Classic swashbuckling adventure
While many gamers will be familiar with the Prince of Persia's later 3D adventures, like Sands of Time, Warrior Within and Two Thrones, his original 2D platformers are well worth checking out as they offer a fun and exciting mix of sword-fighting action and puzzling solving. The plot this time around sees the Prince once again battling against the evil Jafar and must travel to faraway lands to find the means to defeat him, and which involves battling against sword-wielding enemies, leaping across rooftops and generally behaving like a Persian version of Indiana Jones. This sequel is largely similar to its predecessor in terms of gameplay, with the Prince exploring various exotic environments including dungeons, palaces and mountainsides, while engaging in fencing duels and jumping puzzles as you proceed towards your destiny. The focus this time around is on combat, with more frequent enemies that can include up to four opponents at any one time, while the previous game's tough time limit returns to add to the challenge. The graphics are one area which has seen a notable update and the environments and sprites are much more appealing, offering plenty of variety and detail, and the game's atmosphere is one of its strongest points and makes a pleasant change from the usual fantasy and sci-fi settings. The sound however is a little disappointing, being quite minimalist, and lacking in charm. Apart from this minor niggle though, this is a worthy sequel that is definitely worth playing if you are into platformers like Ghosts & Goblins and Rick Dangerous.
