Prince of Persia: Warrior Within

Warrior Within is the sequel to Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time; this time the story has a much darker tone and a lot more bloodshed. The Prince has learned a few new moves, dispatching his enemies in a very graphic way. He can use almost any weapon he finds against his foes, and wielding differ

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"Prince of Persia: Warrior Within" is the sequel to the acclaimed "Sands of Time." The Prince, now hunted by the vengeful Empress of Time, must travel to the Island of Time and defy fate to prevent his death. This action-adventure game features intense combat, intricate puzzle-solving, and time manipulation abilities, all within a dark, immersive atmosphere.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

82%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,319 reviews

story173 positive mentions

stability88 negative mentions

The game features an engaging and darker storyline that adds depth to the Prince's character.
Combat mechanics have been significantly improved, offering a variety of combos and dual-wielding options.
The atmosphere and soundtrack, featuring heavy metal music, enhance the overall experience and immersion.

The controls and camera angles are often frustrating, leading to cheap deaths and a lack of precision in platforming.
The game suffers from numerous bugs and glitches, including game-breaking issues that can prevent progress.
Backtracking through the same areas multiple times can become tedious and disrupt the flow of gameplay.

story
367 mentions
47 % positive mentions
48 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The story of "Prince of Persia: Warrior Within" is characterized by its darker and more mature themes compared to its predecessor, "Sands of Time," exploring concepts of fate, redemption, and the consequences of time manipulation. While some players appreciate the complex narrative and engaging plot twists, others criticize it for being convoluted and lacking depth, with a tone that may not resonate with fans of the original. Overall, the game offers a mix of compelling storytelling and frustrating elements, making it a polarizing experience for players.
- “The game is story rich and it even makes proper sense.”
- “The storyline, with its themes of destiny and redemption, resonated deeply with me at the time, sparking my imagination and sense of adventure.”
- “The story is very interesting with lots of plot twists.”
- “The story itself is an afterthought.”
- “The story is awful, time loop that should've killed the prince but didn't, the new characters are there, but nothing is explained about them.”
- “Towards the last third of the game, the story goes completely off the rails, with some really far-fetched and contrived plot elements that I was literally unable to comprehend.”
music
249 mentions
39 % positive mentions
55 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The music in "Prince of Persia: Warrior Within" has garnered mixed reviews, with many praising its heavy metal soundtrack, particularly the contributions from Godsmack, for enhancing the game's dark atmosphere and intense combat sequences. While some players appreciate the adrenaline-pumping tracks that complement the gritty tone, others feel the shift from the series' traditional Middle Eastern-inspired music detracts from the overall experience. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a defining feature of the game, with opinions varying on its fit within the franchise.
- “The music slaps, the dark and dreary atmosphere is perfect despite it being a departure from the rich colors and vivid Arabian landscapes of the first and third entries, and the addition of the Dahaka chase scenes really adds to the overall intensity of this game.”
- “The game also has a superb soundtrack, composed by Stuart Chatwood and Inon Zur, that blends rock, metal, and orchestral elements to create a unique and atmospheric mood.”
- “The soundtrack enhances the immersive experience, and the balanced mix of challenging puzzles and dynamic combat keeps players engaged.”
- “The music doesn't fit the feel of the game as well as the original game, or the third game, instead being heavy rock/metal.”
- “What I do mind, however, is that along with the change in atmosphere comes a rather ill-fated change of the music, which is now a very generic and unfitting metal/hard rock soundtrack.”
- “The soundtrack in my opinion doesn't really do anything besides prevent awkward silence (which there is still a lot of) and personally I don't think the music really fits the game.”
gameplay
225 mentions
36 % positive mentions
