Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones

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In Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones, the Prince returns to his kingdom of Babylon, only to find it under threat from a brutal enemy. Assumed dead, he must now fight to reclaim his throne, aided by an alter-ego that embodies his darker side. This installment introduces a new combat feature, the Speed Kill, and features improved visuals and complex puzzles.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

78%

Audience ScoreBased on 872 reviews

story95 positive mentions

stability71 negative mentions

Engaging storyline that ties up the trilogy nicely.
Innovative gameplay mechanics, including stealth kills and the Dark Prince transformation.
Visually impressive for its time, with beautiful environments and fluid animations.

Numerous bugs and glitches, particularly with movement and camera controls.
Combat can feel clunky and unresponsive, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences.
Lack of proper controller support and issues with high frame rates causing game-breaking problems.

story
260 mentions
37 % positive mentions
59 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The story of "Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones" is generally well-received, praised for its engaging narrative that effectively concludes the trilogy while tying together elements from the previous games. Players appreciate the character development, particularly the dynamic between the prince and his darker alter ego, which adds depth to the plot. However, some critiques highlight issues with pacing, dialogue quality, and the overall execution of the story, suggesting it could have been more polished and impactful.
- “The storyline in Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones is a highlight of the game, with its compelling narrative and well-developed characters drawing players into the world of ancient Persia.”
- “Engaging storyline with compelling character development and emotional depth.”
- “The story is well crafted and manages to bring the trilogy to a satisfactory close, though the strength of the game is really its gameplay.”
- “The story is written poorly, like a cartoon for small children.”
- “The story is also very boring, especially when you compare it to the first Sands of Time game.”
- “The story and dialogue were poorly written and inconsistent.”
gameplay
221 mentions
29 % positive mentions
63 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones" builds upon the mechanics of its predecessors, introducing new features like the dark prince transformation and speed kill mechanics that enhance stealth and combat variety. While the platforming and traversal elements are praised for their fluidity, some players find the combat repetitive and the stealth mechanics hit-or-miss, with technical issues such as camera angles and bugs detracting from the overall experience. Despite these flaws, many appreciate the engaging level design and the blend of action and narrative that the game offers.
- “The dark prince mechanic adds a unique twist to the classic Prince of Persia formula.”
- “The addition of the speed kill system allows for more stealth-based gameplay, adding variety and tension to the action.”
- “With new gameplay mechanics, improved combat systems, and a compelling narrative, the game delivers a fitting conclusion to the epic saga.”
- “The gameplay felt clunky, the camera is a disaster, the movement is unresponsive, and the combat feels really strange. It has a combo system, but enemies have invincibility frames, making combat extremely easy and repetitive.”
- “The gameplay is a mix of previous games, but it feels like a watered-down version that only offers a new mechanic to counter the downgraded combat. The stealth mechanic is lackluster and doesn't add much to the experience.”
- “The new 'speed kill' mechanic is annoying and feels hit or miss. Overall, the gameplay is not significantly different from 'Warrior Within', making it feel dull and repetitive.”
graphics
105 mentions
25 % positive mentions
63 % neutral mentions
12 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones" receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the improved visuals and atmospheric environments that evoke the game's setting in ancient Babylon, while others criticize the outdated graphics and persistent graphical glitches. Many acknowledge that, despite its age, the game still offers a visually appealing experience for its time, though it struggles to compete with modern titles. Overall, while some players find the graphics charming and nostalgic, others feel they detract from the overall experience due to technical issues and a lack of significant improvement over its predecessors.
- “The game's beautiful visuals and atmospheric soundtrack create a truly immersive experience.”
- “Stunning visuals and atmospheric environments that capture the beauty and chaos of ancient Babylon.”
- “Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones features improved graphics and visual effects compared to its predecessors, with detailed character models, realistic environments, and impressive lighting effects that bring the world of Babylon to life.”
- “This game is ugly; the second you are taken out of the cinematic, you notice the 'worse than CS 1.6' graphics.”
- “It is playable, but is also chalk-full of visual and graphical bugs.”
- “The graphics are outdated; Ubisoft has moved on to bigger and bolder things with the Assassin’s Creed series, and many avid fans of our favorite wall-running protagonist would tell you to just stick with 2003’s seminal Sands of Time if you want the true pop experience.”
stability
73 mentions
3 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
97 % negative mentions
