Ubisoft recently confirmed that the studio has been working on the Prince of Persia: Sands of Time remake. Originally released in 2003, the game captivated fans by its time-manipulation mechanics and an interesting storyline. While the original Sands of Time is still considered a masterpiece, there’s no denying that the features and enhancements in the sequels enriched the franchise.
With the remake of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, developers have an excellent opportunity to integrate some of the best elements from the sequels to improve the experience even further. Here are some exciting features gans would like to see incorporated in the upcoming Sands of Time to turn the remake into a definitive version of the iconic game.
What Are You Hoping to See in the Prince of Persia: Sands of Time Remake?
Provided they stay true to the original product, Ubisoft have the potential to really succeed with the remake. An improvement in visual quality and a better-flowing combat system will do the game justice, but there might be a few tweaks here and there that can really bring the 2003 classic to a whole new level.
7 Parry System
Add Strategy To Combat And Deviate From Button-Mashing
The only game in the Prince of Persia series to include a parry system was Prince of Persia 2008. While the combat in the game was quite stylized, it did include a parry mechanic that made fights against corrupted enemies all the more interesting.
The Sands of Time remake could potentially benefit from a grounded parry system. This could add strategic depth to the combat, and make sword fighting sequences more deliberate and engaging. Doing so could ensure that the remake not only pays homage to one of the sequels in the series, but also stands out as a great action-adventure game on its own.
6 Time-Controlled Environmental Puzzles
Incorporate Time Powers In Creative Puzzles
The Prince of Persia trilogy and the 2008 reboot lacked when it came to incorporating creative puzzles into the gameplay. Most puzzles were simplistic, typically involving pushing levers or aligning mirrors to reflect light.
However, things changed with Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands. In this game, puzzles began to utilize the Prince’s time abilities to freeze water and switch between past and present. This creative system made puzzles more interesting and varied. A similar approach could enhance the puzzles in the Sands of Time remake.
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5 Enhanced Combat Mechanics
Better Combos & Fighting Animations To Make Combat Exciting
The combat in the original Sands of Time was very basic with limited combat variations. However, Ubisoft fixed this shortcoming in the sequels: Warrior Within and The Two Thrones. While the remake vouches to remain true to the original game, it should still consider improving the combat by focusing on the prince's acrobatic abilities and sword-fighting skills.
By expanding the prince’s move sets, improving enemy AI, and incorporating context-sensitive combat interactions, the Sands of Time remake could potentially provide a deeper, engaging, and varied combat experience. This will help it feel up-to-date and engaging for modern-day players.
4 Expanded Parkour & Acrobatics
Fluid Parkour Animations To Make Traversal Feel Immersive
One of the defining features of the Prince of Persia games has always been the seamless parkour integrated into traversal. While the original Sands of Time was the one to innovate parkour and acrobatics in the series, it wasn't until the release of later games like Prince of Persia 2008 and The Forgotten Sands that parkour felt more natural and exciting.
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The Sands of Time remake can draw inspiration from previous games, particularly The Forgotten Sands, to produce smoother parkour animations. Incorporating a variety of animations for jumping, vaulting, and wall bouncing can add depth to the overall traversal system in the game.
3 Open-Ended Level Design
Leverage Metroidvania World Design To Improve Exploration
The Prince of Persia games are known for their linear level design with few opportunities for exploration. In Prince of Persia: Warrior Within, Ubisoft experimented with a metroidvania-style of level design, but the feature wasn’t carried over into the sequels.
This could be an opportunity for Ubisoft to use the metroidvania-esque design to connect various regions together in the Sands of Time remake. A metroidvania world could provide additional context to the story and showcase changes in the environment as the game progresses. A connected world design will also encourage players to backtrack to earlier areas once they acquire the necessary powers or weapons.
2 Skill Tree System
Upgrades Beyond The Basic Health Bars & Sand Tanks
In the original Sands of Time, players were limited to upgrading only their health bars and sand tanks. But, in the 2025 remake, the game should consider incorporating a comprehensive ability system, as seen in The Forgotten Sands.
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An ability system, like a skill tree, will allow players to customize the prince’s abilities. Players could cater to specific gameplay challenges like combat, parkour, and time powers. This system could encourage replayability, as players might want to try out different abilities in subsequent playthroughs. Since the skill system isn’t foreign to the series, the remake could stay true to its roots while also making it palatable for modern audiences.
1 Stealth Mechanics
Use Stealth, But Don’t Make It A Core Mechanic
When thinking about Prince of Persia and stealth, it seems that the two don't go hand-in-hand. Nonetheless, stealth was introduced in The Two Thrones, albeit without disrupting the traditional combat formula. The Two Thrones also excelled at making stealth kills look flashy, which added a new dynamic to how players approach a new enemy area.
The Sands of Time remake could benefit from a similar stealth system. This could add variety to the gameplay loop and avoid the monotony of the rush-and-slash combat mechanic, which is central to Prince of Persia’s core gameplay formula.
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