Prince of Persia

About Prince of Persia

Ubisoft Montreal released this action-adventure title in December 2008 for PlayStation 3, PC, Xbox 360, and Mac systems. The story unfolds in ancient Persia where a nameless prince teams up with Elika after a sandstorm washes him into a corrupted realm. You must scale walls, run along ceilings, and fight off the Corrupted to save the world from the god Ahriman. This entry revitalized the franchise by ditching complex menus for fluid movement and simple controls that let you focus on the environment rather than inventory management. It stands as a distinct chapter in the series where cooperation drives the narrative forward instead of solo heroics.

Gameplay

You control the prince through large levels filled with verticality. The core loop involves sprinting across gaps, climbing sheer surfaces, and using Elika to heal platforms or cleanse corrupted enemies. Combat feels weighty but straightforward since you mainly use a sword for parries and heavy attacks rather than complex combos. Each session requires constant movement because stopping makes you an easy target for the shadowy minions hunting you. You will frequently cross ceilings to bypass traps or reach new areas while dodging arrows from archers above. Puzzle elements involve guiding Elika to light torches or clear paths, which forces you to slow down and think before rushing ahead again.

What Players Think

Critics and players have responded well to this release with a Metacritic score of 82 and an IGDB rating of 80.8 based on 336 user reviews. Most community members describe the mood as energetic and appreciative of the movement mechanics. The average playtime sits around 15 hours for a standard run, though completionists spend closer to 22 hours hunting down every collectible. Players frequently praise the fluidity of parkour but note that some puzzles feel repetitive late in the campaign. Achievement data shows a 40 percent completion rate for the platinum trophy, suggesting many people finish the story without engaging with every hidden challenge or side objective available.

PlayPile's Take

This title works best if you want tight platforming and a solid story without excessive grinding. The game costs around $20 on digital marketplaces now which makes it a steal compared to modern releases. You earn 50 achievements for completing the campaign and finding all collectibles. It is not perfect since some enemies feel generic, but the movement system remains satisfying throughout. I recommend this for anyone who likes fast-paced action games with a strong emphasis on traversal. Skip it if you prefer deep RPG systems or turn-based strategy over real-time combat.

Storyline

Prince of Persia takes place in an undefined ancient Persian city-state based heavily around the religion of Zoroastrianism. A thousand years before the events of the game take place, there was a struggle for power between the gods Ahriman and Ormazd. The outcome of the struggle was that Ormazd and his people, the Ahura, managed to imprison Ahriman and his minions, the Corrupted, in a tree. Ormazd then left the world, leaving the Ahura to make sure Ahriman remains secure. They are successful for a thousand years, at which point the Ahura started to believe that Ahriman and Ormazd were myths due to their inactivity, and most departed. Shortly before the events of the game, Ahriman is about to be freed again