Players ran along walls, climbed like a parkour expert, and swung and flipped from location to location. Players still had to navigate platforms and obstacles, but the way you approached it was unlike anything before it. The game eschewed typical platformer mechanics despite living in the genre. Released in 2003, Sands of Time was helmed by Patrice Désilets (who would later go on to create Assassin’s Creed) and Prince of Persia's original creator, Jordan Mechner. Released For: PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, PC Technically the fourth game in the Prince of Persia franchise, Sand of Time marked a reboot for the series with a new story, a new Prince, and new groundbreaking mechanics that are now considered common in many modern games.
This weekend we're taking a look at Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. These games aren't just a ton of fun: Their quality, innovation, and industry influence make them must-play experiences for anyone who wants a greater appreciation of our interactive medium. The Essentials is Game Informer's weekly recurring feature that takes a look at the most important games the industry has to offer.
