How much do you want that health potion?
Nostalgia is a powerful force. 35-year-old gamers tell today's kids how much better--and simpler--titles were way back when. Prince of Persia Retro for iPhone and iPad perfectly copies the classic, holding up surprisingly well as both entertainment and old-school schooling. However, the touch-screen conversion tips an already difficult game towards frustration. Worse, the developers ignore the mobile platforms and how people play today; you can't resume after a break or a phone call.
Prince of Persia Retro's controls still define this game. As before, the Prince fluidly moves but has to complete each section of animation. So if you're mid-step and push jump, the Prince leaps only after completing the full stride. We got used to this method on the iPad and iPhone just like with the original, taking extra care to move the Prince certain distances before leaping across gaps.
Big buttons (and fat thumbs) can get in the way on the iPhone.
You'll tap on-screen buttons to navigate traps, puzzles, and sword fights. On the iPad, the superimposed buttons rarely block the view. However, on the iPhone, they too often obstruct the screen edges. Little touches also disappoint, such as how you can't slide a finger between the left and right buttons; you have to pick it up and tap each time.
As in the classic game, if you die--and you will often--you restart that level. You'll gain extra health throughout the game, but if you exit the app or get a phone call, you'll lose all of that progress. (You can start on any level but without health upgrades.) Did the development team consider mobile players? The app won't reorient the screen in case you want to play with the headphone port on top, but that's unlikely, since you can't listen to music in the background.
If Prince of Persia Retro were an all-new iPhone and iPad game, we'd enjoy it but recommend others first. However, this is the original Prince, and nostalgia trumps the careless port.
Prince of Persia Retro 1.0.0
COMPANY: Ubisoft
CONTACT: www.ubisoft.com
PRICE: $.99
REQUIREMENTS: iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad; iPhone OS 3.1.3 or later.
The original Prince of Persia returns, warts and all. Clever traps and level design. Universal iPhone and iPad version.
Can't resume progress after changing apps or getting a call. Thumbs and buttons block too much in the iPhone version. Difficult game becomes harder with touch-screen controls. Controls aren't fully explained. Can't listen to music in the background.
