| 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. |
Parents need to know that this a violent action game. Players mainly use swords and knives to slice up enemies. They shank and gut enemies (humans and monsters), slice throats, stab eyes, chop off heads, chop enemies in half, and slice enemies down the middle like sides of beef. The game depicts bloody battles. Also, some female characters are scantily clad, but there is no nudity. The game does encourage some creative puzzle solving.
In this installment, the Prince's personality has been fractured: He is now sometimes the good prince of the first game, but his long, violent quest has led to the formation of a compromised and cynical Dark Prince. These two personalities vie for control of the Prince as he fights the evil vizier for control of time. The light Prince's adventure still mainly consists of running, jumping, and swinging through graphically gorgeous environmental puzzles. Regularly throughout the game, the Prince will change into the Dark Prince, who -- while still acrobatic -- is stronger in combat and has a chain-like whip he can use to swing from and to decapitate enemies -- but his weakness is a health meter.
PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE TWO THRONES completes a trilogy that began with the fabulous Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time in 2003. The game formula -- lots of acrobatic feats and puzzle-solving in huge, beautiful environments -- was roughed up a bit for the grittier second installment, The Warrior Within. The Two Thrones mixes elements of both games, creating a more complicated and compelling protagonist. The death-defying gymnastics remain easy to control; The Prince also uses the more-complicated combat system introduced in the second game.
The Two Thrones is definitely a violent game, but it succeeds in mixing the best parts of the first two games. Mature teens and adults fans are sure to love it, while younger teens may be better off sticking with the T-rated first game.
Families can talk about the complicated protagonist. How does he differ from the way he was portrayed in the first and second installments? Does it make sense to you that his quest has made him cynical? Is it more fun to play with the Light or Dark Prince? Many games let players embody characters who are not necessarily good or heroic; is this healthy?
| Platforms: | Xbox |
| Available online? | Not available online |
| Genre: | Action/Adventure |
| Developer: | UbiSoft |
| Release date: | December 19, 2005 |
| Price: | $49.99 |
| ESRB rating: | M |
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