So this game it a tough nut to crack. At the surface and outset, this game has a lot of positives working in its favor. There are literally 26 different potential endings/outcomes that this game offers, and your goal is essentially to discover (via trial & error where your character literally learns lessons along the way) the true ending. Each playthrough should not take more than about 30-45 minutes, making this trial & error process not feel overly cumbersome. The combat is smooth and has some characteristics that are actually similar to the excellent Batman Arkham series. And finally, the narrator has both character and some occasional witty sarcasm. So, where is the problem, you might ask? Well, with all of this good the game falls virtually flat before you know it. As your character levels, you quickly outpace your enemies to a point where your levels eventually cease to have any meaning. What's more, there is a terrible lack of variety of enemies to both keep things interesting and make the necessity for substantially increased powers via continued leveling (there are only 5-6 different enemy types in the entire game). You also have the ability to increase the power of 4 different swords, but these are maxed at level two and you barely notice the difference when you do level them. And finally, the levels themselves hold little variety meaning if you want to see all of the endings then you will be treading the same ground over and over again. The game starts off fun and rewarding, but quickly grinds down to an experience that leaves you wanting. With so many things done well, you are left with the feeling that a little more time and energy spent on adding some depth and variety to this game would have launched this to an absolute must play! As it stands, it has some good to offer up front that will have you wanting more, but then will quickly reach a point that simply leaves you wanting.
First, let me say that while I requested this game a while ago through this site, given the relative lack of popularity of the game (with minimal votes compared to many other requested games), I did not imagine it would actually get added. Thank you, GOG!! As for my brief review, let me say that this fairly unique (especially for its time) TBS brings some interesting elements to the mix, with a heavy emphasis on technological and colonial development. Truly, simplicity is what makes this game shine. There is depth to be had here with diversity between the available races that alter strategic approaches to dominating a respective planet. That being said, this game is perfect to pick up and put down, so to speak. It is deep enough to engage, simple enough to learn quickly, and easy to pause and put down.
There is a reason why Lara Croft and the Tomb Raider franchise has received the notoriety that it has, and it is not due to the pixelized femininity. The settings, landscapes, exploration, and action of this genre has set a bar that I have yet seen matched. The game's various tunes and scores serve to immortalize the regions, caverns, and locales that you explore throughout this series. The puzzle-solving and exploration defines the core of your gameplay, and you find yourself reaching the end only wanting more. While I did not personally enjoy the 3rd installment at all, the first two are so incredibly good that you must pick this package up...especially if you somehow missed them the first time around!
This was the only game on the Dreamcast that I played with gusto. I never owned the console, and nothing else that I tried on the console kept my interest enough, but this game just grabs you. I loved the interesting take on combat (variety of directional swipes that combo nicely with the right flow), the diversity of items and weapons, and the storyline to boot. While I will admit that the storyline was not particularly revolutionary, it was enough to keep me interested and moving forward. The voice acting is quite excellent for all characters, save your own (David). But to be honest, these two critiques are surface at best, and obviously could not detract from me believing that it's worthy of a 5-star rating. With a play-style reminiscent of old-school Adventures of Zelda, this game is a classic entry to the genre, and cannot be missed!
I fell in love with the Prince of Persia games right off the bat, many years ago. It seemed to me to be the ideal step forward in a path initiated by Pitfall so long ago. As Prince of Persia made its way into the 3D world, I will admit that I was a bit skeptical. This game takes that leap much in the same way that the original was so revolutionary in its own right. The storyline definitely develops the Prince of Persia ethos more than any before, and set the bar for future platforming 3D games in this vein. This is a must play for any that enjoy platforming and action at its best!
