Developer: Ubisoft
Publisher: Ubisoft
Genre: Platformer
Platforms: iOS / Android
Released: July 25, 2013

Marking his return from the shadows into the mainstream audience once again, the Prince embarks on his latest outing with a re-mastered version of one of his classic exploits. Prince of Persia: The Shadow and the Flame is a re-telling of yesteryears’ Prince of Persia 2, a game that was highly successful in its time and one that was ported over to many home consoles and computers.

The story slightly alters the events of the original game by having the Prince from the more recent Sands of Time series stand in and tie in the narrative within the newer arc. At the start of the game, you witness an impostor taking your rightful place in the court and calling for your capture, as you run from the guards, you end up on a distant island. On the island the Prince begins to unravel the mysteries of his predicament, and sets on a quest to claim back what is rightfully his. Being in the shoes of the Prince, the game mechanics feel slightly different at first. You’ll have to be careful of your jumps and progress at a slower pace, as compared with the new games in the series, and there’s no wall-running or extreme acrobatics like before. Instead, we’re treated to a more calculated and precise style of play. You’ll be gauging the length of your jumps and avoiding the various traps and hazards spread across the environments. Combat has a similar feel, you’ll be parrying attacks and unleashing combos of your own that have a variety of special properties, as well as using stealth attacks that can finish enemies in one hit. The game has two separate sets of control: the traditional on-screen joystick and buttons, and a new gesture-control feature by default. Since the game requires precise controls, it becomes tedious when you switch between the two.

While the game needs to be purchased in order to be played, there are in-game app purchases which enable you to buy coins, these can also be picked up in the game to use on new weapons, potions and combo upgrades. The presentation of the game is impressive for a mobile title, with the game making use of 3D models and environments and using it on a 2D side-scrolling plane. You’ll be able to catch glimpses of objects in the distant background, and the animations are nice and smooth. Sound is another aspect of the game that has been done well, with more of a cultural feel to the entire game. Overall, the game makes an impression on fans of the series, and is a good title to pick up and play if you’re the patient type. Revisiting this updated piece of nostalgia just might be worth your while and help keep you invested until the Prince leaps to his next great adventure on home consoles.