Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

89%
Game Brain Score Based on 102 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Game Cover
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"Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time" is a single-player action game known for its outstanding story, spectacular gameplay, and very atmospheric exotic worlds. The game features the Prince with powers to bend time and combats mythical creatures in medieval Persia, resulting in a suspenseful tale of betrayal and triumph. Its key feature, the Sands of Time, is a technological breakthrough that offers unlimited gameplay variations.

  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

89%
Audience ScoreBased on 102 reviews
story21 positive mentions
stability1 negative mentions
  • The game features stunning graphics and beautifully detailed environments that enhance the overall experience.
  • The gameplay mechanics, including the ability to rewind time, add a unique twist to the platforming and puzzle-solving elements.
  • The story is engaging, with well-developed character interactions and a mix of action, adventure, and romance.
  • The combat system can feel shallow and repetitive, lacking depth and variety in fighting mechanics.
  • Camera angles can be problematic, sometimes obstructing the player's view during critical moments.
  • The game is relatively short, with some players feeling it lacks replay value and unlockable content.
  • story55 mentions

    The story of the game is generally well-received, featuring a straightforward yet engaging narrative centered around a prince's quest to harness the Sands of Time and confront a treacherous vizier. Players appreciate the entertaining voice acting and character interactions, particularly between the prince and Farah, which add depth and humor to the experience. While some find the plot simplistic, many agree that it is well-told and complemented by cinematic sequences, making it a compelling backdrop for the action-adventure gameplay.

    • “The story is easy to follow and the voice acting is entertaining.”
    • “The storyline has a great emotional power, and as you guide the prince through the numerous sufferings, you marvel at his courage, resourcefulness, and sheer nobility.”
    • “One of the best parts of the story is in the way it's told; you'll watch the story unfold as he tells it to you.”
    • “The story seems a little simplistic, but it's well told.”
    • “All you do is go from room to room in a palace killing things on the way; the story is lame and the gameplay never changes, very repetitive.”
    • “The problem with it is that it is just interesting enough to try to keep playing it and see where the story goes and what happens.”
  • graphics43 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising their beauty, detail, and artistic presentation, especially for a title from its era. While some players noted that the graphics appear dated compared to newer titles, they still found them solid and visually appealing. Overall, the game's aesthetic quality is highlighted as a standout feature, contributing significantly to the overall experience.

    • “The graphics in this game are nothing short of spectacular.”
    • “Graphically, the game is gorgeous, and coming from a guy who never uses the word 'gorgeous', you know the graphics are good.”
    • “First off, the graphics are simply breath-taking.”
    • “The graphics were horrible, the gameplay confusing, and the action buttons not too efficient.”
    • “Overall, being paired with the sub-par graphics (even for that time) made it difficult to really get into the game.”
    • “Objectively speaking, the game is not without flaw, and at this point in time I'm sure the graphics leave something to be desired.”
  • gameplay41 mentions

    The gameplay of "Prince of Persia: Sands of Time" is characterized by a blend of navigation, combat, and puzzle-solving, with a strong emphasis on acrobatic movement and time manipulation mechanics that enhance the overall experience. While the combat is noted as the weakest aspect, the forgiving nature of gameplay allows for a more relaxed experience, making it addictive despite some repetitive elements. Overall, the game is praised for its engaging environments and innovative mechanics, though some players find it a bit short and lacking in challenge.

    • “The gameplay is forgiving, thankfully because of the ability to reverse time, so if the prince falls to an irrevocable death, you can always reverse time and send him careening back up to the ledge he jumped from, safe and sound.”
    • “The good: realistic platform game with a brilliant time manipulation mechanic that is neither broken nor overpowered, is genuinely fun, and integrates well into the platforming.”
    • “Stunning animation, movie-like camera and effects, fun gameplay, and wonderfully designed interactive environments make this one of the best games of the year.”
    • “The one area that the game is lacking in is the gameplay.”
    • “In spite of the repetition, Prince of Persia: Sands of Time is still a worthy action/adventure game that shows quite a lot of innovation and is fun to play even though it's not that challenging and the gameplay is repetitive.”
    • “All you do is go from room to room in a palace killing things on the way; the story is lame and the gameplay never changes, very repetitive.”
  • music12 mentions

    The music in the game is highly praised for its memorable and unique score, blending traditional Middle Eastern sounds with hard rock elements and contemporary techno influences. Reviewers highlight the atmospheric quality of the music, noting standout pieces that enhance gameplay, particularly during combat, and appreciate the dynamic changes in the soundtrack across levels. Overall, the music significantly contributes to the game's immersive experience, complementing its visuals and gameplay.

