Prince of Persia

Screenshots

Summary

The DOS version of Prince of Persia. Prince of Persia is a cinematic platform game initially created and released by Broderbund for the Apple II in 1989. Set in ancient Persia, players take on the role of an unnamed hero who must navigate through a series of treacherous dungeons to confront the malevolent Grand Vizier Jaffar and rescue a captured princess. Following its debut on the Apple II, the game was adapted for numerous platforms and is widely considered the first cinematic platformer, paving the way for many others in the genre.

Storyline

The game takes place in ancient Persia. While the sultan is engaged in battle abroad, his vizier Jaffar, a powerful wizard, takes control. The only barrier to his claim on the throne is the Sultan’s daughter (though the game never explicitly explains how this is the case). Jaffar imprisons her in a tower and demands she marry him, giving her just 60 minutes to live—later expanded to 120 minutes in the Super NES version, which features longer and more challenging levels. The game’s nameless hero, who is loved by the princess, is captured and thrown into the palace dungeons. To rescue her, he must break free, reach the tower, and confront Jaffar before time expires. Along the way, he must overcome guards, deadly traps, and labyrinthine dungeons, as well as face his own doppelgänger—an eerie reflection of himself summoned from a magical mirror.