Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
This is an example of how a reboot is done right.
Genre(s): Action Adventure Platformer Hack and Slash Platform(s): (Original) Microsoft Windows PlayStation 2 Xbox Nintendo GameCube Game Boy Advance Mobile (Remake) Microsoft Windows PlayStation 4 Xbox One Release Date: Game Boy Advance NA: October 28, 2003 EU: November 14, 2003 PlayStation 2 NA: November 10, 2003 EU: November 21, 2003 GameCube, Xbox NA: November 18, 2003 EU: February 20, 2004 Microsoft Windows NA: December 2, 2003 EU: December 5, 2003 Mobile NA: January 8, 2004 Remake: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One WW: January 21, 2021 Developer(s): Ubisoft Montreal Ubisoft Pune (Remake) Publisher(s): Ubisoft Series: Prince Of Persia Predecessor: Prince of Persia 3D (PC)/Prince Of Persia: Arabian Nights (DC) Successor: Prince of Persia: Warrior Within

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time is a third-person action-adventure puzzle-platform video game developed and published by Ubisoft. First revealed in March 2003, it was released across PlayStation 2, Xbox, Nintendo GameCube, Game Boy Advance and Microsoft Windows in November 2003. Two sequels were released following the release of this game, Prince of Persia: Warrior Within in 2004 and Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones in 2005.

Why It Rocks

1. Allows for undoing bad jumps, deaths, and other mistakes by rewinding time using a weapon called the "Dagger of Time", which can also be used in combat to freeze or slow down time and enemies.
2. The game blends action-adventure gameplay with multiple puzzles and platforming elements.
3. Huge explorable environments.
4. Vivid and detailed graphics and environments. Especially in the PC version.
5. Awesome soundtrack.
6. Once an enemy is defeated, its sand must be collected with the Dagger of Time or else the enemy will fully recover.
7. The level design revolves around navigating treacherous environments with parkour and freerunning-styled moves.
8. No part of the game is particularly hard.
9. The game's checkpoint system is very forgiving.
10. The game is really easy to play through.
11. Very helpful hints that the game provides.
12. Large columns of Sand grant visions of the future areas and act as save points.
13. Cooperative gameplay between the "Prince" and another character named Farah.
14. You can connect the GameCube version to the Game Boy Advance version to get regenerating health on the GameCube version which comes in handy during tough fights along with unlocking the original Prince of Persia game on the GameCube version as well where you have to activate three specific switches on the Game Boy Advance. Plus, there are three secret doors in the Game Boy Advance version you can unlock only if you break three specific boxes on the GameCube version.

Bad Qualities

1. The combat feels really repetitive at times, with you just doing the same few moves.
   • The two boss fights are quite a huge letdown.
2. Farah's purpose is a rather annoying escort mission where for the most part you have to keep her as well as yourself safe, making specific scenarios annoying.
   • He also can be a Mary Sue at times.
3. While the 'Why It Rocks" section mentions that its sand must be collected with the Dagger of Time, it gets annoying to do that because it will leave you vulnerable to getting damaged.
4. Some versions have problems:
   • The PS2 & GameCube versions have poor audio quality.
   • The unlockable Prince of Persia 1 and 2 games don't work if you play the Xbox version on Xbox 360 or Xbox One.
   • For unknown reasons, the PC port removed the unlockable original Prince of Persia game.
   • The Steam release had glitch in which there is way too much fog when played on modern systems, though this can be fixed with a mod.

Reception

Upon release, it received critical acclaim, won and was nominated for numerous awards, and has been recognized by many as one of the greatest games of all time.

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