The Xbox Live Arcade is fraught with retro titles that have us reliving our gaming escapades of days gone by. Some are better left to memory, while some are given a minor facelift, and have the “enhanced” label slapped on them. A few gems stay true to the originals, while offering a greatly improved visual and gaming experience that makes gamers take note. Prince of Persia Classic is one of those titles that has earned a place of distinction in the Live Arcade.
The premise of Prince of Persia Classic is fairly straightforward. The Sultan of Persia has left his kingdom to wage war in a faraway land, and in his absence, the Grand Vizier, Jaffar has seized power and rules with an iron fist. One obstacle stands in his way to consolidating power for himself, the Sultan’s daughter. Jaffar issues an ultimatum, marriage or death, with only one hour to make a decision. It’s now up to our hero to escape the palace dungeons in which he is imprisoned, and rescue the Sultan’s daughter before time runs out.
If you play Prince of Persia Classic today, you’ll recognize the same levels and layout of the 1989 Apple II original. There are traps to be avoided at every turn, such as spikes that shoot up from the ground, and collapsing floors that will leave you falling to certain death. You will have to jump large gaps, and somersault under blades and closing gates to reach your objectives. To help you find your way, a helpful “butterfly” will guide you, should you linger in one area too long. The dungeons and palaces are patrolled by scimitar wielding guards, and the occasional skeleton that returns to life again and again until finally defeated. All the elements that made this platformer a hit in 1989 have been beautifully reproduced in this modern adaptation.
Fights follow a two button approach of attacking and parrying. Button mashers beware; simply swinging your scimitar will leave you dead more often than not. A successful parry will defend you from an attack, but it will not always leave your opponent open to a counterattack. The gamer will have to carefully defend, and look for an opening to exploit. The frustration factor can be quite high in combat, as you will find yourself lunging at what appears to be an opening only to get skewered yourself. Luckily, the levels usually have at least one checkpoint, as you will often have to replay battles again and again.
The most notable enhancement to this title are the graphics. Prince of Persia Classic could almost pass for a retail game from an aesthetic standpoint. The environments look great, as does the lighting effects as you pass by wall mounted torches and the like. The animations are smooth and offer a decent variety for an Arcade title. The game also features something one would never expect to find in an Arcade game, cutscenes. They are not cinematic quality, and do not feature audio, but they are a surprising and pleasant addition to a small sized download.
