Prince of Persia (2008) is an underrated entry in the iconic franchise

Prince of Persia (2008) made headlines for its positive reviews but divided the franchise's fanbase. Following a list of successful entries, this 2008 relaunch debuted a one-off protagonist with a new art style. The game also featured a new supporting character who is essentially the core of this title. The story revolves around this deuteragonist dubbed Elika, who, in a supporting role, brings out the best in this new Prince.

Visually, Prince of Persia (2008) has fared better than the previous titles, especially the trilogy. The elements that featured drastic changes were mostly in the gameplay, as the 2008 title refused to provide anything approximating a challenge. Although the platforming and combat sequences lack intensity and excitement, it was a breath of fresh air nevertheless.

In this article, we discuss why Prince of Persia (2008) is underrated and take a look at whether it is worth playing in 2024.

Note: This article is purely subjective and solely reflects the author's opinions.

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Taking a deeper dive into Prince of Persia (2008)

Some elements in the game's 2008 release are very different from the Prince of Persia trilogy. These new changes made it stand out from the previous games and divided the fanbase into two.

The partner system

Elika is the deuteragonist for Prince of Persia (2008) (Image via Ubisoft || YouTube/Jordan Fringe Gaming)

What this game lacked with the absence of an amulet or a Dagger of Time, it made up with Elika, the deuteragonist. This character is the princess of Ahura, and servers Ormazd, the god of light and protector of the Tree of Life. After Ahriman was released, Elika became the leader of the Ahura, leading a resistance against the Dark God.

Elika helps our new Prince avoid fatal flaws, assists him in combat, aids in exploration, and is a vital ally who helps heal corrupted lands.

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Difficulty of the overall game

The game is notorious for being too forgiving (Image via Ubisoft)

The game received many complaints regarding its difficulty level, as players do not seemingly die since Elika is always there to save the day. Even though, according to the story, Elika is capable of pulling off life-saving feats, what caught the players' attention was the forgiving nature of the game and how easy it was to complete.

Casual players who stayed for the story seldom complained about the difficulty, which was one of the major aspects that divided the fanbase.

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Dynamic exploration experience

Map of the 2008 release of Prince of Persia (Image via Ubisoft || YouTube/Jordan Fringe Gaming)

Unlike the famed titles of the trilogy, Prince of Persia (2008) shifted more of its focus onto world exploration where players could decide how they want to approach the main areas of the game. What makes the game vibrant strictly in terms of exploration is that maps and areas tend to change, thanks to their dynamic nature. This ups the ante slightly during exploration challenges.

Corrupted areas play differently when compared to the same area when one chooses to heal it. This ensures the map doesn't feel repetitive and breathes new life into the environment upon revisiting it.

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The gauntlet of Prince

The gauntlet in action in Prince of Persia (2008) (Image via Ubisoft)

The Prince utilizes his gauntlet for a wide variety of mechanics found in Prince of Persia. In combat, he uses it to destroy dark shrouds of adversaries, pull off various platforming actions, launch adversaries into the air, and link combos with his primary weapon for a more fun combat experience.

The Gauntlet can also be used to burrow its claws into a wall, slowing down the prince's descent and aiding him in wall running.

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The setting of the world

The game features a cel-shaded environment that still holds up by today's standards (Image via Ubisoft || YouTube/Jordan Fringe Gaming)

Prince of Persia (2008) takes place in an unknown city of ancient Persia, where a temple houses the dark god Ahriman. He was imprisoned there by his brother, another god, Ormazd, for attempting to take over the "fertile lands." Ormazd was able to imprison Ahriman and his Corruption inside the temple with the help of the Ahura.

This brought about the whole mechanic that is most often referred to as "fertile lands." Players can explore maps in two completely different states, further elevating the gameplay experience. That said, all of the aforementioned points make playing Prince of Persia (2008) a worthwhile experience in 2024.

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Check out our other articles on Prince of Persia:

• The Prince of Persia Sands of Time remake needs more than pretty visuals to succeed
• Prince of Persia Sands of Time remake finally makes a reappearance
• Is The Rogue Prince of Persia on Ubisoft+?