http://games.kikizo.com/reviews/xbox360/prince-of-persia-p1.asp

This version of Prince of Persia was something that came out of nowhere for me - when I first saw the screenshots here I was really impressed and excited, and it wasn't long after that it's now out and I'm playing it. I love it when you're not endlessly waiting for a game to come out after you first hear about it.

I'm enjoying the game so far, beautiful artwork and animation (with some nice extra unlockable artwork to browse through from the main menu).  I love the way it feels as though you're controlling a fluid, supremely artistic animated epic - sustaining the suspension of disbelief, the way other traditional 3D modelling and physics based animation cannot, no matter how photoreaslistic the screenshots get.  I regret I never played Okami but I imagine this feels much the same.

The complex and detailed animation comes at a price though, as is commonly the problem, sacrificing interactivity.  The game uses simple controls with few necessary button presses to achieve a slick and complicated result.  Its not as abstracted as Assassin's Creed's 'hold one button to do everything', but you still feel as though you're watching the animations unfold rather than causing them to happen.  Its satisfying to watch but maybe a bit too easy to do.

What's more restricting about the gameplay is the almost 'on-rails' nature of the platforming.  At least in Assassin's Creed, even though you were just holding X/A, it freed your concentration up to think about where you wanted to go in its expansive environment.  In PoP, although the environments are wide, the challenge is set for you from the beginning - all you need do is use a number of timely button presses to traverse it.  Its almost as if the game is one big quicktime event, with only a few branches and bosses to split sections up.

However, the only reason the gameplay doesn't get dull is because the end result is so spectacular.  And although this is still your standard Prince of Persia, wall-run, swing on things affair, set by Sands of Time - this game still feels unique from how well it has been animated and how aesthetically pleasing it is.  You really just have to play it to appreciate it.

So anyone else pick this up?  What d'you reckon to it?