Adventure doesn't fly higher
Prince of Persia has always been a staple franchise for excellent platforming- a showcase of high flying acrobatic feats, if you will. And for the most part, this reboot of the series carries the standard high. Throw in some stellar production values and a compelling narrative, and it's easy to overlook a few rough edges in favor of this action-packed ride.
The heart and sole of any Prince of Persia game has always been the great platforming. The Prince can perform a wide variety of stunning acrobatic moves, and the real joy of these games tend to come from the ease in which these moves can be executed, and the satisfaction one gets from witnessing such spectacular stunts. The controls for all of these feats are super tight, and make pulling them off during play a ton of fun. The Prince's animations are also incredibly fluid, and watching him work is a real treat to the eyes. Fortunately the game gives you tons of opportunities to experience this. In fact, it almost overdoes it. There is a lot of repetition in the platforming, which might cause it to get tiresome to some. But to the rest of us, the controls and animations are rewarding enough to carry these mechanics through the game's entirety.
While the platforming gameplay hasn't changed too much, most every other aspect of the franchise has been revamped for this new outing. The combat has gotten a serious overhaul, with a lot of focus on mono-a-mono duels and stringing together combos. This came off as the weak link of the game to me, and felt a little tedious and/or "button mashy". It's also awfully repetitive, yet thankfully there isn't a ton of it in the game. The emphasis is wisely left on the platforming, as well as the stunning new presentation overhaul. Prince of Persia is a gorgeous game, from the colorful backdrops all the way down to the sensational musical score. It's a feast for the senses to be sure, and the new narrative style accompanies it with resounding success. The new Prince is a "leap-before-you-look" adventurer, which meshes extremely well with his new partner Elika's more serious nature. The game does a great job at developing their relationship, often times via small quips such as the Prince exclaiming "You're heavier than you look!" when he carries Elika on his back. Overall, these two characters offer a ton of personality, and do an excellent job at pushing forward what would otherwise be a straight forward tale.
Prince of Persia has taken a lot of flak for the player not being able to "die", but I found Elika's helping hand to be a refreshingly robust checkpoint system. The only difference between this and traditional "dying" is that it never takes you out of the action. And in the end, that is what Prince of Persia is all about- never breaking that flow. From the fulfilling platforming to the entertaining dialog, all the pieces fit together nicely to produce a streamlined adventure. If you're capable of overlooking a fair amount of repetitiveness and a lackluster combat engine, then you'll find Prince of Persia to be a refreshing break from the avalanche of "dark and serious" titles out there, as well as an experience you won't soon forget.
For additional information on my review style and scoring system, click here.
