One of the undisputed highlights of the previous generation was Ubisoft breathing new life into the Prince of Persia franchise. ‘The Sands of Time’ was a huge success, both critically and commercially, with unique acrobatic gameplay, a gripping storyline and a refreshing art style. The series seemed to lose its direction with the sequel, as ‘Warrior Within’ took on a more edgy and dark tone and the final chapter of the trilogy continued this approach of change. It almost seemed as though Ubisoft were unsure of how they wanted the series to be told, and they struggled to find the right way to tell the Prince’s story. In this new generation, Ubisoft has once again reinvigorated the franchise, with a new world to save and a new Prince to control whilst keeping the sensational free-running inspired gameplay.

It seems as though Ubisoft could have finally found the winning formula with this new iteration of the long running series. By going back to the drawing board, Ubisoft have taken a bold move that will no doubt alienate fans of the previous generation’s Prince, but it is a risk that has succeeded on so many levels. The basic gameplay principle is simple- You are presented with a world that has been taken over by the evil Ahriman, and consists of several areas that have been ‘Corrupted’. In essence, they have been transformed by Ahriman’s evil underlings from a beautiful world into drab, bleak landscapes. Your role is to wallrun, leap and climb in each area until you can heal it. This follows a boss battle with one of Ahriman’s four minions, but more about them later. Once healed the area floods with colour and is restored to its former beauty before your very eyes. It’s a simple yet rewarding formula, and it is a testament to how gripping and enjoyable this system is that you will never grow weary of it despite the fact it is essentially all you will be doing throughout the game.

Indeed, in a game with so many successful elements, it is hard to pick one to single out, but for me it has to be the gameplay. Building on everything Ubisoft succeeded with the Sands of Time trilogy, this is a system now perfected. The controls are so simple- Move with the control stick, perform acrobatic moves with A. The moves are all context sensitive, and so pressing A may be a jump when approaching a wall, but once you are on that wall, you will wallrun, before it is time to jump yet again to the next platform. It is simple yet expertly refined, and every level has been designed to meticulous perfection so that one move can instantly be linked to the next in seamless, fluid motions, though it is just as easy to make a long chain of movements before pausing to examine your next. Throughout your adventure you will leap to hanging poles, run on walls and roofs with ease and it is such an enriching experience that you will have a smile on your face the whole time. Combat is a throwback to the original Prince of Persia title, with one on one fights. Each face button is assigned a role, with X being a sword attack, A for acrobatic moves, Y to utilize Elika’s magic and B to use the Prince’s unique gauntlet. Quicktime events and minigames spice up the combat, rewarding fast reflexes. It’s an enjoyable system, though the real fun is undoubtedly the platforming.

This generation’s hot topic seems to be co-operative gameplay, and whether you have Dom by your side in Gears of War 2, Sheva in Resident Evil 5, or even your trusty canine companion in Fable 2, it seems nothing can be accomplished alone anymore. Prince of Persia incorporates this into its gameplay, but with arguably more success than any of these other titles. Whereas these characters merely add extra firepower or companionship, your new partner is vital to success. You meet Elika right from the beginning, after rescuing her from some soldiers, and she is your ally for the rest of your adventure. Throughout your acrobatic adventures, she is there to catch you if you fall and bring you back to safety so you can have another try. You can talk to her at any time about a variety of relevant topics to learn more of the rich storyline in the game. And Elika fits in perfectly with the simplicity of the title, as her every action is either automatic or assigned to the Y button. When magical plates are added to the gameplay, you can press Y and Elika will transport you to a new location, and when gaps become greater, you can press Y and Elika will extend your leap. In combat, you can utilize Elika’s magical abilities to help you succeed, naturally using the Y button. Simplicity is indeed the name of the game. The true success of Elika is that she always feels necessary and more than just a simple accessory alongside your adventure, and you begin to feel for her and her story, arguably with much more emotion than with the Prince.

Elika’s story is a crucial part of the magical tapestry woven by Ubisoft, and indeed they must be applauded for introducing a storyline the likes of which is usually saved for a Hollywood blockbuster. When the story begins our new Prince is caught in a magical sandstorm and loses his donkey, Farah (a nice little Easter egg for fans of the series). He wanders into a canyon and bumps into (or rather, is trampled by) Elika, who is fleeing from soldiers. The Prince suddenly has an ally as he seeks to protect Elika, and the two end up at an ancient temple that houses the evil Ahriman. Ahriman is an ancient evil God who has been imprisoned by the good God Ormazd for conquering and corrupting the land. Elika’s pursuer, revealed to be her father arrives, and after fighting the Prince destroys the sacred tree that houses Ahriman. The land is instantly flooded with Corruption, and Elika and the Prince must cleanse it all before defeating the God himself. Throughout both characters pasts are revealed, and the relationship between the Prince and Elika grows through the two’s conversations. It’s a fantastic accompaniment to your adventure and you will undoubtedly be as enthralled by the storyline as by the gameplay. The pure Elika is a perfect foil to the brash new Prince and the two are a double act that will capture the imaginations of so many gamers.

The experience is completed with the exceptional new visuals. Cel shaded visuals were often criticized in the previous console generation, but Prince of Persia shows how unique visuals aren’t necessarily a stumbling block for a game. Everything, from the characters to the bosses and the Corruption is expertly stylized and really help to draw you into the Prince’s world. Watching Elika heal the land is a real treat as colour literally spreads and engulfs the Corruption. The art style is like a comic book come alive, and is truly beautiful to watch in motion.

Ubisoft have taken so many risks with this new Prince of Persia title that it is so satisfying to see them pay off in such an enjoyable title. You can never die, as Elika always saves you. The game is essentially a sandbox title, as you can choose which areas to tackle whenever you want to. Small, simple puzzles compliment the platforming elements and combat. Every risk seems to have succeeded, as things which may be seen as a flaw in other titles fit in perfectly with the laid back attitude of this new Prince game.

This game isn’t without its flaws of course. Sometimes you may feel as though you have jumped in the right direction only to be foiled by specific controls. New areas must be unlocked using light seeds, and whilst you do not need to collect all the available ones to unlock every area, this still borders on a chore at times, especially when you must return to areas you have already healed to collect these seeds. And the bosses, whilst unique and well designed, all fight very similarly. You will fight each boss a handful of times, and each fight differs little from the last, generally with just the difficulty cranked up each time. And the game is most definitely on the short side, with your first playthrough probably being around 10 hours long. Still, this game lends itself perfectly to be replayed so you can once again become absorbed in the Prince’s world. These flaws are more than excusable in such a refined, relaxed title, and none will ever really affect how much you enjoy the game.

Overall, Ubisoft’s second reinvention of the Prince of Persia series is just as successful as the first was. The game is relaxed, beautiful, gripping, and so much fun that you will enjoy every second of the Prince and Elika’s quest and be desperate to leap back into their world. The game lends itself well to short sessions, conquering an area or two and savouring it before moving on, and this is possibly the best representation of the laid back nature of the title. The story is fantastic and the art is bold and captivating. And, of course, what is a game without gameplay? PoP features some of the best you will see this generation. Fun, simple yet deep, and providing a great sense of reward, this is the true evolution of the platformer. Prince of Persia is a title everyone should play. Stop getting engulfed in the competitive nature of the latest Call of Duty, don’t mash buttons in the latest brawler, just sit down with the controller, relax and play. It’s one of the most rewarding experiences you will have with your 360.

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