Prince of Persia

For the Sega Mega-CD game, see Prince of Persia (Mega-CD).

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NTSC-U PAL Master System Game Gear
Prince of Persia
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Master System, Sega Game Gear
Publisher: Tengen (US) Domark (EU) Domark
Developer: Domark
Distributor: Tengen (US) Hent Gruppen (SE rental) Tec Toy (BR)
Licensor: Brøderbund Software
Original system(s): Apple II
Sound driver: GEMS
Genre: Action
Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code US 1994-01 $59.9559.95 T-48286 301053-0150 EU 1994 T-88076-50 UK 1994-04 £39.9939.99 T-88076-50 SE (Rental) 199x AU 199x FPRI02SMC EU 1992-10-01 MK 27022-50 UK 1992-10-01 £32.9932.99 MK 27022-50 AU 199x BR 1992 027270 US 1992-09 $34.9534.95 T-48098 EU 1992-12-10 T-88018-50 PT 199x GGJ88018 UK 1992-12-10 £29.9929.99 T-88018-50
Non-Sega versions No results

Prince of Persia is a cinematic platform game developed and published by Domark. The Sega Master System version was released in Europe in August 1992. It would later be ported to the Sega Game Gear the following month, and to the Sega Mega Drive in January 1994, with both ports being handled by original developer Domark. The game is a port of the 1989 Brøderbund Software game Prince of Persia.

Story

Introduction

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

Mega Drive version

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 player has 60 minutes (in real time) to complete the game. 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 while moving. He can tiptoe safely through spike traps. He crouches with and jumps directly upward with . If there is a ledge near him, he grabs it automatically when jumping. If the ledge is below him, he can hang off of it by holding when facing away from it. He leaps across a wide area by holding while pressing or , 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. He can grab ledges that he leaps onto from a running start by holding . He picks up items with and enters doorways with .

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 . While fighting, the prince attacks with and parries enemy attacks with . The health points of enemy swordsmen are depicted by blue triangles. 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).

The prince has his health points indicated by red triangles, 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 without 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 time remaining is always shown at the bottom of the screen during gameplay.

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.

The player can open a menu by pausing the game with  START  to restart the level, but this does not gain any time back. The game uses passwords for continuing.

Items

	Potion
	Most potions heal the prince and restore one of his health points, but some potions poison the prince and cost a health point instead. Other potions permanently gives the prince another health point. The European version of the game has potions that give the player more time to complete the game.
	Scimitar
	Gives the prince a sword to use. Found in the first level.

Levels

The European version of the game has four additional levels.

	Level 1
	Map: 1️⃣
	Level 2
	Map: 1️⃣
	Level 3
	Map: 1️⃣
	The skeletal swordsmen cannot be killed with the prince's sword but must be pushed into pits.
	Level 4
	Map: 1️⃣
	The prince must leap through a magic mirror, which creates his doppelgänger on the other side and drains his health to one point.
	Level 5
	Map: 1️⃣
	Level 6
	Map: 1️⃣
	This level is only in the European version of the game.
	Level 7
	Map: 1️⃣
	This level is only in the European version of the game.
	Level 8
	Map: 1️⃣
	Level 9
	Map: 1️⃣
	Level 10
	Map: 1️⃣
	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.
	Level 11
	Map: 1️⃣
	Level 12
	Map: 1️⃣
	This level is only in the European version of the game.
	Level 13
	Map: 1️⃣
	Level 14
	Map: 1️⃣
	Level 15
	Map: 1️⃣
	This level is only in the European version of the game.
	Level 16
	Map: 1️⃣
	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. The prince then runs across an invisible bridge to a new area, where he battles Jaffar.
	Level 17
	Map: 1️⃣

Master System and Game Gear version

The 8-bit versions play similarly to the other versions of the game and feature the same levels (albeit with some changes in layout). The player has 60 minutes (in real time) to complete the game (but this can be changed to 15 or 30 minutes in the options before starting the game). 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 while moving. He can tiptoe safely through spike traps. He crouches with and jumps directly upward with . If there is a ledge near him, he grabs it automatically when jumping. If the ledge is below him, he can hang off of it by holding when facing away from it. He leaps across a wide area by holding while pressing or , 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. He can grab ledges that he leaps onto from a running start by holding . He picks up items with and enters doorways with .

