Shacknews Most Overlooked Game of 2024 – Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown

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As someone who’s been a dedicated fan of the Prince of Persia franchise for over two decades, I was absolutely thrilled when Ubisoft announced Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown earlier this year. After the seemingly endless delays of the Sands of Time Remake, I was eager to dive back into the world of the prince and his adventures.

A game that often goes unnoticed can have multiple interpretations. At times, it could be a lesser-known indie title with compelling storytelling that deserves wider recognition and a larger audience. It might also be a vibrant multiplayer experience that could flourish given the opportunity to be experienced by more players. In some instances, it may even be a blockbuster game that was overshadowed by another high-profile release, losing attention amidst the constant gamer discussions. This year’s Most Overlooked Game most closely resembles the latter category, winning the hearts of gamers in January but being largely forgotten by December. The game I am referring to is Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown.

As a diehard fan, I must admit, the repeated delays in the release of the Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake had me questioning the future of this cherished series. Yet, Ubisoft astonished us all with an unexpected addition to the saga – Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. This game wasn’t something we knew we craved until it was in our hands. It transported us into a fresh Metroidvania journey, offered exhilarating combat sequences, introduced significant enhancements to the genre, and seamlessly incorporated iconic Prince of Persia platforming elements that have become synonymous with the franchise.

The game “Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown” received high praise, earning a 9 from us at Shacknews, and was initially a hot topic within the gaming community upon its release. However, its success seemed to dwindle over time. This decline can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, its January release date may have negatively impacted sales due to the competitive holiday season. Secondly, the arrival of “Helldivers 2” and “Balatro” captured the gaming community’s attention, effectively overshadowing “The Lost Crown”.

After The Lost Crown, its flaws were soon forgotten by many, ultimately leading to the dissolution of the Ubisoft Montpellier development team. However, this isn’t entirely negative news because this exceptionally skilled team is likely to contribute their talents to other Ubisoft projects, such as the upcoming Sands of Time Remake or potentially a new Rayman series.

Even though Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown was widely acclaimed and briefly grabbed the attention of the gaming community, it didn’t receive the recognition it truly deserved. It’s a common occurrence for games to be highly praised yet underappreciated in the long run. That appears to have happened with this game, as we at Shacknews chose it as our Most Overlooked Game of 2024 among our favorite titles.

Be sure to read over the rest of the Shacknews Awards in our Year of the Games: 2024 feature.

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2024-12-28 18:57