Whilst Prince of Persia: Sands of Time may not have been the first Prince of Persia game to be in 3D (that honour goes to the rather poor PC only game of a few years back) it did reinvent the genre for a console audience. The game was one of the highlights of the 2003 Christmas release schedule, bursting with new ideas and an excellent dialogue and soundtrack.

Last years POP: Warrior Within unfortunately tried too hard to please the masses and instead broke the magic spell created by the first game. The eastern soundtrack was replaced by an unfitting heavy rock track, and there was too much emphasis on fighting. The combat in the original game had been simple and easy to master, but Warrior Within went down the route of throwing in far too many enemies making progress a matter of brawn over brain.

Well, I’m pleased to report that POP: Two Thrones is the true successor to Sands of Time! We have the proper eastern setting again, a more fitting musical accompaniment and the running dialogue throughout the game also returns, this time voiced by a female. Initially I thought this to be Kaileena, the Sorceress of Time from the second game, who the Prince starts the game with, but having progressed a bit further into the game I think that may be wrong.


The Prince is just as atheletic as ever, adding some new moves to his existing repertoire of wall running and swinging. Among these is the ability to stick his knife into special areas to allow him to climb sheer walls and operate machinery. Combat has also been revised slightly. The combo moves from Warrior Within are still present, but a Speed Kill feature has also been added. This allows you to creep up behind an enemy and dispatch them without a drawn out fight by stabbing a button at precise times.

At certain points you get transformed into the Dark Prince (first seen in Warrior Within). When in this form your energy level gradually depletes, but it can be replenished by killing enemies. The Dark Prince is a much faster, stronger fighter, which brings back the continuously spawning enemies of Warrior Within. This time round though he also has a chain which he can whirl round his head and use to decapitate enemies!

Winding back time when you make a mistake is still possible (once you’ve earned it) and it’s great to have another chance at a particularly tricky jump or timed run past sharp blades by rewinding to a safe position and trying again. This is particularly useful in the new chariot racing section, which requires more learning of a set route through the level than being able to control the horses pulling you along.

All in all I’m very impressed with what I’ve seen so far of the game, though I still have quite a way to go yet before I complete it. If you enjoyed Sands of Time but were put off by Warrior Within, then give Two Thrones a whirl. If you’ve not played any of the other games, then this is also a great place to start!

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