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 . While fighting, the prince attacks with and parries enemy attacks with . The health points of enemy swordsmen are depicted by red triangles in the top-right corner of the screen. The health points of the prince are depicted by red triangles in the top-left corner of the screen, initially three (though this can be changed to one or two in the options before starting the game). He loses a single health point when cut by an enemy swordsman, but he is killed instantly by traps, high falls, or being attacked by a swordsman without having 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 time remaining is shown at the start of each level or after losing a life. The game uses passwords for continuing.

Items

	Healing Potion
	Heals the prince and restores one of his health points.
	Poison Potion
	Poisons the prince and costs one of his health points.
	Life Potion
	Permanently gives the prince another health point and restores all of his lost health points. The extra health point is lost if the prince dies before completing the level, unless the potion is collected again.
	Featherfall Potion
	Allows the prince to float down from a high fall without being harmed.
	Scimitar
	Gives the prince a sword to use. Found in the first level.

Levels

	Level 1
	Map: 1️⃣
	Level 2
	Map: 1️⃣
	Level 3
	Map: 1️⃣
	The skeletal swordsmen cannot be killed with the prince's sword but must be pushed into pits.
	Level 4
	Map: 1️⃣
	The prince must leap through a magic mirror, which creates his doppelgänger on the other side and drains his health to one point.
	Level 5
	Map: 1️⃣
	Level 6
	Map: 1️⃣
	Level 7
	Map: 1️⃣
	Level 8
	Map: 1️⃣
	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.
	Level 9
	Map: 1️⃣
	Level 10
	Map: 1️⃣
	Level 11
	Map: 1️⃣
	Level 12
	Map: 1️⃣
	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.
	Level 13
	Map: 1️⃣
	The prince battles Jaffar.
	Level 14
	Map: 1️⃣

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.

Versions

While all four versions of the game stem from the same source (Jordan Mechner's Apple II version, published by Brøderbund Software in 1989), each of the Sega versions were handled by different teams and arrived at different periods between 1992 and 1994. The original game was written in 6502 assembly language for the Apple II, meaning almost every version of the game had to be rewritten for the differing hardware.

Despite having already appeared on the Mega-CD, the Mega Drive is completely different, with more detailed graphics and a different introduction sequence. Domark's Richard Walker rewrote the game in 68000 assembly for the Mega Drive, using a version of the source code written in C as a base and the enhanced graphics of the Macintosh version. The levels were rebuilt by eye by playing the IBM PC version of the game. The North American version has no music during the levels, but the later European version adds an in-game score. The European version also has an additional animation of the prince falling down the stairs into the dungeon before the first level, four additional levels created by Jim Blackler, and time-extending potions to accommodate the additional length.

The Game Gear version of the game runs in the system's Master System compatibility mode, so the two versions are largely identical. Together with the Mega Drive version, they were developed as contract work for Domark.

Production credits

Mega Drive version

• Programming: Richard Walker
• Graphics: Lloyd Baker
• Sound Effects: Mike Ash
• Quality Assurance: Gary Patino
• Production: Chris Johnson
• Special Thanks: Jim Blackler, Jason Cunningham, Steve Calfee, Bill Hindorff, Earl Vickers, Mitzi McGilvray

Source:

In-game credits (US)

---

• Programming: Richard Walker, Jim Blackler
• Artwork: Lloyd Baker
• Sound Effects: Mike Ash
• Quality Assurance Management: Gary Patino
• Testing: Ken Jordan, Tim Mawson, Matt Miller
• Production: Chris Johnson
• Further Artwork: Jason Cunningham

Source:

In-game credits (EU)

Master System version

• Code: J. Tripp
• Music by: Matt Furniss
• Graphics: Matt Hicks, Saurav Sarkar
• Published by: Domark Software Ltd

Source:

In-game credits

Game Gear version

• Code: J. Tripp, K. Parker
• Music by: Matt Furniss
• Graphics: Matt Hicks, Saurav Sarkar
• Published by: Domark Group Ltd

Source:

In-game credits

Magazine articles

Main article: Prince of Persia/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Main article: Prince of Persia/Promotional material.

