More Details on New Prince of Persia Emerge

[Dr.Finger]

We learned earlier this week (http://evilavatar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=49278) that Ubisoft would be gracing us with a new Prince of Persia game this year. Now, thanks to Eurogamer (http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=134937) (which translated from French gaming mag Joypad) we learn a little more about the upcoming title. Are you ready for c-c-changes? The game will be coming to PC, PS3 and 360 this year and is being developed by the original Prince of Persia: Sands of Time team at Ubisoft Montreal. It features cel-shaded graphics, and scraps the Sands of Time rewind powers. The gameplay centres on healing a corrupted world in the style of Okami, Shadow of the Colossus or The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.
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Creative director Jean-Christophe Guyot told Joypad that the aim was to create a more fantastical game and "more poetic vision" than the Sands of Time trilogy, with which it shares no connection. "The previous trilogy mixed the Arabian Nights in with historical Persia," he said (in French, so please excuse our rough translation). "We decided we'd prefer to return to the tales of the Thousand and One Nights for something more colourful."Guyot also told the magazine that the combat in the game would be less God of War and more Soul Calibur. Guyot also revealed that the time travel aspects of the previous trilogy won't be making an appearance, describing them as "so used and copied, we had to move on to something else." The trademark agile platforming from the Sands Trilogy will be returning mostly intact, but with some Assassin's Creed-esque free roaming thrown into the mix.

Wow. You have to give Ubi Montreal credit for changing up a winning formula so drastically. Read the linked article to see just how many triple-A titles they name check as inspirations for the new game

[Baron Samedi]

I hope that doesn't mean Soulcalibur Legends. Still, the original team - this has got to bring some win. They need to stop announcing so many good games, goddammit. I've already got a dozen game backlog as of the past two weeks.

[Lima Beans]

man, the screenshots look awesome, but the things they are talking about changing are the things i liked about the game =(

[Savok]

I'll miss the Sands, they were basically a license to do crazy shit. Still, looks like no more emo, yay for that.

[MelbaToast]

I loved Sands of Time, but I think the new art style looks fucking incredible and I'll trust Ubisoft Montreal to do a great job.

[Telefrog]

The trademark agile platforming from the Sands Trilogy will be returning mostly intact, but with some Assassin's Creed-esque free roaming thrown into the mix.

I called this one when Assassin's Creed first came out.

[Dr.Finger]

One more interesting quote from the story The move caused some consternation with Ubisoft management, he explained, although they never opposed it. "They knew we weren't going to make a second Assassin's Creed," he said.Emphasis mine. Now this may be a function of the translation, but could he really mean that they won't be making an AC sequel, or that they aren't making it right away? Could they be handing the property off to another developer?

[MelbaToast]

One more interesting quote from the story Emphasis mine. Now this may be a function of the translation, but could he really mean that they won't be making an AC sequel, or that they aren't making it right away? Could they be handing the property off to another developer?

Isn't it more likely he's saying that they're not going to make the PoP series into what people would call AC 2?

[Itchyeyes]

The new art style looks amazing. I'm less sure of the supposed AC open world feel. To me, the Prince of Persia games (at least the last gen ones) were all about the level design and finding the path from one end to the other. I have a difficult time imagining how they'll accomplish that same feeling with an open world design.

[Dr.Finger]

The new art style looks amazing. I'm less sure of the supposed AC open world feel. To me, the Prince of Persia games (at least the last gen ones) were all about the level design and finding the path from one end to the other. I have a difficult time imagining how they'll accomplish that same feeling with an open world design.My guess from the article is that you'll have an open world hub of sorts, like the overworld in Zelda, which leads you to more linear levels/dungeons.

[Itchyeyes]

One more interesting quote from the story Emphasis mine. Now this may be a function of the translation, but could he really mean that they won't be making an AC sequel, or that they aren't making it right away? Could they be handing the property off to another developer?
It's quite likely, Ubisoft did this with the original PoP series as well as Splinter Cell. That said, I'm actually not too worried about AC going to another developer. The way the storyline is constructed in AC, the second game can have an entirely different feel, or even gameplay structure, to it and still be consistent within the AC universe. Where the change in tone ruined the PoP sequels, IMO, because it didn't fit with the first game, I think a change in tone for AC would actually enhance the storyline there.

