Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (xbx: 2003): Reviews

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Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time


7.3

based on 41 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 56 votes
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GAMES:

Prince of Persia: Warrior Within

Cheat Code Central

Amidst the sands of ancient Persia, a young Prince unleashes a deadly evil. Embark on a harrowing quest to restore peace and the fabric of Time. Embody a legendary hero with gravity-defying acrobatics, ferocious fighting combos, and the ability to bend time to fulfill his bidding. Wield the power of the Sands of Time - a mythical force allowing the Prince to erase the past, behold the future, and freeze the present. You'll uncover the mysteries of a world never before explored in action-adventure gaming. Ancient Persia, mythical and deadly, holds a staggering array of landscapes and kingdoms to explore and conquer. [Ubi Soft]

PUBLISHER:	Ubi Soft
DEVELOPER:	Ubi Soft Montreal
GENRE(S):	Action, Adventure
PLAYERS:	1
ESRB RATING:	T (Teen)
RELEASE DATE:	November 12, 2003

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

GameNow

This is the kind of game that literally makes you forget you're playing a game, leaving you barely aware of your body and just totally consumed by the action onscreen.

100

GamerFeed

The best game made this year. It combines every necessary element to achieve one of the most innovative and entertaining games ever created.

100

Maxim Online

But don’t take our word for it, because Prince won Best Action-Adventure Game at this year’s E3 expo. So it’s got that going for it…which is nice.

100

Entertainment Weekly

Such forward-thinking ideas have paid off royally: This Prince is a worthy heir to the best videogame throne. [19 Dec 2003, p.L2T 20]

100

Xbox Nation Magazine

Brimming with heart-stopping moments where you've got to take big gambles....A perfect union of storytelling, gameplay, and technological wonder. [Mar 2004, p.96]

100

Cheat Code Central

No other game can come close to making you think you're back in the time period and are actually the young Prince on his adventure. The game is one that will have challenges even for the more advanced player and those watching will see things that will have them shaking their heads in amazement at the moves that can be pulled off in this game.

XboxAddict

If there is a perfect game for the Xbox, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time comes close to being the one.

Game Chronicles

A landmark achievement in game design starting with the addictively fun core gameplay, instinctive controls, then rounding out the package with gorgeous visuals, stunning special effects, and professional sound work.

Gamer's Hell

The one single game I enjoyed the most this year. The graphics, the music (regular readers know that I’m not all that into music, yet THIS soundtrack is a definite buy if released), the level design, the fighting, the jumping, the story - I can’t think of a single thing that leaves behind anything else but a good impression.

Armchair Empire

With around 10-15 hours of play, outstanding music, the best gameplay system ever conceived, and the two original Prince of Persia’s included…you will certainly get your money’s worth with the Prince.

Game Over Online

Excellently produced, with intuitive, responsive controls, a deep, engaging storyline and immersive sound.

IGN

An outstanding game -- a dazzling, masterful achievement...Thanks to wholly intuitive control, stunning atmosphere and satisfyingly clever environmental puzzles, the title easily ranks as one of my favorite adventure offerings of all time.

GamingTrend

The comparisons to "ICO" are striking, but this is simply the better game between the two...that's something I never thought I would say.

GameZone

Prince of Persia's exquisite levels, adventurous gameplay, deep music, and technology-defying graphics make it a must-own for every adventure-loving gamer.

1UP

Never, and I mean never, have I played a game with such a beautiful, perfectly executed difficulty curve. It's because of the difficulty curve that there was never a moment in this game, from start to finish over eight hours, that I was not having fun.

Game Informer

Prince of Persia isn't the greatest game ever made, but it is most certainly close. [Jan 2004, p.145]

VGPub

It plays like a dream, looks like a dream, sinks its claws into you and won’t let go.

Deeko

I was immediately enamored with the title from the start and simply found myself mesmerized by its overall brilliance.

GameSpot AU

One particularly neat point about the audio presentation comes about because the entire game is played out as a narrative flashback from the Prince's point of view. This gives the plot cohesion, but also allows the Prince to ask you when saving if he should begin the story from that point, or to chide you when you die that it didn't actually happen that way.

