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Difference between revisions of "Prince of Persia"

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{{Bob
 
{{Bob
−
| bobscreen=
+
| bobscreen=PrinceofPersia PC9801VX Title.png
−
| screenwidth=
+
| bobscreen2=PrinceofPersia SCDROM2 US Title.png
 +
| bobscreen3=PrinceofPersia SCDROM2 JP Title.png
 +
| tab1=PC-9801 VX
 +
| tab2={{SCDROM2}} NTSC-U
 +
| tab3={{SCDROM2}} NTSC-J
 
| title=
 
| title=
−
| publisher=[[Riverhill Soft]] {{SCDROM2}} [[Hudson Soft]] (US)
+
| publisher=[[Riverhill Soft]], {{company|[[Hudson Soft]]|system=SCDROM2|region=US}}
−
| developer=[[Brøderbund Software]] {{PC9801}} [[ Arsys Software]]
+
| developer={{company|[[Arsys Software]]|system=PC9801}} {{company|[[Riverhill Soft]]|system=SCDROM2}}
−
| system=[[PC-9801]], [[Super CD-ROM²]]
+
| licensor=[[Brøderbund Software]]
 +
| support={{company|[[T's Music]]|system=SCDROM2|role=audio}}
 +
| system=[[PC-9801 VX]], [[Super CD-ROM²]]
 +
| originalsystem=Apple II
 
| players=1
 
| players=1
 
| genre=Action
 
| genre=Action
 
| releases={{releasesPC98
 
| releases={{releasesPC98
−
| pc98_date_jp=1990-07
+
| pc98vx_date_jp=1990-07
 +
| pc98vx_rrp_jp=6,800
 +
| pc98vx_code_jp=
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{releasesCD
 
{{releasesCD
 
| scd_date_jp=1991-11-08
 
| scd_date_jp=1991-11-08
 
| scd_code_jp=RHCD1002
 
| scd_code_jp=RHCD1002
−
| scd_date_us=1992
+
| scd_date_us=1992-10{{fileref|EGM US 039.pdf|page=41}}
 
| scd_code_us=TGXCD1027
 
| scd_code_us=TGXCD1027
 
}}
 
}}
 +
| otherformats={{NonNEC|Amiga|CPC|APPLE2|ST|FMTOWNS|GB|GBC|GG|IBMPC|Mac|SMS|MD|MCD|NES|SAM|SNES|X68}}
 
}}
 
}}
−
{{sub-stub}}'''''Prince of Persia''''' (プリンス・オブ・ペルシャ)
+
'''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' (プリンス・オブ・ペルシャ) is a cinematic platform game originally developed in 1989 by [[Brøderbund Software]] and designed by Jordan Mechner. The game saw many ports, including a version released for the [[PC-9801 VX]] in 1990, and a [[Super CD-ROM²]] version in 1991.
 +
 
 +
==Story==
 +
{{ScreenThumb|width=200|PrinceofPersia PC9801VX Introduction.png|Introduction, PC-9801 VX version.}}
 +
The game is set in medieval Persia. While the good sultan is fighting a war in a foreign land, his vizier Jaffar, a wizard, seizes power. His only obstacle to the throne is the Sultan's daughter. Jaffar locks her in a tower and orders her to become his wife, or she would die within an hour. The game's unnamed protagonist, whom the Princess loves, is taken prisoner and thrown into the palace dungeons. In order to free her, he must escape the dungeons, get to the palace tower and defeat Jaffar before time runs out. In addition to guards, various traps and dungeons, the protagonist is further hindered by his own doppelgänger, conjured out of a magic mirror.
 +
 
 +
==Gameplay==
 +
The game is a cinematic platformer, distinguished by the fluid, lifelike movements and relatively realistic physical limitations of its protagonist, the eponymous prince. Levels are composed of multiple screens with no scrolling in which the prince can move both horizontally and vertically. Gameplay requires problem solving and trial and error to overcome each obstacle. The objective is to lead the prince out of the dungeons and into a tower before time runs out. To do this, the prince must bypass many traps and fight hostile swordsmen. The game consists of twelve levels, which the player has 60 minutes to complete. In each level, the prince must find the door that leads to the next level and figure out how to open it.
 +
 
