” it as far as I can tell 😂

[@voxploxx]

It's a metaphorical crown lol

[@callsignjoker1]

Nah bruv, it's lost.

[@JJsiN84]

I know I think he's just joking and I'm playing along.@@voxploxx

[@laulen3448]

One of my friends worked on this game, actually knew about it a couple of weeks before it got announced, and I'm so happy the game turned out so good, he and the team are proud of their work. I'm just so disappointed it's not on any PC markets I use.

[@Dracobyte]

What was his role on the developement?

[@baitboy3191]

Looking forward to seeing speed runs of this game

[@Dracobyte]

Me too!!

[@vyris2663]

I don't understand why this game gets tons of hate despite favorable reviews. It's really confusing.

[@Oztorek]

Great job on the review Austin! Ive already played the first few hours of the game, and while nothing you said spoilt anything for me, I would say the video has spoiled quite a bit more than I would have liked/am used too on this channel (certain cutscenes and bosses). Maybe a quick heads up before these moments start showing up in the reel would help!

[@Jesse__H]

I too am very spoiler averse. I always appreciate a heads up on that.

[@wmvnotmp4]

He also spoiled one of the major gimmicks for me without any warning

[@myranthor1]

Good point. Spoiling the solution to puzzles should also probably be avoided in review videos.

[@supersorrow6945]

Finally i was waitin for this review yess

[@ninnaisabelvictorio3283]

So much good reviews on this one! I hope this goes on sale soon since we have frequent sales from Ubisoft

[@Da_damm]

Usually I really dislike Metroidvanias but here the gameplay is so good it got me hooked instantly. The game feels really responsive and the combat is incredible. They also did a great job keeping the spirit of the original games in terms of platforming and puzzle but in 2D.

[@TranqBase]

It's going to be hard for any game to beat this one for me this year. I really hope it does well enough to not only warrant a sequel but to shake things up at Ubisoft to make more games of this quality and hopefully more Prince of Persia games!

[@GigglingStoners]

It won't

[@daksans6764]

@@GigglingStoners It will

[@GigglingStoners]

@@daksans6764 I like your optimism.

[@daksans6764]

@@GigglingStoners POP is GOAT

[@Goodbutevilgenius]

Well, Silksong may release.

[@chrisk_04]

This game really did something remarkable for me. It finally put Ubisoft back on the map for me and I’ll actually be excited for Ubisoft’s future games. Truly incredible work.

[@quantum9964]

Great review! I just noticed he didn't touch on performance like Ralph usually does.

[@Trai1b1aze]

Agree with Austin. Am 9 hours in (save game showing 34% complete) and the game is excellent so far. Much heavier narrative focus(npcs, talking bits) than I expected. For some reason reminds me a bit of Shadow Complex...

[@steizgr8]

"He he"

[@thatfreakingeek]

Flip I loved this game, and this review nailed everything I thought about it too. Great job Austin!

[@rorybeeforth7101]

great stuff Austin, you are in full bloom!

[@callsignjoker1]

Finished this game after about 27 hours. It's absolutely fantastic. That rewind move is so much fun in combat. I love freezing the start of a ground combo, then air juggling a fool and smacking them down into a fresh combo. There's so much room to get creative in combat. I only wish there were more bosses, or an endgame arena or something after beating the game.

[@mv3380]

Only 27 hours? Seems kinda disappointing.

[@YEY0806]

I'm hoping for DLC soon or a boss rush mode

[@callsignjoker1]

@@mv3380 I personally think it's pretty decent value. There's still some stuff I haven't done. I'm still currently playing, I just finished the story in that time. It's not a massive game, but it's decently sized, and the quality is there for sure.

[@gavo7911]

@@mv338027 hours is disappointing to you? Huh? That’s around the length of most Metroidvanias. That’s very solid value from a game.

[@callsignjoker1]

@@YEY0806 I hope so. The combat is so good, I'm kind of surprised they didn't put an arena in...unless I just haven't found it yet.