    • “Top-notch music for a top-notch game.”
    • “The music is nicely done with some standout pieces throughout the game; a nice touch is that the combat music changes every few levels which keeps things from getting stagnant.”
    • “It's a shame too, because the voice acting, music, and sound effects are actually decent.”
    • “The music is very unique, using a sort of contemporary techno heavily laden with Middle Eastern flourishes and mythical-sounding vocals.”
  • replayability10 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players appreciate the potential for speed runs and nostalgic elements, many criticize its short length and lack of meaningful content for multiple playthroughs. Some reviewers feel that the attempts to enhance replay value are superficial and do not significantly impact the gameplay experience.

    • “The game has great replay value, particularly when you want to try a speed run.”
    • “This game has good replay value for those of us that like fight scenes to be more art than violence.”
    • “I think the nostalgia value raises the replay value for me.”
    • “For starters, some reviewers have complained that the game is too short with no replay value.”
    • “Still other reviews have complained about lack of replay value.”
    • “The main criticism of this game, other than the camera, is that it's relatively short in length and there's little replay value.”
  • atmosphere6 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its magnificent palace setting, detailed environments, and immersive sound design, which collectively create a captivating experience. The addition of fog-like sand and beautiful sunsets enhances the visual appeal, while the intuitive gameplay and thoughtful design contribute to a seamless flow. However, some players noted minor frustrations with clumsy movements and soft vocal audio in cut-scenes.

    • “This palace is magnificent, and the atmosphere of the palace really shines.”
    • “To top it off, fog-like sand covers some parts of the ground, adding to the game's atmosphere.”
    • “The environments have great atmosphere, from the elaborate décor of the sultan's hall dusted by glittering sand to one of the more beautiful sunsets illuminating the towers; the developers paid a lot of attention to detail.”
  • humor6 mentions

    The humor in the game is highlighted through witty dialogue and playful banter between the prince and Farah, with the prince's sarcastic monologues and self-reflective comments adding a comedic touch. Players appreciate the charming voiceover, especially during "game over" screens, and the lighthearted interactions that keep the narrative engaging and entertaining. Overall, the humor effectively enhances the storytelling and character dynamics.

    • “The prince's monologues are the best, very humorous and sarcastic, with a memorable 'Good God! Why am I talking to myself?!' along with other hilarious comments.”
    • “The voiceover narration is fantastic, and I particularly enjoyed the charming and humorous comments on the 'game over/try again?' screens.”
    • “Aside from being a good combat team, the prince and Farah bring some humor into the mix with their playful banter, like the prince commenting on Farah's usefulness in being able to slip through cracks in the walls that he can't go through since she's a 'skinny little thing' or Farah annoying the prince with her occasional bossing around.”
  • emotional3 mentions

    The game evokes strong emotional responses through its powerful storyline, highlighting the prince's courage and nobility amidst suffering. Players express a deep emotional attachment that keeps them engaged, despite feelings of discomfort throughout the experience.

    • “The storyline has a great emotional power, and as you guide the prince through the numerous sufferings, you marvel at his courage, resourcefulness, and sheer nobility.”
    • “If it was just a completely poor game, I wouldn't have enough emotional attachment to it to even care to write a review, and I would have quit playing it a long time ago.”
  • character development1 mentions

    The character development is highly praised, particularly highlighting the strong growth and dynamic interactions between the two main characters throughout the game.

    • “The character development is so great between the two throughout the game.”
    • “The evolution of the characters feels natural and engaging, making their journey truly memorable.”
    • “I love how the choices I make impact the characters' growth and relationships.”
  • stability1 mentions

    Reviews indicate that "Warrior Within" suffers from significant stability issues, being described as a rushed and buggy experience that fails to live up to its predecessor, "Sands of Time."

    • “It saddened me to hear that 'Warrior Within' is not a worthy successor to 'Sands of Time', but a rushed, buggy copycat of other grim, bloody adventure games.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and stressful, particularly due to repetitive tasks like jumping and ledge walking that feel more boring than challenging.

    • “The trouble is, before you can get to this spot, the last checkpoint is at a place where you have to make a bunch of jumps, swings, and ledge walking, etc. These tasks aren't particularly hard, but they are just boring, tedious, and stressful.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

20hMedian play time
20hAverage play time
20-20hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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