Prince of Persia
Preview
The revamping of a classic franchise
by AlmightyMax
previewed on PS3
The Core Mechanics (cntd.)
In combat, each face button activates a different attack, and you can mix and match your attacks to create up to a fifteen hit combo. The slim number of combatants causes fights to become incredibly intense, and the camera will change angle automatically to give the most cinematic view possible. The revamped combat system should prove to be an improvement over the rather dim enemies from the previous games. For those wanting something totally new, however; look to Elika.
A Deadly Ally
Elika is not just a supporting character to help advance the plot; she’s a deadly ally and a pivotal part of the gameplay, following the Prince wherever he goes. The devs have taken note of friendly AI problems in other games, making sure she never becomes more of a hindrance than a help. If you decide to double back on a ledge, for instance, a slick animation will swing Elika behind you to make sure she doesn’t end up blocking you. While Elika doesn’t quite have the acrobatic prowess of her partner (she’ll often ride piggyback over some of the tougher jumps), you can team up with her to perform some gravity-defying stunts.
In combat, Elika circles you and your opponent, never interfering unless she is instructed to. One of your attack buttons will control her magic abilities and you can occasionally team up for a devestating joint assault. Elika can also make the ultimate sacrifice and take a killing blow for the Prince. If the developers can manage to make sure Elika doesn’t bog down the fast-paced combat, she has the potential to become just as great a gameplay mechanic as the Sands of Time were.
Pretty as a Picture Book
Prince of Persia’s bold new art direction is definitely a departure from the gritty, more realistic worlds of the last few games. Cited as ‘credible fantasy’, the graphics use a quasi-cel-shaded look, with incredibly stylized character models in a strikingly beautiful world. More often than not, the game looks like a painting or part of a children’s picture book. Some screens can even be mistaken for concept art - it looks that good.
Prince of Persia is shaping up to be one title to watch, whether you’re a series veteran or a complete newbie. The numerous new features may require some adjusting for longtime fans, but the end experience looks to be well worth it. We’ll know for sure when the game ships on the holidays of 2008.
