Getting through the constantly fresh environments requires some new techniques-including the ability to stab certain wall tiles, which greatly expands your cliff-scaling options-and combat gets a boost from the satisfying speed kills, which have you sneaking up on enemies and then hitting the attack button at designated instances during cinematic slayings (see side-bar). In fact, developer Ubisoft Montreal has addressed seemingly every misstep of last year's mostly grand adventure-too much backtracking, hit-or-miss boss battles-making Thrones the series' best-paced, least-frustrating entry (marred by only a few tedious puzzles). Warrior Within's angsty, badass Prince becomes much more endearing as he gradually figures out his true reasons for fighting. Amusing inner dialogue highlights a struggle with his devil-on-the-shoulder alter ego, which manifests as uncontrollable transformations into the hyperviolent Dark Prince. This story starts when the Prince returns home to a war-torn Babylon, where his quest for revenge becomes a mission of self-discovery. Thrones brings the current-gen Prince of Persia trilogy to a close beautifully, once again sending the titular hero through a puzzle-heavy, time-fiddling action-adventure. While certainly the most all-inclusive POP package of them all, it just isn't that ultimate POP game I've been praying for all these years - it's good, but gets no slow-motion time-twirling cigar.įor many fans, the simple fact that the "rockin'" guitar riffs from last year's Warrior Within are gone is reason enough to consider The Two Thrones a superior game-but that's just the start of a long list of substantial refinements and additions. We continue on into The Two Thrones -an excellent game that covers a few bases in mixing the distinctive individual charms of its forbears, but loses a few marks in my book with its silly stealth kills, needless chariot racing and over-fed bosses. He remains, however, a Prince with a much more dynamic and exhilarating fighting system and a far more exciting tang to his every move. All of a sudden it's "You bitch!" and big-breasted vampires making sex noises as they bite your strapping neck to the loud rawk of Godsmack - not the Prince we fell in love with the first time round at all. You see, by the time we hit 2004's Warrior Within, much of the essential goodness of our previously much-loved Prince had been stripped - along with the now bare bottoms of the various sexy goth chicks that he has to battle while presumably struggling with a fledgling erection. Likewise, having sliced a zombie in two in Warrior Within, it's hard to go back to the constant 'stand-next-to-wall' and 'do-spinny-attack-from-wair battle tactic of the Prince's first outing.
There are probably just as many rolling spiky log traps in Two Thrones as there are in The Sands Of Time, but by the time the third entry in the series rolled around, it just feels like the developers had picked up a few more tricks and situations to use them in. It's an obvious thing to say, perhaps, but when all three games are laid alongside each other in a (cost-effective) triple-pack such as this, then one of my favourite games of all time starts feeling remarkably dated. Apart from the combat - which unfortunately is where the 'never going back' bit comes in.Īs each iteration of Nu-POP has emerged, improved combat and evermore involving puzzles have increased alongside the Prince's testosterone levels. I adore its structure, its characters, its clever dialogue, its wonderfully witty ending, that bit where it all goes dreamy and Farah is giggling and naked in a hot-tub - all of it. Since its release, whenever it's come up in conversation I've banged my fist on the table and declared my undying allegiance. Past Victoryįor example, they say you can never go back, and with The Sands Of Time it's true.
I'm not saying any of these games are bad - my outspoken love of the series has reached worrying levels on many occasions - but only a fool would claim that each game doesn't have its own share of brickbats and bouquets. Unfortunately though, this (well priced) compilation is the closest you'll get - and any idealist melding of the triptych will have to happen in the confines of your head. The story, setting and dialogue of The Sands Of Time rubbing shoulders with the intensity and action of Warrior Within and the stylish licks of The Two Thrones: a rare glimpse of perfection. But if all three could be melted, mixed together and served bubbling hot to gamers of high taste, the resulting fondue would be the template for the best third-person action-adventure ever. THERE IS NO perfect Prince Of Persia game.