Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown – Mask of Darkness was a pleasant surprise for me. While the origins of the series are rooted in a side-scrolling adventure, it evolved into a great action-adventure experience with the release of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. That game was my introduction to the series, and as a result, I tend to associate the franchise with that particular genre. However, after playing Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, I wouldn’t mind if the series adopted a Metroidvania-style approach moving forward, even though a full remake of The Sands of Time is scheduled for release soon.
The Mask of Darkness DLC is a short but engaging addition to The Lost Crown, which also coincides with the game’s release on Steam. Having explored most of the content in the base game, the DLC felt like a fresh and exciting addition, especially in terms of gameplay. The events of the DLC take place during the base game, but the setting differs. Sargon, the protagonist, is tricked into traveling to an alternate dimension, and he must find a way back to his world before this new dimension collapses.
This alternate dimension also serves as a reset point for the character. In this new world, Sargon loses his powers, adding a layer of difficulty as he must navigate through without the advantages he had in the base game. The stripped-down powers and reduced health make the DLC quite challenging. While the narrative doesn’t add much depth to the overall story, the gameplay remains the core strength. Just when you feel you’ve mastered every challenge in the base game, the DLC forces you to prove yourself all over again.
If you enjoyed the platforming in The Lost Crown, the Mask of Darkness DLC will feel very familiar. The expansion demands precise jumps, timed dodges, and quick reflexes to survive its challenges. While there isn’t much new in terms of Metroidvania exploration, the increased difficulty in platforming is a welcome addition. Combat takes a backseat in Mask of Darkness, shifting the focus to well-timed parries that can quickly dispatch enemies. This means that rather than button mashing, you need to carefully navigate levels and rely on smart timing to succeed.
Though the expansion is relatively short, it offers good replay value, especially considering how easy it is to die throughout the content. The DLC concludes with a boss fight that truly tests your skills, requiring players to be at their best. At first, the limited abilities may seem like a hindrance, but after spending hours in the base game, I found them to be a refreshing change. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the expansion, and considering the reasonable price, I had no second thoughts about purchasing it.
Completing the Mask of Darkness expansion will take no more than three to four hours. While it does not significantly advance the story, it offers some character development for Radjen. The minimal combat may be a drawback for some fans, but I found the platforming-driven levels to be enjoyable. Overall, this expansion is worth the asking price, especially considering it is quite affordable. If you haven’t played the base game yet, I recommend starting with Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown before exploring the expansion.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown – Mask of Darkness Game Information
- Price: $4.99
- Publisher: Ubisoft
- Developer: Ubisoft
- Platform: PC (Reviewed)
- Disclaimer: A review code was given by the publisher
