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[SantaC]

Well, I'm playing the GC version now...

Sadly, the game runs in 16-bit color so there is dithering. Also, the shader effects on the ship are missing (but those might only be present in the PC version). Other than that, the framerate is perfect (well, a perfect 30 fps) and it feels pretty good on GC. The colors are a whole lot brighter than the PS2 and PC demos too. Those demos felt VERY grungy and dark whereas the GC version is a lot more colorful.

Now sound issues yet either.

Oh, and the opening movie looked awful on GC. The compression was pretty terrible, the sound was a bit lacking, and the movement was a tad jerky. I hope there isn't much FMV in the game, as it looks awful on GC...

edit - The dithering really sucks. The game uses a lot of dark colors and all of the richness is sucked right out thanks to the incredible amount of color dithering. What the hell is the deal? I haven't seen it on XBOX, but it wasn't like this on the PS2 or PC (obviously not on the PC).

Sell your TV and sound system it's all over

 

[norinrad21]

"Community Lowdown: 5.4" :lol

Do people really care about reviews for cell phone games?

:lol :lol :lol :lol

 

[dark10x]

Sell your TV and sound system it's all over

The Gamecube generally sports the best image quality of the three systems, actually (at least for me). 480p GC games are incredible looking. The clarity and color saturation is truly magnificent and easily outshines the XBOX and PS2.

PoP moves in the exact opposite direction and produces an ugly, dirty image. The only other game that comes close is Twin Snakes, and that isn't nearly this bad.

I don't understand what went wrong...

Ah well, the game actually kicks ass. The game is very challenging both in terms of combat and platforming. The areas really aren't too terribly linear any longer and the combat can often reach the point where you can't even afford to take ANY damage (which is actually exciting). Also, there is a lot of variety in the combat. Different enemies have very different attacks and there are even some unique fighting situations (balance fighting along a thin high beam, for example, is really cool).

 

[Solid]

The H2H is up. Xbox win.

http://insider.ign.com/articles/569/569964p1.html

Everything is back to normal. Keep selling your Cubes!!

 

[dark10x]

The H2H is up. Xbox win.

http://insider.ign.com/articles/569/569964p1.html

Everything is back to normal. Keep selling your Cubes!!

Could anyone share a few details as to why that's the case?

I did just see a picture comparing the four of them, and the GC version really DOES look the worst. The XBOX version seems to have all of the shaders of the PC version as well as a higher color depth. Also, in the first area, the PS2 version adds a bunch of heat-wave effects. The GC has nothing special there AND it looks grainy...

I'm totally trading this in for the XBOX version.

 

[btrboyev]

can you btich just a tad more?

 

[dark10x]

can you btich just a tad more?

I just want to prevent others from being screwed.

 

[Speevy]

I just want to prevent others from being screwed.

If you only own a Gamecube, then you have much better reasons for not getting PoPWW, the most compelling of which is that it apparently pales in comparison to the first one. (which I loved)

If you have multiple systems, you probably weren't going to buy the Gamecube version anyway.

 

[olimario]

IGN totally ignorned the problems the plague the XBOX and PS2 versions of this game.
I could have written that H2H for them without ever having played any version of the game.

And dark, you know as well as anybody else that the GC has terrible screen captures. It should come as NO SHOCK that the GC screens look the worst.

 

[dark10x]

IGN totally ignorned the problems the plague the XBOX and PS2 versions of this game.
I could have written that H2H for them without ever having played any version of the game.

And dark, you know as well as anybody else that the GC has terrible screen captures. It should come as NO SHOCK that the GC screens look the worst.

The screencaps look a whole lot better than what I'm seeing. The GC version is a dithered nightmare on my TV. As I said above, GC typically has the best looking 480p output (IMO). Games tend to be extremely crisp, clean, and colorful on GC. Twin Snakes and Wind Waker both had some dithering issues as well, but it was nowhere near as noticible. As I said in another thread, the dithering here is on par with Silent Hill 1 on PSX. It's not a problem with my GC or any of the other hardware either, it's the game.

Which problems are you referring to in the XBOX and pS2 versions, though?

If you are listening to GS on this, don't. The GC version has sound glitches in the same places as the XBOX version. Several times the dialog that was being played back during gameplay would just be cut off (which is exactly what they complained about on XBOX). I don't know how they missed it, but it occurs on GC as well.

What about framerate? The GC version has plenty of slowdown. The last three rooms that I visisted prior to quitting all had a rather unstable framerate. However, I do know that the PS2 has more severe slowdown...

