■ Release: December 9, 2008 Developer: Ubisoft Publisher: In-house Link: ubisoft.com
By the late 2000s, the Prince of Persia series was already on its way out. 2008’s entry, simply titled Prince of Persia, wasn’t quite the last gasp, but it was the last attempt at forging a real future for the series – a reboot that took big swings in an attempt to update the formula.
Though well received critically at launch, it doesn’t hold much of a place in the heart of your average fan – but I’ve always had a soft spot for it. That fondness has only grown as modern videogaming has gradually dumbed down traversal. Sure, still lets you climb any building you like, but all you’re doing is pointing in a direction and holding down a button. The series was all about embracing the fun of leaping, swinging, clambering, and wall-running for its own sake, focused most strongly on that core identity.
