Prince of Persia (1989 video game)

Prince of Persia is a cinematic platformer video game created by Jordan Mechner and originally developed and published by Broderbund for the Apple II in 1989. It's notable for its fluid and realistic character animation, achieved through a process called rotoscoping, where Mechner filmed his brother performing acrobatic moves and then meticulously traced over the footage frame by frame.

The game is set in ancient Persia and casts the player as an unnamed protagonist who must rescue a princess from the evil Grand Vizier Jaffar. Jaffar has given the princess an hour to decide whether to marry him, and if she refuses, she will die. The player must navigate a series of perilous dungeons filled with traps, guards, and puzzles within the one-hour time limit (represented in real-time).

Gameplay primarily involves running, jumping, climbing, dodging, and sword fighting. The player must carefully time their movements to avoid deadly pitfalls, spikes, and other hazards. Sword fights are based on timing and positioning, requiring players to anticipate their opponents' attacks and counter effectively.

Prince of Persia was a critical and commercial success, praised for its innovative animation, engaging gameplay, and suspenseful atmosphere. It was ported to numerous other platforms, including MS-DOS, Amiga, Atari ST, Game Boy, and Sega Genesis/Mega Drive, each with varying degrees of graphical and audio fidelity. The game's success led to numerous sequels, spin-offs, and adaptations, including a film adaptation in 2010. It is considered a highly influential title in the platformer genre and is often cited as one of the greatest video games of all time.