Prince of Persia

[layten]

I immediately navigated the statue without pausing for a second or giving it a second thought. I didn't even think of it as a 'puzzle' or anything.

Can I get a rewind? I'm really struggling to remember a statue right at the start of the game. Can someone describe the section with a bit more detail please (including spoiler warnings, obv.)?

I think he means the bit just before you get the dagger.

[RJames]

*kinda spoilers etc.*

The first time you have to wall jump. It's hardly a puzzle but if you miss a jump halfway up you fall to your death and I believe it's the first place like that.

I probably had to try it 6 or 7 times before I got the rhythm right. The same goes for the first (of only two times) much later on when you have to walljump *downwards*. I found that pretty tricky too.

-J

[jonamok]

Just got my DVDBO XBox version last night.

And..

Lovely. Sublime. Magical.

Tomb Raider's Theme, ICO's visuals, SM64's fluidity of control.

Genius. Why has no one done this Before ??????????

[NumberSix]

I see where you're coming from, but the thing is, climbing up is the 'affirmative' action and dropping is the negative.

The control schema fits in with the green 'A' button for accept and the red 'B' button for decline in menus, game controls and everything else.

-J

Yeah, makes sense I suppose.

I just got pissed of accidentally dropping off things, by instinctively going for the wrong button.

Still, I'm used to it now, and it's lovely.

[Luke]

Hmm, I wasn't at all tempted by this game. Pictures of it just made it seem like a dull (in my opinion) 3D action adventure type game. A Tomb Raider sort of affair.

But now I'm hearing things like "Platformer" and "Linear" and things are starting to sound good again. Although Clive did refer to Metroid Prime and Sunshine as linear too, and personally, though their linearity was great, I could have done with them being a little more linear. And people do refer to games such as Mario 64 as platformers, despite them having very little in common with what I would regard as platform games.

However, once I've cleared my upcoming backlog (if that's not an oxymoron) of games, I may well give this one a go.

[Dude Ranch]

Hmm, I wasn't at all tempted by this game. Pictures of it just made it seem like a dull (in my opinion) 3D action adventure type game. A Tomb Raider sort of affair.

But now I'm hearing things like "Platformer" and "Linear" and things are starting to sound good again. Although Clive did refer to Metroid Prime and Sunshine as linear too, and personally, though their linearity was great, I could have done with them being a little more linear. And people do refer to games such as Mario 64 as platformers, despite them having very little in common with what I would regard as platform games.

However, once I've cleared my upcoming backlog (if that's not an oxymoron) of games, I may well give this one a go.

This is linear, believe me. Not 100% convinced by the 'platformer' tag though. There are platforms in it, obv., but I think it could be a tad misleading. Not sure .

Anyway, it doesn't matter. Buy it and enjoy it.

[Omizzay]

I would say it's closer to Zelda than Mario personally.

[Venice Cull]

To me, it fits within my definition of 'platforming'. Remember how, on any of the Mario Bros. games, you could fly through the level with a zen like 'flow', bouncing off heads and landing on a platform just at the right time without stopping for a second?

Well, I get the same feeling from Prince of Persia. Running along a wall, jumping from it at the right moment onto a parallel bar and 'chaining' from one to another (without doing a 'full circle' of course). Kicking off a wall - onto a rope - back off onto a switch and back to the rope again in one beautifully executed move.

I mentioned before how I'd play a level of Mario64 and be given a 'score' by my mate depending on the acrobatic prowess I displayed. Well, for the first time since then we've been able to do this again.

So, for me, this game has the true spirit of a decent 'platform' game.

[Sprite Machine]

Mention the ZOOM EFFECTS, Clive, I'm almost sold!

[Andy_Tanner]

the problem with the term 'platform game' is that it really relates to 2D platformers. Mario 64 is a platformer i suppose, but there's also alot of wandering and exploring too. PoP's connect the dots style of platforming makes it feel less like a platformer still; there's never any real fear of falling compared to say, Tomb Raider.

