Summary
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crownwill arrive in January 2024, bringing back the once-beloved franchise after over a decade of absence. ThePrince of Persiagames are considered by many to be the progenitor of theAssassin’s Creedfranchise, and the two series share many similarities. The most apparent is their connection to history and myth.Prince of Persiamay not have featured the elaborately crafted historical cities that have helped makeACfamous, but it was always grounded in medieval Persian history and myth.Prince of Persia: The Lost Crownwill be no different; its reveal trailer alone showcases a plethora of beasts from Persian myth.
Various mythologies have served as settings for video games. In recent years,God of Warhas pulled from Norse mythology,Hadesfrom Greek mythology, andNiohfrom Japanese mythology and folklore. Pulling from legends and ancient religions packed with epic stories only makes sense, and these games are but a small handful of modern titles doing so. Persian myth and religion were highly influential but have been largely ignored in the gaming space. Ancient Persian myths affected the Egyptian and Greek pantheons, and Zoroastrianism later influenced the beliefs behind Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.Prince of Persia: The Lost Crownwill shine an overdue light on some prominent Persian myths.
The Lost Crown is Filled With Persian Mythological Figures
The Manticore
The first beast shown off in the trailer is the Manticore, which finds its origins in Persian mythology but also appears in Greek writings because of the intermingling of the empires. The Manticore is said to be a red-furred beast with the head of a man, the body of a lion, and the tail of a scorpion. The monster is said to be highly dangerous and uses a mix of its massive claws and poisonous tail to take down its prey. It can be seen using all of these abilities inThe Lost Crown’s reveal trailer.The Manticorealso appears inGod of War: Ascension.
Azhdaha
Azhdaha is sometimes described as a dragon, and it is said to be able to live in the air, in the sea, and on land. Persian mythology often depicts the beast as a giant winged snake. It seems thatPrince of Persia: The Lost Crown’sdepiction of mythologyis embracing creative liberty since its wings are not visible, at least in the trailer. Unlike the Manticore, whose abilities are shown off in the trailer and fall in line with mythology, Azhdaha’s abilities in the game and the extent of their faithfulness to real-life lore are still a mystery.
Apaush
Apaush is another one of the figures that appears inThe Lost Crown’s trailer. Unlike the mythical monsters showcased previously, Apaush is a humanoid demon. He is depicted as riding a dark horse. In Persian myth, Apaush is the demon of famine and counterpart to Tishtyra, a benevolent deity that brings fertility and rainfall.Prince of Persiadepicts Apaush and his stallion as heavily armored, and those unfamiliar with the figure may mistake him for an ordinary soldier. It is possible that his attacks could lean into mythological aspects, but very little is shown of him in the trailer.
On top of these mythological figures, the trailer showcases some other fantastical beasts and formidable foes.Prince of Persia: The Lost Crownpays homage to the series' origin as a 2D sidescroller and gives Persian mythology some long-overdue representation in the gaming space. WhileThe Lost Crownis the firstPrince of Persiagame in over a decade, it is not the only one in the pipeline.Prince of Persia: The Sands of Timeis getting a remake, and if the two games do well, it is possible that the series could be back for good.
