The Rogue Prince of Persia: A Detailed Review

Image Credit: Polygon

Setting the Stage

The story of The Rogue Prince of Persia is in its nascent stages, providing a brief glimpse into the narrative. Players assume the role of the Prince, whose homeland is under siege by Huns empowered with shamanic magic, enabling them to decimate Persian forces effortlessly. The Prince’s only weapon against this overwhelming threat is a Bola, which he uses to rewind time every time he falls in battle, fitting neatly into the roguelite framework.

The game’s early access build focuses primarily on the setup, barely scratching the surface of the first act. As the Prince, you will encounter various NPCs who show concern for Persia’s fate but prefer to offer moral support from the base camp rather than joining the fight. The lack of depth in the narrative and character development is evident, with characters sticking to predictable archetypes and displaying little emotional depth. For instance, when the Prince finds his brother imprisoned in the Tower of Oblivion, the reaction is surprisingly muted.

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The visual style, reminiscent of pop art and Tintin’s ligne claire, adds a unique aesthetic to the game, elevating its presentation. However, the writing does not match the art style’s charm and creativity, making the early narrative feel somewhat bland and formulaic.

Combat and Gameplay Mechanics

Evil Empire’s expertise in creating engaging combat systems is evident in The Rogue Prince of Persia. The game’s combat and movement mechanics shine even in this early build. Players can perform acrobatic feats, such as vaulting over enemies, kicking them into each other or off ledges, and executing flashy attack combinations with both melee and ranged weapons.

A standout feature is the ability to wallrun along surfaces in the background, seamlessly integrating parkour puzzles and combat scenarios. This adds a dynamic element to gameplay, allowing for fluid and exhilarating movement. For example, during a boss fight, players can leap into the air, sprint along the backdrop to avoid projectiles, and counterattack without losing momentum. This fluidity, bolstered by slick animations, ensures that combat remains engaging and satisfying.

The combat mechanics are reminiscent of Dead Cells, offering a similar blend of fast-paced action and strategic depth. Players can switch between various weapons and abilities, adapting their playstyle to different challenges. The game also includes a variety of enemies, each with unique attack patterns and weaknesses, requiring players to stay on their toes and think on their feet.

However, beyond the combat mechanics, the game transitions from being solid to merely adequate. The enemies, bosses, and puzzles do not leave a lasting impression, and the choice of routes through different biomes feels inconsequential due to the lack of meaningful differentiation between them—a stark contrast to the diverse and varied levels in Dead Cells.

Weapons and Customization

The game features a variety of weapons that players can unlock for future runs, along with a badge system that grants buffs through randomly acquired medallions. While the weapons provide some diversity, they often feel too similar to each other. The badge system, though complex, adds a layer of strategic depth and unpredictability to each run, injecting some much-needed variety into the gameplay.

Players can collect different types of weapons, each with unique abilities and attack styles. From swift daggers to powerful broadswords, the arsenal allows for a range of combat strategies. Additionally, the game includes ranged weapons like bows and throwing knives, which can be used to take down enemies from a distance.

The badge system adds another layer of customization, allowing players to enhance their abilities and stats. These badges can be found throughout the game world and equipped to provide various benefits, such as increased damage, faster movement, or enhanced defense. The system encourages experimentation, as players can mix and match badges to create their ideal build.

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Early Access Impressions

The Rogue Prince of Persia, in its current form, is a competent roguelite that relies heavily on its combat mechanics to keep players engaged. However, it struggles to stand out in a crowded genre, especially on a platform like Steam, where new roguelites are constantly emerging. The early access build offers a solid foundation, but it needs to build upon this with more innovative and unique elements to capture and retain players’ interest.

Despite its shortcomings, the game provides moments of enjoyment and showcases the potential for growth and improvement. The comparison to Evil Empire’s previous success, Dead Cells, is inevitable, and while The Rogue Prince of Persia doesn’t yet reach those heights, it has the framework to evolve into a memorable and distinctive title.

The game’s early access phase provides an opportunity for the developers to gather feedback and make necessary adjustments. Engaging with the community and addressing their concerns and suggestions can lead to a more polished and captivating final product. Additionally, introducing more diverse and memorable enemies, bosses, and puzzles will help differentiate The Rogue Prince of Persia from other roguelites and keep players coming back for more.

Visuals and Audio

The Rogue Prince of Persia boasts a visually appealing art style that sets it apart from other roguelites. The pop-art-inspired graphics, combined with fluid animations, create a vibrant and engaging world. The character designs are detailed and expressive, adding personality to the game’s cast. The environments are equally well-crafted, with each biome offering a distinct and visually interesting setting.

The game’s audio design complements its visual style, with a soundtrack that enhances the atmosphere and adds to the overall experience. The sound effects are crisp and satisfying, making each attack and action feel impactful. The voice acting, while limited in the early access build, is competent and helps bring the characters to life.

Challenges and Replayability

As with any roguelite, The Rogue Prince of Persia places a strong emphasis on replayability. Each run offers a different experience, with randomly generated levels, enemies, and loot. This unpredictability keeps the game fresh and encourages players to keep coming back for more.

The game’s difficulty curve is well-balanced, providing a challenge without feeling unfair. Players will need to hone their skills and learn from their mistakes to progress further with each attempt. The sense of accomplishment from overcoming difficult encounters and bosses adds to the game’s replay value.

However, the current build’s limited content means that players may reach a point where they feel they have seen everything the game has to offer. Expanding the game with more levels, enemies, and unique challenges will be crucial in maintaining long-term player engagement.

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Comparisons to Previous Titles

The Rogue Prince of Persia inevitably draws comparisons to Evil Empire’s previous hit, Dead Cells. While the two games share similarities in their combat mechanics and roguelite structure, there are also key differences. Dead Cells is known for its rich variety of weapons, diverse biomes, and deep customization options. The Rogue Prince of Persia, while solid, doesn’t yet reach the same level of depth and variety.

Additionally, the recent release of Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, another game in the franchise, makes it harder to recommend The Rogue Prince of Persia. The Lost Crown offers a more complete and polished experience, with a broader scope of imagination and a more cohesive narrative.

The Path Forward

For The Rogue Prince of Persia to truly shine, Ubisoft and Evil Empire need to embrace more unconventional and daring design choices. The game’s combat system is a strong starting point, but the narrative, character development, and level design require significant enhancements. Injecting more personality, humor, and emotional depth into the characters and story will help elevate the overall experience.