The opening video for this title is one of a grand city that is slowly decaying with time, you switch to a chase view of a lone figure running thru a maze of back streets a growling can be heard behind the figure as he runs, once again the detail to the streets and surrounding objects are in fine detail, with dust and debris being thrown up as the lone figure makes his continues his almost panicked way down dark and deserted streets.
Our hero comes to a door that is blocked and barred; a black cloud of dust is approaching with an unearthly growl, he turns and with blinding speed draws to rune carved scimitars and prepares to face the swirling cloud…………
Next we see a ship being thrown by a storm, our hero stands on the deck urging his men on a ghostly image of another ship can be briefly seen, and then flaming brands appear from the fog , striking the ship with grappling hooks , a large war galley materializes out of the fog and water spray , its deck is covered in figures that don’t quite seem human they begin to pull the two ships together , both sides brandish their weapons throw war cries and insults , the out come can be only one of victor and vanquished.
Just as the ships are drawn together a scantily clad female figure can be seen arising from the galleys depth’s , our hero’s armour glows brightly and he covers it , a look worries creeps slowly to his face , you get the impression that this has happened before with not a good outcome.
The female reaches the top deck and the howling crew fall silent, a mark of respect or fear, it’s hard to tell. She looks across at the galley, locking eyes with our hero, a small grimes on her lips…………”Kill him”
The game up to here promises much, the graphic are fully rendered the sound is flawless, but as you take control you instantly get the feeling that this a game most suited to a game pad, where the keyboard controls aren’t that complicated you have fingers stretched trying to keep your attack and defences in place, and your mouse hand constantly moving trying to pan the camera around to keep track of the bad guys.
Combat is pretty staight forward , with the controls being 1 click ,1 strike 2 clicks 2 strikes , you get the drift.
When you move into combo's things get a little more complicated , remember those games that required the million button input to do a single strike , well your not looking a million buttons but given you are attacking and defending ,the only time these will be of use to you is either in a 1 on 1 or up against a level boss , in which case if you miss , you die.
So if you are one of those people that like a good challenge nice graphics if you have the rig to run it , then Prince of Persia Warrior Within could be the game for you , but do yourself a favour and buy a gamepad to go with it , save the beating and breaking of mice and keyboards.
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