Summary
The roguelike genre has only continued to grow more popular over the last decade, so much so that multiple roguelikes are now releasing in quick succession of one another. The latest example of this trend has beenThe Rogue Prince of PersiaandHades 2, two veryhigh-profile roguelikesthat were both released into early access within mere weeks of one another.
WhenThe Rogue Prince of Persiawas first announced at the start of April, all that was known aboutHades 2was that it would be dropping onto early access at some unknown point in 2024.The Rogue Prince of Persiaset its early access release date for May 14, thinking it would get in early and have plenty of room to breathe, but just days before release,Hades 2shadow-dropped onto Steam.Rogue Prince of Persiadeveloper Evil Empire made the smart decision to delay its game by a few weeks, and now both roguelikes are sharing the spotlight. While both games co-exist nicely, there are certain comparisons between the two that are just unavoidable, and there are some lessons thatRogue Prince of Persiacould still learn fromHades 2.
What The Rogue Prince of Persia Can Learn From Hades 2
The Rogue Prince of Persia Could Use More Varied Upgrades
The firstHadesintroduced a perk system called “Boons.” These Boons gave the player special abilities and stat boosts themed around the Greek god that gifted them. For instance,Poseidon’s Boonscould allow the player’s attack to also send out damaging waves in front of them. These Boons went a long way in shaking up each run inHades, as different combinations of Boons could drastically alter a playstyle. This mechanic is taken to the next level inHades 2, with more varied Boons being introduced that affect the player’s moveset even more dramatically.
WhileThe Rogue Prince of Persiahas a decent arsenal of weapons and tools, they’re not enough alone to make each run feel all that different. Similarly,Rogue Prince of Persia’s Medallion-based perk system doesn’t really alter a playstyle, but simply adds more to it, granting the player add-on status effects for certain moves. In future updates, it would be great to see moreMedallions inThe Rogue Prince of Persiathat more significantly affect gameplay, such as greatly altering the Prince’s parkour moves and animations.
The Rogue Prince of Persia Could Use Some Quality-of-Life Improvements
Despite planning to remain in early access for at least the rest of the year,Hades 2is an incredibly polished, content-rich game already, and with it being a sequel, it’s already managed to implement a lot of quality-of-life improvements that fans had wanted to see in its predecessor. It would be nice to see some similar quality-of-life improvements come toThe Rogue Prince of Persia, and one such feature would be the ability to select a custom loadout before a run.
In its current build,Rogue Prince of Persiaonly allows players to set off withDouble Daggers and a Composite Bow, which is an effective loadout, but a rather boring one. While players can find new weapons relatively quickly on their run, the moments leading up to that can be a little repetitive for those who have played the game for a good few hours already.
The Rogue Prince of Persia Should Feature More Camp Interactions
One ofthe biggest highlights ofHades 2is how lively its hub area is, and how much it evolves during the game. Every time the player returns after a run, they’re met with at least one new character interaction, and that constant progression of story and character helps to lessen the blow of a failed run.The Rogue Prince of Persiacould definitely use more interactions in its hub area.
The Rogue Prince of Persia
WHERE TO PLAY
Experience a fast-paced, challenging but accessible roguelite as you master acrobatic moves and flow seamlessly between platforming and combat. Find new weapons, equip trinkets with special effects and upgrade them to make your own builds. Discover new characters, information and areas as you attempt to find a way to save Persia from a Hun invasion and become the hero you have always wanted to be.Lead the Prince in his fight against a Hun army corrupted by dark shamanic magic and find your place in the royal family as you explore a vibrant reinterpretation of Persia. Put the pieces of the puzzle together and discover new areas as you enter the fight again and again, meeting a cast of colorful characters through non-linear story progression.Flow seamlessly between platforming and combat, using your acrobatic moves to outmaneuver and outsmart your enemies. Use the iconic wall-run to open new routes of attack, avoid traps and explore hard to reach areas. Kick and dodge to manage groups of enemies when the odds are against you.Choose from a variety of deadly weapons and equip new medallions each run to unleash devastating effects, giving you the freedom to change your fighting style as you wish. Secondary weapons offer even more options, from bows to shields to grappling hooks. Switch your loadout mid-run to adapt to new challenges.
