If you want better combat system
Choose Shinobi: Art of Vengeance. It scores 4.9 vs 4.1 for combat system, with a 4.4 overall score.
The Rogue Prince of Persia Review
Bottom Line
Choose The Rogue Prince of Persia for slick parkour, strong combat flow, and a standout soundtrack. Skip it if you need deep storytelling, huge endgame variety, or flawless technical polish.
Best for
Best for players who want a fast, movement-first roguelite where wall-running, vaulting, and short runs matter more than dense storytelling. It also suits Prince of Persia fans who value parkour identity and newcomers who want an approachable challenge.
Not for
Not for players seeking Hades-level character writing, deep endgame variety, multiplayer, or a roguelite built around heavy buildcraft. It may also frustrate players sensitive to load times or repeated dialogue.
Verdict
The review set points to a polished, movement-first roguelite whose best moments come from chaining wall-runs, vaults, kicks, and attacks into a fast rhythm. Combat is generally satisfying and bosses often use the parkour identity well, while the soundtrack and art direction give runs strong personality. The tradeoff is that the surrounding roguelite scaffolding is not equally strong: narrative, dialogue, side characters, and some build systems draw repeated criticism, and several reviewers wanted more content or deeper long-term variety. Final-release impressions are notably more enthusiastic than early-access ones, especially on Switch 2, but platform load times and occasional UI or online annoyances still appear.
Feature Scorecards
Summary
72 reviewed features-
Very positive 4.5-5.020 (28%)
-
Positive 3.5-4.435 (49%)
-
Neutral 2.5-3.48 (11%)
-
Negative 1.5-2.49 (13%)
Pros highlights
-
Combat drew broad praise for smooth, acrobatic, environment-aware action, but several reviewers found it basic, floaty, or less deep than movement.
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Movement was the strongest consensus highlight, repeatedly praised for fluid wall-running, parkour flow, and satisfying momentum.
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The soundtrack was one of the strongest points, repeatedly praised as energetic, dynamic, Persian-inflected, and memorable.
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Bosses were usually seen as fair, memorable, and movement-driven, though some wanted more bosses or found certain fights too easy or health-heavy.
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Platforming was praised for precision, flow, and expressive parkour, with only occasional complaints about awkward interactions or puzzle repetition.
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Art direction was broadly praised for cel-shaded, colorful, comic-like, or distinctive Persian-inspired presentation, with one outlier calling it flat.
Cons highlights
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Narrative quality was the clearest weak spot: some liked the setup and Mind Map integration, but many found the story thin, light, or underdeveloped.
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Difficulty was split: approachable and fair for many, but sometimes too easy, undertuned, or constrained by limited options.
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Load times were mixed, with some reviewers reporting solid loads and others calling them slow or momentum-breaking.
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Side character depth was mixed-to-negative: one review liked distinct personalities, but several called the cast shallow or generic.
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Writing quality was mixed-to-weak, with praise for some concise story touches but frequent criticism of thin or underwritten material.
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Dialogue quality was weak overall because reviewers repeatedly cited repetition, unvoiced exchanges, and low charm.
Compared With Category Average
Compared with other Video Games, this product is above average in HUD clarity, crash stability, platforming precision, near average in soundtrack quality, combat system, below average in visual effects quality, voice acting, emotional impact.
Comparison summary
72 compared features-
Above average 0.4+ pts higher31 (43%)
-
Same as average within 0.3 pts25 (35%)
-
Below average 0.4+ pts lower16 (22%)
Largest category differences
| Attribute | This product | Category average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| visual effects quality | 2.0 | 4.3 | -2.3 |
| HUD clarity | 5.0 | 3.1 | +1.9 |
| crash stability | 5.0 | 3.1 | +1.9 |
| voice acting | 2.2 | 4.0 | -1.8 |
| emotional impact | 2.4 | 4.2 | -1.8 |
| innovation | 2.2 | 3.9 | -1.7 |
| character development | 2.0 | 3.7 | -1.7 |
| platforming precision | 4.5 | 3.2 | +1.3 |
Consider This Instead
If you want better bug frequency
Choose Pragmata. It scores 5.0 vs 2.0 for bug frequency, with a 4.3 overall score.
If you want better load times
Choose Borderlands 4. It scores 5.0 vs 3.0 for load times, with a 3.6 overall score.
If you want better voice acting
Choose Ghost of Yōtei. It scores 4.9 vs 2.2 for voice acting, with a 4.4 overall score.
Compared in Reviews
Products reviewers directly compared with this model, grouped into quick takeaways.
Dead Cells
- Compared: appeal relative to Dead Cells The reviewer says it delivered things they wanted from Dead Cells.
- Similar: first impression and structure The video review says the early impression can feel like a Dead Cells skin before its own mechanics emerge.
- Compared: genre formula LadiesGamers says experienced roguelike players may notice the Dead Cells-like formula.
Hades
- Similar: death-loop story structure The Switch 2 review says its death-loop story structure resembles Hades.
- Similar: linear roguelite structure The review says its structure begins linearly, akin to Hades.
- Better: narrative buildup Worth Playing says it has been spoiled by Hades' run-building narrative.
The Lost Crown
- Better: scale and impact GamingByte says it does not match The Lost Crown's scale or impact.
- Better: story and characters COGconnected says players wanting Lost Crown-level story will be disappointed.
- Worse: movement feel Maxi-Geek feels the movement may slightly surpass The Lost Crown.
FAQ
Is The Rogue Prince of Persia mainly about combat or platforming?
Reviewers describe it as a blend, but movement and parkour are the defining strengths. Combat works best when it uses vaults, kicks, wall-runs, and environmental hazards.
Is the story a major reason to play?
The story setup and Mind Map structure receive some praise, but many reviewers call the narrative thin or secondary. The consensus is that action carries the experience more than writing.
How difficult is it?
Most reviews describe it as approachable and fair rather than punishing. Some skilled roguelite players found it too easy or wished for more late-game challenge, though modifiers can add difficulty.
Does it have strong replay value?
Many reviewers felt the loop had a strong one-more-run pull, especially because movement is fun on its own. Others thought repetition and limited content reduced long-term staying power.
How is performance on Switch 2?
Switch 2 reviews often praised stable 60fps, crisp visuals, and handheld suitability. The main technical complaint was longer-than-expected load times in some impressions.
What are the biggest strengths?
The most consistent strengths are fluid movement, platforming precision, soundtrack quality, attractive art direction, and satisfying combat flow.
What are the biggest weaknesses?
The most repeated weaknesses are thin story, repeated dialogue, shallow side characters, occasional repetition, and some technical or UI annoyances.
Sample Expert Reviews We Analyzed
These are a few of the reviews included in our analysis.
Video Reviews
YouTube - Gohjoe
- Review score
- 4.4
YouTube - Kneeckoh Games
- Review score
- 4.7
YouTube - SwitchCorner
- Review score
- 3.8
YouTube - ThunderStash Gaming
- Review score
- 4.6
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