Topic: Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands

[MysterD]

Looks like we might have a PoP game that'll maybe have a tie-in w/ the movie Jordan Mechner is involved in.

New Prince of Persia Title Trademarked
by Nick Breckon Oct 07, 2009 1:32pm CST tags: Prince of Persia
Prince of Persia

Prince of Persia creator Jordan Mechner has filed a new gaming-related trademark for "Prince of Persia The Forgotten Sands."

The filing was noticed by Superannuation, which also took note of an Ubisoft character modeler that recently listed his current job as "working on the new Prince of Persia."

Mechner has not dabbled in video games since 2003's Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. More recently, Mechner penned the screenplay for the movie adaptation of Sands, which stars Jake Gyllenhaal and is set for release in May 2010.

Due to the upcoming film--and the shared word of "Sands" in the titles--many internet sleuths are speculating that the new Prince of Persia game will be tied to the movie in some way. Niether Ubisoft or Mechner have officially commented on the purported project.

[MysterD]

Yes, there will be a PC version of this game coming, as well...

[idolminds]

Happiness!

[MysterD]

Happiness!

If there is DLC for the console versions, it better come to the PC.
I don't want another PoP: Epilogue DLC incident here.

[MysterD]

Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands - Spike TV VGA 2009 Trailer.

[Xessive]

Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands - Spike TV VGA 2009 Trailer.

Wow, that looked pretty bad. It just looked like a cheap knock-off of Warrior Within, granted it is just a debut trailer.

Wasn't the next PoP supposed to follow up on the last one (PoP 2008)?

[MysterD]

Wasn't the next PoP supposed to follow up on the last one (PoP 2008)?

PoP: The Forgotten Sands is supposed to go right along w/ Mechner's upcoming same-named film.

About PoP 2008 - did The Epilogue DLC finish the story?
Granted, I loved PoP 2008 and still would like to see a follow-up to that, as well.

[idolminds]

I saw like half that trailer and didnt see gameplay. And I wasnt thrilled with what I saw anyway...grrr...

[beo]

apparently this game follows the sands of time trilogy...

http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/30/prince-of-persia-the-forgotten-sands-to-continue-sands-of-time/

[iPPi]

This game is supposed to take place between The Sands of Time and Warrior Within.

[MysterD]

This game is supposed to take place between The Sands of Time and Warrior Within.

I wonder if it'll lead up to how the Prince actually turned into The Dark Prince (from Warrior Within)...

[Pugnate]

This game is supposed to take place between The Sands of Time and Warrior Within.

I am pretty sure it takes after the entire SoT trilogy, no?

If not, then it would be really stupid chronologically.

On the other hand it would be an admittance that the franchise took a bad turn in an attempt to attract the masses after SoT.

edit:

ippi is right... that's a bit ridiculous and will be quite confusing. Especially since they already abandoned the new PoP franchise they started in 2008. Unfortunately they weren't using their brains when they simply named the now abandoned franchise Prince of Persia -- which will add to the confusion.

edit:

Here is an interview on the new game and where it stands in the chronology:

http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/14/prince-of-persia-the-forgotten-sands-fills-in-gaps-before-warri/

[iPPi]

Haha I was too lazy to post a link. 

[idolminds]

So they thought it was a good idea to set the game in the time period where the Prince goes from the character everyone liked to the character everyone hated?

[Xessive]

Sands of Time was my favourite by a large margin. I enjoyed Warrior Within simply because it was a continuation of the story, though I could have done without the emo'tude. While it was the worst of the three it was still not bad in terms of gameplay and it had some interesting plot elements. The Two Thrones was back on track but still not quite as great as the original. My point is the trilogy feels complete in and of itself and they really shouldn't mess with it.

Prince of Persia 2008 (PoP2008) was a unique try for Ubisoft. I appreciate that they took a very unconventional way about it. It was a decent game but I felt there was a lot of untapped potential there which could possibly be realized in a sequel. Honestly, I really liked that it was a very laid back experience, which I found a refreshing change of pace (everything else at the time was so intense). The combat sometimes kept you alert with the button sequences but otherwise it was a "chillaxed" adventure to revive a dead, corrupted environment in an Okami-esque fashion. I hope they work on a sequel.

Forgotten Sands, so far, looks like it'll be another bit of trashy promotional material like the rest of the cheap sludge we see every movie season (i.e. every movie-related superhero game).

[Pugnate]

I hope not. From what I read, Forgotten Sands will have a different storyline and even the character will be voiced by the same actor from SoT and its sequel.

