User Rating: 9.8 | Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time PS2
What a great platformer/action/puzzle game. If you like or love platformers, this game is a must for your collection. It has a great combat system with swords, counters, counter-counters, back-stabs, leap attacks, rolling attacks and acrobatic evades. The puzzle/platforming element of this game has the same feel as the predecessors and Flashback for the Genesis, but in 3D form. The ability to improve your character by increasing his health and the power of his dagger is a good idea though you shouldnt expect it to NOT be there. Game design all around just makes sense. You can do powerful combos with the dagger and sword. Knowing how to use your controller to fight makes this game so much more enjoyable. You can get through with button mashing but it's much more fun and effecient when you can perfect the art of combat in this game. It's a beautiful thing to behold. Level design is great. All the puzzles and platform jumping takes some skill and thought. The graphics are great, especially the effects when you 'retrieve' sand from an enemy. Camera 'cinematic' effects are cool with zooming and blurring and filter effects. The frame rate could be higher, but it's not a detractor in anyway. No slow-down except when you want it to using your daggers time-stop feature. Story is great so far. I believe you will also get to control another character about 25% in to the game. Voice-acting is done very well. Strong contender for game of the year.
