Jordan Mechner’s 1989 platformer constructed on the cinematic foundations of Karateka and began a franchise which has seen its share of ups (the Sands of Time reboot, the current Misplaced Crown revival) and downs (the Sands of Time movie, Prince of Persia 3D), however regardless of the occasional misfire or workaday entry, the collection has endured for nearly 35 years
However what’s the most effective Prince of Persia sport? We have missed a handful on Nintendo consoles through the years (notably the underrated 2008 reboot), but the overwhelming majority of entries are playable on Nintendo platforms, with a number of totally different ports of the unique.
There are 15 Prince of Persia video games on Nintendo techniques by our rely. and to seek out out which is finest, we requested Nintendo Life readers to charge those they’ve performed — and you may see the outcomes beneath.
Keep in mind: This Prince of Persia rating is ruled by Person Rankings for every sport on our database and is topic to real-time fluctuations, even after publication. Which means it is nonetheless attainable to affect and alter the rating beneath. To take action, merely click on on the sport you want to charge and assign a rating on the Recreation Web page.
Canonically going down between The Sands of Time and Warrior Inside, Battles of Prince of Persia sees the collection dip its toe into the realm of turn-based ways to various levels of success.
The ways system shines on the DS, with touchscreen controls making it easy to maneuver models across the battlefield whereas keeping track of what’s occurring due to the highest display screen. Sadly, the sport’s further card-battling components by no means really feel like they actually gel with the turn-based fight, making battles needlessly sophisticated and shortly monotonous.
For followers of DS ways video games, that is most likely price testing, however anybody after an introduction to the style is probably going higher off wanting elsewhere.
You may’t knock Prince of Persia: The Fallen King’s originality. This recent tackle the franchise from Ubisoft was constructed solely for the DS with a touchscreen motion system, a brand new story and a smattering of distinctive mechanics which undoubtedly make the venture a commendable large swing.
As is the case with so many touchscreen-controlled platformers, nevertheless, this action-adventure is let down in its motion, providing a scheme that’s easy to know however shortly turns into tiresome. The extra magic instructions from new character Zal deliver a refreshing change to the fight system, however it lacks the hack-and-slash attraction that outlined the collection up till this level.
Very similar to the corresponding Wii model, Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands on DS represented a noble try at incorporating a few of the console’s nuances into the gameplay. It is praiseworthy for its reluctance to be one other bare-bones port, however the finish product is a combined bag.
Utilising touchscreen controls is a tricky promote for an motion platformer, and The Forgotten Sands on DS isn’t any exception. Whereas the return of the rewind potential does assist to alleviate a few of these frustrations, those that are used to D-pad motion will discover little right here to persuade them that it is a most well-liked methodology.
That stated, the DS version does comprise a singular cult-based storyline set between Sands of Time and Warrior Inside, so it is price a search for these trying to get fully updated on their PoP lore.
It is generally simple to lump in a 2D transportable model of a 3D traditional with the also-rans, however given the collection’ side-on origins, one thing about this felt becoming. Whereas it might’t measure as much as the majesty of the house console sport, this noticed the acrobatic Prince leaping, swinging, and shimmying (and rewinding) as he collected ability-bestowing scrolls and labored to foil the plans of the evil Vizier.
A clean, well-animated journey that blended the outdated and the brand new types fairly effectively, it was additionally attainable to make use of this GBA cart to unlock the unique Prince of Persia within the GameCube Sands of Time, when you had the GBA-to-GC switch cable. Bonza!
Provided that Prince of Persia is basically recognized for its glorious GameCube revival Sands of Time, it is usually tough to understand that the franchise really acquired its begin again within the late ’80s. But right here we’re. Prince of Persia for the NES is worlds other than what the collection would finally turn into, however it nonetheless laid some stable foundations.
Contemplating its age, Prince of Persia showcases some fairly spectacular animations and cinematic platforming; one thing that will finally go on to affect the likes of Flashback and the GBC model of Tomb Raider. It is not good, however it’s a darn good begin for the franchise.
Dealt with by Ed Magnin, the identical programmer behind the common GB launch, the Recreation Boy Colour model of Prince of Persia is an alright port, although it’s marred by a handful of small annoyances. If you have no different choices (which appears unlikely all these years later), it would entertain you for some time, however the different ports fare a lot, significantly better. This one was additionally accessible on the 3DS Digital Console.