The game suffers from numerous stability issues, including frequent glitches, freezing, and unresponsive controls, which significantly hinder gameplay. Players report various bugs, such as problems with parkour mechanics, environmental interactions, and graphical errors, making the experience frustrating and often unplayable. While some users found workarounds, the overall consensus is that the game is plagued by instability, particularly on modern systems.
- “I have had no issues on Windows 7 Pro 64; aside from that, the game booted right up and runs great.”
- “The game is a buggy mess, with characters levitating or dropping from heights on their own.”
- “Was utterly disappointed to find it filled to the brim with bugs that make the game literally unplayable at times, with enemies' corpses not properly despawning and glitches in quick-time combat input registration.”
- “The bugs, glitches, and terrible port of this game make it nearly unplayable.”
music
62 mentions
44 % positive mentions
52 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received praise for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, with many reviewers highlighting the return to a more traditional, Persian-influenced soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. While some fans feel it doesn't quite match the memorable scores of previous entries, the soundtrack is generally regarded as a significant improvement over the more aggressive styles of earlier games. Overall, the music is described as beautiful, fitting, and integral to the game's storytelling and ambiance.
- “The game's beautiful visuals and atmospheric soundtrack create a truly immersive experience.”
- “The audio design in Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones complements the game's visuals and gameplay, with a dynamic soundtrack and immersive sound effects that enhance the atmosphere and intensity of the experience.”
- “They did succeed a lot with the music, having the great idea to bring Stuart Chatwood back on board; the soundtrack is once again worth listening to.”
- “Unfortunately, the music got a bit thrown under the bus with nothing really memorable.”
- “I found the soundtrack to be lacking in this game, it's really disappointing compared to the previous two soundtracks.”
- “Also if you came from Warrior Within straight into this one, the change in tone and characters' faces and wardrobe is really jarring, as well as the music. While better than the last game, it is not as memorable save for 2-3 tracks.”
atmosphere
28 mentions
36 % positive mentions
54 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in "Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones" is generally praised for its stunning visuals and immersive soundtrack, effectively blending elements from both "Sands of Time" and "Warrior Within." While some reviewers note a reduction in the darker tones of the previous installment, the game successfully recaptures a more adventurous and lighthearted mood, enhancing the overall experience despite minor glitches. Overall, it is seen as a fitting conclusion to the trilogy, with a solid atmosphere that resonates well with players.
- “The game's beautiful visuals and atmospheric soundtrack create a truly immersive experience.”
- “Stunning visuals and atmospheric environments that capture the beauty and chaos of ancient Babylon.”
- “Prince of Persia games are all about atmosphere, and this one clearly is a success in that matter.”
- “It's maybe just the fact that I had issues with Warrior Within on Steam which ruined the atmosphere for me.”
- “Platforming is improved, but without the magical atmosphere or long elopements into silence that made the original so haunting.”
- “Although some people may be able to handle it, I just feel like I can't honestly recommend this bugged version; the bugs really chip away at the feel and dark atmosphere of the game.”
humor
11 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of dark wit and quirky dialogue, reminiscent of the original "Sands of Time." While some players appreciate the return of the prince's clever banter and the comedic interactions with his dark alter-ego, others find the tone inconsistent, with complaints about the prince's more melancholic demeanor in later installments. Overall, the humor adds a personal touch to the narrative, enhancing the game's engaging atmosphere.
- “Adventure, story-rich, mystical mood, puzzles, a bit of dark humor, crazy gorgeous music and world, and of course the mesmerizing parkour abilities.”
- “While the prince's quirky humor from Sands of Time is back, it's accompanied by the dual-wielding which was introduced in the darker 'Warrior Within'.”
- “The voice acting harkens back to the more subtle days of Sands of Time, and the schizophrenic conversations between the prince and his dark alter-ego are funny, illuminating, and cleverly deployed in support of the game’s overall narrative.”
grinding
9 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that while the game has made improvements in combat and parkour, grinding remains a significant issue, particularly with poorly designed boss fights and frustrating checkpoint placements. Some players found the addition of stealth mechanics and quicktime events to alleviate some tedium, but many still felt that certain levels and encounters were repetitive and tedious. Overall, the experience varies, with some appreciating the reduced grind compared to previous entries, while others still found it lacking.
- “The main thing is the stealth mechanic, which sometimes works and sometimes doesn't. Combined with the tradition of poorly placed checkpoints, this will make you go through the same tedious fighting over and over. Boss fights are Ubisoft's attempt at creating the worst and most tedious boss fights in history, and they succeeded admirably.”
- “The only negative thing I have to say about the game is that there are quite a few levels and boss fights that feel cheap or tedious.”
- “Normal gameplay was the same as 'Prince of Persia: Warrior Within', so it was alright, but the new quick-time stealth kill was tedious, and the boss battles were just plain bad (though the final boss was better than the rest). The story wasn't that good in my opinion.”
