Picking out the best game of the 2000s Prince of Persia trilogy was a no-brainer. While the follow-ups were decent games that stayed faithful to the mechanics of the original, their darker tone felt contrived in its attempts to appeal to... who? Adults? Moody teenagers? Whatever the intentions, the sequels lost that 'Arabian Nights' magic of the Sands of Time. The first Prince of Persia game of the new millennium was one of the most innovative platform-adventures ever made, thanks to awesome time-bending mechanics that let you rewind and freeze time to aid you in your quest. The rewind mechanic meant that you could retry tough challenges in a matter of seconds, which you would do a lot because this game didn't hold back on pushing your platforming dexterity and puzzle-solving skills to the limit. It was a great way of keeping the player immersed, and the game was filled with witty quips; a personal favourite of mine was like the Prince/narrator quipping upon your death that "No, that didn't happen", before you rewound the game to try-try again. The art design was gorgeous, with each area having its own sense of history and purpose, rather than just being a death-trap for the Prince to traverse. The spectacular combat, which entailed plenty of flips and time-freezing, never grew old, nor did the wall-running and charming story, all of which combined to make one of the finest 3D platformers ever.
Gamer, Researcher of strange things.
I'm a writer-editor hybrid whose writings on video games, technology and movies can be found across the internet. I've even ventured into the realm of current affairs on occasion but, unable to face reality, have retreated into expatiating on things on screens instead.
