Prince of Persia

About Prince of Persia

Prince of Persia arrived on October 3, 1989 from Brøderbund Software as an Apple II exclusive title in the adventure and platform genres. You play a nameless hero trapped in ancient Persia while a wizard vizier named Jaffar holds the Sultan's daughter hostage. The goal is simple yet brutal. You must navigate dungeons, avoid guards, and reach the tower before a sixty minute timer hits zero to save the princess. This isn't just another platformer where you jump until you win. It features a unique time mechanic that forces precise movement and quick decision making throughout the entire run.

Gameplay

You control your character by running left or right, jumping over pits, and climbing ladders while dodging guards. The core loop involves memorizing trap patterns and guard routes to survive each level. A magic mirror creates a ghostly doppelgänger of your movements that appears on screen. You must outmaneuver this echo because it will trigger traps exactly when you do if you are not careful. Every jump and step counts since the game ends instantly if you fall into a pit or get caught by a guard. The tight controls demand muscle memory and intense focus from start to finish.

What Players Think

Players on PlayPile clearly respect this classic. The community moods lean heavily toward nostalgic appreciation with an average playtime of just under 45 minutes per run since the timer forces quick attempts. Critics on IGDB gave it a solid 82 out of 100 based on 264 ratings, showing lasting acclaim. Completion rates spike during weekend marathons when players try to beat the clock. Review snippets often mention the difficulty spike in later levels where guard patrol paths become impossible to memorize without multiple failures. The high score list remains active with top runners shaving seconds off their times regularly.

PlayPile's Take

This game is worth playing if you enjoy tight platforming challenges that demand perfect execution. It costs nothing to try on modern emulators but the original Apple II version holds the historical weight. You will need patience since there are no save points and a single mistake resets your progress. The achievement system tracks your attempts to beat the 60 minute limit. I recommend this only if you like games where failure feels like a learning moment rather than frustration. Grab it for the precision gameplay and the legacy it built.

Storyline

The game is set in ancient Persia. While the sultan is fighting a war in a foreign land, his vizier Jaffar, a wizard, seizes power. His only obstacle to the throne is the Sultan's daughter (although the game never specifically mentions how). Jaffar locks her in a tower and orders her to become his wife, or she would die within 60 minutes (extended to 120 minutes in the Super NES version, which has longer and harder levels). The game's unnamed protagonist, whom the Princess loves, is thrown prisoner into the palace dungeons. In order to free her, he must escape the dungeons, get to the palace tower and defeat Jaffar before time runs out. But in addition to guards, various traps and dungeons, the protagonist is further hindered by his own doppelgänger, an apparition of his own self that is conjured out of a magic mirror.