I Work For UbiSoft
Banned
Hi guys
When Ubisoft released the most recent Prince of Persia game for this generation of consoles, it was instantly praised as an adept platformer; one that melded an intriguing story with some of the best three dimensional platforming ever seen. But while lauded, the game was far from perfect. The clunky combat controls proved to be more frustrating than enjoyable, a factor that turned off many gamers. Well Ubisoft is taking that complaints= to heart with their upcoming sequel Prince of Persia: Warrior Within. Once again a beautiful mix of platforming and storytelling, this new title has gotten some attention where it needed it most: combat. But, thats not to say that the quest ahead of you is just another rehash from the last game.
Warrior Within opens years after the first game, with the Prince being pursued by a mysterious black entity that leaves everything in its wake destroyed. Later on you learn that the creature is the Dakalah, the keeper of the Timeline. When the Prince first unleashes the Sands of Time in the first game, he is ultimately destined to die. But having managed to avoid a premature death, the Dakalah has come to ensure that the Prince meets his intended fate. Intent of cheating death, the Prince learns of a mysterious land called the Island of Time, supposedly the place where the Sands of Time originate. The Prince surmises that if he can make it to the islands hell be able to take reverse time to a point where the Sands of Time dont even exist, making the Dakalahs quest to kill him moot. But, according to local legend the Islands of Time arent just a place where you can show up and save the world. Supposedly the Islands are ruled by the Empress of Time, a mysterious woman who has all trespassers killed immediately. To make things even more complicated, the Islands of Time house special time portals that send can send you to the past.
The first thing youll notice when firing up Warrior Within is that the game has gotten a serious thematic overhaul. Wherein the first game the Prince was a somewhat naïve individual, the incidents he has gone through have molded him into a seriously disturbed adventurer. His physical appearance, besides having aged, is more foreboding and intimating. His attire, usually in tatters, speaks volumes about the pain and the conflict that overcomes his mind and body. With this new appearance also comes a new attitude. Gone is the bright eyed and optimistic explorer from the first game and in his place is a man with an enormous chip on his shoulder (get ready to hear the Prince swear). The new mature approach, while a huge deviation from the first game, seems like a logical choice. After all, the Prince has had to kill some of his closest friends and allies in his previous adventure and those kinds of actions cant go by without having some effect on him.
Aside from having a new bad ass persona, the Prince is now also more adept at dishing out death. Granted, the combat in the first game was probably its weakest feature. Clunky and slow, many gamers simply tried to avoid fighting all together; a difficult task considering the frequency of must participate fights that required you to duke it out in order to open an arbitrary door or path. Well Ubisoft has taken some great strides in revamping the games combat system. First of all, the Prince is now able to utilize a greater number of attack combos, including some that allow him to grab enemies and use them as shields or throw them into their evil comrades. The Prince can also pick up weapons dropped by foes, the result of which is some new very cool dual-wielding action. The X button is mapped to attacking with one hand while the Y button is used to attack with both weapons at the same time. Secondary weapons, however, cant be used forever and after time theyll wear out and break. But, considering that pretty much every enemy in the game drops their weapon at some point, you shouldnt have too much trouble keep your hands full of helpful tools. If youre more of a fighter who likes to take care of business from a distance, you can now also throw secondary weapons at enemies. Once struck with a thrown weapon, enemies will go into a stunned daze, leaving them susceptible to attack combos.
While definitely a major change to the fledgling series, the new combat system is a huge step in the right direction for this game. Combat is no longer an exercise of attacking and blocking, but more of a lesson in fluid destruction. Enemies can now be attacked regardless of who youre targeting by using the left analog stick. For example, if youre surrounded by foes and start attacking one, pressing the left analog stick in the direction of another enemy will direct your combo towards that enemy as well. Since a great number of encounters include multiple enemies, I was really pleased to see that taking them on was both easy to execute and fun to experience.