56 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Prince of Persia: Warrior Within" is a mixed bag, with many praising its refined combat mechanics, expanded level design, and engaging time-manipulation features that enhance both platforming and puzzle-solving. However, some players criticize the combat as tedious and the platforming mechanics as occasionally clunky, with issues like poor camera angles and frustrating backtracking detracting from the overall experience. Despite these drawbacks, the game is often regarded as a significant improvement over its predecessor, offering a more mature tone and deeper gameplay elements that appeal to fans of the series.
- “Prince of Persia: Warrior Within's time-manipulation mechanics add a unique layer of strategy to the gameplay, forcing players to think creatively to overcome obstacles, and the boss battles in Warrior Within are some of the most memorable in the series, requiring both skill and strategy to defeat.”
- “The gameplay in Prince of Persia: Warrior Within builds upon the foundation established in Sands of Time, with refined combat mechanics, expanded level design, and enhanced time manipulation abilities.”
- “With its improved combat mechanics, expanded level design, and deeper narrative, it's a worthy sequel that delivers an engaging and memorable adventure for fans of action-adventure games.”
- “The gameplay is only slightly improved upon Sands of Time; you have more time abilities, which in theory makes it more interesting, but because only one of them is any good, it is incredibly limiting.”
- “Very often it’s just frustrating trial and error gameplay, which is made even more annoying due to the save points being way too far apart.”
- “The final nail in the gameplay coffin is the most useless map I have ever seen in a video game.”
graphics
157 mentions
35 % positive mentions
56 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Prince of Persia: Warrior Within" are often described as a significant improvement over its predecessor, featuring a darker and more mature art style that enhances the game's atmosphere. However, many reviewers note that while the visuals were impressive for their time, they have not aged well, with muddy textures and various graphical glitches detracting from the experience. Overall, the game's aesthetic is polarizing, with some appreciating its unique style while others find it lacking compared to modern standards.
- “Impressive visuals and atmospheric environments that showcase the darker tone of the game.”
- “Prince of Persia: Warrior Within features improved graphics and visual effects compared to its predecessor, with darker and more detailed environments that reflect the game's mature tone and aesthetic.”
- “The textures, details, terrain, and other visuals in the sceneries were beyond beautiful.”
- “There's no first-person camera view so you can look at your surroundings and the graphics are very muddy, so you can't always be sure what's what, which makes it super easy to make mistakes.”
- “The graphics do not change much and are still in cartoon style.”
- “Graphics don't really hold up to modern standards, but the gameplay is rock solid and the combat is just fun all around.”
stability
90 mentions
2 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
98 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with numerous users reporting a plethora of bugs and glitches that can significantly hinder gameplay, including game-breaking issues and poor controller support. While some players have managed to enjoy the game despite these problems, many express frustration over frequent crashes, lag, and erratic camera angles, making the PC port feel fundamentally broken compared to its original console release. Overall, the game's stability issues detract from the experience, leading to a mixed reception among players.
- “Make sure to cap the FPS at 60 or lower to ensure bug-free gameplay.”
- “Bad checkpoint systems and the fighting has the unmistakable Ubisoft touch, and is just as good as their 2024 in-game fighting: bad camera angles, almost no control over movement during fighting, it sucks to one enemy like a magnet, and glitches, glitches, glitches, preferably when you're just about to finish a hard fight it will get stuck or freeze.”
- “The PC Steam port of this game is a mess, from minor things like no controller support and resolution problems to glitches that will bring your adventure to a firm stop.”
- “Do not buy this game unless the company fixes all bugs or glitches in the game; you cannot complete the game with these glitch issues, it is impossible.”
atmosphere
55 mentions
45 % positive mentions
49 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of "Prince of Persia: Warrior Within" is widely praised for its dark, brooding tone, which marks a significant departure from the vibrant aesthetics of its predecessors. Reviewers highlight the game's haunting soundtrack, immersive environments, and the transformation of the protagonist into a more complex character, all of which contribute to a mature and intense atmosphere reminiscent of classic action games. While some players miss the original's fairy tale charm, the overall consensus is that the game's atmospheric design effectively enhances the narrative and gameplay experience.