replayability
9 mentions
22 % positive mentions
44 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
Overall, "Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones" offers limited replayability, primarily due to its linear structure and single ending, which contrasts with the previous titles in the series. While completionists may find value in uncovering secrets and collectibles, the game's short duration and lack of diverse gameplay experiences diminish its replay potential for most players.
- “This game is very replayable; I played it more times than I could count.”
- “Additionally, the game's multiple endings and optional content provide some incentive for replayability.”
- “Limited replayability once the main story is completed.”
- “Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones offers limited replay value once the main story is completed, but completionists may enjoy replaying the game to uncover all of its secrets and collectibles.”
- “Otherwise, replayability is limited, as unlike the previous game, the story only has one ending and the game world is linear.”
optimization
8 mentions
25 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
38 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant optimization issues, particularly on modern gaming PCs and displays, leading to technical problems and inconsistent performance across platforms. While some players appreciate the game's story and voice acting, many express frustration over its outdated optimization, making it challenging to run smoothly on newer hardware.
- “Game runs well performance-wise.”
- “Still a nice story, but it's poorly optimized for PC.”
- “Technical issues and performance optimization problems on certain platforms.”
- “The optimization for newer rigs is pretty bad.”
- “This game may be old, it may have been poorly optimized, it may take a bit of time to get it to work the way it's supposed to, but man do I love this game.”
character development
5 mentions
60 % positive mentions
-20 % neutral mentions
60 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is noted for its engaging storyline and emotional depth, particularly in titles like "Sands of Time" and "Warrior Within." However, some players criticize the execution, describing the protagonist's transformation as forced and clichéd, with abrupt changes in character traits that feel contrived and poorly integrated into the narrative. Overall, while there are attempts at character growth, they often fall flat due to predictable arcs and inconsistent storytelling.
- “Engaging storyline with compelling character development and emotional depth.”
- “Especially 'Sands of Time', with its clean and vivid style, and 'Warrior Within', with its stunning landscapes and character design.”
- “I like that they try to give the prince some character development, but it's very cliché. I mean, at the start of the game, he says he cares about his people but doesn't do much about it. Then we have to believe that the alter ego is making him act selfishly, and when he meets Farah, he realizes that and starts the road to hero cliché redemption.”
- “They try to force some sort of character development on him, mainly through his sidekick Farah, who pressures him to be less egoistic and more empathetic towards other people, but that literally happens all of a sudden during the last few hours of the game, so it ends up pretty contrived.”
- “I like that they try to give the prince some character development, but it's very cliché. I mean, at the start of the game he says he cares about his people but doesn't do much about it. Then we have to believe that the alter ego is making him act like a jerk, and when he meets Farah, he realizes that and then starts the road to hero cliché redemption and he is good.”
- “They added quick-time events, changed the original story into something half-baked, changed character designs because 'big boobs = bad boobs' or some stupid reasoning, and shoehorned characters in which sort of belong there but not really.”
emotional
5 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game features an engaging storyline with strong character development that evokes a range of emotions, particularly through the prince's struggle with his darker alter ego. While it offers moments of emotional depth and nostalgia, some players feel that the exploration of complex themes is insufficient, leading to a less impactful emotional payoff compared to other titles in the genre. Overall, it provides an emotional roller coaster experience, especially for those reminiscing about past gaming experiences.
- “Engaging storyline with compelling character development and emotional depth.”
- “The struggle between the prince and his darker alter ego adds depth and complexity to the story, leading to emotional moments and surprising revelations that keep players engaged until the very end.”
- “Over the past week, this game has taken me on an emotional roller coaster ride because I went from remembering it to playing it with my long-lost friends, reminding me of how we feel about the graphics and how this was the best game of that era.”
monetization
2 mentions
50 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy for this game has been criticized as a cash grab, with some users feeling it exploits nostalgia rather than offering genuine value. Unlike many modern titles, it is noted for lacking loot boxes and excessive microtransactions, which some players appreciate.
- “I love the Prince of Persia franchise more than Assassin's Creed because it was responsible for creating the Assassin's Creed franchise, and it didn't have any loot boxes or excessive microtransactions.”
- “This seems to have been put on Steam as a nostalgia gouge, or just a cash grab to try to profit from abandonware.”
- “I love the Prince of Persia franchise more than Assassin's Creed because it was responsible for creating the Assassin's Creed franchise and it didn't have any loot boxes or too many microtransactions.”