 +
The prince walks or turns around with {{key|Left}} or {{key|Right}}. He can tiptoe to step more carefully or position himself more precisely by holding {{key|Space}} while moving. He can tiptoe safely through spike traps. He crouches with {{key|Down}} and jumps with {{key|Up}}. He leaps across a wide area if he jumps while running, which can be used to traverse gaps. The player must press {{key|Up}} a couple of steps before the edge to make the leap without running off the platform. When standing next to a ledge above him, he can jump and grab onto the ledge by holding {{key|Up}}. If the ledge is below him, he can hang off of it by holding {{key|Down}} when facing away from it. He can also grab ledges that he leaps onto from a running start by holding {{key|Space}}. He picks up items with {{key|Space}} and enters doorways with {{key|Up}}. In the Super CD-ROM² version, {{Left}} and {{Right}} are used for movement, {{I}} and {{Up}} are used for jumping and climbing ledges, and {{II}} is used for tiptoeing, grabbing ledges and picking up items.
 +
 
 +
The prince finds a scimitar in the dungeon, which he pulls out automatically when he encounters a swordsman. The player can manually retract his sword with {{key|Down}} and pull it back out with {{key|Space}}. While fighting, the prince attacks with {{key|Space}} and parries enemy attacks with {{key|Up}}. The health points of enemy swordsmen are depicted by potions. They lose a health point when they are attacked and die when they lose all of their health or if they are pushed into traps. The prince cannot proceed past a swordsman until he is defeated. If a swordsman parries an attack, he is knocked back slightly, which can be used to push enemies off a ledge or into a trap (but an enemy swordsman can likewise do the same to the prince). In the Super CD-ROM² version, {{II}} pulls out the sword and attacks, {{Up}} parries attacks and {{Down}} puts the sword away.
 +
 
 +
The prince likewise has his health points indicated by potions, initially three. Each time he is damaged (being cut by a sword, falling from farther than one floor, or being hit by falling debris), he loses a health point. The prince can find potions in the dungeon that restore or cost health. There are also special potions that permanently increase his maximum health. The prince dies if he loses all of his health points, restarting from the beginning of the current level. The prince is killed instantly by some traps (spike traps and guillotines), by high falls, and by being attacked by a swordsman before he has his weapon out. While the prince has unlimited lives, the time limit continues to tick down for failed attempts, so the player eventually runs out of time to save the princess if not successful. The player is reminded of the time remaining at the start of each level and every five minutes.
 +
 
 +
Some floor tiles act as switches and open or close gates or toggle traps. Standing on the tile activates the switch. Some ceiling tiles are loose and can be knocked down by jumping at them.
 +
 
 +
In the Super CD-ROM² version, the player can open a menu by pausing the game with {{Select}} to save the game at any screen, change the speed of the prince's movement or attack, restart the level (without gaining any time back), or end the game. The game also saves the fastest times for completing each level. The player can enter a name, which is used for saving the game and storing the fastest times.
 +
 
