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Prince of Persia: Warrior Within
Generally favorable reviews
Based on 31 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 14 votes
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Game Info
Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Genre(s): Third-Person Action, Adventure
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: M (Mature)
Release Date: November 30, 2004
Summary
The Prince has to embark upon a path of both carnage and mystery to defy his preordained death. His journey leads to the infernal core of a cursed island stronghold harboring mankind's greatest fears. Only through grim resolve, bitter defiance and the mastery of deadly new combat arts can the Prince rise to a new level of warriorship - and emerge from this ultimate trial with his life. In order to accomplish his mission, the Prince benefits from a brand new free-form fighting system that allows gamers to channel his anger as they wage battle without boundaries. Each game fan will find his or her own unique fighting style as they manipulate their environment and control the Ravages of Time. You can dig into an arsenal of weapons that, when used in combination, create advanced arm attacks that verge on fatal artistry! Prince of Persia: Warrior Within promises that game fans will fight harder, and play longer, emerging from the experience as deadly-capable skilled masters of their own unique combat art form. [Ubisoft]
Also On Metacritic
GAMES: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central GameSpot Guide
Also On The Web: BonusStage Preview EuroGamer Interview Games Domain Preview GameSpot Hands-On GameSpy Preview IGN Preview Official Game Site
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
G4 TV
Once again, it exemplifies the very definition of a boundary-pushing video game.
Read Full Review >BonusStage
One of the best damn games ever, period. This is definitely at the top of my list for Game of the Year, due to addicting gameplay, fantastic presentation, some of the coolest looking blood ever in a game, and a combat system that is relatively second-to-none.
Read Full Review >Game Informer
Its change of pace and maturity feels just right, the platforming is divine, and the action is something to be very happy about. [Jan 2005, p.112]
Nintendo Power
As promised, the battle system has been much improved, and the game looks absolutely stunning. [Feb 2005, p.111]
Play Magazine
An amazingly involving adventure from spirit to atmosphere to richness of setting and exploration. [Dec 2004, p.65]
Nintendophiles
Everything is nearly identical to what you played in Sands of Time, and in the case of combat, the bar has been raised. With a much more even balance of fighting and foot work, PoP fans should be pleased.
Read Full Review >Yahoo! Games
Largely an upgrade on the original, Prince of Persia: Warrior Within is still one of the most polished and imaginative escapades we've played. Like a blockbuster movie, the tale delivers on almost every count from dazzling pyrotechnics to deft storytelling.
Read Full Review >1UP
A consequence of this darker approach is that that game loses part of what made The Sands of Time unique. Instead of a charming and almost silly character like we saw previously, the Prince here is more one-dimensional.
Read Full Review >TotalGames.net
The immense satisfaction when you finally pull yourself towards that vertigo-inspiring exit or leave Dahaka behind is unmatched by any other game.
Read Full Review >games(TM)
You get the impression that "The Sands of Time" was just a warm-up for the main event, a game that's familiar at first but soon reveals a level of imagination beyond that of the original, and displays as little room for error as one of the Prince's most daring acrobatic leaps. [Christmas 2004, p.100]
GMR Magazine
The acrobatics alone make Warrior Within a must-buy. Rounded out with superb character design and vast Myst-like landscapes, this Prince is another winner.
Read Full Review >GameSpot
While Warrior Within's new combat and satisfyingly long campaign improve on last year's game, the now darker tone falls somewhat flat compared to the storybook atmosphere in "The Sands of Time."
Read Full Review >N-Insanity
Those feint of heart and stomach need not bother, there is enough blood and gore in this title to bring to Dracula his knees in nirvana.
Read Full Review >IGN
Ubisoft took a gamble by taking the Prince to a dark place. I don't think it paid off as the sense of magic, seen even in the old 2D PC days, is barely present here. It wasn't the wrong decision to make for a darker story, but Ubisoft took it too far.
Read Full Review >GameCube Europe
In general the game is harder then Sands of Time, and I wonder if they didn't spice it up too much, making it inaccessible for a big mass audience.
Read Full Review >Game Power Australia
The game has taken a few steps backwards in terms of style, but its combat is greatly improved and it's much longer than the original.
Read Full Review >Electronic Gaming Monthly
But fans of the last game will be glad to know that the levels, traps, and puzzles are once again masterpieces of design. [Jan 2005, p.126]
Jolt Online Gaming UK
Overall Warrior Within seems to be in something of a messy transition period, caught between the light-hearted fun of the original and some noirish violent action game that was probably more the result of mis-focused market testing than any kind of genuine developer decision.
Read Full Review >Into Liquid Sky
Builds on the weaknesses of its predecessor, but at the same time falls short of its strengths. All in all, this is a great title that offers something entirely new to a series that didn’t really need it.
