Ubisoft recently confirmed that the studio has been working on thePrince of Persia: Sands of Timeremake. Originally released in 2003, the game captivated fans by its time-manipulation mechanics and an interesting storyline. While theoriginalSands of Timeis still considered a masterpiece, there’s no denying that the features and enhancements in the sequels enriched the franchise.
With the remake ofPrince of Persia: The Sands of Time, developers have an excellent opportunity to integrate some of the best elements from the sequels to improve the experience even further. Here are some exciting features gans would like to see incorporated in the upcomingSands of Timeto turn the remake into a definitive version of the iconic game.
7Parry System
Add Strategy To Combat And Deviate From Button-Mashing
The only game in thePrince of Persiaseries to include a parry system wasPrince of Persia 2008. While the combat in the game was quite stylized,it did include a parry mechanicthat made fights against corrupted enemies all the more interesting.
The Sands of Timeremake could potentiallybenefit from agrounded parry system.This could add strategic depth to the combat, and make sword fighting sequences more deliberate and engaging. Doing so could ensure that the remake not only pays homage to one of the sequels in the series, but also stands out as a great action-adventure game on its own.
6Time-Controlled Environmental Puzzles
Incorporate Time Powers In Creative Puzzles
ThePrince of Persiatrilogy and the 2008 reboot lacked when it came to incorporating creative puzzles into the gameplay. Most puzzles were simplistic, typically involving pushing levers or aligning mirrors to reflect light.
However, things changed withPrince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands.In this game, puzzles began to utilize the Prince’s time abilities to freeze water and switch between past and present. This creative system made puzzles more interesting and varied. A similar approach could enhance the puzzles in theSands of Timeremake.
5Enhanced Combat Mechanics
Better Combos & Fighting Animations To Make Combat Exciting
The combat in the originalSands of Timewas very basic with limited combat variations. However, Ubisoft fixed this shortcoming in the sequels:Warrior WithinandThe Two Thrones. While the remake vouches to remain true to the original game, it should still consider improving the combat by focusing on the prince’s acrobatic abilities and sword-fighting skills.
Byexpanding the prince’s move sets, improving enemy AI, and incorporating context-sensitive combat interactions, theSands of Timeremake could potentially provide a deeper, engaging, and varied combat experience. This will help it feel up-to-date and engaging for modern-day players.
4Expanded Parkour & Acrobatics
Fluid Parkour Animations To Make Traversal Feel Immersive
One of the defining features of thePrince of Persiagames has always been theseamless parkourintegrated into traversal. While the originalSands of Timewas the one to innovate parkour and acrobatics in the series, it wasn’t until the release of later games likePrince of Persia 2008andThe Forgotten Sandsthat parkour felt more natural and exciting.
The Sands of Timeremake can draw inspiration from previous games, particularlyThe Forgotten Sands, to produce smoother parkour animations. Incorporating a variety of animations for jumping, vaulting, and wall bouncing can add depth to the overall traversal system in the game.
3Open-Ended Level Design
Leverage Metroidvania World Design To Improve Exploration
ThePrince of Persiagames are known for their linear level design with few opportunities for exploration. InPrince of Persia: Warrior Within, Ubisoftexperimented with a metroidvania-style of level design, but the feature wasn’t carried over into the sequels.
This could be an opportunity for Ubisoft to use themetroidvania-esque design to connect various regions togetherin theSands of Timeremake. Ametroidvaniaworld could provide additional context to the story and showcase changes in the environment as the game progresses. A connected world design will also encourage players to backtrack to earlier areas once they acquire the necessary powers or weapons.
2Skill Tree System
Upgrades Beyond The Basic Health Bars & Sand Tanks
In the originalSands of Time, players werelimited to upgrading only their health bars and sand tanks. But, in the 2025 remake, the game should consider incorporating a comprehensive ability system, as seen inThe Forgotten Sands.
An ability system, like a skill tree, will allow players to customize the prince’s abilities. Players could cater to specific gameplay challenges like combat, parkour, and time powers. This system could encourage replayability, as players might want to try out different abilities in subsequent playthroughs. Since the skill system isn’t foreign to the series, the remake could stay true to its roots while also making it palatable for modern audiences.
1Stealth Mechanics
Use Stealth, But Don’t Make It A Core Mechanic
When thinking aboutPrince of Persiaand stealth, it seems that the two don’t go hand-in-hand. Nonetheless, stealth was introduced inThe Two Thrones,albeitwithout disrupting the traditional combat formula.The Two Thronesalso excelled at making stealth kills look flashy, which added a new dynamic to how players approach a new enemy area.
The Sands of Time remake could benefit from a similar stealth system. This could add variety to the gameplay loop andavoid the monotony of the rush-and-slash combat mechanic, which is central toPrince of Persia’score gameplay formula.
