If you were to discuss the overall success or playability factor of the Prince of Persia: Sands of Time, most people would agree it is a pleasurably playable game. The story-book atmosphere, easy to learn gameplay, and fairy-tale esque story structure are among the best ever put on a PS2 disk. However, does this formula carry over to its successor, Prince of Persia: Warrior Within?
Warrior Within's playing atmosphere is the first notable change. After all, I’m sure not many people remember the M-rating on the first game. The story follows a much darker prince, one who is destined to find death at the hands of Fate's own beast, and a much more eager warrior. This new prince does not know the meaning of sleep, nor peace, and is seemingly eager for a fight unlike is Sands of Time counterpart. He is a man faced with his own death, and a barrier of impossibility keeping him from preventing what must come to pass.
The game features a satisfyingly long campaign with vast areas to explore, and morbidly distinct graphics in the form of acrobatic death moves. What developers have dubbed the free-form fighting system is easily the most masterful array of techniques and combos in a control system one could only call "at your fingertips". No move in this game is difficult, bearing in mind the fact that for every action there is a reaction, every button you press opens up new possibilities to conquer your foes. The familiar simplicity of running across walls and hanging from ledges is back, along with rope swinging and more than double the number of “off-the-wall attacks” that the Prince can perform.
The controls are fluid, simple, and quite frankly amazing. The hardest of difficult attacks are more than easy, even for someone not as experienced with the game. In short, someone could pick this game up and quickly become a master at moving the Prince along his journey. But, by no means whatsoever does that make the gameplay easy and a breeze. The boss battles will leave you speechless with their intricacy, while giving you a challenging, mind-blowing battle. The bosses also can match you just about move for move, and have their own arsenal of attacks. To be honest, you will need the simple controls because the most challenging moves are going to be essential in proceeding. Regular fights also provide a challenge; what some fighters lack in strength, they make up for in numbers.
This game, however, has the right mix of difficulty. The first time through, players should go with the “normal” setting, for it provides just the right amount of time to proceed no matter what obstacle you are faced with. Repeating the same steps over and over will, after a while, make puzzles that are difficult at first seem like a breeze near the end. Yes, I did say first time through: this game positively, without a doubt, gives you a hunger for more. The game just doesn't seem repetitive until at least three or four times through. That is honestly no exaggeration, because each time through, I guarantee you can find something you did not notice before.
That brings me to another topic...secrets. The special weapons you can find, while difficult to locate, are definitely worth it. These "special" weapons are secondary swords that do not break unlike the ones you may pick up (or steal) from you fallen enemies. It is very interesting to watch at the devastation you can cause, but before you go on too much of a rampage, that weapon becomes obsolete, and you must find another. There is also amazing artwork that can be unlocked in the form of breaking chests. It makes it quite clear that the artists had complete freedom to express themselves, judging by appearance of the enemies and landscape.
Graphically the game is somewhat better than the last, as it excels in areas where the darker features of the games need to be exemplified. The artwork and articulation in the castle and caverns are amazing to say the least. The graphics are not the best as far as games such as Halo and Metal Gear, but it gets the job done. The most impressive new graphics feature is the way in which characters die. Before leaving in a cloud of smoke like before, decapitations, dismemberments, and appropriately called "halvings" are evident as nearly every death ends in blood and bodies. This may take away some of the loving characteristics of its predecessor, but clearly Warrior Within was meant to be its own game.
The sound does not have as much variety as it should, but it is a step and a half above Sands of Time. The variety is not so much as crippling when compared to the quality. Godsmack lends several songs, which add just the right touch for the feel of this game. The few hard core tunes are present at the right moments, and the mystical Arabian tracks are also squeezed in there at the right time to set the mood for the particular part of the game you are at. Knocking on the variety would be pointless because you simply lose sight of this as the guitar riffs get you pumped up for the next fight.
So, is Warrior Within the famed sequel we wish all sequels were? More than likely yes, as the two endings give you a overall thirst for more, and the quality of the storyline and gameplay simply astound. This game will keep you playing it until you have found every secret possible. While there are some glitches, nothing is all that pursuable in a topic of review. The main focus here would be whether or not it comes through as a sequel. I may not agree with sacrificing some of the light thematic elements for darker ones, it makes this game a clear individual, but with just enough essence to give respect to the original. As far as sequels go, it doesn’t get much better than this.
