Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Battles of Prince of Persia takes the franchise into uncharted territory by trading its signature platforming roots for a turn-based, card-driven strategy system. Rather than guiding the Prince through perilous jumps and traps, players now assemble and command armies on a grid-based battlefield. Each turn revolves around selecting cards from a prebuilt deck to deploy units, cast spells, and manipulate the battlefield in real time, offering a fresh tactical twist for series veterans.

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Card collection and deck building serve as the core progression loop. You can collect dozens of cards by completing missions, each granting different troop types, special abilities, or tactical bonuses. Deck management is streamlined yet deep: you can create and save up to three distinct decks, but only one can be used in any battle. This restriction forces you to plan ahead, weighing the merits of heavy cavalry charges against defensive formations or stealthy assassins.

The Nintendo DS stylus and dual screens are put to good use. You select cards on the touch screen, then tap on grid squares to move or attack, while the upper screen provides an overview of the entire battlefield. The controls are intuitive once you learn them, though the initial tutorial can feel a bit overwhelming with its multitude of icons and menus. Thankfully, context-sensitive hints and a gradually increasing difficulty curve help you master the mechanics without frustration.

Multiplayer skirmishes add significant replay value. You can trade cards wirelessly with friends to expand your collection, then challenge them in head-to-head matches that test your deck-building prowess. Ranked and casual modes alike reward creative strategies, whether you rely on brute force or clever trickery. For players craving a strategic challenge on the go, Battles of Prince of Persia delivers hours of engrossing gameplay.

Graphics

Graphically, Battles of Prince of Persia strikes a balance between stylized artwork and the hardware limitations of the Nintendo DS. Unit sprites are crisp and well-defined, making it easy to distinguish between archers, swordsmen, and elite guards at a glance. The grid-based battle maps come alive with animated details: flickering torches, shifting sands, and crumbling battlements transport you to the darker eras of The Sands of Time and Warrior Within.

The user interface is clean and functional, with card visuals that pop against the battlefield’s muted color palette. Each card sports unique artwork depicting the Prince or his forces in dynamic poses. These illustrations not only look great on the DS’s screens but also help convey the flavor of each troop type—whether it’s a sorrowful sand wraith or a hulking armored brute.

Cutscenes and story panels employ a mix of hand-drawn comic-book panels and in-engine animation. While not as refined as console output, these sequences maintain the series’ signature flair, using dramatic shading and fluid linework to emphasize key plot moments. The visuals may not push the DS to its absolute limits, but they create a coherent, atmospheric package that feels true to the Prince of Persia universe.

Story

Battles of Prince of Persia is set during the tumultuous eras of The Sands of Time and Warrior Within, weaving a narrative that sees the Prince ascend from lone adventurer to military commander. The campaign opens amid civil unrest and rogue sand mages who threaten the kingdom’s fragile peace. Tasked with raising an army, the Prince must secure alliances, rescue captives, and quell uprisings before his land falls into chaos.

The story unfolds through dialogue sequences and illustrated cutscenes, delivering enough intrigue to drive you through the 20-plus battle missions. Character interactions reveal different facets of the Prince’s personality—his dry wit, moral dilemmas, and mounting sense of responsibility. Supporting characters, including a resourceful sahid archer and a repentant former general, provide both comic relief and emotional stakes as you witness their loyalty to the cause.

While there are no epic parkour set-pieces this time around, strategic choices often tie back into the narrative. Opting to spare or eliminate rival commanders can lead to branching side objectives, which in turn unlock new cards or alternate mission scenarios. This integration of story and strategy gives your decisions weight and encourages multiple playthroughs.

Overall Experience

Battles of Prince of Persia represents a bold departure from the series’ platforming heritage, morphing into an accessible yet challenging strategy title tailored for the DS. Its blend of card-collection mechanics, tactical depth, and light RPG progression makes it a standout among portable strategy games. Fans of the franchise will appreciate the familiar themes and characters, even as they navigate a completely different gameplay paradigm.

The game’s audio design complements its visuals, featuring atmospheric Middle Eastern melodies and crisp sound effects. The Prince’s voice lines during card deployments add personality, and the clash of steel or roar of sand guardians reinforces each battle’s intensity. The soundtrack loops cleanly and never becomes repetitive, enhancing the sense of immersion across extended play sessions.

Despite a slightly steep learning curve in the early hours, the tutorial and incremental difficulty spikes make the transition smooth for newcomers to turn-based games. Card trading and deck customization foster a strong sense of ownership over your forces, and the competitive multiplayer mode ensures you can test your strategies against human opponents long after the single-player campaign concludes.

For those seeking a fresh take on Prince of Persia, Battles of Prince of Persia is a surprising triumph. It successfully merges the franchise’s rich lore with a strategy framework that rewards planning, adaptation, and creativity. Whether you’re a longtime fan or a newcomer to tactical card games, this DS entry offers an engaging, replayable experience that stands apart in both the Prince of Persia catalog and the handheld strategy genre.

Retro Replay Score

6.6/10