Prince of Persia (1989-)

Prince of Persia was developed by Jordan Mechner and originally released in 1989 for the Apple II. Published by Brøderbund, the game quickly gained recognition for its fluid animation and cinematic gameplay. Due to its success, it was later ported to a wide range of platforms including MS-DOS, Amiga, Atari ST, Macintosh, NES, SNES, Sega Genesis, Game Boy, and many others. The game laid the foundation for a long-running franchise that would evolve significantly over the decades, eventually including 3D reboots and modern interpretations.

The gameplay in Prince of Persia revolves around navigating a dungeon filled with traps and enemies, as the unnamed prince attempts to rescue a princess from the evil vizier Jaffar. The player has 60 in-game minutes to complete the task, solving environmental puzzles and engaging in sword-based combat along the way. The game's standout feature was its realistic character animation, achieved through rotoscoping techniques that Mechner used by filming his younger brother performing the character’s moves.

The original Apple II version featured minimalistic sound, relying on basic sound effects to convey action. However, later ports, particularly those on 16-bit consoles and PCs, featured more developed musical scores that enhanced the game's atmosphere. The SNES version, for example, included a more dramatic soundtrack that aligned with the game’s tension and sense of urgency. There were no prequels to Prince of Persia at the time; it was a completely original work, though Mechner had previously developed the action title Karateka, which also emphasized fluid movement and cinematic design.

Prince of Persia was promoted as a groundbreaking adventure that blended action, platforming, and storytelling in a way that few other games had attempted. It was widely praised upon release for its animation, level design, and challenge, with many publications and players hailing it as a technical marvel. Over time, it became one of the most iconic titles of its era, leading to several sequels and remakes, and establishing Jordan Mechner as one of the most innovative developers of the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Key Features of Prince of Persia:

• Groundbreaking rotoscoped animation for fluid character movement

• Time-limited gameplay adding urgency and challenge

• Complex platforming with traps, pitfalls, and timed jumps

• Sword-fighting mechanics with enemy guards

• Environmental puzzles requiring observation and timing

• Multiple ports with varying levels of graphical and audio enhancement

Images from MobyGames