Oh well, it does not matter. I just called up to EB and will be swapping my GC copy for an XBOX version. Now I should be able to enjoy the game. I hate to sound so negative, but this whole situation seriously pissed me off. :\

If you only own a Gamecube, then you have much better reasons for not getting PoPWW, the most compelling of which is that it apparently pales in comparison to the first one. (which I loved)

I don't know about that...

While I can't judge it yet, the actual gameplay progression is vastly superior to the original. PoP1 had you on a linear path where you would perform a series of platform challenges and, upon reaching the end of that challenge, you were faced with a barrage of spawning enemies.

PoP2 is a bit more open ended, has much more challenging platforming puzzles, integrates combat INTO the world, features better and more challenging combat, and is quite a bit of fun. The only thing lacking in comparison to the original is, as you guessed it, the new "hardcore" Prince...

The game rocks!

 

[IJoel]

I played the game for a few hours last night. Here are some thoughts on it:

1. Graphics are very nice. Level design architecture is very good as well. Art... well, so far I'm not liking it much.

2. Music is AWFUL. AWFUL AWFUL AWFUL. Just when you get to a fighting scene, a rock riff will kick in and will REPEAT ITSELF TIME AFTER TIME. Loud, obnoxious and unimaginative music. Did I mention how AWFUL it was?

3. Fighting engine is not good at all, so far. It might be that in the few hours that I played I still haven't gotten it, but to me it seems they tried to somewhat copy Ninja Gaiden's fighting engine and failed miserably. First of all, it's unreliable. You are in these buildings with cliffs and ledges and, well, the Free Fighting Form becomes the Freaking Falling Form when you try to use the available moves. Not only that, but it's just plain unreliable as many moves are context sensitive and in the midst of a hectic battle trying to pull a move can take the form of another move and cause you heavy damage. I am just dreading these fighting scenes as I don't really feel in control. Hopefully this will improve as I play more.

4. I can't help but feel the game has just completely lost the 'fantastical setting' of the first one. It looks great technically, but also very generic. I am very very disappointed in the game, so far, which is a shame considering I loved PoP: SoT.

As for which version I got, it's the Xbox one. So far I haven't encountered any glitches, sound or otherwise.

Edit: Two more points:

5. Platforming so far has been great. No issues here. It has been quite faithful to the first one, with a couple of moves having been added (swinging ropes from side to side on a wall, falling off a curtain while being able to jump from it.)

6. The game tries WAY TOO HARD to be mature. The dialogue is pretty generic and has some really awkward phrases ("YOU BITCH!") that have made me put my WTF/cringe face. Also, whenever you die, the screen is splattered with blood before Game Over comes. I just don't get it. Again, they seem to be going after the audience that rejected the previous version and definitely not the ones that supported it.

 

[Celicar]

I'm playing the Xbox version, and although fun, the graphics are not up to par. I played the last PoP on the pc and it looked beautiful. I think Ubisoft rushed the xbox version. I'm noticing A LOT of glitches.

 

[Naked Snake]

Does anyone have this game for PC? How is the performance compared to the first POP? My computer ran POP incredibly well (very surprising for it's specs), so I'm wondering if the sequel is [much] more hardware demanding than the original.

 

[Code_Link]

I just called up to EB and will be swapping my GC copy for an XBOX version. Now I should be able to enjoy the game.

Haha, I can't believe you went through all that shit just to post what you really wanted to say in the first place.

 

[Naked Snake]

dark10x, here you go, I edited the following slightly and cut out unnecessary parts so I'd pass the TOS guidelines.

Sound: All of the versions seem to suffer from stutters now and then, but Xbox maintains the most high quality output with the most surround discretion of the bunch. The PC sampling is clear, but the rear surrounds are not consistently in action and cut-scenes don't seem to use the rears at all. GameCube and PS2 sound very similar with Dolby Pro Logic II, but likely due to GameCube's larger sound memory capacity the sampling is slightly higher quality.


Graphics:-

GameCube Advantages

* Framerate -- Mostly 30. Better than PS2.
* Bright/Vivid
* Filtered -- Cleaner display than PS2.
* Progressive Scan (480p)

GameCube Disadvantages

* Weaker Textures (vs. PC/Xbox)
* No Widescreen

PlayStation 2 Advantages

* Texture Effects -- Heat warps nearby visuals.
* Progressive Scan (480p)

PlayStation 2 Disadvantages

* Lacks Filtering -- More jagged, shimmers.
* Framerate -- Drops below 30 most often.
* No Widescreen

Xbox Advantages

* High-Res Textures (Versus GCN/PS2)
* Texture Effects -- Light reflects, specular sheen.
* Richer Color (vs. GCN/PS2)
* Softer, More "Real" Shadows
* Progressive Scan (480p)
* Widescreen

