After three successful ventures on the Xbox, PlayStation 2 and GameCube, Prince of Persia is back, striking new ground on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC. Prince of Persia features a new story and design, both unrelated to previous games in the series. However, fans should have no problem recognizing the familiar platform gameplay, although there are plenty of new additions.
Prince of Persia's narrative revolves around an evil god named Ahriman. He breaks free from the Tree of Life and unleashes havoc throughout the land. This comes in the form of "corruption," black blobs that destroy anything they touch. Hunters also appear, glowing an ominous black and blue and screaming horrifically. A guardian of the land named Elika finds herself pitted against this corruption, but she can't do it alone. She asks the prince for help, in this case, a nameless stranger who spends most of his time boozing and chasing women. Despite his addictions, however, he's agile and able to hold his own in a fight. The two form an unlikely alliance in an effort to stop Ahriman before he engulfs the world in darkness.
You still play the game from a third person perspective. However, the level design and animations are all cel shaded, providing a more fantasy-themed appearance. Levels are exquisitely detailed, with multiple paths to choose from to reach your objective. If you're not up for jumping across chasms, you can try your luck swinging on poles and maneuvering up walls. Furthermore, you can go back and play through the levels a different way to see if the paths are more (or less) effective than the ones you previously took.
In addition, the prince's agility enables him to run across walls, grab ledges and perform other acrobatic feats. His swordplay is also very effective, enabling him to slash enemies. Elika plays an enormous role in this game, as she keeps up with the prince during every step of his journey. He can take her hand and shift her holding position on a wall, in case she faces danger where she currently hangs. She's also useful for reaching impossible gaps, flying in to grab the prince's hand to fling him to safety. If that's not enough, she can activate magic portals that allow both characters to reach new parts of a level. Best of all, she's a living, breathing compass, pointing you in the right direction just in case you're not sure where to go.
That doesn't mean she can't fight, of course. Elika can team up with the prince to fling him around so he can fly down and nail enemies where it hurts.
Prince of Persia is a beautiful game, with the kind of refined gameplay and open-world design that could very well motivate you to play until the very end. Don't be surprised if it becomes a major hit when it arrives later this year.
Related Links
Prince of Persia Xbox 360 Game Guide
Prince of Persia PlayStation 3 Game Guide
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