[AndyB]

Sublime, fantastic etc etc

Absoulutely love it except occasionally I have to restrain myself from destroying my game pad.

It's the combat you see.

******Spoilers******

Just got to the bit where you have to fight those geezers who will slam you to the ground if you try to flip over them and the woman is running about with her bow. Well, it's doing my head in. Wall striking seems a bit random and yes there's a pool to replenish your energy but what with all the enemies transporting themselves to you coupled with the put weapon away/drink/draw weapon (whilst being pummelled) routine, well lets just say this bit has (imo natch) let the fluidity of whats gone before down a bit.

[Yewone]

Sublime, fantastic etc etc

Absoulutely love it except occasionally I have to restrain myself from destroying my game pad.

It's the combat you see.

******Spoilers******

Just got to the bit where you have to fight those geezers who will slam you to the ground if you try to flip over them and the woman is running about with her bow. Well, it's doing my head in. Wall striking seems a bit random and yes there's a pool to replenish your energy but what with all the enemies transporting themselves to you coupled with the put weapon away/drink/draw weapon (whilst being pummelled) routine, well lets just say this bit has (imo natch) let the fluidity of whats gone before down a bit.

Wall jumping over them is definately the way to go. Just make sure theyre not to close to you when you jump or you`ll land out of range. For me this became the key move for all combat in the last third of the game

[Uncle Mike]

Learn the block-retrieve. Really useful when the wall-jump is letting you down. And later on, when there are dudes who block the wall-jump.

[Venice Cull]

Some good combat tips:

http://www.rllmukforum.com/index.php?showtopic=23940

Especially mine, obviously.

[Rygal - Reader of Threads]

I just got GameCube PoP yesterday, so I haven't spent a lot of time on it. I am enjoying it immensely, though. The thing that strikes me is that it seems you are playing an old skool game.

[Uncle Mike]

The thing that strikes me is that it seems you are playing an old skool game.

You're supposed to play the new version first.

[Rygal - Reader of Threads]

You're supposed to play the new version first.

Wha...? PoP has side on 2D graphics, right?

[Venice Cull]

You're supposed to play the new version first.

Wha...? PoP has side on 2D graphics, right?

Sadly, its not the SAM Coupé version.

[Rygal - Reader of Threads]

This is the version I'm playing.

[Cyhwuhx]

.::: This is bad...

I almost wanted to smash my controller through the tube...

What sadistic creature thought of the amount of battles and enemies within them!? I'm at 65% now and I just experienced three far too long battles, one after the other. They weren't hard or anything just so utterly, utterly, utterly, utterly, utterly, utterly, UTTERLY longwinded. I almost lost it when the umpteenth zombified bellydancer materialised...

AAARGH, SOMEBODY MAKE IT STOP!!!

Superb game btw.

[RJames]

Just use the single bounce-off-the-wall-spinning-attack (not the flip over their heads, the A+X (on XBox) one).

As Clive mentioned in the other thread, it kills almost every enemy in one blow so you can certainly cut through non-blues in about 30 seconds. It's 'dull' but it works

-J

[Uncle Mike]

Just use the single bounce-off-the-wall-spinning-attack (not the flip over their heads, the A+X (on XBox) one).

AND THE BLOCK-RETRIEVE.

Useful, and lightens the tediounessness. Honestly, I feel like I'm repeating myself.

[Phelan]

I use the wall attack and the block-retreive. Both are fantastic. I've completed the game twice now although it will be going on sale as I can't take it with me to Aussieland.

[Stroker Ace]

Some people seem to really not 'get' the fighting. It'll click, trust me - Then you'll wonder what you were moaning about.

[AndyB]

Some people seem to really not 'get' the fighting. It'll click, trust me - Then you'll wonder what you were moaning about.

I feel the fighting would have been better if the baddies didn't keep going zooming right up into your face.

FUCK OFF BACK OVERE THERE I'll get to you in a minute.

[Dude Ranch]

I feel the fighting would have been better if the baddies didn't keep going zooming right up into your face.