[Itchyeyes]

My guess from the article is that you'll have an open world hub of sorts, like the overworld in Zelda, which leads you to more linear levels/dungeons.
Now that I could get behind. Given that this is the same team that worked on AC though, I am a little concerned that they're rushing it a bit to have the game out so soon.

[sflufan]

One more interesting quote from the story Emphasis mine. Now this may be a function of the translation, but could he really mean that they won't be making an AC sequel, or that they aren't making it right away? Could they be handing the property off to another developer?

What they mean is that they didn't want the new PoP game to be just like Assassin's Creed (hence, a "second" Assassin's Creed). It doesn't mean that there won't be another AC game.

[torrefaction]

Where are you people seeing screenshots? Also, I love the idea. They're right...the time mechanics are used up. I can't wait to see where they go.

[sflufan]

Where are you people seeing screenshots? Also, I love the idea. They're right...the time mechanics are used up. I can't wait to see where they go.

Right here:

http://twobrothersandasister.com/?p=1989

[torrefaction]

Is that Captain Jack Sparrow?

Seriously though, that looks cool as hell.

[Mdot23]

I always loved Sands of Time, but by the time the 3rd came out, it started feeling stale. Good to see their taking a new direction with this one.

[dante]

Is Jordan Mechner involved with this in any way?

[H.Bogard]

One more interesting quote from the story Emphasis mine. Now this may be a function of the translation, but could he really mean that they won't be making an AC sequel, or that they aren't making it right away? Could they be handing the property off to another developer?

I think the context implies that this game won't be the second Assassin's Creed.

[Stupid Fat Hobbit]

Shadow of the Colossus was about healing a corrupted world?

And if you ask me, the time-travelling mechanics from the earlier games weren't used and copied enough. Especially the instant rewind feature; I think that has to qualify as one of the best game mechanics ever.

Damn, now I want to replay Sands of Time, but I don't have a Gamecube memory card.

[pomeroy]

I called this one when Assassin's Creed first came out.

Who didn't?

[Ravenlock]

Based on the look of the game alone, I'm in. The whole Sands of Time trilogy was good - even the middle one that wasn't - so I see no reason to think they can't pull this off as well. The art direction is gorgeous.

[saulob]

man, the screenshots look awesome, but the things they are talking about changing are the things i liked about the game =(

screens ? where ? :confused:

[saulob]

Ok, got the link... btw, why I can't edit my post ? where's the link/button ? :(

sorry.

[Ravenlock]

Yes, the Edit button has vanished from my posts too. It's... disconcerting. :p

[Verity]

You really gotta give it to them for changing things up so much. Scraping the time-changing thing is a big change for a game which comes from a series that most people probably associate with time-altering mechanics (because of the trilogy), but if I'm not mistaking, the origional Prince of Persia had nothing to do with time-alteration. It was more about Assassin's Creed-like jumping and platforming, even though it was 2D.

The cel-shading is an interesting turn, but I think it could turn out really cool; and I really like the idea that the game might play like a more fantastic Assassin's Creed in the sense that you would be able to run along walls and such. I'll be keeping my eye on this one.

[MacD]

Wow, the art style looks awesome! Kinda like Storm (the comic). 's Funny...I recently saw a guy on a 3d forum working with shaders to get a look which was downright similar....but that was a few weeks back.
Innit funny how simultanious development works? Shows how worthless patents should be, what with the 6.65 billion people in the world.

[Xerxes]

But the movie is going to be based of the Sands trilogy? That just seems weird, although I support change regardless. It's not like the Prince from Sands looks anything like the original Prince. I wouldn't be surprised if they changed him again in the future. As long as the game is mostly about working the maps and good level design, it should be cool I'm hoping. I'm wondering if he will have any other awesome abilities.

I would very much love a new AC. I think if it were to happen, it wouldn't be any time soon. Even though the consensus of reviews were less then expected, it still sold amazing.

[pomeroy]

I would very much love a new AC. I think if it were to happen, it wouldn't be any time soon. Even though the consensus of reviews were less then expected, it still sold amazing.

Come on, Xerxes. You know that shit is coming. "...if it were to happen..."?
LOL.

[Xerxes]

Come on, Xerxes. You know that shit is coming. "...if it were to happen..."?
LOL.

That's why that bullet point seems so ridiculous. I'm actually surprised if it's the same team completely. I'm sure AC is in initiation phases as we speak. They did leave that shit kind of open even in the end. Just don't let Shanghai do it. :rolleyes: