Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands Review

While the signature mechanic of the Prince of Persia series is the protagonist’s ability to rewind time, the franchise’s other temporal-tweaking device has been the reboot. From the transformation of Jordan Mechner’s side scrolling platformer into a three dimensional, Tomb Raider-esque adventure title (1999’s Prince of Persia 3D), and later into 2008’s character-driven, failure-free expedition, the game has displayed the ability to transform itself, often reflecting contemporary gaming trends. Given this malleability, the impetus behind the recently release of Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands appears to be to capture the confidence of the series watermark- 2003’s The Sands of Time.

With a repertoire of abilities lifted from the aforementioned game, the Prince gracefully scurries across walls, navigates ledges, and slices through banners with Errol Flynn-like finesse. More importantly, the protagonist’s renowned time-reversing skill is endowed to players early in the game, granting gamers a second chance whenever a leap is miscalculated or contact is made with a spinning spike column. Fortunately, the game’s navigational control is spot-on, with every button press causing the Prince to stride along ramparts, bound across chasms, and tuck into an evasive roll with reliability.

Later, gamers will be given the title’s most compelling power – the ability to freeze water for short periods of time. This novel skill allows players to convert erupting geysers into scalable shafts, while springs can be transformed into icy walkways, allow access to otherwise inaccessible areas. Coupled with the ‘Power of Memory’ which  allows players to restore a single segment of the decaying castle, the games presents a number of interesting puzzles which skillfully breaks up the cadence of combat and navigation. Although gamers are also given the power to attack distance enemies with a soaring strike, this capability is the weakest of the bunch, as its often obvious when the aptitude should be employed.

As with a number of iterations in the franchise, combat is the weakest element within Forgotten Sands’ arsenal. Initially, foes seem like mere sword fodder, designed to slow the player’s progress through the game. Groups of antagonists are easily dispatched with the title’s uncomplicated fighting system, which measures how long the attack button is depressed to determine the strength of the Prince’s strike. Players may also knock back encroached enemies or jump before attacking to instigate an aerial slash. Battles remain formulaic until enough sare eliminated (each rewards the player with XP) to unlock supplemental attacks through the game’s upgrade menu.

Visually, Forgotten Sands is a decidedly uneven game. The occasional breathtaking outdoor vista or striking lighting effect may grab the player’s attention, while other moments are steeped in mediocrity- making the game appear rushed to coincide with the release of the film. Apparently, negotiations to have Jake Gyllenhaal’s visage appear in the game fell through at the last moment, thereby explaining the Prince’s makeshift facial texture. Sonically, things fare better with an evocative Eastern soundtrack that contains a number of haunting refrains.

Despite a handful of minor blemishes, Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands is a competent action adventure which admirably attempts to return the series to its lofty apogee. Certainly, both Sands of Time enthusiasts and critics of the 2008 franchise entry will appreciate this title’s gratifying excursion through opulent palaces and across narrow catwalks, which recall the series best moments.  Like the Prince, Forgotten Sands gracefully evades the disastrous pit which has been the demise of most movie-based games.