[idolminds]

I hope Ubisoft either changes their mind on the DRM or something, because this game looks pretty awesome. A total return to the Sands of Time style game.

[Pugnate]

That looks pretty sweet.

[Xessive]

Hmm, this is starting to turn me around too. If it's going to be true to the original trilogy I may just be persuaded.

I don't like the Prince's face in this one though. He doesn't resemble the Prince from the original trilogy at all. I'll have to wait till it's released then look more closely.

[Pugnate]

Yea I don't get that either. I guess they wanted him to resemble the movie's prince, but stopped short of doing a complete copy.

[gpw11]

Oh wow, looks awesome.

[Xessive]

GameTrailers Review!

[MysterD]

Prince of Persia 2008 (PoP2008) was a unique try for Ubisoft. I appreciate that they took a very unconventional way about it. It was a decent game but I felt there was a lot of untapped potential there which could possibly be realized in a sequel. Honestly, I really liked that it was a very laid back experience, which I found a refreshing change of pace (everything else at the time was so intense). The combat sometimes kept you alert with the button sequences but otherwise it was a "chillaxed" adventure to revive a dead, corrupted environment in an Okami-esque fashion. I hope they work on a sequel.

I loved PoP (2008). Wasn't perfect, sure - what is? But, God - it was such a different direction to take the game in and it was still so magical. A great departure, if you ask me.

I just wish PoP (2008) had a different name that what they named it. Originally, it was rumored to be called Prince of Persia: Prodigy - and I would've been fine w/ that title - or hell, any other title than Prince of Persia - b/c PoP 2008 was NOT a remake by any freaking means.

[MysterD]

G4TV Review - 3 stars (out of 5)

G4TV's List of Cons

The Cons

    * Everything from the story to the combat to the gameplay tweaks feel uninspired
    * The difficulty is arbitrarily ramped up at the end, nearly ruining the game
    * Prince of Persia still doesn't know how to do satisfying combat

Combat

I frown at bringing up combat because, once again, The Forgotten Sands finds itself unable to come up with a convincing reason to force the player to battle so often when the developers can't develop a decent fighting system. Is anyone’s favorite memory from any Prince of Persia game the sword fighting? Combat really didn't work that well in Sands of Time, it was arguably worse (though prettier!) in Prince of Persia ’08 and for The Forgotten Sands, Ubisoft's solution seems to be the “bigger is better” approach of throwing 50 enemies on the screen. An unnecessarily convoluted upgrade system gives players the illusion of customizing their Prince, but there's little player choice in the matter and, bizarrely, you'll experience most of the upgrades in the game's last hour.

Highs and Lows Galore

If it sounds like The Forgotten Sands is a series of highs and lows, that's because it is. It's a game filled with heightened moments of elation followed by stretches of frustrating mediocrity. It nearly all falls apart at the very end, too, when the game creates an unnecessary wall of difficulty by asking the player to accomplish ridiculous feats of timing totally out of line with the rest of the game. The Forgotten Sands' flow walks a very fine line, wanting to give the appearance of challenge but without breaking the player's forward momentum. When you stop moving in this game, you stop having fun. To this end, one of the final stretches in The Forgotten Sands crafts arbitrary difficulty through an uncontrollable camera viewpoint and timed jumps that rely less on skillful use of the Prince's abilities than it is blind memorization of hard-as-nails jumps.

[idolminds]

Sounds about what I expected. I don't know why they insist on doing more combat, that is so not what the series is about or why people enjoy it.

Of course I feel the same way about Tomb Raider and they keep fucking that up, too.

[MysterD]

Sounds about what I expected. I don't know why they insist on doing more combat, that is so not what the series is about or why people enjoy it.

Of course I feel the same way about Tomb Raider and they keep fucking that up, too.

Agreed. I could do w/out the combat in BOTH of those games.

[TheOtherBelmont]

This seems appropriate:

[Cobra951]

Sounds about what I expected. I don't know why they insist on doing more combat, that is so not what the series is about or why people enjoy it.

Of course I feel the same way about Tomb Raider and they keep fucking that up, too.

After The Sands of Time, the series ended for me.  Shame.

[idolminds]

This is...I don't know what this is...

Ubisoft has changed the cover art for PoP: Sand of Time, the Greatest Hits PS2 version. Seriously. Why?

They couldn't be trying to trick people into thinking its the new one, could they?

[Pugnate]

Nah I don't think so. But this will definitely confuse people. What a stupid thing to do.

