While I will say that 'crap' was a stretch due to a bad mood that day, I still must respectfully disagree. Aside from the fact that they seemed to at least update the graphics into a more decent looking game, I've still not been convinced by what I've seen that this game could come off as being some sort of epic return to a continuity that was already degraded after each subsequent entry. The artistic direction at least seems better than WW and TTT, though I can't say that it comes all that close to PoP '08. At least they got Yuri Lowenthal to reprise the role of SoT Prince.
There's actually a playthrough on Youtube right now, and while I'll hold off any judgement based on early sections of the game, the only major-looking change from the SoT trilogy seems like the combat, which looks like a pretty bland mix of a polished Dynasty Warriors, and a poor-man's Batman Arkham Asylum. Still, it's something of a relief that the Prince himself seems more like he was in the first SoT game.
After the last installment i'm officially done with this series. Fancing jumping and wall climbing can't carry the franchise through five games. The last game was gorgeous and played well, but the combat system left much to be desired. If this series still can't create an interesting combat system to go along with the aerobatics by now then they're just not trying anymore. The last game almost felt like it played itself.
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For starters, this is not the fifth Prince of Persia game. It is actually the tenth game in the series, not counting the re-release of the very first one on XBL Arcade, nor the Revelations/Rival Swords ports of WW and TT. And the main point of the series has always been the jumping and wall climbing and general parkour-style acrobatics. It is first and foremost a platformer, with puzzles and combat added on. Combat has always been the least important thing in PoP. It's not meant to be very big nor important. Anyone who is familiar with the series will recognize that, regardless of what the marketing execs try to portray the game as.
For that matter, the combat is still better than a lot of games - say, Zelda. It's certainly more complex and deeper than any combat in any of those games - but you never see anyone complaining about that, even though combat is far more important and prevalent in Zelda.
And this game is completely and totally unconnected to the last game anyway, so I don't know why people keep bringing it up. It has no relevance at all.
GK and I both went to pick it up last night, don't know if we'll actually have time to give it a try today or not. Either way we'll both have (educated) opinions on it by tomorrow afternoon
I'm a major fan of the series and so far this looks like the best one yet. It rights the wrongs of 08 POP and brings back the SoT nastogic feel of the series.
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Well, to be fair to Zelda, it focuses more on the puzzle-solving and dungeon-delving aspects than the combat aspect.
However, I feel like the only one who actually liked the 1 on 1 fighting concept of PoP '08, yea, it left a lot to be desired, but when it comes down to it, I prefer fighting one more difficult enemy than plowing through fifteen painfully easy ones.
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The thing that killed PoP '08 for me was that you couldn't die. If they didn't make it so that Elika saved you every time you almost died, I think the game would have been far better.
I loved the 08 PoP. The graphics were amazing and I loved the dynamic between Elika and the prince. I was pissed when I heard they were going back to the classic prince =\
Wow, ten huh? Well, that just further proves my point. You would think that by now the series would have found a way to reproduce a winning formula. Sands of time was stunning. Every game after, Sands, has been a disappointment for me. There are genuine moments of awe to be found in this series for sure, but the repetition and lack of depth leave much to be desired.
The combat system is quaint for the first few hours but it quickly becomes an effortless chore. timed button sequences (one button kills) really isn't something i would call complex
I say these things only because i want to see this franchise reinvent itself because i know there is a diamond in the rough somewhere. I think this series needs to take on more RPG elements. I know the acrobatics is the most prominent aspect of this series and i really didn't mean to knock it because that portion of the gameplay is awesome. It does, however, weigh quite thin when your making the same jumps and solving the same types of puzzles game after game.
Let us know what it's like though.
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Sands of Time was not the first Prince of Persia game.
QTEs only existed in one of the games, as far as I can recall. And it doesn't need RPG elements, because it's not an RPG. It's just an acrobatic platformer.
It looks ok. Not great though. You know what was good on the psp as far as the whole acrobatic free roaming thing goes? Assassin's creed. I was amazed at how much they were able to cram inside of that psp game.
I am playing through the different Wii version right now (same name, but different game). Surprisingly good- very fast flowing, if rather lightweight. Not GREAT, but I was worried it would be a complete bust.
In fact, they've cribbed from Super Mario Galaxy, with you using the IR pointer to control things in the world and a not dissimilar co-op mode.
It's not that pretty, but it is super fast and it pre-loads everything as you play so there are no load times. I appreciate such things as much as good graphics.
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Last edited by Ushgarak on May 21st, 2010 at 06:02 PM
Having finished the 360 version rather inordinately fast...
It's a good game, but doesn't quite manage to live up to Sands of Time.
In some ways, it feels like what Warrior Within would have been without the emo cash-in attempt that so thoroughly ruined that game. The environmental puzzles have that same cleverly dangerous quality, and feel very similar. The combat is similar to that too, though obviously on a larger scale per battle. The integration of freezing water is probably the best gameplay device, which is good because the developers absolutely love it. Alternately freezing and unfreezing waterfalls into walls provides some of the best, tense runs in the game.
The combat is an interesting thing. It's deeper than SoT, more streamlined than WW and T2T, and shows obvious relation to PoP08. Standard battles average 6-12 enemies at once, and the larger encounters swing upwards of 50, even more if you're not too careful. The flow of combat takes a little getting used to, but once it clicks, you flow across the battlefield, jumping from one enemy to the next, bashing aside shields and leaping onto shoulders to dispatch from above.
The Prince himself starts out showing promise in his character, but without Farah to philosophize and quietly flirt with, or the Dark Prince to exchange witty retorts, his spirit just doesn't shine like it used to. The Prince as a character is much better when he has someone else to bounce off of, and here, where much of the game is played alone, he doesn't get the chance to show off as much as I'd like.
The story is decently told, a bit rote and obvious, and of course linear, which is standard for the series. The interactions with the Prince's brother Malik could have been much deeper, but again, it's not quite enough.
Overall, a decent game, but not on the same level as Sands of Time. Worthier addition to the series than Warrior Within, but not by much.
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Last edited by General Kaliero on May 21st, 2010 at 08:22 PM
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May 9th, 2010 02:57 AM
FER TEA!!
