Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown Mask of Darkness DLC Review

A Few More Hours of Returning to the Origins

The ending of Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown left some questions unanswered. For example, who is Radjen exactly? And where the hell did she go? Fortunately, the new Mask of Darkness DLC is out, which takes you to Radjen’s mind palace to answer some of those questions.

A new character appears in the hub, talking about Radjen’s betrayal and escape, and asks you to find and stop her. This unlocks a new area on the map, which is Radjen’s mind palace, where everything feels surreal and dream-like. It seems as if you’ve traveled back to the beginning of the war with the Kushans, but some details are different from what you remember. Between seeing and hearing memories and Radjen’s whispering, you have to discover the truth. The story is limited to a few cutscenes, some memories, and several lines of dialogue, which might sound enough for a DLC, but I can’t help feeling that Radjen’s potential has been wasted. I don’t think showing a character’s past is enough for justifying their actions in the present.

The DLC starts with a relatively difficult platforming segment, peaking at a chase sequence reminiscent of Dahaka in Warrior Within. One could say that the main focus of the new area is on platforming and environmental puzzles rather than combat. And most of the platforming segments are challenging, requiring you to show quick reactions and use the right ability at the right time. As for the combat segments, despite having brand new enemies with new movesets, they don’t require you to change your playstyle from the main game. However, most of your upgrades and amulets are either nerfed or completely disabled, suggesting that Radjen’s mind palace is a completely different world with its own set of rules (and upgrades).

Let’s not beat around the bush; this DLC is difficult and it gets more difficult as you progress. But the levels and challenges are so well-designed that it never feels unfair. And the difficulty follows a well-thought and logical curve. As is the case with every metroidvania, there’s no shortage of hidden paths. These hidden paths are usually high-risk, high-reward, meaning they push you to your limits, but the rewards at the end are totally worth it.

In terms of aesthetics, Mask of Darkness looks and sounds just as beautiful as the main game. The visuals, along with the sound effects, masterfully convey the hallucinatory feel of Radjen’s mind palace. As was the case with the main game, sometimes, you have to put down the controller to fully appreciate the details in the backgrounds. As for the soundtrack, they’ve done a great job of incorporating Persian motifs into music that reinforces the surreal, haunting visuals of the palace.

Overall, Mask of Darkness is a short but fun and rewarding experience. My only complaint is that I wished it had more combat segments, even more boss fights. But these few hours will definitely make every metroidvania fan happy.

Score: 84/100