 +
===Levels===
 +
{{InfoTable|imagewidths=200|
 +
{{InfoRow
 +
| title=Level 1
 +
| screenshot=Notavailable.svg
 +
| desc=
 +
}}
 +
{{InfoRow
 +
| title=Level 2
 +
| screenshot=Notavailable.svg
 +
| desc=
 +
}}
 +
{{InfoRow
 +
| title=Level 3
 +
| screenshot=Notavailable.svg
 +
| desc=The skeletal swordsmen cannot be killed with the prince's sword but must be pushed into pits.
 +
}}
 +
{{InfoRow
 +
| title=Level 4
 +
| screenshot=Notavailable.svg
 +
| desc=The prince must leap through a magic mirror, which creates his doppelgänger on the other side and drains his health to one point.
 +
}}
 +
{{InfoRow
 +
| title=Level 5
 +
| screenshot=Notavailable.svg
 +
| desc=
 +
}}
 +
{{InfoRow
 +
| title=Level 6
 +
| screenshot=Notavailable.svg
 +
| desc=
 +
}}
 +
{{InfoRow
 +
| title=Level 7
 +
| screenshot=Notavailable.svg
 +
| desc=
 +
}}
 +
{{InfoRow
 +
| title=Level 8
 +
| screenshot=Notavailable.svg
 +
| desc=The prince becomes trapped behind a closed gate near the end of this level, but a white mouse opens it from the other side. It is revealed that the princess sent the mouse.
 +
}}
 +
{{InfoRow
 +
| title=Level 9
 +
| screenshot=Notavailable.svg
 +
| desc=
 +
}}
 +
{{InfoRow
 +
| title=Level 10
 +
| screenshot=Notavailable.svg
 +
| desc=
 +
}}
 +
{{InfoRow
 +
| title=Level 11
 +
| screenshot=Notavailable.svg
 +
| desc=
 +
}}
 +
{{InfoRow
 +
| title=Level 12
 +
| screenshot=Notavailable.svg
 +
| desc=The prince faces his shadow doppelgänger. Injuring the doppelgänger injures the prince as well. To defeat him, the prince must sheathe his sword and merge back into him.
 +
}}
 +
{{InfoRow
 +
| title=Level 13
 +
| screenshot=Notavailable.svg
 +
| desc=The prince battles Jaffar.
 +
}}
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
==History==
 +
===Legacy===
 +
The game was revolutionary at the time due to the quality of the animation, and is now considered a classic among gamers. It has also inspired several sequels, starting with ''[[Prince of Persia 2: The Shadow and the Flame]]'', and a feature length movie.
 +
 
 +
==Production credits==
 +
===PC-9801 VX version===
 +
{{creditstable|
 +
*'''Original Game:''' Jordan Mechner
 +
*'''Programming:''' Seiichi Ikiuo (Arsys)
 +
*'''Product Manager:''' Haruhisa Ishizuka
 +
*'''Art and Animations:''' Takaharu Matsuo (Arsys)
 +
*'''Package and Manual Design:''' Kokusai Tsushinsha
 +
*'''Cover Illustration:''' Hirohide Shikishima
 +
*'''Music:''' Toshiya Yamanaka (Arsys)
 +
*'''Manual:''' Haruhisa Ishizuka
 +
*'''Special Thanks:''' Jordan Mechner, Brian Eheler, Hideyuki Kashiwabara, Art-Office Sharaku, Hitoshi Furuya, S.Akatani
 +
| source=In-game credits
 +
| console=PC9801VX
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
===Super CD-ROM² version===
 +
{{multicol|
 +
{{creditstable|
 +
*'''Original Game:''' Jordan Mechner
 +
*'''Product Manager:''' Kazuhiro Iga
 +
*'''Specifications:''' Yasuki Toyosawa
 +
*'''System Planner:''' Keita Abe, Tadayuki Shimizu
 +
*'''Main Programming:''' Keita Abe
 +
*'''Visual Programming:''' Tadayuki Shimizu
 +
*'''Graphic Design:''' Takaki Kobayashi, Yasuki Toyosawa
 +
*'''Visual Design:''' Akira Ohtaka, Toyofumi Nomura
 +
*'''Continuity:''' Toyofumi Nomura, Akira Ohtaka
 +
*'''Musical Composition:''' [[T's Music]]
 +
*'''Compact Disc Control:''' Tadayuki Shimizu
 +
*'''Software Anarist:''' Keita Abe, Takaki Kobayashi
 +
*'''Module Test:''' Toshihito Sugiya, Masanori Kumakawa
 +
*'''Color Adjustment:''' Takayuki Sato
 +
*'''Motion Control:''' Yasuki Toyosawa, Mami Suzuki
 +
*'''Special Thanks:''' Eiji Aoyama, Masanori Wake, Hiroki Shimada
 +
*'''Supervisor:''' Fumiya Matsui
 +
*'''Executive Director:''' Kazuhiro Iga
 +
:'''©1992 HUDSON SOFT<br>©1989 Jordan Mechner<br>©1989 Broderbund'''
 +
| source=In-game credits (US)
 +
| console=SCDROM2
 +
}}
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
==Magazine articles==
 +
{{mainArticle|{{PAGENAME}}/Magazine articles}}
  
