This year, I achieved a major milestone by attending Gamescom, fulfilling a long-standing bucket list goal. It’s easy to forget that I was initially a bundle of nerves about attending such a colossal event, despite having covered it on the site and YouTube channel.
While I had been to events like EGX before, Gamescom was on an entirely different scale.
Fortunately, seasoned journalists offered a wealth of valuable advice, including wearing comfortable shoes, staying hydrated, carrying a spare notebook, enjoying after-work pints at the Corkonian, and refraining from feeding gamers G-Fuel after midnight.
(Credit: Ubisoft)
(Credit: Ubisoft)
Among the plethora of tips and anecdotes, one unspoken rule stood out: avoid the public halls whenever possible. Initially, this seemed harsh, but I swiftly comprehended why everyone echoed this advice. Gamescom 2023 attracted a record-breaking 320,000 gamers, cramming into a sweltering venue in the midst of August.
Navigating the event was challenging, especially for stressed-out games journalists trying to shuttle between appointments located at opposite ends of the Koelnmesse without succumbing to a Red Bull-induced panic attack.
(Credit: Ubisoft)
I adhered to the golden rule as much as possible, only venturing into the public halls when absolutely necessary. That is, until I saw a tweet from the Prince of Persia Twitter account on my last day, announcing that The Lost Crown, my most-anticipated game of 2024, was playable for the first time in the public halls.
I decided to venture outside the press area for this exceptional game.
(Credit: Ubisoft)
What followed was an epic odyssey across the bustling Koelnmesse. I skillfully navigated through crowds, dodged anime body pillows, and heroically battled the urge to scream while inching along in the sluggish flow.
Finally, after an arduous journey, I reached the Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown demo booth, where I bravely waited in line for my turn to play.
(Credit: Ubisoft)
Although my time with the game didn’t reveal anything new beyond what’s been shown by Ubisoft and Features Editor Eric Switzer, it was worth it. The Lost Crown is shaping up to be fantastic, with smooth controls, satisfying platforming, engaging combat, and intriguing puzzles.
Despite the sweat-soaked controller and the challenging journey, my brief experience with The Lost Crown reaffirmed it as my most anticipated game of 2024.
