Prince of Persia: Warrior Within is the second part of the 'Sands' trilogy about Prince of Persia, and it is also a narrative continuation of the game Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands, released later. The game was released by UbiSoft at the end of 2004 and is a vibrant dynamic representative of the action genre. The story of 'Warrior' (in localization, the game is titled 'War with Fate') takes place a few years after the events of the first game.
Despite the fact that in the Sultan's palace, the Prince managed to turn back time and thwart the treacherous plans of the vizier, the manipulations with time did not go unpunished. With the Dagger, the Prince tore the fabric of time, disturbing the peace of the demon Dahaka, who is the Guardian of Time itself. And now the supernatural guardian will have no peace until he kills the culprit of what has happened. Consulting with a wise elder, the Prince makes a desperate decision to travel to the mysterious Island of Time, where the Sands were once created, and to meet the enigmatic Empress to prevent their appearance. Only this can calm Dahaka, who is constantly hunting our hero. However, on this path, the Prince faces dangerous trials and numerous obstacles: the Empress and her servants are not particularly eager to see the hero in their palace, and the Prince will have to make considerable efforts and survive in dozens of battles if he really intends to change his fate.
In the new game of the series, the Prince has changed dramatically. The youthful curious heir to the throne, eager for the Maharaja's treasures, gives way to a tough warrior, strong, agile, and experienced, who expertly wields weapons and can withstand any battle. He holds a blade in each hand, and woe to those enemies who find themselves in his way. Being a continuation of 'Sands of Time', the game has completely changed in terms of style, so players will encounter an old yet completely new Prince.
Although the basic elements of the game remain the same (we can still run on walls and swing on beams), the second part of the series has become much more diverse in terms of movements and combat. For example, while previously going down could take a lot of time, now it's enough to pierce a couple of curtains and slide down them. But the main thing, of course, is the combat mechanics. UbiSoft has significantly improved the combat aspect of the game: we have access to a wide variety of weapons (both primary and secondary), and there are many more moves in battle. One can fight with either two weapons or one. In the first case, powerful hurricane combos are available, during which the Prince disembowels monsters entirely. However, in the second case, we can strangle enemies, throw them off cliffs, and perform various grabs. The choices are vast, and no fight is similar to the previous one. The number of enemies has significantly increased, and each has its own tricks and fighting style. All together, this makes the gameplay rich and engaging, although the emphasis is now placed on battles and acrobatics: there are definitely fewer puzzles in the new 'Prince' compared to the previous installment. Manipulations with time still reign supreme, but now you no longer need to finish off enemies with the Dagger; it is enough just to chop them up to release the coveted Sand.
In addition to ordinary monsters, the game offers you challenges with bosses, each of whom has its own killing tactics. Some can be defeated even by a novice, while battles with others will require effort before the enemy's health drops to zero. In 'Warrior', you will have no allies: the game's story is dark, the Prince himself is harsh, and you will have to pave your way to victory with your own strength. As before, there are secrets in the game: special corridors with health boosters and chests that unlock additional game materials.
Compared to its predecessor, the game has become freer and non-linear: you are free to go to almost any corner of the Island of Time as long as conditions allow. Interestingly, the world around you can exist in two forms: in the shape of the present, with half-destroyed columns and halls filled with greenery, and in the shape of the past, when the Empress's castle was overwhelmed with luxurious interiors and decorations. However, while in 'Sands of Time' you were constantly reminded that the surroundings were a fairy tale, there is none of that here. The world around you is dark and harsh, enemies are ready to sell their lives dearly, and traps certainly do their job 100%. Movement and reaction times have to be much quicker. Everything contributes to the creation of the game's atmosphere: from the bloody intro and beautiful graphics to the powerful soundtrack, which completely lacks Eastern notes. In Warrior Within, rock and metal reign: the main and ending themes for the game were performed by the band Godsmack, and most of the compositions were created by Stuart Chatwood. The soundtrack perfectly underscores the stylistics of the new 'Prince', and battling to it is a joy. However, the swearing, blood, and dismemberment have led to the game receiving an 'Mature' rating (17+). But that's what makes it interesting.
By the way, the game features two ending variations: a regular one and a secret one where we can defeat Dahaka himself. The second option is a priority, and it serves as the beginning of the story for the third installment of the game Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones.
To summarize, it can be confidently said that Warrior Within is rightly considered the best of the new games about the Prince. At least, that is the result demonstrated by numerous fan surveys. Battles, acrobatics, story, atmosphere - everything here is done at the highest level. And if you find that the last battle was too easy, you can always increase the difficulty level and challenge fate again.