 
==Physical scans==
 
==Physical scans==
−
===PC-9801 Version===
+
===PC-9801 VX version===
 
{{Scanbox
 
{{Scanbox
−
| console=PC-9801
+
| console=PC-9801 VX
 
| region=JP
 
| region=JP
 
| cover=PrinceofPersia PC9801 JP Box.jpg
 
| cover=PrinceofPersia PC9801 JP Box.jpg
Line 29: Line 175:
 
}}
 
}}
  
−
===Super CD-ROM² Version===
+
===Super CD-ROM² version===
 
{{ratings
 
{{ratings
 
| icon=CDROM2
 
| icon=CDROM2
Line 42: Line 188:
 
| square=yes
 
| square=yes
 
| disc=PrinceofPersia SCD2 JP Disc.jpg
 
| disc=PrinceofPersia SCD2 JP Disc.jpg
 +
| manual=Prince of persia jp manual.pdf
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{Scanbox
 
{{Scanbox
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| disc=PrinceofPersia SCD2 US Disc.jpg
 
| disc=PrinceofPersia SCD2 US Disc.jpg
 
}}
 
}}
−
{{clear}}
+
 
 +
==Technical information==
 +
===ROM dump status===
 +
{{romtable|
 +
{{rom|SCDROM2|sha1=|md5=|crc32=|size=|date=|source=CD-ROM (JP)|comments=|quality=}}
 +
{{rom|SCDROM2|sha1=|md5=|crc32=|size=|date=|source=CD-ROM (US)|comments=|quality=}}
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
==References==
 
{{SegaRetro|italics=yes}}
 
{{SegaRetro|italics=yes}}
 +
{{SegaRetro|title=Prince of Persia (Mega-CD)|italics=yes}}
 +
<references/>
 +
 +
{{PrinceofPersiaOmni}}

Latest revision as of 13:11, 30 May 2024

n/a

  • PC-9801 VX
  • Super CD-ROM²
    NTSC-U
  • Super CD-ROM²
    NTSC-J

PrinceofPersia PC9801VX Title.png

PrinceofPersia SCDROM2 US Title.png

PrinceofPersia SCDROM2 JP Title.png

Prince of Persia
System(s): PC-9801 VX, Super CD-ROM²
Publisher: Riverhill Soft,
Super CD-ROM²
Hudson Soft (US)
Developer:
Supporting companies:
Licensor: Brøderbund Software
Original system(s): Apple II
Genre: Action































Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
PC-9801 VX
JP 		¥6,8006,800
Super CD-ROM²
JP 		RHCD1002
Super CD-ROM²
US 		TGXCD1027
Non-NEC versions
Commodore Amiga
Amiga
Amstrad CPC
Amstrad CPC
Apple II
Apple II
Atari ST
Atari ST
FM Towns/FM Towns Marty
FM Towns
Nintendo Game Boy
Game Boy
Nintendo Game Boy Color
Game Boy Color
Sega Game Gear
Game Gear
IBM PC compatibles
IBM PC
Macintosh
Macintosh
Sega Master System
Master System
Sega Mega Drive
Mega Drive
Sega Mega-CD
Mega-CD
Nintendo Entertainment System
Nintendo Entertainment System
SAM Coupé
SAM Coupé
Super NES
Super NES
X68000
X68000

{{#seo: 

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|og:site_name=NEC Retro
|title=Prince of Persia
|twitter:card=summary_large_image
|twitter:image:src=//retrocdn.net/images/8/8e/PrinceofPersia_PC9801VX_Title.png
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Prince of Persia (プリンス・オブ・ペルシャ) is a cinematic platform game originally developed in 1989 by Brøderbund Software and designed by Jordan Mechner. The game saw many ports, including a version released for the PC-9801 VX in 1990, and a Super CD-ROM² version in 1991.

Story

PrinceofPersia PC9801VX Introduction.png

Introduction, PC-9801 VX version.

