Prince of Persia Review
First released in 1989 by Brøderbund for the Apple II computer, the Prince of Persia is still an all-time favourite among many gamers today. However the game was initially not an immediate success. Sales only picked up when the game was later ported to accommodate other platforms.
Critically acclaimed, the Prince of Persia was said to be the first cinematic platform game that helped to inspire many subsequent games published during that era to follow the same format. The success of the Prince of Persia later helped to spawn two sequels, Prince of Persia 2: The Shadow and the Flame and Prince of Persia 3D.
The Plot
Highly addictive, the game is a combo of sword-fighting and exploration. The high drama contained in the game ensures that the player stays focused and glued to the screen. In the game, you take the role of an unnamed protagonist that has to save the Sultan of Persia’s daughter, who is locked in a tower by the evil vizier Jaffar. What makes the game even more thrilling is the fact that you only have an hour to complete the task!
The Game Play
Your starting point in the game is in a dungeon where you are unarmed surrounded by just bones and stones. Progressing along in the game, you will come across a scimitar sword left by a previous occupant of the dungeon. The sword gives you a fighting chance when you do battle with the endless stream of guards which seem to populate the dungeon. And when you are not fighting with the guards, you have other challenges to contend with such as collapsing platforms, having to jump across chasms that have beds of spikes at the bottom and rolling under metal gates before they shut with you underneath! In short, your task is to negotiate the series of obstacles which lay ahead of you while trying to find your way out of the dungeon. And if those challenges weren’t tough enough, you have to remember that you only have 60 minutes to complete the task!
While the mechanics of the game are simple enough, the speed with which you have to play it gives you very little time to think and forces you to react. At the same time because each challenge requires precise manoeuvring and timing, you have to try several times before you can overcome the challenges set before you. In other words, you need to be extremely nimble with your fingers while at the same time paying close attention to the sound cues and visual details surrounding your character. Jump across the chasms too early and you will fall to your death on the bed of spikes below. Jump too late and too fast and you will find yourself being crushed by the metal gate at the other side of the chasm!
Because you are kept on your toes all throughout the game, there is never a dull moment. This is one of the main reasons why this game is so captivating. Even after nearly 3 decades from its first debut, it is still an engaging game to indulge in.
The Verdict
The great news is that this classic game is still available and you can download it as an app onto your iPhone or iPad for just $0.99!
