 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands
- Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Windows
- Price: $59.99
- Genre: Action/Adventure
Common Sense Media says
Action game features bloodless violence, parkour stunts.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands is an action game that involves frequent battles against humans and fantastical creatures, all clearly evil. The game’s protagonist uses his sword, fists, and magic to stylishly carve his way through as many as 50 enemies at once, though there is never any blood or gore. When not in combat, players will engage in clever and relatively innocuous environmental puzzles and platforming challenges, which involve lots of climbing, leaping, and machinery manipulation.
What's it about?
Set between previous Prince of Persia games The Sands of Time and The Warrior Within, PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE FORGOTTEN SANDS sees our agile royal still young and optimistic as he heads out to visit his brother, Prince Malik, in a castle on the outskirts of their kingdom. When he arrives he finds it under siege and his sibling about to set loose an ancient magic force to help defend against the enemy army. But the force proves uncontrollable, and suddenly there’s something greater to worry about than mere humans soldiers: An army of skeletons that can turn people into statues of sand with a single touch. Using his sword to beat back the bony hordes and his parkour-like acrobatic skills to navigate a variety of environmental obstacles, the prince works his way through the giant palace in search of a solution. He gradually learns magical spells that allow him to blast his enemies with icy cold, burn them with fire, and send them spinning into the air in swirling sand storms. He also comes to realize that his brother may end up being a greater threat than the evil he’s unleashed.
Is it any good?
After what appeared to be a reboot of the franchise with 2008’s artsy and unexpected Prince of Persia, Ubisoft’s developers have gone back to basics, providing us with a Prince whose background and abilities should prove much more familiar to fans of this series, many of whom expressed their dislike of the franchise’s new direction. It’s both a blessing and a curse.
The good news is that it feels like slipping on a pair of comfortable shoes. The Prince controls marvellously well, and leaping around carefully designed rooms filled with platforms, swinging bars, and traps is as much fun as it’s ever been. The bad news is that there’s a distinct feeling that we’ve done a lot of this before. The new magical powers help freshen things up a bit -- it's quite fun to swallow up enemies in a sandstorm and freeze water so we can climb it -- and tweaks to the Prince’s acrobatics make his movements as smooth as ever, but don’t expect to be blown away with new features. It’s all been expertly conceived and executed, it’s just not particularly original.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the criteria involved in determining whether violent action is suitable for early teen gamers. Is it enough to simply eliminate the depiction of blood and gore? Does it matter if the characters scream or can be seen to be in pain? Whether they’re good or evil?
Families can also discuss the parkour-like stunts in the game. Are the Prince’s acrobatics believable? Do his tricks make you want to try running up walls and making long leaps? Do you think kids might try to emulate the Prince’s moves and accidentally hurt themselves?
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AGE
fun game and but could be difficult and frustrating for younger audiences.
I like the game, the graphics are good and the story is good too. I like the whole jumping around carefully designed rooms filled with platforms, swinging bars, and traps is as much fun as it’s ever been. But it feels like we done this before in other games. The violence has no blood (the enemies bleed sand) and there is no profanity, sex, etc. Overall it's a very fun game for those who can handle it.
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AGE
Not difficult for experienced kids, but can be a bit violent
The game was fun, but even my 9 year-old said it was a little on the violent side. Green stuff comes out of enemies instead of blood; enemies are thrown off cliffs; and the monsters might be frightening for younger kids.
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Kid, 12 years old
June 10, 2010
AGE
Good for most 11 year olds, But still iffy.
I really like this game, but it sometimes is something that parents may want to look into. The villian is a bad role model.(but what bad guy isn't?) It has violence, but the enemies bleed sand, so it;s not gory. I haven't beat the game yet, but i have caught a sexual remark from the main character. So some times you may want it on "mute", but altogether it is an enjoyable game.
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AGE
good for ages 11 and up
like the game a little violent but not to violent
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AGE
Fun game and family-friendly, but difficulty could be frustrating for younger audiences
The violence is bloodless and there is no profanity, sex, etc. Overrall a very fun game to play for those who can manage it. I've played a lot of games in my time, but this one gave me a few hangups on a few missions. Younger gamers will have a harder time and may get angered, something to think about if your kids have anger issues. haha.
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AGE
Perfect for kids twelve and up
I may be underage but I think the Prince of Persia would be a very good story for children at least twelve years old. Not only is it easy and fun to play, it tells the classic tale of being a good person will always prevail over being an evil person. The main protagonist is the role model parents would always want, he isn't a profane swearer, not a drinker, and while he uses violence to solve his problems with evil, he doesn't hurt innocent people, he only hurts the evil soldiers and the skeleton army. All in all Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time would be a great choice for parents and children alike.
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Kid, 12 years old
November 3, 2011
AGE
Great graphics, animations, and combat make a very fun game, 12+
This game is just immense, the graphics are great, the animations look completely real and the combat is really fun, I mean where else can you kick someone in the face, do a forwards roll so you're standing in front of them and then punch them in the face to knock them out. There is quite a lot of violence but no blood or gore whatsoever so I say 12 and up.
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AGE
good but not the best
I really like this game.It's about a 3 1/2.It's a creative game and involes amazing acrobatics.You fight monsters not humans.This is a great game but this isn't my favorite Prince of Persia game by far but its good.Check out Prince of Persia rival swords or the reboot Prince of Persia.
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Kid, 12 years old
December 11, 2010
AGE
good and sootable
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AGE
Enjoyable and Tween Friendly
I pre-ordered this game at gamestop. It was defiantly no a bad decision. I usually wait to read some reviews or just take a closer look. I got the 2008 Prince of Persia game as my first installment in the Prince of Persia franchise and absolutely fell in love with the platforming and dueling style combat. This game is a little different however. Platforming is done similar with the addition of elemental powers which is greatly accepted. I mean it is so fun to freeze water wall run on it unfreeze it and look back and the rushing waters! There is alot more combat......it is not violent though. You fight these sand skeletons who come at you in hordes. Not always easy! Elemental powers are utilized in this aspect as well. The story is not complicated so you want get so deeply involved as you would an rpg. The puzzles are fun. There were a few that really need thought. Puzzles are in no way overbearing though so do not skip this game because of the puzzles.Graphics are pretty good. I mean this game has done well when you consider that it came out the same day as the monster release Red Dead Redemption. I am glad I bought this game and am looking forward to any further expansions.
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| Platforms: | Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Windows |
| Available online? | Not available online |
| Genre: | Action/Adventure |
| Developer: | UbiSoft |
| Release date: | May 18, 2010 |
| Price: | $59.99 |
| ESRB rating: | T for Violence |
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