While all fighting and weapons have gotten the most press for this game, you shouldnt forget about the stellar platforming. The first game wowed players with its expansive and multi-tiered environment and the sequel takes these features to a whole new level. The areas in the Islands of Time offer up some relatively similar looking areas that you saw in the first game, but also bring to the table some ingeniously created puzzles that will stretch your brain the breaking point. The Prince is still able to perform a dazzling array of moves, including jumping long distances, running up walls, inching along ledges, and using columns and trapeze-like devices to get to those hard to reach places. He can also use ropes, which are conveniently dangling in easy to reach places, to run along walls and use as a momentum builder for even more jumping power. The coolest tool, in my opinion, is the Princes ability to use curtains and wall hangings to slow his descent from high places. If youve ever seen an old Errol Flynn movie or pirate flick from the 30s where a salty sailor slides down a boat sail using his knife, you get the idea of what the Prince has up his sleeve.
The Prince is also heading, once again, into battle with the powers of the Sands of Time, although this time around it appears that Ubisoft has taken the relevance of the powers down a notch. The Prince still has the ability to rewind time, for those instances where you jump to your death or head into a battle and get your butt kicked. You also pick up the ability to slow down time again, which is invaluable when taking on enemies who are either quick and block frequently, or for those traps that prove too difficulty to avoid without taking damage. Youll also gain some other abilities, which I wont spoil for you, but overall the powers of the Sand still feel a bit untapped in terms of potential. In the first game, the only really handy power was the ability to rewind and save you from death and in the sequel that feeling is still quite prevalent. True, being able to slow down time for combat is helpful, but given the games much improved fighting engine, this ability takes on even less of importance.
Interestingly enough, the game is also packing some neat Xbox Live modes which include: Time Attack and Arena Combat Modes. Time Attack has you tackling a platforming rich obstacle course while trying to finish it as quickly as possible. Arena Combat, on the other hands, pits you against wave after wave of enemies, some of which include groups of the more difficult foes that you face in the regular game. To keep your ego ripe and big the game also keeps track of your personal bests for each mode, as well as the bests for those on your Friends List and a leader board that shows off the best player for that particular event. It also appears that the Xbox Live functionality will also support downloadable content, which so far appears to be more maps for the two available modes.
Visually, I really have to tip my hat to developer Ubisoft Montreal for taking creating a rich and engrossing world as well as some unique and twisted creatures. The levels are huge and full of detail, whether it comes in the iridescent glimmer from a dangling lamp or the clouds of sand that pour out from ominous spouts in a foreboding grand hall. The Prince and his allies, as well as his enemies, are also incredibly well animated. During combat the Prince moves like an acrobat and the fluidity of his movements are both believable and life-like. The real treat comes in his animations while solving puzzles, especially his movements when navigating narrow balance beam-like ledges. Like he should, the Prince bobs and tilts as he tries to keep his balance and the result is a Prince that just feels way more human than he did in the first game.
While I did sit down with a preview build of the game and some of the final audio content had yet to be implemented, what I did hear in my time with the game was respectable. The music, with its Middle Eastern tinged flair, fits the games topic and hero. The Prince, being a more vocal hero this time around, now comes complete with quips and insults that he throws out at enemies constantly during battle. While they tend to get a bit repetitive, theyre far more enjoyable to listen to than the simple sounds of steel on steel. Enemies, too, will get into the action and insult and taunt the Prince as they fight him, some of which are truly creepy and insidious. An enemy yelling out insults is one thing, but when they snarl them or hiss them at you, its immensely more entertaining.
Overall Prince of Persia: Warrior Within is the game that I was hoping the first Prince of Persia game was going to be. The combat is both fluid and user-friendly and the new platforming puzzles and environments are both challenging and enjoyable. While light in terms of the content, the Xbox Live modes only round out what is already shaping up to be an impressive sequel. Early in the game youre introduced to the quote, no man can change his fate, but thankfully it seems that Ubisoft has done just that and shed the problems from the first game and replaced them with one heck of an adventure.
-Chris Cook
WARNING SPOILERS: Especially after the Prince Dies, relates to Prince's Death Trailer... Continues from there for Intro Part I and II.
