The Rogue Prince of Persia

The Rogue Prince of Persia is a polished action roguelite/platformer that combines fluid parkour mechanics with fast-paced combat, drawing strong inspiration from Dead Cells while infusing its own unique Persian-themed art and music. Players praise the game's movement system, which integrates vaulting, wall-running, and dashing into both traversal and combat, creating an exhilarating and skillful experience. The game features a straightforward but functional story, memorable music by Iranian artist Dani Asadi, and a distinctive art style reflecting Sassanian-era Iranian motifs.

However, the game has a relatively short duration (around 10-15 hours for story completion) and limited content variety compared to genre peers like Dead Cells or Hades. Replayability suffers due to repetitive enemy encounters, linear progression, and gated difficulty modifiers that unlock slowly. Several players report bugs, especially with the health bar and UI inconsistencies, detracting from the experience. Despite these issues, it remains a highly recommended title for fans of roguelites and Prince of Persia enthusiasts, especially at a discounted price.

Highlights

Players particularly praise the fluid and responsive movement and parkour mechanics, which blend seamlessly with combat, allowing creative enemy interactions like kicking foes into traps. The art direction is lauded for its charming 2D cartoonish style inspired by authentic Iranian art, setting it apart visually. The music, combining traditional Iranian instruments with electronic beats, is frequently described as a standout feature that enhances immersion. The combat loop is satisfying, with unique weapons and tools encouraging varied playstyles. The game's story, while simple, supports progression and adds flavor without overshadowing gameplay.

Overall, the gameplay mechanics, audio-visual presentation, and cultural theming receive consistent acclaim.

Criticisms

Common criticisms focus on the limited content and short story length, with many players finishing the game within 10-15 hours and feeling little incentive to continue. The replayability is hindered by repetitive enemy types, predictable level layouts, and a lack of meaningful build variety. Difficulty progression is gated behind unlocking modifiers slowly, resulting in runs becoming too easy after initial completion, which frustrates players seeking challenge. Bugs and technical issues are noted, especially health bar desynchronization, UI glitches, and occasional game-breaking problems like damage not registering. Some players also find the combat less engaging than expected and the narrative writing underwhelming. Finally, the game’s price is considered high relative to its content by several reviewers.