FUCK OFF BACK OVERE THERE I'll get to you in a minute.

I agree in part but it does make it a bit more tense and adds a nice super natural feel to the game.

*SPOILER*

I cleared the spinning lift section last night. Gave it about three tries the other day and failed and got past it on about my fifth try last night. Had more trouble with it than any previous fighting section, something to do with the enclosed space I think and that DUMB FUCKING BITCH! Just fire at the bad guys EVERY NOW AND AGAIN and DON'T FUCKING DIE! RAAAAARRR!

*SPOILER ENDS*

[Dude Ranch]

THE BLOCK-RETRIEVE

This might sound stupid but I'm about 90% in and I'm not sure I'm using this. Could you elaborate please?

[Andy_Tanner]

THE BLOCK-RETRIEVE

This might sound stupid but I'm about 90% in and I'm not sure I'm using this. Could you elaborate please?

parry by blocking just as your opponent strikes and then imediately press the dagger button. this does away with them in one blow. tricky but once mastered fights are over in no time.

[jonamok]

It's the combat you see.

******Spoilers******

Just got to the bit where you have to fight those geezers who will slam you to the ground if you try to flip over them and the woman is running about with her bow. Well, it's doing my head in. Wall striking seems a bit random and yes there's a pool to replenish your energy but what with all the enemies transporting themselves to you coupled with the put weapon away/drink/draw weapon (whilst being pummelled) routine, well lets just say this bit has (imo natch) let the fluidity of whats gone before down a bit.

Agghhh. I got to this bit last night. What a nightmare, and then after a good half hour of effing and blinding, I remembered Unky Clive's words of wisdom. Just do the somersault and slash on the red guys and the wall rebound on the blue guys. And block like crazy or back flip your way out of a tight spot. Did it first time once I remembered this and wondered what all the fuss was about. It is also nice that most baddies don't attack you while you are performing a retrieve.

The next fight with a horde of fat hammer-lads and concubines was a piece of piss. A little samey, sure, but still easy. It still doesn't dampen the sheer exuberance of the exploratory, platformy bits. Top game.

As Gandalf might say to the gaming masses: "Buy, you fools"

[Venice Cull]

It's the combat you see.

******Spoilers******

Just got to the bit where you have to fight those geezers who will slam you to the ground if you try to flip over them and the woman is running about with her bow.  Well, it's doing my head in.  Wall striking seems a bit random and yes there's a pool to replenish your energy but what with all the enemies transporting themselves to you coupled with the put weapon away/drink/draw weapon (whilst being pummelled) routine, well lets just say this bit has (imo natch) let the fluidity of whats gone before down a bit.

Agghhh. I got to this bit last night. What a nightmare, and then after a good half hour of effing and blinding, I remembered Unky Clive's words of wisdom. Just do the somersault and slash on the red guys and the wall rebound on the blue guys. And block like crazy or back flip your way out of a tight spot. Did it first time once I remembered this and wondered what all the fuss was about. It is also nice that most baddies don't attack you while you are performing a retrieve.

The next fight with a horde of fat hammer-lads and concubines was a piece of piss. A little samey, sure, but still easy. It still doesn't dampen the sheer exuberance of the exploratory, platformy bits. Top game.

As Gandalf might say to the gaming masses: "Buy, you fools"

You know how to 'freeze' enemies right? If you're surrounded just jab three of them with your dagger (retrieve button) and concentrate on any stragglers. You then just have to slash the frozen geezers (or even better, wall kick into them).

It's an easy way to juggle opponents if you're in a tight spot. Oh, you've only got a limited about of 'freeze time' chambers (the half moons next to the sand-o-meter) but retreiving sand will soon top those back up.

On my second journey through the game combat has been an easy (if not too drawn out) affair - I've not been killed once. But yeah, the fighting in the game - whilst possibly the best in a third person game I've ever played - is a real pain for beginners to start with, given how accesible and frustration free the rest of the game is.

Something they'll address in the sequel no doubt (and there will be one if there is any justice in the world).