[MysterD]

Oh, that's ridiculous...
*smh*

[Xessive]

That's just plain stupid.

By the way, is it just me or is there something not quite right with the Prince's face? I checked out the Wii version of the game and his face looks acceptable but in the PC/X360 versions of the game he looks like a burn victim who's undergone some serious reconstructive surgeries and an artificial goatee transplant!

[iPPi]

The new prince looks very awkward.

[idolminds]

I got this game for christmas and just finished playing. My thoughts.

Overall I enjoyed it. The reviews are right about its shortcomings. The combat is a bunch of button mashing with 50 enemies around you, the difficulty at the very end ramps up and not in a good way, the story is blah, etc. The actual platformy bits in between are quite enjoyable, though. Theres really only one solution to every puzzle but its fun pulling off all the special moves to accomplish them.

The ending was a total letdown. The buildup to it was pretty awesome, fighting and leaping through rubble thats flying around in a sandstorm. Then theres a boss battle thats just kind of typical, and at the end you kill the boss and...well, thats about it. There is a tiny bit extra after the credits roll...if you feel like watching 20 minutes of credits. That might be an exaggeration...it might only be 15 minutes of credits. Seriously.

If they could mix PoP:FS with PoP2008, they could really have something. The story and ending of PoP08 was WAY better and the slightly more open level design was great. Except it looked like some freaky random jungle gym rather than an actual place someone would build. While the areas in PoP:FS still don't make a lot of sense for people to build that way, it still gives off the impression that its a big elaborate palace that could be that way. If they matched that with the '08 story and open layout...win.

[MysterD]

Idol, which platform did you get Forgotten Sands for?

[idolminds]

PS3

Oh yes, and one other thing. PoP08 was considered too easy because if you screwed up a jump the chick would save you and put you back on the last safe platform you were on. Now after going back and playing a PoP game with the time rewind mechanic...I like the PoP08 method better. Not because its easier, but its less frustrating and removes some pointless busywork. Time reversal is just a more limited form and forces you to see a loading screen if you screw up enough times. Its not like you have limited lives or anything. So whats the harm in just letting me retry this tricky part? Either way I'm going to HAVE to do it to continue. One makes me fuck with a button and see a loading screen, the other just lets me retry.

[MysterD]

PS3

Oh yes, and one other thing. PoP08 was considered too easy because if you screwed up a jump the chick would save you and put you back on the last safe platform you were on. Now after going back and playing a PoP game with the time rewind mechanic...I like the PoP08 method better. Not because its easier, but its less frustrating and removes some pointless busywork. Time reversal is just a more limited form and forces you to see a loading screen if you screw up enough times. Its not like you have limited lives or anything. So whats the harm in just letting me retry this tricky part? Either way I'm going to HAVE to do it to continue. One makes me fuck with a button and see a loading screen, the other just lets me retry.

I agree w/ you 100%.

I've got about a little over 3 hours into POP: The Forgotten Sands on the PC [Steam] - but yeah, the Rewind Mechanic is not too much different to the Elika saving mechanic in POP 2008. The Rewind pretty much throws you back to the last platform, if you take a fall - run out of rewinds and it throws you back to the last checkpoints.

In POP 2008, though - especially as you got further along, there were some VERY long-winded platform passes you had to make and if you failed...you went a good distance back and started from there. You didn't have to worry about if they placed a checkpoint before a fight - you could just try the long-platforming pass again.

Like you said - I think they should mix the best elements of POP 2008 [a little more open-world; the superior storytelling; and characters] and TFS. I like some of the stuff TFS has going on [i.e. the platforming is awesome], but it definitely ain't the story and characters here. It just seems...there.

Personally, I'd like a true-blue sequel to POP 2008.

I haven't gone back to TFS, since I began Mafia 2. I just can't seem to let go of Mafia 2. I'm sure I'll get back to TFS, probably once Mafia 2 is done with.

[MysterD]

Man, "The Final Climb" area w/ all the wall jumps and water-freezes is driving me nuts...

EDIT:
Finally got through the game. Took me long enuff to get through "The Final Climb", spending a good deal of time trying to get through that late last night and this morning.

[idolminds]

Yeah, the Final Climb part was so out of whack difficulty-wise from the rest of the game.

[MysterD]

Yeah, the Final Climb part was so out of whack difficulty-wise from the rest of the game.

It's fine to make it hard...
It wouldn't have been so bad, if they had more checkpoint saves, actually...