Prince of Persia: The Sands of Awesome (Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (PS2))

Member Name: Splend42

Product:	Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (PS2)
Date:	22/08/09 (7 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great graphics, satisfying puzzles, easy combat

Disadvantages: Leap-of-faith heavy at times, thanks to poor camerawork

I received this game free as part of a bundle package when I bought my PS2, oh so many years ago. It was in fact the reason I went for that particular bundle.

I played the original PC game in my childhood, and this version is a great update! Gone are the sidescrolling 2D exploration and the fetching white pyjamas - now the Prince's surroundings are rendered in luscious 3D with graphics that don't seem to have dated much at out. The plot has been elevated beyond the meagre rescue-the-princess standards of the original, too; now the Prince's quest is to use his Dagger of Time to undo the horrible mess he has caused by foolishly listening to the evil Vizier (if the Arabian Nights has taught us one thing, it's never to trust a Vizier!).

Control is simple enough, as there's an excellent movement and combat tutorial at the beginning of the game. The Prince is adept at pulling off lots of swanky moves like flipping and wall-running, and you'll make use of all of them as you navigate the perilous terrain and deadly traps.

The puzzles are stimulating, and there's a real sense of achievement when you successfully complete one. The combat is fairly simple, which is a bonus point for me as I've never been especially good at combat-heavy games.

It's not all positive, though. The camera control is often a little annoying, and it's sometimes difficult to tell which way you're lined up when jumping from column to column, which irritatingly often leads to a long drop and some horrific crunching noises. Of course, that's where the genuine selling-point of the game comes in.

The then-revolutionary time-control part of the game is an excellent addition. Just jumped into a vast cavern because you were facing entirely the wrong way? Wind back time. Spent too long figuring out how to avoid traps on the way to a slowly closing door? Slow down time. It's excellent, though you'll rely heavily on it because you'll find yourself plunging to your death quite often.

The only other down point is that the character of Farrah, though endearingly sarcastic, is almost beyond useless as a sidekick. Rubbish in battle and only able to act in certain situations, you'll find yourself shouting at her more often than not.

That said, the fun that can be gained from the game far outweighs the frustration, and I've played it through at least 3 times. Well recommended or all who like to think a little bit while playing their games.

Summary: Stands up to the test of time, has high re-playability and is still fun, despite its niggling flaws.