Prince of Persia: Warrior Within

69%
Game Brain Score Based on 2,641 reviews
  • story
  • music
  • gameplay
Prince of Persia: Warrior Within Game Cover
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.

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Windows
  • Mobile Platform
  • Nintendo Gamecube
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station 2
  • Play​station 3
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

69%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,641 reviews
story346 positive mentions
stability176 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 intensity of the game.
  • 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.
  • story735 mentions

    The story of "Prince of Persia: Warrior Within" is characterized by its darker and more mature themes, focusing on the prince's quest to escape the relentless Dahaka and alter his fate through time travel. While some players appreciate the complex narrative and engaging plot twists, others criticize it for being convoluted and less compelling than its predecessor, "Sands of Time." Overall, the storytelling is seen as a significant departure from the first game, with mixed opinions on its execution and depth.

    • “The storyline, with its themes of destiny and redemption, resonated deeply with me at the time, sparking my imagination and sense of adventure.”
    • “A great story exploring the origins of the sands and the prince's voyage to change his fate and escape the guardian of time, bouncing back through time from present day to thousands of years prior, changing the world around you whilst essentially treading the same ground thousands of years apart.”
    • “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, even though the underlying story premise is simplistic.”
  • music498 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 and intense atmosphere. While some players appreciate the adrenaline-pumping tracks that complement the action and combat, others feel that the shift from the series' traditional Middle-Eastern musical style to a more generic rock sound detracts from the overall experience. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a defining feature of the game, with opinions varying widely 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 add to the overall intensity of this game.”
    • “The metal soundtrack amps up the action, making every moment more thrilling.”
    • “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 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.”
    • “Having completed Sands of Time, I was really disappointed with this one; the music is terrible, sound effects are terrible, the story is complete rubbish, the enemies appear to be based on a school kid's drawings, and the animation is cartoonish.”
  • gameplay450 mentions

    The gameplay of "Prince of Persia: Warrior Within" is a mixed bag, with many praising its refined combat mechanics, expanded level design, and innovative time-manipulation features that enhance both platforming and puzzle-solving. However, criticisms arise regarding clunky controls, frustrating camera angles, and tedious combat, which some players find repetitive and poorly executed. Overall, while the game builds on its predecessor's foundation and offers a darker, more mature experience, it may not appeal to everyone due to its mechanical flaws and pacing issues.

    • “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.”
    • “However, I tried replaying it today and it just hasn't aged well at all, but despite the graphics and gameplay, that's not the problem I have which is why I am not recommending it; it's the absolute backtracking which makes this game unbearable.”
    • “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 gameplay is also dull and I just cannot like this game.”
  • graphics315 mentions

    The graphics of "Prince of Persia: Warrior Within" are a mixed bag, with many praising the improved visuals and atmospheric environments that reflect the game's darker tone compared to its predecessor. However, numerous reviews highlight that the graphics have not aged well, with muddy textures and various glitches detracting from the experience. While some players appreciate the art style and find it visually appealing for its time, others criticize it for being outdated and difficult to navigate due to poor visibility in certain areas.

    • “Graphics 10/10”
    • “Visually stunning with a mature art style, Warrior Within presents a dark and atmospheric world that complements the prince's struggle against fate.”
    • “The graphics and fight scenes are breathtaking.”
    • “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.”
    • “Graphics are bad and hard to see where you should go next.”
    • “Gameplay and graphics didn't age well and consoles have better versions of some games in this franchise.”
  • stability180 mentions

    The game's stability is heavily criticized, with numerous players reporting a plethora of bugs and glitches that can lead to game-breaking issues, particularly in the PC port. While some users experienced minimal problems, many noted significant frustrations with camera angles, control issues, and frequent crashes or freezes, making the game difficult to complete. Overall, the consensus is that the game suffers from a lack of polish and quality control, detracting from the overall experience.

    • “Make sure to cap fps at 60 or lower to ensure bug-free gameplay.”
    • “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.”
    • “Game has a lot of glitches and I'm stuck on a mission where I can't bounce off the wall, so I can't finish the game.”
    • “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.”
  • atmosphere110 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, blending metal and orchestral elements, as a key contributor to its immersive experience, enhancing the intensity of gameplay and narrative. While some lament the loss of the original's fairy tale charm, many appreciate the mature art style and atmospheric environments that effectively complement the prince's darker journey.

    • “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 audio design in Prince of Persia: Warrior Within complements the game's darker tone and atmosphere, with a haunting soundtrack and immersive sound effects that enhance the tension and intensity of the gameplay.”
    • “In the game itself, the atmosphere got significantly darker, which kinda ruined it for me.”
    • “As a result it lost that iconic fairy tale atmosphere of the original games.”
    • “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.”
  • grinding66 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has been widely criticized for its tedious combat and repetitive gameplay, particularly in the later stages where enemies become frustratingly difficult to defeat and require excessive backtracking. Many players found the combat system lacking, with some describing it as broken and offering little reward, leading to a frustrating experience that detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game. While the platforming elements remain enjoyable, they are often overshadowed by the monotonous and time-consuming nature of the fighting mechanics.