Official Xbox Magazine

A stunning and rare achievement that makes you feel happy to be a gamer. [Jan 2004, p.56]

3DAvenue

Tells a brilliant story, delivers intensive action, and produces a fine adventure/platform title for all types of gamers.

Next Level Gaming

A game that I simply can not get enough of.

Electronic Gaming Monthly

Pure magic. Soft lighting effects and elaborate, detailed architecture give the entire experience the quality of an opium-induced vision where time moves at the speed of your imagination. PoP's immersive atmosphere takes you to another level altogether. [Dec 2003, p.186]

XGP Gaming

Ubisoft just can't seem to miss. They are on the verge of having a hitting streak reminiscent of Joe DiMaggio's 56 game run in the 1940's, and in doing so are on the verge of becoming one of the most successful publisher/developers around.

Team Xbox

There is no question that Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time has what it takes in terms of gameplay, graphics, and audio to be one of the top five Xbox titles ever. Only the sands of time will tell if it has a theme interesting enough for people to justify a purchase.

GameBiz

It’ll take you a good 20 hours to finish the game, and the cinematic effects throughout the game are well worth the gameplay hours.

Edge Magazine

The freedom of movement requires a new level of spatial imagination. Before Prince of Persia, platform games were like playing Tetris with only the blocks and bars. [Christmas 2003, p.100]

Xbox Evolved

With a very interesting combat system as well as the ability to interact with and climb on almost everything, The Sands of Time is by far one of the most fun and memorable games in the action/adventure genre yet.

Cincinnati Enquirer

A refreshingly smart, elegant adventure.

GameSpot

Recommended wholeheartedly. It looks fantastic and features responsive controls, some original play mechanics, a good story, and plenty of thrilling adventure. In the simplest terms: Do not miss out on this game.

TotalGames.net

There are just about enough moves to avoid repetition to keep the combat consistently exciting. The animation on all of the moves is superior to just about every other game of its kind.

Gamestyle

Pretenders and rivals to the throne take note: a new standard by which all adventures shall be measured has been set. And it doesn't include a big set of 'guns'.

GameSpy

While the combat's a bit bland and the challenge could stand to be higher, the fact remains that Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time is a wonderful rebirth of a classic franchise.

Village Voice

The impeccably intuitive controls make this feel as magical as it looks, and the gorgeous graphics and music fully ground you in the fantasy.

Thunderbolt

While not perfect, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time offers a poignant, uncommon challenge. Its world awaits, rich, wondrous, indomitable. Will you overcome it?

MS Xbox World

So full of character and style that you will find it hard to put the controller down.

Game Revolution

The biggest problem with my new game is the cinematography. I don’t know what schmuck hired these camera guys, but they should have their pinkies cut off or something. Sometimes entire fight scenes are obscured by a curtain.

Xequted

The Sands of Time are one of the more intriguing gameplay devices of recent times -but even though the time-travelling antics of "Blinx" predate some aspects of the latest Prince's adventure, Prince of Persia works where Blinx failed repeatedly.

games(TM)

Sands of Time is very much a 21st century product - sumptuous visuals, intuitive control and many unique ideas. Buy it, play it, love it. [Dec 2003, p.92]

GMR Magazine

But POP's only really significant flaw lies in its adventure/action ratio: Both aspects are thoroughly fleshed-out but rarely intertwined.

GameShark

There are so many things that are combined to make this game as good as it is such as the storyline, voice acting, animation and the final ending scene is the cherry on top.

The average user rating for this game is 7.3 (out of 10) based on 56 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Sean D. gave it a10:
Wow... A lot of people seem to get angry far too easily... This game is one of my favorites and I have played a lot of games throughout my life. What makes this game so good is not the graphics, but the gameplay and storyline. It draws you in and you want to continue doing awesome moves and in the character of a Persian Prince who controls time to avenge his father and destroy the work that Vizier has created. This game is really good, although at times it may be hard, just look for water close by in order to restore your health. Please give it a try if you are reading this... you won't be dissapointed I promise.

