Prince of Persia

When done right a score can elevate a game higher

From time to time you run into games like Tenchu Stealth Assassin (on the Playstation One) that have amazing scores. The graphics might not have been that great for today’s standards, but they were good enough. Then the soundtrack elevates the game even higher and the music can transcend the game. Prince of Persia is that type of game except all the other stuff is awesome too. The score is so well done I would listen to it outside of the game. They do such a good job of setting the mood, pulling you into the game and the story. That’s only the tip of the iceberg. The rest of the game is just as good. The story, the art style, world design, the characters, and the game mechanics all work very well with each other.

A unique feature of the games is that there is no dying in the game, Elika won’t let you die even when you mess up royally. Playing through the game you will also have many chances to talk with her. During these events you’ll experience the fun quick jabs and the natural banter traded between the two character. Not only is it comical at times, but it also helps to expand the story. The voice acting is delivered beautifully, they have great chemistry. In part that’s what makes you want to listen to their back and forth interaction even though you could just as easily play through the game without ever talking to Elika.

Completing puzzles, collect the seeds of light, and figuring out what to do next is the core part of the game. You will have opportunities to fight bosses. It’s just not a parade of enemies to get to them. Unlocking the temple plates connects a lot of the world together, opening up areas that were previously closed to you. This is done in sections as you collect seeds of light. It’s a great reveal in the game. Elika will always be there to guide you through the game if you get stuck. These little built in mechanics make the game easier to navigate through.

The combat is fluid as you build and string together combos to defeat your enemies. The acrobatics in conjunction with Elika’s magic makes for some enjoyable unrepetitive gameplay. There is a good deal of fun to be had in this game, that’s why I would love to see another game in the series done in the same fashion. The only negative the game has is the one DLC pack. Compared to the rest of the game the DLC becomes a chore. The game has a save system, but for the DLC it is so horrible. Mainly because you can not just reload a save, you have to back out to the main screen to do so. The achievements for the DLC are also very challenging (and infuriating). If you can work through the save system you can manage to get them all done in one go. DLC aside this has been a great game to play and the best of the series.