- “The music slaps, the dark and dreary atmosphere is perfect despite it being a departure from the rich colors and vivid Arabian landscapes of the first and third entries, and the addition of the Dahaka chase scenes really add to the overall intensity of this game.”
- “From the haunting corridors of the Fortress of Time to the sprawling vistas of the Island of Time, the game's visuals immerse players in its dark and atmospheric world.”
- “The atmospheric soundtrack contributes significantly to the game's immersive experience.”
- “The tone and atmosphere, as I wrote above, were much darker and depressive, which was also seen in the characters' language and in the soundtrack, which used a heavy-metal note.”
- “In the game itself, the atmosphere got significantly darker, which kind of ruined it for me.”
- “What I do mind, however, is that along with the change in atmosphere comes a rather ill-fated change of the music, which is now a very generic and unfitting metal/hard rock soundtrack.”
grinding
33 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight a pervasive sense of tedium associated with the game's combat and level design, with many players finding the fighting mechanics repetitive and frustrating, particularly due to enemy "bullet sponge" characteristics and excessive backtracking. While some appreciate the platforming elements, the overall gameplay experience is marred by tedious encounters and poorly balanced difficulty, leading to a lack of engagement and enjoyment. Many reviewers express that the game feels unnecessarily prolonged and frustrating, detracting from its potential as a compelling experience.
- “The combat is definitely its weakest point and for me gets tedious; luckily, there are ways to actually avoid some of the combat if you maneuver yourself well enough.”
- “The game got harder, which is nice, but when a game gets hard, it must be careful not to be frustrating. That's the only feeling I had through my current playthrough: frustrated by the enemies that take ages to kill and come in waves, blocking you in corners and spamming their usual attack pattern. Frustrated by the parkour, since the game makes you go through the same zones many times, it looks like they made it the most long and tedious to navigate through, just to make the game longer.”
- “Though the story is not bad, the combat makes the game tedious, repetitive, and boring.”
replayability
14 mentions
36 % positive mentions
43 % neutral mentions
21 % negative mentions
"Prince of Persia: Warrior Within" offers strong replayability, featuring multiple endings, a non-linear structure, and various paths and collectibles to explore. Players appreciate the improvements over its predecessor, particularly in combat and level design, which enhance the overall experience. The game’s engaging narrative and optional content contribute to its status as a standout action/adventure title from the PS2 era.
- “The game's non-linear structure allows for freedom in exploration, adding replay value to its already captivating narrative.”
- “This game has everything + top-notch replay value on top.”
- “The replayability in terms of difficulty and collectibles is great, all in all it's a better game.”
- “Replayability has seen a big improvement over the predecessor.”
- “When compared to the Sands of Time, Warrior Within is the result of improvements in multiple areas (level design, replayability, combat system) but also severe cutbacks in key departments: writing and music.”
- “But I do give the game a little bit of props for having a little replayability by having an alternative ending.”
humor
9 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Reviews highlight a mix of humor in the game, with some finding it genuinely funny and others noting that the dark and edgy tone can lead to unintentional humor, especially through plot twists and design choices. While nostalgia plays a role in the appreciation of the game's humor, there are criticisms regarding its shift from a light-hearted tone to a more serious one, which some players find amusingly misguided. Overall, the humor is described as a blend of intentional comedy and unintended hilarity stemming from design flaws and tonal inconsistencies.
- “My childhood is based on this game, so I bought it recently. Yeah, it's super funny and scary now.”
- “The game is edgy, dark, and at times tries too hard with the plot twists to the point it becomes funny.”
- “Warrior Within's aesthetic design is hilariously bad.”
character development
9 mentions
33 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
Character development in the reviewed games is notably stronger in "Sands of Time," which is praised for its dark and mature storyline, offering deeper narrative twists and engaging character arcs. In contrast, "Warrior Within" is criticized for lacking character development, with some reviewers feeling it falls short of its predecessor despite improvements in combat and design. Overall, while "Sands of Time" is celebrated for its storytelling and character depth, "Warrior Within" is seen as a disappointment in this regard.
