The Rogue Prince of Persia Delivers Addictive Roguelite Action to Nintendo Switch and Switch 2
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The celebrated roguelite, The Rogue Prince of Persia, developed by Evil Empire – the team behind the acclaimed Dead Cells – has arrived on Nintendo Switch and the forthcoming Switch 2 after a accomplished launch on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S this past summer with its final version, 1.0, following a lengthy early access period. The game shines, notably on Nintendo’s newest console, offering a visually and mechanically compelling experience. For those unfamiliar with this latest installment in the iconic Prince of Persia franchise – and to avoid confusion with the recent metroidvania Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown – players can expect a 2D action platformer with roguelite elements, emphasizing successive runs to learn, improve, and ultimately, overcome challenges, mirroring the addictive loop of Dead Cells while establishing its own unique identity.
A Familiar Yet Distinct Prince of persia
This analysis focuses on the port’s performance on current Nintendo consoles. Players seeking a deeper dive into the game’s core mechanics can consult the original review of The Rogue Prince of Persia version 1.0, which is applicable to both Switch and Switch 2. What sets this Prince of Persia apart from its classic, adventure-focused predecessors? According to developers, the goal was to leverage their experience with Dead Cells to create a “pure roguelite,” featuring procedural scenarios, unlockable weapons and upgrades, challenging final bosses, and more.
The narrative context of The Rogue Prince of Persia cleverly justifies the time loop mechanic, with the Prince reliving the same day repeatedly, attempting to save his father and prevent the downfall of his kingdom. the game runs at 60 fps with convincing 4K upscaling in docked mode and 1080p in handheld mode, offering a compelling portable experience.
However, the port isn’t without minor drawbacks. Loading times, typically between 20 and 30 seconds, feel somewhat lengthy, and the vibration feedback lacks the nuanced detail found in other Switch 2 titles, even with the Joy-Con 2 and Pro Controller 2.Additionally, occasional framerate drops and rare instances of unexpected closures were observed, particularly during the Prince’s rebirth sequences, though these issues were largely inconsequential and could likely be addressed in future updates.
Gameplay Duration and Similar Titles
Players can expect a playthrough lasting between 10 and 25 hours,or longer depending on their dedication. Similar games in the roguelike genre include hades, Hades II, Absolum, Dead Cells, and Spelunky 2. A particularly captivating aspect of the game is the “synesthetic fusion between gameplay and its audiovisual aspect.”
The Rogue Prince of Persia serves as a fantastic introduction to the roguelite genre for several reasons. It’s intuitive to control – and exceptionally enjoyable in portable mode on systems like the Switch 2 – its audiovisual presentation is captivating, and it’s more accessible than hardcore titles like Dead Cells. Evil Empire’s expertise shines through in every facet of this autonomous-spirited offering from Ubisoft, a departure from their typical AAA blockbusters. This port is fully enjoyable on current Nintendo hardware, performing equally well in both docked and handheld modes. It’s crucial to acknowledge the genre’s inherent potential for repetition, and that the game may not reach the same level of polish as other genre benchmarks due to slightly less fluid combat, which prioritizes the Prince’s exceptional mobility.
The Best:
- Fully satisfactory audiovisual experience
- The Prince’s mobility is overwhelming
- technically impeccable port in terms of gameplay on Switch 2
The Worst:
- A somewhat shorter and more repetitive roguelite than the great references of the genre
- Little variety of enemies and final bosses
- The fight could give more of itself.
