Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands

The summer blockbuster film season is here again, and with it the customary slew of disappointing game-of-the-movie tie-ins.

In this instance, however, the usual convention is turned on its head. The movie in question, Prince of Persia, is adapted from a video game (specifically 2003’s excellent Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time), while the accompanying game is a completely new episode designed to sit alongside its big-screen brother rather than crudely replicate it in pixelated form.

The storyline in The Forgotten Sands takes place directly after the Sands of Time. The game looks and feels very much like a return to this era of the franchise, abandoning many of the stylistic and gameplay elements introduced into later princely outings.

Playing the game involves three main elements: acrobatics, puzzle solving and combat. The gymnast Prince is a joy to control. It’s hard to imagine William or Harry could pull off the same wall-running and pillar-climbing antics the Prince does.

In addition, you have the ability to rewind time. If you misjudge a jump, it’s possible to rescue yourself from oblivion and try again. The game builds on the basics by introducing clever new mechanics as the action progresses. Another ability, for example, allows you to freeze water into solid objects, which can then be used as platforms, poles, walls and so on.

These ideas are refreshingly original, and fans of The Sands of Time will find a lot to love. However, the combat can become tiresome at times, and the game doesn’t make the same impact its predecessor did.