Cynicism, scepticism, and apprehension were my almost palpable emotions before Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands’ title screen had even loaded up. I have been a fan of the franchise, particularly since the 2003 release of the iconic Sands of Time, but this loyalty was not enough to deter my sense that the 2010 title would be nothing more than a quick film cash-in. This is due to the simple fact that, far more often than not, movie spin-offs tend to be poor, often feeling rushed and unfinished, as game developers rapidly usher these titles out of development in order to complement the release of their silver-screened counterpart (I’m looking at you Iron Man and Avatar). It is fair to say that I did not have high hopes for the latest take on the Prince of Persia franchise, especially since Ubisoft did little to quash my fears, as they even made the Prince look like Jake Gyllenhaal as if to further leech off the hype surrounding Disney’s blockbuster.
This growing despondency was made more acute by the games first impressions, as its clichéd Arabian setting, half-baked and uninspiring ‘save the world’ story that will not do much to enhance the existing Prince of Persia cannon, and its glitch-ridden character models, did little to persuade me of the titles worth as a successor to the glorious Sands of Time. Therefore, my feeling of cynicism festered, as not only did I expect an average-at-best and soulless foray into the Prince of Persia universe, but I almost wanted The Forgotten Sands to be a poor game, as if to prove my own sceptical nature correct. However, there was a glimmer of hope, as the box-art reminded me that this game was indeed made by the same studio that had created the much revered, and still unsurpassed, Sands of Time. Hence, as I trawled through Malik’s castle, this sense of doubt became replaced by a warm feeling of familiarity, as The Forgotten Sands is almost a clone of its forefather, but with a few gameplay and mechanical tweaks to ensure that your adventure does not get stale.
Yes, there is certainly familiarity with every single aspect of The Forgotten Sands. For instance, the glamorous palace that has be destroyed and enveloped by the marauding Solomon’s sand army bears a striking resemblance to Azad, with at one point the Prince even reflecting upon how these two locations are positively similar. The Forgotten Sands also provides us with Razia, the ethereal damsel-in-distress who would again evoke a feeling of familiarity, especially to her Sands of Time equivalent, Princess Farah. Fans of the series may even notice the return of voice-actor Yuri Lowenthal as the silver-tongued British Prince, who despite not being provided with riveting dialogue, still manages to bring a sense of class to the occasion.
Perhaps The Forgotten Sands is actually a movie spin-off of Groundhog Day, as before I’ve even sunk my teeth into the game in earnest, I feel like I’ve seen all of this before. Yet, this is not necessarily a sore point, as fans will be pleased to hear that all the gameplay hallmarks of previous Prince of Persia games are present, and as slick and smooth as ever. Ubisoft have ensured that usual platforming acrobatics, perilous pitfalls and traps, hordes of enemies to hack-and-slash your way through, and the franchises trademark time-altering mechanic are all present in The Forgotten Sands, and that they still provide the solid foundation for a profoundly enjoyable experience. Although there is a slight innovation in your elemental control powers and a limited character progression tree, this title is still classic Prince of Persia.
Sometimes, familiarity may prove mundane or stagnant, and although The Forgotten Sands does not reinvent the franchise or the genre, fans of the series and of platforming games in general will not be disappointed by Ubisoft’s latest release, as its comfortable and refined gameplay saves the titles chronic lack of originality. Clearly there is no emotive story to immerse yourself in, deep characters to empathise with, and there are certainly no radical gameplay or stylistic changes to be found within The Forgotten Sands, yet players will be treated to a marvellous free-running experience that has become synonymous with the Prince of Persia franchise.
Therefore, fans of the series will not mind the over-arching sense of familiarity, as The Forgotten Sands proves to be a good 7-8 hour blast down memory lane.
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