Read Full Review >AceGamez
If you loved the original but found it too easy, then give The Prince of Persia: Warrior Within a go, as it's sure to please. If you loved "Ninja Gaiden" you'll definitely like this.
Read Full Review >Sydney Morning Herald
Exploring the labyrinthine citadel is rewarding, although backtracking and frequent deaths can be frustrating.
Read Full Review >Gamer.tv
The demanding learning curve is absolutely perfect...An essential purchase for patient gamers everywhere.
Read Full Review >Total Video Games
As a game Prince of Persia: Warrior Within is largely without fault and has many aspects that set it out as a genre leader; we just sadly lament the desperate attempt to be mature and edgy.
Read Full Review >Inside Gamer Online
Too bad that all of the "enhancements" made to the prince's fascinating virtual world are actually liabilities. We are glad Ubisoft toyed with the bits that needed improvement, but we wonder why they "fixed" the things that were never broken.
Read Full Review >eToychest
As a member of a series that takes a treasured place in the pantheon of gaming greatness, it is a lackluster effort, more concerned with watering down the game's strengths to make it more palatable for the masses than in delivering more of what made its predecessor great.
Read Full Review >Game Revolution
A downgrade in the look and sound combined with increasingly annoying platforming and camera issues get in the way of this warrior's ultimate victory.
Read Full Review >Edge Magazine
Ubisoft has taken a flawed game of boundless promise, destroyed some (but not all) of its appeal, fixed some (but not enough) of its problems, and jeopardised the whole endeavour by making the same mistake twice and rushing it to market before it was steady on its feet. Prince of Persia is strong and supple enough to survive this with many of its immense virtues intact. But it deserved so much better. [Christmas 2004, p.80]
Xequted
There are hints of greatness here and there. But those hints only remind us of Warrior Within's predecessor, making this new Prince of Persia game's bad design decisions all the more obvious.
Read Full Review >My Gamer
Everything's bigger and more complicated, but that doesn't necessarily make it better.
Read Full Review >GameSpy
A disappointment. It completely breaks with the first game in everything but gameplay, and even that is sabotaged by annoying, repetitive level design.
Read Full Review >The New York Times
The tone of the game has gone from an Arabian Nights fantasy to something akin to a Marilyn Manson music video. In dark and grimy settings, the once gallant prince curses and jeers as he swings his sword at demons whose decapitations are lovingly shown in slow motion to a soundtrack of screeching guitars.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this game is 8.8 (out of 10) based on 14 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Joki L. gave it a4:
The first new prince of persia game was good, but this is just a copy from the first one with all the aspects worse than before! The jumping scenes are more tedious and boring than before. The atmosphere is just depressing, not scary, and it remains the same all the time. The rock music doesn't fit at all. I guess they tried to improve the fighting system, but the ugly truth is that it just feels complex with all the weapons and "combos" but in the end often the best strategy is to just tap the same button. And the map system is also crappy as it doesn't really show anything concrete. I hate this.
Alex H. gave it a10:
No doubt this is the best game ive ever owned and hopefully they shall continue making prince of persia games number one was awsome but mnot even close to as brilliant and if you gave it an 8 or lower id have to recall that you must have been in mentle class before.
Zack D. gave it a9:
This game quite simply a masterpiece. The fighting has improved (as ubi promised); the visuals and sounds are great! The environements are gorgeous and the puzzles are quite unique. Although the story had potential, I couldn't help but feel that it was forced down on the players. There wasn't very much character devlopement going on and they needed some polishing. But the real problem here were the GLITCHES! Boy were they ever frustrating. They were both in-game and in-cut-scenes! Well, overall; this game is awe-inspiring and stands as an amazing sequel to the Sands of Time.
Jonathan gave it a10:
The game is awesome, the only complaint i have is that it's hard as hell, maybe its just cause im not too coordinated.
David A. gave it a10:
This is just simply a master piece just like the first game. If you gave this game an 8 or lower you don't know anything about videogames. SOME people say it is too much of the same in every level, they are crazy don't listen to them every single level brings something new and interesting to the game. The combat system is awesome the darker turn that the game took fits the prince just wright and if you find all nine life upgrades you get a secret ending, you can even get weird weapons like light swords and other cool weaponds. I hate giving a game a perfect 10 but this game earned it. In conclusion I will always remember the prince of persia collection as the best games ever made.
Logan B. gave it a 10:
This game is so cool and fun! It is a MUST BUY game!!
Ben M. gave it a 10:
This game has gone in a slightly diffrent direction by improving the plotline and charicter and also they have put more deadly and powerful moves that would be more realistec. also i am glad that they pushed up the age limit rating so they can fit more things into it.