[@sean6793]

As someone who hadn't really touched the Metroidvania genre before, this is a great gateway imo. Also, if you're playing this on anything less than Immortal you're doing yourself a disservice. The bosses in this are INCREDIBLE. I genuinely didn't think a 2D game could have such fun and rewarding combat/boss fights but now I think I'll start digging around more. And also, the platforming/puzzles start off basic, but as you get more powers they get pretty crazy, especially the ones for getting side content/collectibles. I had a few where my brain was overheating, and they usually demand some pretty tight inputs as well. Also, i typically play everything Mouse and Keyboard, but I strongly recommend a controller. Just a flat out better experience (although I'm near the end and have played MnK whole way through so, ymmv)

[@haruhirogrimgar6047]

If you are looking to keep dipping your toes into the genre, I recommend Gato Roboto. It is a "microvania" (you can finish the game in 2 hours, but it is cheap and replaysble). It plays like a bite-sized old-school Metroid game. No fluff, no confusion, just a tight experience with a cute kitty as the protagonist.

[@kasra38s]

"I genuinely didn't think a 2D game could have..." Hold up buddy :) you NEED to play Cuphead then... That game is FUCKING perfection :))

[@peezieforestem5078]

I strongly disagree. Immortal difficulty is tedious and way too punishing for no good reason, and it doesn't anything to the game excepts demands more of your time. Health sponges and long KT ruin the game feel to me, it feels like my swords are made of wood and I'm just smacking the enemies around, rather than slicing them. I would only recommend it if you prefer high punishment and can tolerate HP sponges.

[@Boss_Fight_Wiki_muki_twitch]

3 recommendations: Castlevania Symphony of the Night (the original metroidvania). And Metroid Prime. And Super Metroid (widely considered to be the best metroid)

[@jurtheorc8117]

Cookie Cutter was also a solid recent metroidvania. First game by a small dev studio with fantastic hand-drawn 2D animation and the lead dev/artist wants to support it more substantially for a long time to come. Not just technical fixes, but adding stuff like a combo counter, dedicated boss intro animations, and full voice acting. Even new areas and the like. It's not as in-depth complex and technical as PoP: The Lost crown but is still a solid time.

[@nathanthompson742]

This will hold a spot in my top 5 for 2024 for sure. Its an amazing game.

[@420inportland]

I think Austin does a good job, and I am glad it allows the channel to expand it's coverage. That said, whoever is doing the editing when Austin is doing the review, seems to not be as careful as is the norm on this channel generally regarding spoilers. For example, "Tthere are only 6 bosses," and then we see footage of 6 of them. So either all the major ones, or a bunch fo the minor ones mixed in, were shown. Considering there are so few, I would rather have not seen that footage. It has happened a few times now in Austins videos, I can't recall which off the top of my head, but if whoever is doing the editing could be a little more careful, like you guys usually are about that stuff, I would appreciate it. Keep up the good work.

[@anaguma90]

I'm playing through Ori now and really enjoying it so I feel liked I'd enjoy this too. Shame its not on steam because I'd love to play it on steam deck without jumping through 9000 hoops.

[@deadlyydude5522]

If you like Ori I think you’ll love this. Very similar gameplay

[@INMATEofARKHAM]

Just wait. It will be on Steam soon enough and will likely even come with a day 1 sale.

[@haruhirogrimgar6047]

​@@deadlyydude5522 He mentioned it has a huge focus on combat though. With Ori 1 combat is basically non-existant. Maybe Ori 2, but that plays as a completely different game than Ori 1.

[@anaguma90]

@@haruhirogrimgar6047 I'm playing Ori 2. Have also played and enjoyed Blasphemous so it's definitely my thing.

[@brawler5760]

I’d say this one will be a huge curveball for you. Ori 1 and 2 are not very combat heavy, while this game is.

[@tamikbron]

Now we wait 10 days for the 30% discount, since It is an Ubisoft Game...

[@adamjensen2304]

Yeah, is that a bad thing? I’m confused.

[@tamikbron]

@@adamjensen2304 not to me!

[@Yesnomu]

Fantastic review! Game was already on my radar and this pushed me over the edge.

[@TheBlueGoldenHawk]

11:00 I got to that chest in the demo by just wall jumping, dashing, and carefully landing on its platform before you're "supposed to" lol

[@Barrodah]

Is sweet baby inc involved?