- “Dark and mature storyline with deeper character development and narrative twists.”
- “Regardless of these things, it is a video game that has amazing storytelling, interesting character design, and an amazing soundtrack.”
- “The character designs and platforming puzzles are like a time machine to my childhood.”
- “Ubisoft phoned this one in with redundant levels, no character development, and music best heard with volume levels set to zero.”
- “Having never read Faulkner or any other actual literature, I know all about what makes Sands of Time the equivalent of a literary masterpiece and Warrior Within merely trash because it has no character development.”
- “Not as good as Sands of Time, but still a solid game; combat is better, but that's about the only thing this game does better. There's a bunch of stuff I dislike about it, but that's mostly my personal opinion (the music, character design, etc).”
optimization
7 mentions
43 % positive mentions
43 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while it runs smoothly on most hardware configurations and features solid voice acting, some users report poor optimization on PC, leading to a less than ideal experience. Despite these issues, many players still appreciate the game's nostalgic value and engaging story.
- “Warrior Within's performance is generally smooth, with the game running well on most hardware configurations.”
- “I highly recommend this title; it has a very good story, durability, and it's very well optimized for the PC platform... very few bugs detected!”
- “Performance: 9/10”
- “I cannot bring myself to dislike this game here on Steam despite the bad optimization for PC; it is a good game and nostalgia also kicks in.”
emotional
5 mentions
80 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
20 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game resonates deeply with players, evoking nostalgia and intense feelings tied to memorable characters and storylines, particularly the experiences of fear and attachment to figures like Kaileena and Dahaka. Many reviewers express a strong personal connection, recalling how the game impacted their childhood and teenage years, while others find the emotional depth overshadowed by gameplay frustrations. Overall, the game is celebrated for its ability to elicit strong emotions, despite mixed opinions on its mechanics.
- “This game marked my childhood; replaying it again made me feel the old feelings of terror when I got chased by Dahaka or when I was about to die.”
- “And everything about Kaileena in this game is emotional.”
- “Quite an emotional storyline, but I was emotional myself back then too, so I loved it.”
- “If you can endure the clunky combat system, the camera summoned right from PS2 hell, the difficulty that makes it look like the developers wanted to harm their fans with their game (but it's Ubisoft we're talking about, maybe it's a bad analogy), the boring story, the multiple bugs, and the deaths you will encounter, and still say you like it, then I guess it's a game for you, but it's clearly not one for me.”
monetization
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
-100 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the absence of modern monetization tactics such as season passes, loot boxes, and microtransactions, which enhances their enjoyment of the game. The focus on a straightforward single-player experience without intrusive monetization elements is seen as a refreshing change from the current industry trends. However, frustrations with gameplay mechanics, like lengthy death animations and progress loss, can detract from the overall experience.
- “Playing a good old 10-hour single-player game without any major modern issues like season passes, loot boxes, microtransactions, or always-online DRM feels like a bliss.”
- “The absence of microtransactions in this game allows for a more immersive experience, letting players focus on the story and gameplay without distractions.”
- “I appreciate that the game offers a complete experience without pushing players to spend extra money on in-game purchases.”
- “And to be honest, sometimes playing a good old 10-hour single-player game without any kind of major modern issues like season passes, loot boxes, microtransactions, always-online DRM, or in this specific case, any use of that heinous Ubisoft DRM launcher feels like a bliss.”
- “Back when Ubisoft actually made fun and competent games that did not feel like a soulless cash grab.”
- “The whole 'you died' screen animation seems silly to bring up, but the entire experience—from pressing the wrong button, or perhaps not seeing what is going on because of bad camera angles, to dying in slow motion, getting the 'you died' screen that is just a tad too long and can't be skipped, and then going back to load your game and realizing you just lost a bunch of progress—adds up and takes too long to be fun.”