Prince of Persia offers a simple yet very solid gameplay bathed in a nice and captivating story.
User Rating: 8.9 | Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time PS2
It's impossible not to know anything about the original (or an earlier) version of Prince of Persia. The game consisted of several dungeons levels whose completion revolved around jumping, dodging, pushing the correct lever and running like hell before the exit door closed. It may seem simple but some of the puzzles actually required skill to figure out. Sands of Time kindly brings these basic mechanics to the PS2. The original idea was all that remained as game graphics are now beautiful and well designed. All the levels are carefully built, in terms of both game mechanics and artistic design. The prince movements are smooth and do look very athletic. As you sidewalk a wall or attempt a more difficult jump, you'll probably thank the devs for such nice camera movement. The basic idea is to find your way out of several maze levels through the activation of switches and levers. Getting to these mechanism will require lots of jumping, rolling, wall sidewalking and several other movements mastered throughout the game. The whole idea is to progressively teach the player his athletic moves like "reaching an upper level by bouncing your way up two close walls", as they become key to solve the level. As the levels become more and more difficult, you gotta resourcefully use your moves to find your way out. The whole level structure is designed so that you can identify (after a couple of hours) your maneuver points. The game also offers some nice touches such as being able to rewind time a couple of times if you miss the right moment to jump across a cliff or the fact that some hard-to-reach-objects cast a shadow that can be used to coordinate your movements. Tough the gameplay is smooth and fun, the game's atmosphere is its master touch. Early in the game you'll find that your princess will play the game with you instead of waiting in the tower. On several levels you'll require the aid of your beloved to solve puzzles and defeat enemies. Dialogues are simple, funny and candid. Your relationship with the princess is what gives this game its candid atmosphere. It's cute without being dork or dumb. Game graphics looks shiny and Disney-like but they perfectly match the adventurous tone of the game. I think Warrior Within has large shoes to fill.
