Is PoP: Sands of Time Worth It?

[Calleja]

ARGH!!

Seriously, this has been the most frustrating game I've EVER played. And I had Battletoads as a kid.

The controls are shit. The camera is MEGA SHIT. It's so fiddly that the exact same sequence of button pressings can cause you to either jump flawlessly exactly how you're supposed to.. or fall down to your death. It depends on the game's mood, apparently.



...but I still continue playing. It IS fun when the game's engine isn't working against you... but after literally popping out like 6 of my keyboard's keys in frustration (don't ask) I jsut had to quit the game and make this thread...

Is it worth it to keep playing? I had planned on playing Sands of Time, then Warrior Within and finally Two Thrones. But if they all have an engine programmed to be your main antagonist, I'll just cut my losses and uninstall Sands of Time NOW.

What do you guys think?

 

[SpecialKO]

I never played the PC version, but the GC version (of sands of time, anyway) played like a dream. It does strike me a game that would be incredibly frustrating to play without a gamepad, though.

 

[Hailey Knight]

I've seen this on sale on Steam, but I know the PC version isn't how one should play this kind of game. I intend on getting the PS2 or GC version at Gamestop at some point. I think you got it for the wrong platform.

 

[Bowielee]

I have it on PS2, and hell yes, it's worth it. PC version, I can't speak to.

Warrior Within, however, was pretty Meh.

 

[ScytheRexx]

The Sands of Time is one of my favorite series in gaming, but seriously, you need to play it with a controller. It is not a game that will work well with a keyboard and a mouse. The timing just requires some tight controls.

Here is my rating on each game.

Sands of Time - The best of the three. The Prince is quirky, the areas are gorgeous, the story is fun, just can't beat the original. The only place it lacked was the combat, and really you should not play PoP for the combat, it's really about the platforming and story.

Warrior Within - The best I consider when it comes to fighting, but the story just lost it's luster. Way to much angst from the Prince, destroyed much of the charm he had in the first game. I still enjoy it though, the Dahaka chases are still some of my favorite sections in platforming, and the weird "twist" near the end was rather inventive.

The Two Thrones - I consider it the step-child of the first two. They took some of the better things from the first two games, and sort of smashed them together. It made for a good experience with good fighting and platforming, and the prince got a bit of his charm back, but didn't feel as fun or focused as the other games. Still good though, and a decent closing to the series, if not the best of the series. Really, it's those chariot races that ruined most of the flow.

 

[CynicismKills]

Yeah, current PoP games weren't made with a keyboard in mind. Get a USB controller and I bet it'll play a million times better.

 

[Overflight]

I whole heartedly agree. This game wasn't made for PC controls. Get any sort of gamepad and you should be fine.

Not to hijack the thread, but this gives me the opportunity to discuss a rather dickish move by Ubisoft in regards to this game:

http://kotaku.com/5545824/ubisoft-ruins-prince-of-persia-box-art

...geez. EA leaves the throne of "Gaming Satan" only for Activision and Ubisoft (mostly due to the DRM crap) to take its place. When will the tide of evil stop rising?

 

[Bowielee]

Wow, that is a seriously dick move on Ubisoft's part. Way to make people think they're buying a new game when it's actually a seven year old game.

However, I'm sure the sands of time is actually better than the new one, so maybe it's not so much a deception tactic than them doing the purchaser a favor.

But seriously, with all the bullshit they are pulling with stunts like this and the DRM issues, I'll never buy another Ubisoft game again.

 

[Chibibar]

Wow, that is a seriously dick move on Ubisoft's part. Way to make people think they're buying a new game when it's actually a seven year old game.

However, I'm sure the sands of time is actually better than the new one, so maybe it's not so much a deception tactic than them doing the purchaser a favor.

But seriously, with all the bullshit they are pulling with stunts like this and the DRM issues, I'll never buy another Ubisoft game again.

well.. the character on the new box art does look like the actor in the movie for PoP Sands of time.

I think that is their goal.

 

[Necronic]

Its an awesome game, but PC controls? No way.

 

[Bowielee]

Wow, that is a seriously dick move on Ubisoft's part. Way to make people think they're buying a new game when it's actually a seven year old game.

However, I'm sure the sands of time is actually better than the new one, so maybe it's not so much a deception tactic than them doing the purchaser a favor.

But seriously, with all the bullshit they are pulling with stunts like this and the DRM issues, I'll never buy another Ubisoft game again.

well.. the character on the new box art does look like the actor in the movie for PoP Sands of time.

I think that is their goal.[/QUOTE]

No, their goal is to get people to buy the game thinking that they're getting the brand new PoP game. You don't give the exact same box art to an old game and a brand new game unless you're trying to hoodwink people.

 

[Raemon777]

What if you don't LIKE gamepad controls? I've never been a big console player and whenever I do try to play I flounder about helplessly for the most part. I don't get how a gamepad is any more "controllable" than a keyboard. Especially when the main problem (when I briefly tried to play the PC sands of time) was the shifting camera. There's no reason that should be any worse on a PC than a console.

 

[Piotyr]

What if you don't LIKE gamepad controls? I've never been a big console player and whenever I do try to play I flounder about helplessly for the most part. I don't get how a gamepad is any more "controllable" than a keyboard. Especially when the main problem (when I briefly tried to play the PC sands of time) was the shifting camera. There's no reason that should be any worse on a PC than a console.

Keyboards do not have analog sticks.

 

[Hailey Knight]

What if you don't LIKE gamepad controls? I've never been a big console player and whenever I do try to play I flounder about helplessly for the most part. I don't get how a gamepad is any more "controllable" than a keyboard. Especially when the main problem (when I briefly tried to play the PC sands of time) was the shifting camera. There's no reason that should be any worse on a PC than a console.

You may not like it, but if it's the better way to play a particular game, the keyboard's still going to be worse, regardless of what you're proficient with.

Platformerers = control pad; FPS = keyboard and mouse.

 

[Necronic]

Yup, its one of the only kinds of games that just don't work well on Keyboard/Mouse. Think of playing Ninja Gaiden that way.....*shudder*