| Anyone old enough to remember back to the days of the Amiga will most certainly recall with fondness a certain Prince of Persia. As far as platform games went, it more or less re-wrote the rule book, introducing an intuitive control mechanic, much greater depth due to its challenging puzzle system, and also showcasing fluid, life-like animation. So what would we do if we were to remake the game for current generation hardware' Well, we'd certainly do it in 3D. We'd retain all the fundamentals that exemplified the original. And we'd introduce an extra gameplay element. That pretty much sums up The Sands of Time - conceptually, at least. You once again take on the role of the overly athletic prince, as you navigate your way through the game's maze-like structure of hazardous, claustrophobic environments, filled with thought-provoking puzzles and myriad enemies.The game's story takes place, obviously, amidst the sands of ancient Persia, where legend tells of a time borne by blood and ruled by deceit. Within this war-torn land, the young Prince discovers a magic dagger and, drawn to its dark powers, unwittingly unleashes an evil upon his father's kingdom. And so he must embark on a quest to reclaim the Palace's cursed chambers and restore peace to the fabric of time itself.The aforementioned new element to the proceedings can be found in the titular Sands of Time. Amidst the myriad platform jumping, hanging, swinging, wall-running, shimmying, fighting and puzzle-solving, you also have to master the ability to control time. Consequently, throughout the game you acquire a range of time-manipulating manoeuvres, such as the Power of Revival (rewind up to two seconds), the Power of Delay (slow-motion), The Power of Restraint (freeze enemies in time), and The Power of Gathering (rebuild specific objects). Making use of these powers is key to progression through the game and both your life gauge and a number of the game's puzzles rely on them.The Sands of Time is a noteworthy remake of an original classic, featuring the same intricate level design and intuitive control system, as well as throwing a whole lot more into the mix. As such, the pace is much faster, there's more of an emphasis on combat, the Prince's roster of gymnastic abilities has been upped, and an extra dimension has been introduced by the concept of time control. |
