The Rogue Prince of Persia Review – More Runs to Come

The Rogue Prince of Persia on PC

Steam Early Access has been quite a revelation, allowing studios to test the waters when it comes to ideas and features that may not necessarily be something players are used to, before committing full-on. At the same time, others take the traditional approach and dole out content piecemeal before reaching an eventual launch, and that’s what Evil Empire and Ubisoft have done with The Rogue Prince of Persia.

Whether that is a positive or negative thing largely depends on your preference. This is no Hades 2, which is perhaps reflective of why the developers decided to delay their Early Access launch. What we have is a functional side-scrolling roguelite, full of time loops and acrobatic combat, but very little else in between that will only just scratch that itch for a fun time.

With the Huns invading Persian lands, it will be up to the titular prince to save the day against the might of the encroaching army and their magic. Usually, one man can do very little, but with the aid of his Bola, which allows time to be reversed, players will stand a chance of turning the tide. This results in an adventure about exploration, combat, interacting with NPCs, and doing it over and over again as you make progress.

And while the story remains an unfinished journey, the main core of The Rogue Prince of Persia adventure lies in the combat and movement of our hero. Enemies come in all shapes and sizes, but the prince is able to go toe-to-toe with them and use the environment to his advantage. While it never hits the heights of what Evil Empire’s Dead Cells has to offer, there is still a healthy selection of weapons that players can wield for flashy combos and damaging blows.

That is just the start. Movements play a huge role in determining your success in combat, so wall-running to avoid projectiles, vaulting over enemies to reduce the numbers, or using a handy kick to send them off precarious ledges are all tools that players must learn to master along the way. In full flow, the entire combat and movement can coalesce into a delightful rhythm that makes it abundantly clear just where the game’s true attraction lies. Add in the wonderful animation, and this is the expertise that the studio brings to the table.

But at this juncture, that element is holding everything else together quite tenuously, and that isn’t really enough to hold the attention for long. The unfinished story is one thing, but the interactions with the NPCs and the world are also hardly memorable, sticking to predictable scenarios and stereotypes. Even having the choice of taking different paths makes little difference right now, as things do not really change much from point to point.

Overall progression does feel like it could do with more work too, as more weapons will be welcomed alongside the badge system that bestows buffs on players as they seek out various medallions. The potential to be more is painfully obvious, and with the calibre of the folks making the game, the expectation for more will be unavoidable.

After more than ten hours spent with The Rogue Prince of Persia, there is every bit of a good roguelite within. The freedom of movement is excellent, and it aids the way combat unfolds naturally, but everything else is not up to par. Whether the game reaches its full potential is anyone’s guess at this moment, and launching in its current state, even in Early Access, is a risk that doesn’t feel like it is worth it. The idea is that the team is able to build from here, and just like the genre it represents, the hope is that fans will give them the support and time needed to do just that.

The Rogue Prince of Persia is available on Steam in Early Access.

Jake Su Editor-in-Chief

Jake is a full-time trophy hunter and achievement gatherer on consoles, and a part-time Steam Sale victim. He has been writing about games for more than 15 years, covering news, previews, reviews, and guides, and can be found across continents and time zones to provide the key info gamers need to enjoy their games even more.

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