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It’s a whole new Prince for next generation gamers. Ubisoft Montreal has released their latest game, “Prince of Persia” for Xbox 360 and the Playstation 3 entertainment system, and it is definitely worth picking up.
The game starts out with the main character, who we will refer to as the Prince, walking through a sandstorm trying to find his lost donkey, Farah, which is carrying a king’s ransom in gold. The Prince then meets up with Elika, a Princess, just in time to witness the release of the dark god, Ahriman, from his prison. Ahriman and his followers corrupt the lands around Elika’s homeland, and it is up to the Prince and Elika to heal the lands and defeat Ahriman.
The presentation of Prince of Persia is beautifully told. Every single level has a back story which you can listen to through optional conversations with Elika. She can also light up the way to your destination with just the touch of a single button. The majority of the dialogue in the game is between Elika and the Prince, who never seems to run out of snappy catch phrases. This presentation gets character development rolling and connects the user to the two protagonists.
The graphics of this game are incredible and definitely its strongest category. The art looks identical to the concept drawings you can unlock later in the game. Ubisoft was able to utilize the power of these next generation gaming systems to pull off a vibrant and imaginative world that players will awe at. It is an artistic achievement that you have to see to believe.
Top-notch sound is always important and “Prince of Persia” definitely delivers. The dialogue between the Prince and Elika are voiced by two very talented actors. They get Elika’s charming personality, and determination, as well as the Prince’s sarcastic wit across perfectly. There are a couple catch phrases that could have been left out, but overall the voice acting was great. The soundtrack sets the mood for each level, but don’t expect to be humming any tunes from this game after you are done as the score is ultimately forgettable. The music also intermittently cuts out, and while this isn’t a huge deal, it is definitely noticeable and can take the player out of this fantasy world that Ubisoft spent so much time creating.
“Prince of Persia” is a free-roaming world with boss battles. Players make their way through an area jumping, sliding and wall running to a destination. Players will have to overcome puzzles, traps and obstacles on the way to heal Elika’s lands.
Exploring is fun and is well balanced with the combat. There aren’t very many small battles, but the boss’ definitely make up for it. At the end of the game you will remember each boss and their weakness since you fight each of them six different times. Attacks include sword, gauntlet, magic and acrobatic. These four options are used in different sequences in order to pull off some very impressive and damaging combos.
Overall, “Prince of Persia” is an amazing game and a must-buy this year. It is on my short list for game of the year, and definitely the best action/adventure game of the year hands down. With a beautiful landscape that looks painted on, a perfectly designed control system and two memorable characters, you would be crazy not to give this game a try. This is the perfect gift for a gamer this holiday season.