The game is set in medieval Persia. While the good sultan is fighting a war in a foreign land, his vizier Jaffar, a wizard, seizes power. His only obstacle to the throne is the Sultan's daughter. Jaffar locks her in a tower and orders her to become his wife, or she would die within an hour. The game's unnamed protagonist, whom the Princess loves, is taken prisoner and thrown into the palace dungeons. In order to free her, he must escape the dungeons, get to the palace tower and defeat Jaffar before time runs out. In addition to guards, various traps and dungeons, the protagonist is further hindered by his own doppelgänger, conjured out of a magic mirror.

Gameplay

The game is a cinematic platformer, distinguished by the fluid, lifelike movements and relatively realistic physical limitations of its protagonist, the eponymous prince. Levels are composed of multiple screens with no scrolling in which the prince can move both horizontally and vertically. Gameplay requires problem solving and trial and error to overcome each obstacle. The objective is to lead the prince out of the dungeons and into a tower before time runs out. To do this, the prince must bypass many traps and fight hostile swordsmen. The game consists of twelve levels, which the player has 60 minutes to complete. In each level, the prince must find the door that leads to the next level and figure out how to open it.

The prince walks or turns around with  🡨  or  🡪 . He can tiptoe to step more carefully or position himself more precisely by holding  Space  while moving. He can tiptoe safely through spike traps. He crouches with  🡫  and jumps with  🡩 . He leaps across a wide area if he jumps while running, which can be used to traverse gaps. The player must press  🡩  a couple of steps before the edge to make the leap without running off the platform. When standing next to a ledge above him, he can jump and grab onto the ledge by holding  🡩 . If the ledge is below him, he can hang off of it by holding  🡫  when facing away from it. He can also grab ledges that he leaps onto from a running start by holding  Space . He picks up items with  Space  and enters doorways with  🡩 . In the Super CD-ROM² version, ← and → are used for movement, Ⅰ and ↑ are used for jumping and climbing ledges, and Ⅱ is used for tiptoeing, grabbing ledges and picking up items.

The prince finds a scimitar in the dungeon, which he pulls out automatically when he encounters a swordsman. The player can manually retract his sword with  🡫  and pull it back out with  Space . While fighting, the prince attacks with  Space  and parries enemy attacks with  🡩 . The health points of enemy swordsmen are depicted by potions. They lose a health point when they are attacked and die when they lose all of their health or if they are pushed into traps. The prince cannot proceed past a swordsman until he is defeated. If a swordsman parries an attack, he is knocked back slightly, which can be used to push enemies off a ledge or into a trap (but an enemy swordsman can likewise do the same to the prince). In the Super CD-ROM² version, Ⅱ pulls out the sword and attacks, ↑ parries attacks and ↓ puts the sword away.

The prince likewise has his health points indicated by potions, initially three. Each time he is damaged (being cut by a sword, falling from farther than one floor, or being hit by falling debris), he loses a health point. The prince can find potions in the dungeon that restore or cost health. There are also special potions that permanently increase his maximum health. The prince dies if he loses all of his health points, restarting from the beginning of the current level. The prince is killed instantly by some traps (spike traps and guillotines), by high falls, and by being attacked by a swordsman before he has his weapon out. While the prince has unlimited lives, the time limit continues to tick down for failed attempts, so the player eventually runs out of time to save the princess if not successful. The player is reminded of the time remaining at the start of each level and every five minutes.

Some floor tiles act as switches and open or close gates or toggle traps. Standing on the tile activates the switch. Some ceiling tiles are loose and can be knocked down by jumping at them.

In the Super CD-ROM² version, the player can open a menu by pausing the game with  SELECT  to save the game at any screen, change the speed of the prince's movement or attack, restart the level (without gaining any time back), or end the game. The game also saves the fastest times for completing each level. The player can enter a name, which is used for saving the game and storing the fastest times.

Levels

Notavailable.svg

Level 1

Notavailable.svg

Level 2

Notavailable.svg

Level 3
The skeletal swordsmen cannot be killed with the prince's sword but must be pushed into pits.

Notavailable.svg

Level 4
The prince must leap through a magic mirror, which creates his doppelgänger on the other side and drains his health to one point.

