I just finished playing this game on my PS2. Although there is another review for this game here, I'd like to post my views.
Basic Plotline:
The Prince has come back to Babylon after defeating the Dahaka on the Island of Time. However, Babylon lays waste and under siege. He now must rescue his falling city from the clutches of the Vizier, who is responsible for the mess.
The Main Characters
The Prince
After the dark, Godsmack influenced , mean prince from Warrior Within, I really really didn't expect what I'm seeing in POPTT. I read about it a bit but wasn't prepared for such a change.
The Prince is now back to what he was in the first episode of the trilogy, more down-to-earth. Seems like the time spent away from all his royalty has changed him and this is brilliantly portrayed. He seems sensitive, emotional.... human. This is a refreshing change for the first episode fans, however I miss the "I'm a mean MF" attitude. I liked the aggressive rocker dude from WW.
The Dark Prince
The Sands have corrupted the Prince and he now has an alter-ego, the Dark Prince who keeps on overpowering his normal self and appearing off and on. This split personality is great and the Prince in both avatars hears voices in his head. The Dark prince is very sarcastic and witty when the Prince in his normal self and is their conversations are very entertaining.
The Dark Prince is much more powerful in combat, but like the sand wraith in WW, constantly loses health. This drain can be easily compensated by sand charges recieved after kills or by destroying inanimate objects lying around. Though, be warned, it is extremely likely to die.
Farah
Farah, the indian princess, is back in this episode and she is an integral part of the story. She is out to avenge her father, who was killed by the Vizier. There are a lot of levels where her co-operation is well portrayed. The Prince also displays his fondness for her, which is amusingly mocked by his darker side.
The Vizier
The Vizier has laid Babylon under siege and has his goons all over the place. He has captured Kaileena as she gets back to Babylon with the prince (Alternate ending in WW). He takes on a menacing form in this episode and is a pain to kill !!
Visuals
As with the others in the series, the game is looks just amazing. The environment is more like the first episode, nice and bright, a step back from the darker, morose surroundings of WW. The bad-guys look good and it is a pleasure to kill them. The courtyards, rooftops are all well thought of and finished to perfection. I think they have used the same engine for all 3 parts and its amazing how good they have made the last episode look.
Sound
The Heavy metal is out. Godsmack replace by sweet Arabic Music, which goes whith the theme of the game. Ofcourse the other sounds, viz Heads slicing etc are as great as ever. The big scary bosses could be better sounding though.
Gameplay
The Two Thrones has all the button mashing combat, brain tickling puzzles and precision controlling one will ever need. Immense satisfaction over a Speed Kill (explained later) or winning in the boss fights is totally assured.
Storyline
The trilogy ends pefectly with no questions left unanswered. There are subtle references to both the other episodes of the game which are so well incorporated that veterans will immediately have a feeling of deja vu, while newcomers will be pleasantly intrigued and feel involved as this great epic story unfolds.
Controls
The controls are the same as the previous two episodes and previous player will feel right at home. In no time you'll have the prince jumping, shimmying, leaping, swinging and performing various other unhuman maneuvers.
Weapons
Both the Princes use the Dagger of Time as the primary weapon. The normal prince can pick up secondary weapons, from weapon racks or after a kill. They include daggers, swords, axes and maces, and can be used in powerful combinations or thrown to kill off/injure enemies.
The Dark Prince cannot use any of these seconday weapons but has an extremely handy Daggertail, which is a chain like weapon which is great to get them baddies from a safe distance. It is extremely easy to get out of a situation where you have a few enemies all around you. The Daggertail also allow the Dark Prince to swing across large distances using lamps and rods, much like Indiana Jones uses his whip.
Time Control
The prince can as before, reverse and slow down time. He doesnt have these powers at the beginning, but gets them as the game progresses by destroying the Viziers Sand Traps, some kind of portal which can be used to transport his troops. Also received are additional sand tanks and sand credits used to buy artwork.
New Gameplay Mechanics
Speed Kills
The most awesome addition to the game, it involves creeping up to the enemy as stealthily as possible and pressing certain buttons at precisely the right moment, indicated by the edge of the screen going a bit hazy and the colour toned down. They maybe multiple times this has to be done to get the kill complete, failing any, normal combat begins. Most of the Bosses need to be killed this way too.
Chariot Races
These are the most frustrating parts in the game for me. This is where the prince has a need for speed, jumps on a chariot and races through the streets of babylon at breakneck speeds, all this while fending off attackers and other chariots trying to get you six feet under asap.
A really exciting concept but you have to be really precise or else you go crashing in the walls which causes instant death. You will, I'm sure, learn, as me to curse these races... after you get over the brilliant concept.
Conclusion
A truly great ending to the trilogy, this will sure not dissapoint its fans as well as newcomers. The only dissapointment is the fact that the series has ended and there might not be any more of the prince.
The gameplay is just great and with Speed-Kills the game is even more enjoyable and you will find yourself rewinding just to get the missed chance ever so often.
Prince of Persia : The Two Thrones is one of the better games I have played and I would reccomend anyone likes the series to go ahead and play this.
The right mix of violence, puzzle solving, control and a great storyline, makes this one of the MUST PLAY games on the PS2.
