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1989 • “Filmic, perilous” vibe

Prince of Persia

Jordan Mechner / Broderbund • Cinematic platformer • --:-- --:--
(Jordan Mechner / Broderbund, 1989)  --:--

Hardcore Parkour

Pixel8Games Score: 92% User Score: - Difficulty: Demanding
👍 0 👎 0 Platforms:
Full review

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Summary

Prince of Persia (1989) locked you beneath a palace, started a sixty-minute timer, and expected elegance under pressure. The Prince ran, leapt and clung to ledges with startlingly lifelike animation, although one mistimed step usually ended in spikes, a shattered skeleton, or an undignified drop. Sword fights demanded patience rather than frantic button-bashing, while guards, traps and collapsing floors turned every room into a lethal puzzle. It was cinematic, tense and wonderfully cruel. Rescue the princess, defeat Jaffar, and try not to spend half the hour falling.

What it does well

Beautiful animation, tense exploration, precise controls, clever traps, measured swordplay, and an unforgettable race against time.

Where it falls short

Rigid movement demanded commitment, the timer discouraged exploration, combat felt stiff, and repeated deaths could become exhausting.

Verdict

A picturesque platforming landmark that made every jump feel heroic, dangerous, and painfully capable of ruining your rescue.

Pixel8 Beats

Prince of Persia - version notes

Version-specific observations from the gameplay video. Tap a time to jump straight to that moment.

Amstrad (3 Beats)
  1. French pedigree: Microïds handled the CPC conversion, bringing strong experience with the machine rather than treating it as an afterthought.
  2. Animation showcase: the CPC version won a 1990 Tilt d'Or Canal+ award for best animation.
  3. Structure preserved: the CPC keeps all 13 levels, the one-hour limit, traps, sword fights and timed rescue.
Apple II (4 Beats)
  1. Original: this is the source version of Prince of Persia, first released for Apple II on 3 October 1989, before a multitude of ports.
  2. Long wait: the Apple II version was written between 1985 and 1989, making it a four-year project rather than a quick follow-up to Karateka.
  3. Animation: the prince's movement came from rotoscoped video of Mechner's younger brother David running and jumping.
  4. Late masterpiece: Prince of Persia arrived as the ageing Apple II was already fading from the commercial spotlight.
PC (3 Beats)
  1. Port: the DOS version followed the Apple II original, but its better graphics and sound made it the visual reference version.
  2. Influence: Disney animation was part of the thinking behind the smooth, readable movement style.
  3. Roots: even on PC, Apple II constraints carried over - small rooms, strict timing and animation-led control.

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