Movies:
Intro Part I
Intro Part II
Combat Acrobatics
Platforming Acrobatics
Top of the World
Source: Game Informer's Site
When Ubisoft released the most recent Prince of Persia game for this generation of consoles, it was instantly praised as an adept platformer; one that melded an intriguing story with some of the best three dimensional platforming ever seen. But while lauded, the game was far from perfect. The clunky combat controls proved to be more frustrating than enjoyable, a factor that turned off many gamers. Well Ubisoft is taking that complaints= to heart with their upcoming sequel Prince of Persia: Warrior Within. Once again a beautiful mix of platforming and storytelling, this new title has gotten some attention where it needed it most: combat. But, thats not to say that the quest ahead of you is just another rehash from the last game.
Warrior Within opens years after the first game, with the Prince being pursued by a mysterious black entity that leaves everything in its wake destroyed. Later on you learn that the creature is the Dakalah, the keeper of the Timeline. When the Prince first unleashes the Sands of Time in the first game, he is ultimately destined to die. But having managed to avoid a premature death, the Dakalah has come to ensure that the Prince meets his intended fate. Intent of cheating death, the Prince learns of a mysterious land called the Island of Time, supposedly the place where the Sands of Time originate. The Prince surmises that if he can make it to the islands hell be able to take reverse time to a point where the Sands of Time dont even exist, making the Dakalahs quest to kill him moot. But, according to local legend the Islands of Time arent just a place where you can show up and save the world. Supposedly the Islands are ruled by the Empress of Time, a mysterious woman who has all trespassers killed immediately. To make things even more complicated, the Islands of Time house special time portals that send can send you to the past.
The first thing youll notice when firing up Warrior Within is that the game has gotten a serious thematic overhaul. Wherein the first game the Prince was a somewhat naïve individual, the incidents he has gone through have molded him into a seriously disturbed adventurer. His physical appearance, besides having aged, is more foreboding and intimating. His attire, usually in tatters, speaks volumes about the pain and the conflict that overcomes his mind and body. With this new appearance also comes a new attitude. Gone is the bright eyed and optimistic explorer from the first game and in his place is a man with an enormous chip on his shoulder (get ready to hear the Prince swear). The new mature approach, while a huge deviation from the first game, seems like a logical choice. After all, the Prince has had to kill some of his closest friends and allies in his previous adventure and those kinds of actions cant go by without having some effect on him.
Aside from having a new bad ass persona, the Prince is now also more adept at dishing out death. Granted, the combat in the first game was probably its weakest feature. Clunky and slow, many gamers simply tried to avoid fighting all together; a difficult task considering the frequency of must participate fights that required you to duke it out in order to open an arbitrary door or path. Well Ubisoft has taken some great strides in revamping the games combat system. First of all, the Prince is now able to utilize a greater number of attack combos, including some that allow him to grab enemies and use them as shields or throw them into their evil comrades. The Prince can also pick up weapons dropped by foes, the result of which is some new very cool dual-wielding action. The X button is mapped to attacking with one hand while the Y button is used to attack with both weapons at the same time. Secondary weapons, however, cant be used forever and after time theyll wear out and break. But, considering that pretty much every enemy in the game drops their weapon at some point, you shouldnt have too much trouble keep your hands full of helpful tools. If youre more of a fighter who likes to take care of business from a distance, you can now also throw secondary weapons at enemies. Once struck with a thrown weapon, enemies will go into a stunned daze, leaving them susceptible to attack combos.
While definitely a major change to the fledgling series, the new combat system is a huge step in the right direction for this game. Combat is no longer an exercise of attacking and blocking, but more of a lesson in fluid destruction. Enemies can now be attacked regardless of who youre targeting by using the left analog stick. For example, if youre surrounded by foes and start attacking one, pressing the left analog stick in the direction of another enemy will direct your combo towards that enemy as well. Since a great number of encounters include multiple enemies, I was really pleased to see that taking them on was both easy to execute and fun to experience.