Notavailable.svg

Level 5

Notavailable.svg

Level 6

Notavailable.svg

Level 7

Notavailable.svg

Level 8
The prince becomes trapped behind a closed gate near the end of this level, but a white mouse opens it from the other side. It is revealed that the princess sent the mouse.

Notavailable.svg

Level 9

Notavailable.svg

Level 10

Notavailable.svg

Level 11

Notavailable.svg

Level 12
The prince faces his shadow doppelgänger. Injuring the doppelgänger injures the prince as well. To defeat him, the prince must sheathe his sword and merge back into him.

Notavailable.svg

Level 13
The prince battles Jaffar.

History

Legacy

The game was revolutionary at the time due to the quality of the animation, and is now considered a classic among gamers. It has also inspired several sequels, starting with Prince of Persia 2: The Shadow and the Flame, and a feature length movie.

Production credits

PC-9801 VX version

  • Original Game: Jordan Mechner
  • Programming: Seiichi Ikiuo (Arsys)
  • Product Manager: Haruhisa Ishizuka
  • Art and Animations: Takaharu Matsuo (Arsys)
  • Package and Manual Design: Kokusai Tsushinsha
  • Cover Illustration: Hirohide Shikishima
  • Music: Toshiya Yamanaka (Arsys)
  • Manual: Haruhisa Ishizuka
  • Special Thanks: Jordan Mechner, Brian Eheler, Hideyuki Kashiwabara, Art-Office Sharaku, Hitoshi Furuya, S.Akatani
Source:
In-game credits


Super CD-ROM² version

  • Original Game: Jordan Mechner
  • Product Manager: Kazuhiro Iga
  • Specifications: Yasuki Toyosawa
  • System Planner: Keita Abe, Tadayuki Shimizu
  • Main Programming: Keita Abe
  • Visual Programming: Tadayuki Shimizu
  • Graphic Design: Takaki Kobayashi, Yasuki Toyosawa
  • Visual Design: Akira Ohtaka, Toyofumi Nomura
  • Continuity: Toyofumi Nomura, Akira Ohtaka
  • Musical Composition: T's Music
  • Compact Disc Control: Tadayuki Shimizu
  • Software Anarist: Keita Abe, Takaki Kobayashi
  • Module Test: Toshihito Sugiya, Masanori Kumakawa
  • Color Adjustment: Takayuki Sato
  • Motion Control: Yasuki Toyosawa, Mami Suzuki
  • Special Thanks: Eiji Aoyama, Masanori Wake, Hiroki Shimada
  • Supervisor: Fumiya Matsui
  • Executive Director: Kazuhiro Iga
©1992 HUDSON SOFT
©1989 Jordan Mechner
©1989 Broderbund
Source:
In-game credits (US)

Magazine articles

Main article: Prince of Persia/Magazine articles.

Physical scans

PC-9801 VX version

PC-9801 VX, JP
PrinceofPersia PC9801 JP Box.jpg
Cover
PrinceofPersia PC9801 JP Disk.jpg
Disk

Super CD-ROM² version

NEC Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
93 №137, p27[2]
CD-ROM²
 93
Based on
1 review

Super CD-ROM², JP
PrinceofPersia SCD2 JP Box Back.jpgPrinceofPersia SCD2 JP Box Front.jpg
Cover
Super CD-ROM², US
PrinceofPersia SCD2 US Box Back.jpgPrinceofPersia SCD2 US Box Front.jpg
Cover
PrinceofPersia SCD2 US Disc.jpg
Disc

Technical information

ROM dump status

System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
Super CD-ROM²
 ?
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
CD-ROM (JP)
Super CD-ROM²
 ?
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
CD-ROM (US)

References

Segaretro-round.svg
Sega Retro has more information related to Prince of Persia
Segaretro-round.svg
Sega Retro has more information related to Prince of Persia (Mega-CD)
  1. ↑ EGM US 039.pdf, page 41
  2. ↑ CVG UK 137.pdf, page 27


Prince of Persia

PrinceofPersia PC9801VX Title.png

Main page | Comparisons | Maps | Bugs | Magazine articles | Reception | Compatibility


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