[@harveydent706]

probably

[@attilab317]

I m boycotting any game where they are involved but I don’t think that’s the case with this one tbh.

[@gavo7911]

What on earth is “sweet baby inc?” I see it thrown around a lot by anti-SJW weirdos but nobody actually says what it is

[@attilab317]

@@gavo7911 just look it up and make your own opinion then. But looking at your comment that’s not really what your strength.

[@gavo7911]

@@attilab317Not really my strength? You know nothing about me, all I said was that some weirdos like to throw the name around. And I did look it up, all I can see is that they’re a consultation company for diversity in games, basically harmless, though a lot of grifters claim they’re ruining games or some other crap. Look, I left that whole “anti-SJW” thing a long time ago and I’m a lot happier for it.

[@civicrider5556]

this game really reminds me of warrior within in some ways since it was also made in a similar way where you explore the island of time both in past and present which you are doing with the mountain, this game can work with the formula the trilogy had which it retains in the old 2d platformer style, also hoping this sets up for a new way we can enjoy the future titles because the way the story is made, i have a feeling we may get the actual prince as the protag for future games also i got hyped seeing the warrior within outfit, cant believe how well it fits on sargon

[@maszkalman3676]

Yeah no :,D i need the drugs you are taking warrior withinh had free form fighting system you controlled which time (past/present) you are in you had cnstand danger of the dahake here you lie under the tree and no problem and the alternate timeline only in some bits and pieces

[@civicrider5556]

@@maszkalman3676 I said it FELT, not properly like it

[@maszkalman3676]

@@civicrider5556 Yeah okay then but what things feel like warrior within? for you of course.

[@Strider_Shinryu]

Maybe half way through myself and it is indeed very, very good. My only complaint is that you can't use the dpad as opposed to the analog stick for character control. This makes the challenging platforming bits feel a little too slippery and imprecise at times.

[@ipostlamememesallthetime953]

"Don't get used to it. These games aren't for individual ownership, whether they're physical discs or not. Don't you forget..." -Ubisoft

[@HeyItsTheWykydtron]

Congrats to the dev team on this win. It has the Ubisoft logo so I won't buy it but the dev team did a great job!

[@frankbasile3662]

Your loss,..ill buyvan extra copy just to support them in your name,..back to the excellent,Assassins creed,Far Cry and PoP series..

[@HeyItsTheWykydtron]

@@frankbasile3662 Thank you but not a loss for me. I love and respect my fellow developers and I love the IP but I can't in good conscience support a company as disgusting as Ubisoft, not anymore.

[@bluedragonstudios9004]

I am not supporting a company who tells us to ‘get used to’ not owning games

[@WolfsGamingBlog]

Worth keeping in mind that's not actually what the guy said. Like they live to do the media took a single sentence out of a longer reply to a question. Basically, he was asked what it would take for subscriptions to get to the next level, and in replying he said one of the things that would have to change would be gamers become comfortable with not owning the games, like movie watchers who use Netflix. He also said Unisoft were quite happy with people who just bought the games, and that they also found many people subbed for a month to play something, then bought it outright. Tl:Dr he was asked asked a very specific question and gave an answer. Got taken way out of context.

[@saschaberger3212]

99% of the time they are the devil. They make one good title and everyone forgets. That's gamers for you.

[@Replica2901]

What's skill up's outro song?

[@335449286]

I'm excited to get this when it comes to steam

[@DrEcho]

If you liked Guacamelee 1 and 2, especially if you're based and recognize them as greater than Hollow Knight and Ori, then this is a absolutely cannot miss title.

[@brandtmiles2373]

Wish they had tweaked the character designs. The environments look great overall, but when zoomed in during cutscenes the characters look straight from a mobile game.

[@berenvalari]

When I saw the trailer it immediately took me back to playing the original PoP side scroller on the 286s at primary school.

[@cptroot]

This sounds like a great game to try! My only disappointment with this review was the lack of mention or comparison with the previous best metroidvania brawlers, Guacamelee 1 and 2.

[@lilbladeknight]

Idk after Ubi saying i dont own and shouldnt own games.