Like many third-party Wii video games, Rival Swords was what many would describe as a lesser port of Two Thrones; you already know, form of a “however we’ve Two Thrones at residence, honey” form of deal. Even so, we will not write it off totally, because it was nonetheless a fairly respectable sport in its personal proper. Movement controls had been after all carried out to various success, however the identical motion and platforming enjoyable might be discovered right here in spades.
Nonetheless, it appears Prince of Persia fatigue was actually settling in when the sport launched in 2007, and Ubisoft noticed match to reboot the collection only one 12 months later. Sadly, that one has but to grace Nintendo platforms.
The second entry within the authentic Prince of Persia trilogy, The Shadow and the Flame carries on the identical cinematic platforming featured within the authentic. It is protected to say that the passage of time hasn’t been totally sort to this one, thoughts, because the environmental visuals particularly go away so much to be desired. That stated, with its stable fight and branching pathways, it is nonetheless price a revisit, even when it does imply looking for out an authentic SNES copy.
Set between Sands of Time and Warrior Inside, the Prince’s first authentic journey on Wii ought to be counseled for being designed particularly for the machine quite than ported throughout from different codecs. Regrettably, that meant some all-too-familiar Wii mechanics raised their heads to spoil an in any other case respectable package deal.
Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands was an admirable try and make what may have been a fancy 3D platformer accessible. Using the sunshine beam and soar help was a blessing to newcomers, although for veterans the dearth of full management might be off-putting, seemingly decreasing the extent of ability required to succeed. In case you may see previous that, you’d seemingly nonetheless discover one thing to get pleasure from. Nonetheless, this one is extra Squire than Prince of Persia.
With extra (and bigger) ranges, nice visuals and music, and varied different enhancements, there is a sturdy argument that the 16-bit SNES model is the most effective model of Prince of Persia ever made. Whether or not you agree with that sentiment or not, it is completely price investigating.
Blurring the traces between port and remake, this was created by Arsys Software program (who would go on to assist Polyphony Digital with Gran Turismo) and is basically the identical sport as all the time, however with many new options and an elevated degree rely — upped from the unique 13 to twenty — that make it a must-play even for individuals who know the unique inside out.
Prince of Persia: Warrior Inside falls into the “darker, grittier” pattern that mass media embraced throughout the mid-2000s. However regardless of this tonal shift, Warrior Inside is basically profitable due to its improved degree design and expanded fight. Utilizing your mobility throughout fight feels actually satisfying, and the wonderful platforming from the earlier video games is retained right here. In case you love deep fight and thrilling platforming, then Warrior Inside is a must-play and one of many higher Prince of Persia video games.
Hanging a contented steadiness between the earlier two video games, Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones manages to marry glorious fight and considerate platforming completely. Ubisoft seemingly listened to criticisms of Warrior Inside and determined to offer gamers the most effective of each worlds — with two protagonists, much-tighter gameplay, and a improbable setting, The Two Thrones serves as a improbable finish to the trilogy.
Prince of Persia: The Misplaced Crown is a slick return to the roots of this franchise that serves up intelligent 2.5D motion wrapped up in a pleasant artwork fashion and satisfying story. There is a sensible steadiness right here between old-school ranges of motion and problem, moreish fight, and neat puzzles, all combined with accessibility choices and fine-tuning that open issues as much as newcomers and informal gamers. We knew Ubisoft Montpellier was a pair of protected palms and the crew hasn’t allow us to down, serving up the primary must-play of 2024 in a Swap port that completely does the enterprise.
Ubisoft’s 3D tackle the long-lasting 2D authentic spawned a number of sequels, however arguably none of them had the finesse and focus of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. Utilizing the identical engine that powered Past Good & Evil, a rewind mechanic was sewn into the very cloth of the sport which allow you to unstitch errors and gave the Prince an exquisite new gameplay gimmick to play with which felt exceptionally recent again in 2003. There’s an magnificence to the gameplay right here that acquired misplaced within the subsequent entries, the place every part went a bit emo.
This was certainly one of a number of top-notch multiplatform releases which got here to GameCube and it is positively price winding the clock again and taking one other take a look at, particularly because the announced-then-delayed remake appears to be caught in a loop.
Stunned? Do you assume the in-limbo Sands of Time remake will make it to a Nintendo platform, be it Swap or its successor?
Be happy to tell us your ideas on the princely rating above and share a remark about your private favorite(s) beneath.