Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown Receives Support from Creator Jordan Mechner
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown made a surprise appearance at the Summer Game Fest, taking some viewers aback with its 2.5D search-action gameplay platform, which is a departure from the 3D Prince of Persia games. Nevertheless, Jordan Mechner, creator of Prince of Persia, expressed his enthusiasm for the game and praised the Montpellier team behind it. Although Mechner did not write the game or play a direct role in its development, he said he eagerly awaited its reveal.
“Ubisoft’s storied Montpellier studio and ‘French touch’ were a big part of what drew me in 2001 when we first joined forces to reboot Prince of Persia (The Sands of Time) and again in 2017,” said Mechner. “A number of Montpellier hands have also worked in Montreal, including some of the best talent I’ve had the privilege to work with anywhere. I’ve seen their dedication and love for POP at close range; we’ve immersed ourselves together in Persian mythology and gameplay on past projects. It’s no coincidence that this group of people is the one to finally crack the challenge of reinventing POP for a new generation of gamers.”
Many fans have protested the new direction of the Prince of Persia franchise, and this sentiment is reflected in the number of dislikes the trailer for The Lost Crown received on YouTube. However, Mechner reiterated his support for the game and explained that he had watched the team work on it for years.
“I know the talented POP team at Ubisoft Montpellier well, I’ve watched them pour their hearts and passion into this project over three years from pre-conception to full beta, and I couldn’t be more excited,” said Mechner. “This is the Prince of Persia game I’ve been wishing for.”
Mechner has criticized only one Prince of Persia game in the past, the 2005 title, Warrior Within, but welcomed the 2008 game, The Two Thrones, as a return to being suitable for both kids and adults. He is also known for creating the original Prince of Persia in 1989, a decade before Ubisoft released Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, which Mechner served as a creative consultant, designer, and scenario writer for.