Retro Games Reviewer #14; Prince of Persia Review
Back in the days, there was always a Princess to save, in video games. That's nice. Epic, romantic, and very manly.
When I was a kid, I had a neighbour who had a PC. I had my NES, and he had his 386. I had Super Mario and Zelda, but he had this fucking great game, called Prince of Persia. Prince to close friends. I watched him play that game, and, for the first time, I wanted a pc keyboard as much as a NES controller.
So, once upon a time, a dude was trapped in a dungeon, - in Persia, so, the title... - by the evil Vizir. - Jaffar is the asshole's name.
And the princess was kidnapped by the same Vizir. What for? Besides the obvious reasons...? He's going to force her to marry him, in order to become the Sultan of Persia.
She has one hour to decide. And she has to say yes. Or else... I don't know. Does he kill her? Makes her listen to Justin Bieber? Either way, it's fucked up.
But she has a hope. You!
Now, I'm singing the title screen music. Ah, I'm feeling heroic. Where's my damn' sword? I want to invoke the Gods of War, and of poor helpless Princesses.
And only after you save the princess, and marry her, you will actually become the Prince of Persia.
Hell of a game. You have to figure the way out of 12 levels, in 60 minutes. Each level is a floor of the same castle. Dungeons, the upper floors, they are all big mazes, that you have to beat. Meanwhile, you also need to beat the Vizir guards, in single combat. In the first level, you need to find your sword, and then, you're ready to go. The fights are very well made. Sword agains sword, man against man. The gameplay is awesome. The keyboard responds smoothly. The graphics are excellent. I don't know why the fuck the prince is blond, since he's persian, but besides that, hats off. The scenarios are superb, you really get into the essence of the game. You really feel like you're traped. Besides the guards, there are also a lot of creepy traps. Like spikes, that come out from the ground, when you're passing by and machines that cut you in half. Sometimes, you get killed in a second by hidden ll scare the shit out of you. The Prince and the guards are digitalized sprites. Jordan Mechner used video images of his own brother performing all the moves you can see on the game, to give birth to the Prince. So, everything looks very real. Lots of movements. Little steps, climbing, and descending, drinking potions - red ones will give you health, blue ones are poison - fighting with your sword, - you can put back your sword during fight, if you're willing to try to run, of if you want to commit suicide -, and all that good stuff.
So, since it looks real, it also feels real. You have to calculate your running, your jumping, everything. You can trip, you can fall just because of a slight mistake, like a false step, etc. It requires a lot of practice
In one level, you will have to jump through a magic mirror. And, your own shadow, will become alive, and will leave your body. You will then have to meet her, in the final level. Meanwhile, she will try to undermine your mission.
Really, how cool is that, for a 1989 game? The game was created by Jordan Mechner, by the way.
Sometimes you see skeletons, throughout the dungeons. One of them will rise, out of the blue, and you will have to fight it. You cannot kill it, because it's already dead.
Damn', this is a superb game. As I write this, I'm having all these good memories.
Now and then, between levels, you see what's happening with the princess. One of the games where you can see the final screen before reaching there. You can see the princess waiting for you, or being pressured by the Vizir. And also, when she's preparing a little something to help you - like a mouse! Yes, a mouse! I will not spoil all the surprises. Oh wait, I think I already did... - everything is very realistic, and it makes the game even more appealing.
The princess room is also quite beautiful, and luxurious. Persian, middle-eastern and 1001 nights style.
There were several versions of this game. Most of them are copies of the original. There's a Konami version, for the Super NES, which is a deluxe version. More levels and scenarios, better graphics, more bosses, - including monsters and female fighters, etc. Quite harder too. It's an excellent game, and, in my opinion, one of the best SNES titles. You have twice the time to beat it. Two hours, instead of the 60 minutes, regarding the original title. Both games are full of atmosphere and adrenalin, and they are quite an experience.
Anyway, first, play the 1989 PC Prince of Persia. That's where all the magic was born. And, to this day, is one of the best platform games ever.
Retro Games Reviewer; Prince of Persia Review, 25/08/13
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