While all fighting and weapons have gotten the most press for this game, you shouldnt forget about the stellar platforming. The first game wowed players with its expansive and multi-tiered environment and the sequel takes these features to a whole new level. The areas in the Islands of Time offer up some relatively similar looking areas that you saw in the first game, but also bring to the table some ingeniously created puzzles that will stretch your brain the breaking point. The Prince is still able to perform a dazzling array of moves, including jumping long distances, running up walls, inching along ledges, and using columns and trapeze-like devices to get to those hard to reach places. He can also use ropes, which are conveniently dangling in easy to reach places, to run along walls and use as a momentum builder for even more jumping power. The coolest tool, in my opinion, is the Princes ability to use curtains and wall hangings to slow his descent from high places. If youve ever seen an old Errol Flynn movie or pirate flick from the 30s where a salty sailor slides down a boat sail using his knife, you get the idea of what the Prince has up his sleeve.
The Prince is also heading, once again, into battle with the powers of the Sands of Time, although this time around it appears that Ubisoft has taken the relevance of the powers down a notch. The Prince still has the ability to rewind time, for those instances where you jump to your death or head into a battle and get your butt kicked. You also pick up the ability to slow down time again, which is invaluable when taking on enemies who are either quick and block frequently, or for those traps that prove too difficulty to avoid without taking damage. Youll also gain some other abilities, which I wont spoil for you, but overall the powers of the Sand still feel a bit untapped in terms of potential. In the first game, the only really handy power was the ability to rewind and save you from death and in the sequel that feeling is still quite prevalent. True, being able to slow down time for combat is helpful, but given the games much improved fighting engine, this ability takes on even less of importance.
Interestingly enough, the game is also packing some neat Xbox Live modes which include: Time Attack and Arena Combat Modes. Time Attack has you tackling a platforming rich obstacle course while trying to finish it as quickly as possible. Arena Combat, on the other hands, pits you against wave after wave of enemies, some of which include groups of the more difficult foes that you face in the regular game. To keep your ego ripe and big the game also keeps track of your personal bests for each mode, as well as the bests for those on your Friends List and a leader board that shows off the best player for that particular event. It also appears that the Xbox Live functionality will also support downloadable content, which so far appears to be more maps for the two available modes.
Visually, I really have to tip my hat to developer Ubisoft Montreal for taking creating a rich and engrossing world as well as some unique and twisted creatures. The levels are huge and full of detail, whether it comes in the iridescent glimmer from a dangling lamp or the clouds of sand that pour out from ominous spouts in a foreboding grand hall. The Prince and his allies, as well as his enemies, are also incredibly well animated. During combat the Prince moves like an acrobat and the fluidity of his movements are both believable and life-like. The real treat comes in his animations while solving puzzles, especially his movements when navigating narrow balance beam-like ledges. Like he should, the Prince bobs and tilts as he tries to keep his balance and the result is a Prince that just feels way more human than he did in the first game.
While I did sit down with a preview build of the game and some of the final audio content had yet to be implemented, what I did hear in my time with the game was respectable. The music, with its Middle Eastern tinged flair, fits the games topic and hero. The Prince, being a more vocal hero this time around, now comes complete with quips and insults that he throws out at enemies constantly during battle. While they tend to get a bit repetitive, theyre far more enjoyable to listen to than the simple sounds of steel on steel. Enemies, too, will get into the action and insult and taunt the Prince as they fight him, some of which are truly creepy and insidious. An enemy yelling out insults is one thing, but when they snarl them or hiss them at you, its immensely more entertaining.
Overall Prince of Persia: Warrior Within is the game that I was hoping the first Prince of Persia game was going to be. The combat is both fluid and user-friendly and the new platforming puzzles and environments are both challenging and enjoyable. While light in terms of the content, the Xbox Live modes only round out what is already shaping up to be an impressive sequel. Early in the game youre introduced to the quote, no man can change his fate, but thankfully it seems that Ubisoft has done just that and shed the problems from the first game and replaced them with one heck of an adventure.
-Chris Cook
WARNING SPOILERS: Especially after the Prince Dies, relates to Prince's Death Trailer... Continues from there for Intro Part I and II.
Movies:
Intro Part I
Intro Part II
Combat Acrobatics
Platforming Acrobatics
Top of the World
Source: Game Informer's Site