Rethunk Review gave it a4:
Boooooooring! The graphics look good, and clearly some thought went into design of the levels, but the game becomes disappointing, then finally tedious. There are only three basic activites for each stage of the game: (1) chop up the swarms of baddies by mashing buttons; (2) run, jump, avoid moving obstacles, and swing on conveniently located horizontal bars; and (3) run, jump, avoid moving obstacles, and swing on conveniently located horizontal bars, but with a time limit. In this game more than most others one becomes aware of the mismatch between the crudity of the controls and the elegance of the character animation: special movements such as wall-to-wall jumping reduce to moving the main character to position X (+/- a footstep or two), then mashing button A and moving the left joystick at time T (+/- 0.5 seconds). This is progress in game development? More fun can be had playing Sonic the Hedgehog. PoP's time reverse feature (animated undo) is neat, but it doesn't make up for the failures that other gamers have pointed out, namely that the game is dull and repetitive. Prince of Persia is like a book that, once put down, is hardly worth picking up again. Actual value? $6.

Matthew B. gave it a1:
For me, stupidly difficult - feels more like a chore at times than fun. After all the hype, very, very disappointing. Money wasted.

Chase W. gave it a10:
Awesome game,not repetitive.One sucky puzzle,other wise great.It is so fun runnin' over those zombies and getting them in the back,am I right?And wall running,man thats fun.I love the puzzles with one exception.Did nice with the graphics,and not too little,or not too much blood. One thing though,not really bad.Has anyone noticed how when Your not holding the dagger,the Prince acts like he wields it, draws it, and puts it away, and he's really not holding anything. Funny stuff. Oh yeah and the last boss is way too easy, more then the 1st one. Only 2 bosses? C'mon!

Lame Prince gave it a5:
Overrated, repitious and inconsistent. I wanted to really enjoy this game, but there's so many little things wrong with it. Typical Ubisoft game with no polishing. When the characters talk, you can only hear them if the camera is in a certain position (and this is not because of my xbox settings). I've also found a glitch where sometimes you'll be in a black hole as you jump to something, then when you restart your character is stuck in the "falling" animation and dies repeatedly, even in the main menu. You have to turn off the xbox and turn it back on in order for it to go away. Then you get new swords that have no new moves or increased damage, your character finds it necessary to remove clothing for no reason, and the music is sparse and completely clashing thematically. Sometimes you get a Persian style score then there will be a random metal riff going, for instance when you get into the prison. The camera also gets really annoying as half the time you have to fight with it to give you a decent angle. People complain about fixed cameras, but those are much preferred to this garbage. Despite all these, its still playable, just note that this game isn't anywhere near in the same class as its competition: God of War, Devil May Cry or Ninja Gaiden. Rent it, or if you can get it for like $10. The Two Thrones thankfully is much better than this game.

Fred H. gave it a6:
Over rated game. Boring and not much for music or sound unless you crank up the volume but then when they talk, it blasts. The moves and puzzles were unique though, and the graphics were pretty good.

Eric S. gave it a7:
Prince of Persia had great gameplay and graphics, but too much repetition in both areas to be as good as it should have been. Every room in the palace started to look the same after the while, and the puzzles largely became monotonous (with a few exceptions). The fighting was also flawed. The actual combat system worked fine, but there wasn't enough variety among the various enemies. It's not that there weren't enough types, but fighting them always felt the same. I ultimately got bored and ended up getting a little more than three quarters through. The main thing this game had going for it was the time-controlling elements, since it lessened the frustration of falling to your death and having to start the area over. Using your powers to easily dispatch enemies was also satisfying, although it got stale after the 300th time. If "Sands of Time" were shorter, it would have been much better, and deserving of its praise. I can understand the desire for a long gameplay experience, but not if their isn't enough variety to keep things interesting. If you have a lot of time on your hands, I would recommend giving this game a try.