Prince of Persia

doesn't include the epilogue dlc which the console versions got

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I've never posted a game review before that I can remember, but this game was such a disappointment to me personally that I can't help myself. I guess if you've never played a Prince of Persia game before, you might like this one. It is a decent game, and if it wasn't actually part of the Prince of Persia line, I might have actually liked it. The visuals are actually really nice and appealing in a relaxing sort of way once you get used to them. My main issue with this game is that I didn't actually feel like I was doing anything. Even though the game is open world and you can choose the order you approach the areas, everything is still very clear and the path laid out. I never felt like I actually needed to think. Even in Sands of Time, which was pretty linear, I always felt like the game was progressing because I was. In this Prince of Persia my brain was pretty much on autopilot the entire time. No having to think or figure out how to go forward. Then there were the minor puzzle areas where you had to solve moving switches and direct water flow. They were okay and not too challenging. Actually, there was one area where I did get stuck and look up for a hint online, and that was where you had to find the real Elika. I can't believe that I couldn't figure this out - especially as I found solving problems like the SEGA Genesis X-Men reset button press easy. In the end I blame it on the fact that it was actually a curve ball from the game as its pretty much the only point where you have to think outside of the box - and by that point my brain was so "locked" into the box that is this Prince of Persia... There were also the odd "mini-games" which I guess were a decent distraction and change of pace, but nothing spectacular. The only time I actually felt like I was actually doing something was when having to search for enough light seeds to progress. And that isn't a strong point, because I really hated part of the game. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy exploration and loved hunting down the unlock chests and the water sword in Warrior Within, but having exploration forced as a way to extended the game ruins the fun of it. And, finally, the ending. I won't spoil anything, but I would have loved to have actually had a choice in the end as I would not have made the choice the prince did and it also felt forced and cheap. All in all, as a Prince of Persia game, I would give this game zero stars (but I have to give at least one here). However, if you are a first-timer, or if you are able to see this game as something of it's own, then you may enjoy it. If it was called something else, I probably would have given it four or five stars. But it is a same to the Prince of Persia legacy...

I remember playing this game for the first time - it's one of the first titles to really get story telling right, with compellingly deep characters, banter between the prince and Elika, romance, drama and overarcing plot. The graphics are gorgeous, with lots of attention to detail, the platformer mechanics well thought out and also following a progression. I'd compare this to darksiders I and II, as well as the latest tomb raider. Well worth playing and owning.

I own the (DRM-free) DVD version and I enjoyed the game very much. The movements and controls are incredibly fluid, figuring out how to collect all light seeds is fun and the frustration factor is low. If you want to swing, fly and jump around a beautiful landscape without feeling the need to eat your controller, than this is the game for you. Contrary to the "monkey" claims in other comments I didn't find the game so easy that there's no deep sense of satisfaction once you managed to get this one elusive light seed you were missing in an area. You could criticize the limited replay value - once you've seen everything, you've seen everything. But I played the game twice with a break of one year in between and although I remembered the landscapes I had to figure out anew how to get the light seeds and it was as much fun as the first time.