[@Bustaperizm]

Ubi has fallen off. Then they say things like that. 1 game isn't gonna have me forget. There are plenty of other good games. But good on them for seemingly making one. Now do that 2 to 3 more times, and maybe I have forgotten by then.

[@Aliens1337]

The unfortunate part is EVERY big player in the game industry wants the same thing. Ubi just said it out loud. There’s a reason Microsoft and Sony pushed very hard for disc-less consoles. It’ll force players to “own” digital games (that they can remove or revoke license at anytime) or stuck with game subscription services like GamePass or PlayStation+ and not owning anything.

[@lulish1]

I'mma be real with you Austin. Thank you for your hard work, and I'm glad you enjoyed it. However I'm not spending a single dime on a company that openly states that gamers should get accustomed to not owning their games, and that has ruined every classic franchise it had to make it a whale slot machine fest

[@halkon4412]

Controversy of the week, snore. If you actually held to these principles, you'd be boycotting every major games publisher in existence at this point. Memories are short.

[@rediornaut7018]

Guess what? Every major game publisher wants you to get used to not owning your games. Nintendo makes you pay monthly for emulated classics, Microsoft has GamePass and Sony has PS Plus. They're all trying to be like Netflix, the Ubisoft guy just made the mistake of saying the quiet part out loud.

[@kubex222]

Yeah i was skeptical at first and now after playing for like 1/3 of the game i have to say that this is my favorite metroidvania ever and probably best prince of persia game. If you play this remember to talk to combat trainer because combat in this game is truly something special but you actually need to be taught how to do it. I love how it is made by devs of rayman legends and the platformer experience really shows, they make you use one mechanic in multiple ways which is very rare in metroidvania. Combat system is so good and powers you get also help you in combat and make it more interesting which is rare too. You can just see a lot of effort put into locations, puzzles, etc. Game is just crazy good.

[@ChickenBob70]

Solid review. I do get kick out of comment about people not being keen on this take or wanting a more "true to form" Prince of Persia, and me thinking back to playing OG 2D Prince of Persia on my 386.

[@KhaosElement]

I would like to play it based on this, but with Ubisoft taking a "can't own games" stance I just won't be buying from them again, don't care what I miss out on.

[@ThefamousMrcroissant]

Same for me. I will never buy any Ubisoft game unless it is provided on a third party platform enforcing their own policies.

[@sunnyg7038]

Finally people are waking up welcome to the boycott. I stopped buying ubi since assassin creed 3.

[@ys1197]

Sad pp Ubi dont want us to own anything

[@lowsodiumdanny2077]

It's reviews like these that make me go out and buy games. Nice work Austin

[@Florkl]

As much as Ralph had been talking about this game I’m surprised he didn’t review it. Which is not to remotely imply this was anything but the thorough review I expect from the Skillup brand.

[@marklarz4399]

And some guys were triggered in the announce trailer saying it was "woke"

[@XavierFox42]

Crybaby gamers will pee their pants any time they see a woman or a person of color in a game because they never leave their basements to see them in real life either

[@tlungu962]

yup

[@rezonxthepiggert9647]

Would say it was cringe even though I like rap.

[@IEatFoamFootballs]

Is this true lmao? What parts of the trailer were even “woke”? I swear people like that are insane and desperate

[@AsianLing]

@@IEatFoamFootballs I remember people being mad they had a female lead character for GTA 6 😭

[@TuriGamer]

God thats an ugly character design

[@Mike-hj7gg]

im only 14 percent, so far im loving it..

[@Natsocenis]

Another banger from Austin, good work chap

[@carscoffeeandcannabis-634]

POP: Sands of time was an amazing game. I absolutely loved that game and how it treated the time travel mechanics, and the little narrations that went along with it. You mess up, and it rewinds "No no, that's not how it happened!". Such a cool way to integrate it Really glad to hear the POP legacy is being lived up to. I had very little interest in this game when I saw all the pre-release trailers, but seeing people actually play it, and the challenging platforming and expressive combat definitely does look cool. Not sure I'm willing to buy it for $80 however....

[@Wasur1959]

You hit the nail on the head, I agree completely, with both the story and game play. Great review!

