📢 PRINCE YOU FELL OFF A CLIFF NOOOOO - 📢
Yeesh, It's ok, it's ok. I'm fine. Got a magical girlfriend and I'm fine. 💪
Now here's a game barely anyone remembers. And honestly. While I hated this game to the core when it came out, looking back on it now I can see its merits. But the shift in design is such a cosmic shift from the game's roots that people were rightly upset when it first came out.
So let's discuss❗️ In this edition of Through the Lens 🎞, we'll be taking a look at Ubisoft Montreal's attempted franchise reboot from 2008: Prince of Persia, ◀️
(yes, they really just left it at that... bold move fellas... bold move...)
Roll it! 📽
🔷 UP TOP 🔶
The soundtrack in this game is amazing! Honestly probably the best in the series. The composers (who were btw the original composers of the series) really took everything they learned and applied it to this epic piece of art. It incorporates elements from all the games, but mostly Sand of Time.
It's great to listen to while working or just walking. Or! And get this - while reading an article about the game. 😮
It took me YEARS to finally play this game. I remember watching the trailers and just feeling disgusted. Who was this pretender? Who was this girl? What was this world? Where was my Prince? In highlight those were some pretty childish feelings, but also, a lot of people felt them. 😅
Did this game get an unfair shake? Yeah probably. Did it deserve it? Hmmmm, maybe? Mostly? Years later we can look at it from a different standpoint, but this was so left field from what we got before that everyone was understandably upset.
QUESTION IS: If this game was named anything different, would it still have the same reaction? If it was called for instance Desolate Warrior would it have received such vitriol? Let's find out.
🔷 WHAT EVEN IS THIS 🔶
It's not Prince of Persia that's for sure. 😂 Or rather, it's not the Prince of Persia we've all grown to love. And yes, Prince of Persia is a very old franchise. Dating back to before console days. But even when compared to the classic Prince of Persia games it lacks the essence of the franchise.
A Prince that can platform does not automatically make you a Prince of Persia game.
This game is set in a totally new world. They planned on making this into its own branching IP after all, so there are no similarities between it and the previous games. No time powers no nothing. 😭
The world itself is pretty cool all things considered. It's this magical post-apocalypse that just itches you to explore it. Shame this game wasn't open-world because THAT would've been a good idea. This type of game just begs to be an open world. As is, it's more akin Journey than the actual Prince of Persia. 🤷♂️
All of this is subjective of course, what's not subjective is the freaking production value of this game. 🔽🔽🔽
🔷 PRESENTATION 🔶
The art style of this game today is better than it was on release. I'm serious. 😂 Not many games can boast of having that characteristic, but this title has such a timeless look that I think it'll be beautiful in ten, twenty, or thirty years still. That's an awesome accomplishment worth commending. 👏
Apart from the stunning visuals, the score as said up above is also very memorable. The key to a sensually compelling experience is to have complementary elements between the soundtrack and visuals. 🎨
All the designs. From characters to monsters to environments are unique and very well done. I can't imagine being these developers and pouring my artistic soul into this title only for it to be received so poorly... Sucks, but just goes to show the power of the producer, and why his role is so high in the team.
All of this is to say that the games' foundation is good, great even. But not what fans were expecting. Prince of Persia was never meant to be Journey.
Let's dive into the minutia, the nitty gritty as it were, as this game's gameplay is pretty unique and interesting to say the least.
🔷 A CHILL EXPERIENCE 🔶
What was the most common use of the rewind time powers in the original trilogy? Why, correcting bad jumps of ledges of course. This was also a great way to look past the fact those games were pretty clunky when it came to precision jumping. This game's solution? Simple - You never die.
The entire game is one big escort mission, but the escort is the main character. Our Prince is bland and frankly uninteresting. Which is a real bummer considering how memorable the previous Prince was. Now, whenever we die, our escort saves us with her magical powers, returning the player to a place of safety.
This was met with huge pushback. It basically removed any failure state in the game. But all these complaints were made by sweaty gamers who wanted a challenge. What about the chill gamers that just wanted to relax? Well, that's where the Jourey comparisons come in. 😁
And so the game got an unfair shake. It's a good game, no doubt. But a bad Prince of Persia game. The whole point of the game is collecting these orbs. And yes you still have the wall running (if they got rid of that it would've really been ugly). But you have no pressure, no time limit, no fear of death.
Beautiful visuals, monotone uninteresting combat that's there just for show, and a simple-to-follow story. A chill experience in the franchise that once had Warrior Within, one of the darker, bloodier, edgier entries in gaming. The disconnect is apparent.
🔷 LEGACY 🔶
This game is not remembered fondly at all. Most people have forgotten it existed, and those that remember have nothing but bad memories to associate with it. 😬
The game has one thing going for it, it's art and design are truly timeless. It isn't hindered by when you play it, so as long as it is available in stores it will always be recommendable.
This is a great game for young children and people who aren't gamers. Nothing wrong with that. But again, that's not Prince of Persia. Which is a bummer. This game should have never been given that mantle, to begin with. 💯
Shout-out to the 🍕PIZZA🍕 gang, 🤙 gang. 🤙
We have one more game to go before this little mini-series of Prince of Persia columns ends. And I'll be honest, I think the next one is the worst of them all. 😅 Although I'm sure some people will disagree.
Just give us the remastered trilogy pleasseee. 😩
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I hope you are having an amazing week! 🙌