Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands feels like a return to form for the series, offering an action-packed adventure filled with acrobatic platforming, intense combat, and a captivating story. Released in 2010 as a companion to the Sands of Time trilogy, this title takes place between the events of The Sands of Time and Warrior Within, making it a direct continuation of the classic narrative. While it doesn’t quite reach the heights of its predecessors, The Forgotten Sands is still a thrilling and enjoyable experience that captures the essence of what fans love about the franchise.

The story centers around the Prince, who arrives at his brother Malik’s kingdom only to find it under siege by an army of ancient, supernatural creatures. Malik, in his desperation, has unleashed the powers of an ancient curse, which threatens to destroy the entire world. As the Prince, you’ll have to navigate through perilous environments, solve environmental puzzles, and battle enemies in order to undo the damage and restore balance.

One of the highlights of The Forgotten Sands is its fluid, fast-paced platforming. The game retains the franchise’s trademark wall-running, ledge-grabbing, and acrobatic movements, making for some spectacular traversal sequences. Whether it’s running up a collapsing wall or jumping across treacherous ledges, the fluidity of movement is both satisfying and visually impressive. The level design does an excellent job of using these abilities, offering varied and challenging platforming sections that keep you on your toes throughout the game.

Combat, while enjoyable, doesn’t evolve much from the earlier entries in the series. The Prince wields a sword and can chain together combos to take down enemies in stylish, fluid sequences. The addition of elemental powers, which the Prince can harness during combat, adds a nice tactical layer, allowing you to freeze enemies, unleash fire attacks, or create shields to protect yourself. However, despite the variety of moves and powers, the combat can sometimes feel repetitive, especially when facing the same types of enemies in large waves. It doesn’t offer the depth or intensity that some might expect from modern action games, but it still manages to be satisfying for fans of the franchise.

The game’s visuals, while not groundbreaking, are certainly pleasing for the time. The environments are lush and vibrant, filled with towering ruins, dangerous sandstorms, and beautiful palaces. The art direction captures the mystical and exotic atmosphere of the Prince’s world, giving each area its own distinct flavor. While the character models and animations are solid, the game’s occasional camera issues can be frustrating, especially during tight platforming sections. A more responsive camera system would have made the experience smoother, but it’s a minor annoyance in an otherwise visually appealing game.

The narrative is engaging, though somewhat predictable. The dynamic between the Prince and his brother Malik serves as the emotional core of the story, exploring themes of redemption, betrayal, and the consequences of seeking power beyond one’s control. The Prince’s character arc, while not as deep as in The Sands of Time, is still compelling enough to keep you invested in his journey. The voice acting is solid, with Yuri Lowenthal returning as the Prince, delivering a performance that conveys the character’s usual wit and determination.

One of the game’s strongest elements is its environmental puzzles, which require creative use of the Prince’s abilities. These puzzles are integrated well into the platforming, often demanding quick reflexes and clever thinking to solve. The game introduces mechanics like the ability to manipulate the environment by freezing water to create platforms, adding a layer of complexity to the puzzle-solving experience.

While The Forgotten Sands doesn’t reinvent the wheel, it successfully recaptures the magic of The Sands of Time. The game offers a balanced blend of action, platforming, and puzzle-solving that makes it a satisfying experience for fans of the series. It’s not as groundbreaking as its predecessors, but it’s a fun, nostalgic trip back to a time when platformers ruled the gaming world.

If you’re a fan of the Prince of Persia franchise, The Forgotten Sands is definitely worth playing. It doesn’t reach the narrative or gameplay heights of Sands of Time, but it’s a solid, enjoyable adventure that scratches that Prince of Persia itch. The combination of platforming, elemental powers, and intriguing story makes it a worthwhile, though not essential, entry in the series.

Rating: 7/10

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