[@tobzdaman619]

9:45: Ratchet and Clank: A Crack In Time. Clank's puzzle sections returned? Instant buy

[@rexthewolf3149]

That’s what I thought

[@cairusdumas1306]

I highly recommend getting this on switch if you have one it’s way better when you can play at the palm of your hands or docked on the tv

[@dooder39]

Will you review Palworld too?

[@E_Chap]

This game looks fantastic. Does it run well on handheld Switch or am I better off getting it on the PS5? I prefer handheld for side scrollers.

[@thisisfyne]

It was developed to run well on Switch

[@thisisfyne]

Agreed on most of this review! Surprisingly good game overall!! My biggest gripes: - The story is indeed the weakest point of it all. It's predictable and somewhat cliché. The main character is generic cool good guy, the side characters don't bring much to the table, and the main antagonist is an absolute waste in the third act. Not to go into spoilers, but let's just say I viscerally despise when most of a story builds on a conflict of interests/morals/character only to turn into vapid visual spectacle of good guy vs godlike bad guy. Movies and games feel so compelled to end on an epic note that they toss aside characters for the most bland outcome possible, in this case pure anime vomit of the least inspired kind. - The combat itself while varied, smooth, and engaging all feels a bit pointless when you realize that you don't _have_ to play well; you can just button mash and tank through almost everything, especially in the second half of the game (I say this having played on the intended difficulty). - The map felt unnecessarily convoluted at times, and I would have appreciated more warp points. - Bit overpriced Aside from that, yeah, top tier metroidvania! 100% recommend! I feel Ubisoft really needed this win to stay relevant in the current AAA market.

[@csmadisun]

Oh, that overconfident chuckle at the beginning. Lovely.

[@Steve_ATL]

The Lost Crown's gameplay is very satisfying. Makes me want a Ninja Gaiden game like this with the story based on the NES games.

[@crome2sniper]

Austins cadence has changed , even his sound of his voice. But more importantly hes found his own writing style. Hes skilled up

[@siera364]

we want an Austin Guild Wars 2 Review!

[@Benjamin-mj9pd]

Remember according to Ubisoft executives you have to get used to paying for but not owning the game.

[@JONATHANP1619]

Got my version on the Ps5, It crashed a lot, I often clip throught terrain where I have to reset and lose progress, the soundtrack just stop working, but throught all that, I am having a lot of fun and still recommend the game. Weirdly enough at some occasions it felt like playing Dark Pit in Super Smash Ultimate.

[@Strider_Shinryu]

Weird, I haven't had any of those issues at all and I'm also on PS5. The closest thing I had was I found an unevenly shaped wall you could "see into" if you got to close to it but I didn't get stuck or anything, was just able to see the background art instead of what should have been a solid chunk of rock. Too bad you're having issues on your end

[@BucklingSwashes]

Really enjoying the game, and also taken aback by just how big it is. It's one of those maps that just keeps growing beyond the size you'd expect. The storytelling isn't my favorite; I replayed Sands Of Time (for probably the tenth time?) immediately before starting this, and that game is still the best told, best acted, and best paced story in the series. But Lost Crown's platforming, combat, and world design are really great, and it's sucked me in enough that I'm finding myself exploring for hours without realizing.

[@Drinkie69]

This game rules. I had so much fun playing it. I was excited from when I first saw it and loved it even more than I thought.

[@Softload3r]

*But...* is it worth 60 buckaroos? I would love to buy it and play it but two things are keeping me from it: The price and Epic/Ubisoft Launcher

[@buckiesmalls]

If I recall you can bypass the ubi launcher by disabling internet.. Don't know if you have to do it every time though.

[@ZephyrK_]

It’s worth the $60 if we’re measuring by quality and length alone. However, this is a Ubisoft game, they typically go on sale to around $30-50 or less after a month or two so I’d suggest waiting.

[@Softload3r]

@@buckiesmalls I wouldn't want to go to that length tbh. If I'm buying a game I just wanna enjoy it and not start tampering too :D - I might just wait for a good sale or until it comes over, hopefully, to Steam

[@Softload3r]

@@ZephyrK_ true, I think I'll wait!

[@buckiesmalls]

@@Softload3r Cool. Just telling you an option you may not have known. Im am gonna wait myself.