The Fresh Prince of Babylon

This is a story all about how this Prince's life got turned upside down. New screens. Word!

Ubisoft's revitalised Prince of Persia series has resurrected itself from its inauspicious beginnings when it got lost in the Christmas rush nearly two years ago. The third game, Prince of Persia: Kindred Blades, is just about ready now, and it looks to both continue with and stray from the themes of its predecessor, Prince of Persia: Warrior Within.

For a start, forget about the complicated indoor environments. Prince of Persia: Kindred Blades is all about open spaces that give you more chance to try out the Prince's new acrobatic manoeuvres. The game is set in the ancient city of Babylon, which has been based on the extant cities of Marrakech, Casablanca and Cairo.

According to Olivier Leonardi, artistic director for the game, this shift in setting "will refresh the whole experience for Prince of Persia players".

Much like the cities from which its spirit is drawn, Babylon is a layered place, with building that stretch higher and higher, providing rooftops for all sorts of high-flying chicanery. But the developers have also incorporated the street levels, providing a denser environment, and also the sub-city sewers, where things are even more cramped.

Another star in the game is the Tower of Babel. Leonardi says that his art team has strayed from the well-trodden path of imagery of the legendary tower, choosing instead to provide gamers with something fresh.

Prince of Persia: Kindred Blades will be out for Xbox, PlayStation 2, GameCube, Game Boy Advance and PC later this year.

Alex Wollenschlaeger
Editor, Kikizo Games