    • “The combat has some improvements, but it's still tedious and I tried to avoid it at all costs.”
    • “The game got harder, which is nice, but when a game gets hard, it must be careful not to be frustrating, and that's the only feeling I had through my current playthrough, frustrated by the enemies that take ages to kill and come in waves of seven, blocking you in corners and spamming their usual attack pattern.”
    • “Though the story is not bad, the combat makes the game tedious, repetitive, and boring.”
  • replayability28 mentions

    "Prince of Persia: Warrior Within" boasts 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.”
    • “All in all, I loved my time with Prince of Persia: Warrior Within. I love the new combat and the graphics are really good except for the faces. The replayability in terms of difficulty and collectibles is great; all in all, it's a better game.”
    • “But if you are looking for an action/adventure platformer with decent visuals, amazing and creative combat, fantastic metal soundtrack, and incredible replayability.”
    • “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.”
    • “After I completed the first game of this trilogy (Prince of Persia: Sands of Time), I was met with kind of meh expectations. The first game had a good story and a beautiful atmosphere but was riddled with a poor combat system, only one boss, incredible lackluster replayability, very short, and for the PC version, a very bad sound glitch.”
    • “But I do give the game a little bit of props for having a little replayability by having an alternative ending.”
  • humor18 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as a mix of dark and edgy elements, with some players finding the tonal shifts and plot twists unintentionally funny. While nostalgia plays a role in the appreciation of its comedic aspects, there are critiques regarding the game's aesthetic and narrative choices that contribute to its humor. Overall, the humor is seen as a blend of genuine comedic moments and unintentional hilarity stemming from design flaws and tonal inconsistencies.

    • “The game is edgy, dark, and at times tries too hard with the plot twists to the point it becomes funny.”
    • “[b][i]Prince of Persia: Warrior Within[/i][/b] is the second entry in the rebooted cinematic platformer trilogy, bringing significant enhancements to the combat system, a large, continuous map, and one of the most hilarious tonal shifts in gaming history.”
    • “So if you liked the first game, and don't mind some hilarious glitches and incredibly annoying dog demons that explode, give this a try.”
  • character development18 mentions

    Reviews highlight a stark contrast in character development between the games, with "Sands of Time" praised for its deep narrative and character arcs, while "Warrior Within" is criticized for lacking meaningful development and being less engaging. The storytelling and character design in both games are noted as strong points, but the overall sentiment suggests that the latter fails to reach the same literary and emotional heights as its predecessor.

    • “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).”
  • optimization14 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization receives mixed feedback; while many players report smooth performance and compatibility with various hardware configurations, some users highlight significant optimization issues on PC. Despite these concerns, the game is praised for its solid voice acting and engaging story, with minimal bugs reported.

    • “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.”
  • emotional10 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game resonates deeply with players, evoking nostalgia and intense feelings tied to childhood experiences, particularly through memorable characters like Kaileena and the terror of the Dahaka. Many reviewers express a strong emotional connection to the storyline, highlighting its impact over the years, despite acknowledging gameplay flaws. Overall, the game is celebrated for its ability to elicit powerful emotions and create lasting memories.

    • “And everything about Kaileena in this game is emotional.”
    • “Quite an emotional storyline, but I was emo myself back then too, so I loved it.”
    • “Played it when I was a kid, played it when I was in high school, now I'm 23 and still playing it. This was my first ever PC game, and honestly, this game has an emotional connection. I finished it more than 5 times and now playing it again. The music, the environment, the characters, and especially Dahaka, man, if you're looking at my review, go for it without any hesitation. If you are looking for a great story game, I would recommend you guys to play the trilogy once; you'll fall in love with the story.”
    • “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.”
  • monetization6 mentions

    Players appreciate games that avoid modern monetization practices such as season passes, loot boxes, and microtransactions, favoring a straightforward single-player experience. There is a nostalgic longing for the days when games felt less like cash grabs and more like genuine entertainment, free from intrusive monetization strategies. Overall, the sentiment leans towards a desire for simpler, more enjoyable gaming experiences without the burden of modern monetization tactics.

    • “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.”
    • “Back when Ubisoft actually made fun and competent games that did not feel like a soulless cash grab.”
    • “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.”
    • “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, 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.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

80% average critic score

Buy Prince of Persia: Warrior Within

Play time

12hMedian play time
9hAverage play time
12hMain story
17hCompletionist
2-15hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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