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source Consoles + (FR) 88 №29

	88
Based on 1 review

Sega Retro Average

Publication Version Score 1700 igr dlya Sega (RU) 60 Console Mania (IT) PAL 89 Cool Gamer (RU) 60 Computer & Video Games (UK) 84 Electronic Games (1992-1995) (US) NTSC-U 87 Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U 78 Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1 (RU) 80 Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 2 (RU) 80 GamePro (US) NTSC-U 93 Gamers (DE) 40 GamesMaster (UK) PAL 68 Hyper (AU) 82 Joypad (FR) PAL 87 MAN!AC (DE) PAL 71 Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) 86 Mega (UK) PAL 68 Mega Action (UK) PAL 87 Mega Force (FR) 88 Mega Fun (DE) PAL 68 MegaTech (UK) PAL 82 Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL 83 Player One (FR) 89 Play Time (DE) 64 Sega Magazin (DE) 70 Sega Magazine (UK) PAL 78 Sega Power (UK) PAL 63 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 83 Sega Zone (UK) PAL 86 SuperGamePower (BR) 80 Sega Mega Drive Review (RU) 80 Sonic the Comic (UK) PAL 79 Super Juegos (ES) 85 Todo Sega (ES) 83 Tricks 16 bit (RU) 76 Video Games (DE) PAL 70 VideoGames (US) NTSC-U 70

	77
Based on 36 reviews

Prince of Persia

Mega Drive, US
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, EU
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, FR (Blister pack)
Cover

Mega Drive, SE (rental; Hent; orange)
Cover

Mega Drive, AU
Cover

Master System version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

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Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average

Publication Version Score Computer & Video Games (UK) 90 Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK) 92 FX (UK) 91 Game Mania (UK) 91 Game Power (IT) 92 GamesMaster (UK) 80 Game Zone (UK) PAL 94 Hobby Consolas (ES) 80 Hobby Consolas (ES) 80 Joypad (FR) 91 Joystick (FR) 91 Micromanía (segunda época) (ES) 75 Mean Machines (UK) PAL 91 Mean Machines Sega (UK) 91 Player One (FR) 94 Power Up! (UK) 90 Sega Power (UK) PAL 92 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 96 Sega Pro (UK) 93 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 94 Sega Zone (UK) PAL 91 Sega Force (SE) 88 Sega Force (UK) PAL 94 Sega Force (UK) PAL 96 Supersonic (FR) 91 Video Games (DE) 59

	89
Based on 26 reviews

Prince of Persia

Master System, EU
Cover
Cart Manual

Master System, AU
Cart

Master System, AU (Classics)
Cover

Master System, BR
Cover
Cart File:PrinceOfPersia-SMS-BR-Manual.pdf Manual

Game Gear version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

{{{{{icon}}}|L}}
Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average

Publication Version Score Consoles + (FR) 90 Computer & Video Games (UK) 93 Electronic Games (1992-1995) (US) NTSC-U 83 Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U 70 Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK) 91 Fistful! (UK) 85 Game Mania (UK) 91 Game Informer (US) NTSC-U 75 Game Zone (UK) NTSC-U 92 Joypad (FR) 82 Joystick (FR) PAL 82 Micromanía (segunda época) (ES) 92 Mean Machines Sega (UK) 91 Play Time (DE) 81 Sega News (CZ) 100 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 95 Sega Pro (UK) 92 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 93 Sega Force (UK) PAL 95 VideoGames & Computer Entertainment (US) NTSC-U 70 Video Games (DE) PAL 39 Zero (UK) 91

	85
Based on 22 reviews

Prince of Persia

Game Gear, US
Cover
Cart Manual

Game Gear, EU
Cover
Cart Manual

Game Gear, PT

Technical information

Main article: Prince of Persia/Technical information.

References

NEC Retro has more information related to Prince of Persia

Prince of Persia games for Sega systems
	Prince of Persia (1992)
	Prince of Persia (1992)
	Prince of Persia (1992)
	Prince of Persia (1993) | Prince of Persia 2: The Shadow and the Flame (Cancelled)
	Prince of Persia: Arabian Nights (2000)