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When this game first released in 2003, it was a simpler time in gaming, and The Sands of Time -objectively speaking, is a simpler game. But just because something is simple, that does not necessarily make it shallow. This is true in gaming just as it is in life: A simple thing can hold deep meaning, or likewise possess great depth. This adage aptly applies to Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time.
The game is first and foremost a 3D platformer -with combat and puzzle solving taking supporting (but crucial) roles within the gameplay. You control the Prince as he runs up and along walls, swings, and jumps -using pretty much only two buttons as your inputs (along with directionals). Yet with this relatively simple system, the Prince pulls off feats of freerunning that put any of the Assassin's Creed games to shame -both in visual aesthetics and the feeling of satisfaction you get as you pull off these insane acrobatics. The animations themselves are extremely fluid (and astoundingly impressive -considering when this game was developed) and the freerunning system is flexible enough to provide for a good deal of creativity in the execution, allowing for players to develop their own style.
The combat is good, and it's intrinsically tied to the platforming/freerunning aspect of the game as well, making for a visually impressive fighting system. The Prince is armed with his scimitar and dagger, but his REAL weapon is his acrobatics, which he uses to vault over his enemies with ease while simultaneously slicing them, rebound off walls back into them, or gracefully slip out out of cornered situations or dangerous spots. I seriously can't oversell just how cool the animations are. The dude moves like water, and it's simply thrilling to play and watch.
Speaking of water, it has recurring symbolism throughout the game, and every time the Prince sips some to regain health a nice little tune plays on a Spanish guitar, The music in Sands of Time is phenomenal. Most of the tracks have a Near Eastern theme or sound, with some going light, others going heavier -depending on the context (a few of the combat tracks are straight bangers). Many games have great or memorable soundtracks, but this one will really stick with you.
The plot, pretty simple: Something cataclysmic happens, and now The Prince needs to climb to the top of the Tower of Dawn to save the world. Basic hero stuff. This isn't very spectacular on its own, but the narrative gets carried to new heights by the game's nuance, subtlety, tone, atmosphere, setting, *very* creative storytelling devices, vibrant characters, and charming voice acting performances. The Prince also acts as the story's narrator, and he narrates the events in real time -talking to the audience as they play the game. Traditionally, this narration would happen during a cutscene (or intro/outro), but Sands of Time opted for a more free-flowing approach to its presentation, and it paid off tremendously. The tone shifts a few times throughout the story, keeping the energy of the plot fresh. The segments with Farah are usually more lighthearted, with the pair bantering and lightly flirting throughout. But in the moments where the Prince is solo, he often finds himself alone with his thoughts, and reluctantly grappling with his inner demons.
The Sands of time is not without shortcomings. The game is quite brief -about 6 hours, and if you've played it before and know how all the puzzles work then it can be completed in a much quicker amount of time. While this isn't necessarily a bad thing, I do find myself wishing it was just a little longer. Also the combat isn't really that challenging (before even factoring in the ability to rewind time!), and it can start getting rather repetitive toward the end. All the different enemies have certain approaches to beating them, and once you've "downloaded" all the enemy types, the combat becomes pretty formulaic. The fighting certainly looks good and it feels satisfying to perform, but for those seeking a hard challenge, it's never going to push you or provide a true threat.
In many ways, The Sands of Time is the antithesis of *modern games* today, which often offer a glut of features -usually at the expense of things like tone, atmosphere, storycrafting, and artistry. Modern titles frequently end up being complex yet frustratingly shallow, lacking in attention to detail and general subtlety or nuance. They can also tend to be bloated, with an overabundance of superfluous content that doesn't really add anything of substance to the story, characters, or worldbuilding.
Sands of Time is curt, but well-paced, and packed with the essential parts required for a great game, with little room or patience for anything less. The game has a unique vibe and identity which it flourishes in, and it's clear the developer had a very distinct vision which they were able to implement to perfection. In an era where many games can feel overproduced and sterile, The Sands of Time offers to bring players back to a time when the importance of fundamentals was still recognized, and artistry was king.