Basic Plotline:
The Prince has come back to Babylon after defeating the Dahaka on the Island of Time. However, Babylon lays waste and under siege. He now must rescue his falling city from the clutches of the Vizier, who is responsible for the mess.
The Main Characters
The Prince
After the dark, Godsmack influenced , mean prince from Warrior Within, I really really didn't expect what I'm seeing in POPTT. I read about it a bit but wasn't prepared for such a change.
The Prince is now back to what he was in the first episode of the trilogy, more down-to-earth. Seems like the time spent away from all his royalty has changed him and this is brilliantly portrayed. He seems sensitive, emotional.... human. This is a refreshing change for the first episode fans, however I miss the "I'm a mean MF" attitude. I liked the aggressive rocker dude from WW.
The Dark Prince
The Sands have corrupted the Prince and he now has an alter-ego, the Dark Prince who keeps on overpowering his normal self and appearing off and on. This split personality is great and the Prince in both avatars hears voices in his head. The Dark prince is very sarcastic and witty when the Prince in his normal self and is their conversations are very entertaining.
The Dark Prince is much more powerful in combat, but like the sand wraith in WW, constantly loses health. This drain can be easily compensated by sand charges recieved after kills or by destroying inanimate objects lying around. Though, be warned, it is extremely likely to die.
Farah
Farah, the indian princess, is back in this episode and she is an integral part of the story. She is out to avenge her father, who was killed by the Vizier. There are a lot of levels where her co-operation is well portrayed. The Prince also displays his fondness for her, which is amusingly mocked by his darker side.
The Vizier
The Vizier has laid Babylon under siege and has his goons all over the place. He has captured Kaileena as she gets back to Babylon with the prince (Alternate ending in WW). He takes on a menacing form in this episode and is a pain to kill !!
Visuals
As with the others in the series, the game is looks just amazing. The environment is more like the first episode, nice and bright, a step back from the darker, morose surroundings of WW. The bad-guys look good and it is a pleasure to kill them. The courtyards, rooftops are all well thought of and finished to perfection. I think they have used the same engine for all 3 parts and its amazing how good they have made the last episode look.
Sound
The Heavy metal is out. Godsmack replace by sweet Arabic Music, which goes whith the theme of the game. Ofcourse the other sounds, viz Heads slicing etc are as great as ever. The big scary bosses could be better sounding though.
Gameplay
The Two Thrones has all the button mashing combat, brain tickling puzzles and precision controlling one will ever need. Immense satisfaction over a Speed Kill (explained later) or winning in the boss fights is totally assured.
Storyline
The trilogy ends pefectly with no questions left unanswered. There are subtle references to both the other episodes of the game which are so well incorporated that veterans will immediately have a feeling of deja vu, while newcomers will be pleasantly intrigued and feel involved as this great epic story unfolds.
Controls
The controls are the same as the previous two episodes and previous player will feel right at home. In no time you'll have the prince jumping, shimmying, leaping, swinging and performing various other unhuman maneuvers.
Weapons
Both the Princes use the Dagger of Time as the primary weapon. The normal prince can pick up secondary weapons, from weapon racks or after a kill. They include daggers, swords, axes and maces, and can be used in powerful combinations or thrown to kill off/injure enemies.
The Dark Prince cannot use any of these seconday weapons but has an extremely handy Daggertail, which is a chain like weapon which is great to get them baddies from a safe distance. It is extremely easy to get out of a situation where you have a few enemies all around you. The Daggertail also allow the Dark Prince to swing across large distances using lamps and rods, much like Indiana Jones uses his whip.
Time Control
The prince can as before, reverse and slow down time. He doesnt have these powers at the beginning, but gets them as the game progresses by destroying the Viziers Sand Traps, some kind of portal which can be used to transport his troops. Also received are additional sand tanks and sand credits used to buy artwork.
New Gameplay Mechanics
Speed Kills
The most awesome addition to the game, it involves creeping up to the enemy as stealthily as possible and pressing certain buttons at precisely the right moment, indicated by the edge of the screen going a bit hazy and the colour toned down. They maybe multiple times this has to be done to get the kill complete, failing any, normal combat begins. Most of the Bosses need to be killed this way too.
Chariot Races
These are the most frustrating parts in the game for me. This is where the prince has a need for speed, jumps on a chariot and races through the streets of babylon at breakneck speeds, all this while fending off attackers and other chariots trying to get you six feet under asap.
A really exciting concept but you have to be really precise or else you go crashing in the walls which causes instant death. You will, I'm sure, learn, as me to curse these races... after you get over the brilliant concept.
Conclusion
A truly great ending to the trilogy, this will sure not dissapoint its fans as well as newcomers. The only dissapointment is the fact that the series has ended and there might not be any more of the prince.
The gameplay is just great and with Speed-Kills the game is even more enjoyable and you will find yourself rewinding just to get the missed chance ever so often.
Prince of Persia : The Two Thrones is one of the better games I have played and I would reccomend anyone likes the series to go ahead and play this.
The right mix of violence, puzzle solving, control and a great storyline, makes this one of the MUST PLAY games on the PS2.