Xbox Disadvantages

* No 1080i/720p -- Can't compete with PC's higher resolution.
* Weaker Textures (vs. PC)

PC Advantages

* Highest-Res Textures
* Higher Resolutions (Progressive) -- Top graphics cards will pull off 1600x1200 at 30 frames per second.
* Softer, More "Real" Shadows
* Sharpest, Cleanest Display
* Fastest Framerate

PC Disadvantages

* No Widescreen

Xbox basically looks like the PC version at 640x480, so it's blurrier and not as high-res, but it features the same reflections, lighting, and softer shadows. As a benefit you can run it in progressive scan and widescreen. No widescreen for PS2 and GC.

GCN and PS2 just don't hold up to Xbox or PC in the texture or effect department. But, interestingly, the PS2 does seem to be the only version that used the "heatwave effect" to refract nearby visuals. It's really not a needed or impressive effect, however. GameCube has the noticeably better framerate and a smoother look than PS2.

Gamecube has heavily compressed FMV.

Why did you rush in buying the GC version is beyond me, you should have waited a few more hours to get a proper verdict.

http://insidermedia.ign.com/insider...ior-within-head-to-head-20041201113416024.jpg

 

[dark10x]

Haha, I can't believe you went through all that shit just to post what you really wanted to say in the first place.

Lemme guess, you think I'm bashing the Cube huh?

 

[Nerevar]

IGN totally ignorned the problems the plague the XBOX and PS2 versions of this game.
I could have written that H2H for them without ever having played any version of the game.

And dark, you know as well as anybody else that the GC has terrible screen captures. It should come as NO SHOCK that the GC screens look the worst.

where's that pic of the baby nintendo crying with GC damage control on it? We need it, STAT!

Seriously, I don't understand what the hell gamespot was doing. The sound glitch is widely reported to happen in all 3, and everyone is complaining about how the GC version looks the worst (in still frames - PS2 has better textures & effects). I have to ask, did they even play the 3 different games for any length of time? Their incapacity to find any of the glitches that plague the other ones as well as the slowdown issues on that version makes me very skeptical of their dedication to reviewing cross-platform games independently.

 

[Particle Physicist]

I've played the PS2 and PC versions of the game and neither of them have such severe dithering.

I did find that the GC version pumps up the brightness when in 480p mode, so I made a special preset mode on my TV just for this game (with the brightness turned down). Now it looks quite a bit better, but it still has a very dirty, dithered look.

Based on the other versions, though, I'd assume the XBOX version does not have the problem.

Now, the PS2 version has more slowdown, that's for sure. However, the GC version certainly has some as well. The PC demo, however, ran at a smooth 60 fps on my PC and sported several effects that are not present in the other two.

The GC version does have some sound issues, though, so I'd assume that holds true for all versions of the game. It is simply a bug...

I'm feeling a bit better about it after discovering that 480p mode has a brightness issue, but I was really pissed when I posted above. Also, I'm having a strange wavebird issue with this game. If you let even a tiny bit of pressure off of the triggers, whatever action you were doing is cancelled. If you are running along a wall, for instance, it is easy to fall unless you really squeeze the trigger tightly. It's the only game I can think of that has this issue...

damn.. looks like its the xbox version for me.

 

[Solid]

Xbox-version is a must if you have an Xbox. Especially since it supports Live

http://www.princeofpersiagame.com/uk/xboxlivefeatures.php

Time Attack Mode
Arena Survival Mode
Downloadable Content
Scoreboards
Friends List
Live Aware

 

[Mega Man's Electric Sheep]

More evidence that Gamespot is full of it and needs to actually play multiplatform games before naming one version the best:

http://cube.gamespy.com/gamecube/prince-of-persia-2/570794p1.html

"The GameCube game also has pretty bad color dithering, and the framerate is not as solid as on Xbox. It's a toss-up between it and the PS2 version for second place."

gamespy gave it 3/5 btw, and whined about the angst and compared it to jak 2. Yawn.

 

[dark10x]

The GameCube game also has pretty bad color dithering, and the framerate is not as solid as on Xbox.

Just like I said...

 

[Mega Man's Electric Sheep]

Yes dark, you really nailed it, it seems. I'm sorry you had to waste your time with the cube version due to gamespot though. I bought the xbox one, then read gamespot's review and was almost tempted to exchange it. I'm never bothering with Gamespot's opinion on which multiplatform version is best now. They obviously were talking out of their asses if they saw no audio or visual flaws in the cube version.