A return to the Prince of Persia series has been on many fans' wish lists since the series went dark following 2010's The Forgotten Sands. In theory, a remake of the highly revered Prince of Persia: Sands of Time would be the perfect way to fill the void for fans, while introducing a whole new generation to a franchise that has been dormant for over a decade. It seems to have hit a bumpy road, though.
Following a rocky reveal, Prince of Persia: Sands of Time Remake was delayed by a couple of months, before being delayed indefinitely. Additionally, what footage exists of this title indicates that the game isn't quite as impressive as one would hope a remake of this all-time classic would be. Suffice to say, there's a lot going on with Prince of Persia: Sands of Time Remake, and it doesn't quite bode well for any major return.
Prince of Persia Hasn't Really Convinced Fans
First impressions mean a lot, and how a game is introduced can impact how it is perceived leading up to its release. When Prince of Persia: Sands of Time Remake was announced, it didn't land as well as many hope. The trailer shown at Ubisoft Forward starts off on the right foot. The way it uses the series' time-rewinding mechanic as an excuse to show footage of the older game before introducing the remake's footage was an interesting choice, but things start to fall apart once the remake is unveiled.
As far as graphics go, the faces look stiff, the textures look rough, and the game overall looks akin to a late-generation Xbox 360 or PS3 game. In all, the visuals on display are a little underwhelming for a remake being built from the ground up. Ubisoft has addressed Sands of Time Remake's graphics by describing them as a creative choice, but that hasn't swayed my fans. It also doesn't help that the game was featured in the same show as Immortals: Phoenix Rising and Rider's Republic, both of which demonstrated impressive graphics.
Granted, Sands of Time Remake's graphics have reportedly improved since the game was last shown, but without any sort of development update of a similar scale to the initial announcement, Ubisoft has yet to fully convince fans.
Why This Prince Of Persia Remake Matters To The Franchise
Remasters and remakes present an excellent opportunity for developers to create the best possible version of their games. In the recently released Mass Effect: Legendary Edition, BioWare changed the first Mass Effect by adding features that weren't introduced until later in the series, and its reception thus far seemingly bodes well for Mass Effect 4.
Ubisoft's return to the Prince of Persia series has to be big if the developer wishes to bring the series back into the spotlight following a long time in the dark. Sands of Time Remake can't just be the original game with a fresh coat of paint; it must be the best version of Sands of Time. However, with what's been shown, many are concern it's falling short. The good news is that the delays will indubitably improve and hopefully respond to these complaints, but the silence is not necessarily golden.
The developer has stated that a targeting system will be implemented in combat and that the Prince will have more animations this time around, but it's not clear if any more substantial changes are on the way. As stated before, first impressions are important; they offer an opportunity to put one's best foot forward. Based on Sands of Time Remake's reveal, its biggest strength isn't that it's making the original better, but instead seems to be its legacy. After an 11-year hiatus, Prince of Persia is finally returning, but many are hoping its next impression is better than the first.
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time is in development now for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
