8 Gritty Reworks Of Video Game Characters That Fell Flat

Altering time can really do a number on you, as evidenced by The Prince's radical transformation from charming, Aladdin-inspired hero into hardened, edgy protagonist.

While The Sands of Time brought us a world full of bright aesthetics accompanied by vibrant visuals in a fictional Arabian backdrop, Warrior Within leaves most of those recognized characteristics behind. Only look to The Prince, who, captivating and witty in his own right, suddenly became more violent, more menacing, and more moody. Ubisoft intended for him to appear more mature to older audiences, but this promptly backfired due to the unwarranted grittier direction.

The Prince in Warrior Within was the consummate tough guy with little to no personality, which was only reinforced by the heavy metal songs that would play over combat sequences. It all felt totally unnecessary, as fans and critics alike, although noting gameplay improvements, both longed for the overall tone to return to what catapulted the IP into mainstream recognition.

Instead of taking The Prince to more fantasy-driven heights as fans had hoped for in a sequel, Warrior Within plunged him into both metaphorical and literal darkness. The Two Thrones managed to strike a good balance between both iterations of The Prince we knew of, and, thankfully, closed out his overall arc on a satisfying, warm note.