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Now that we’ve looked at the games that have made the Prince of Persia series so popular, it is time to take a look at where the franchise is heading.

Prince of Persia: The Next Generation

As the franchise moves forward, the Prince is set for yet another transformation. After the Sands of Time trilogy came to a close, Ubisoft decided that the series needed a new direction. And while we still don’t know very much about the upcoming Prince of Persia title for DS, PC, PS3, PSP and Xbox 360, it most definitely is not your father’s PoP.

The most striking change made to the formula is the distinct new visual style. For the first time the series will eschew realism, instead going with highly detailed cel-shaded graphics. And despite using the Assassin’s Creed game engine, the new visual tone gives the Prince a very stylized and unique look.

The game will also feature a new protagonist. Like his predecessors, this new Prince will begin the story as a poor wanderer, but gets up in a battle against the forces of darkness. This time around though, the Prince will not be alone. Throughout the game players will be joined by an A.I. companion, Elika, who will battle alongside the Prince.

Along with the story and visual changes, the gameplay will also be different this time around. The time-bending sands are now gone, though this Prince looks to be just as acrobatic as those who came before him. The combat system has also changed. Instead of battling several enemies at once, the new PoP will focus on one-on-one battles, harking back to the heydays of the original game.

Prince of Persia: The Big Screen

Given the massive success of the Prince of Persia franchise, it is only natural that the series is now expanding beyond the confines of videogames. Now that the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy has come to a close, Walt Disney pictures has picked up the rights to PoP, with plans to turn it into its next tent-pole franchise.

While gamers are rightfully weary of film adaptations of their favorite games, Prince of Persia has a lot going for it. First off, it is being made by superstar producer and hit-maker Jerry Bruckheimer (Pirates of the Caribbean, National Treasure). There is a lot of other big-name Hollywood talent behind the project as well, as director Mike Newell (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) and actor Jake Gyllenhaal (Donnie Darko, Jarhead) have both signed on.

And while the movie will not be a direct translation of the first game (thank heavens for that) it will take some of the best elements from the games and translate them into the film world. Most notably, the Prince will have access to the Sand of Time, once again giving him the ability to reverse the flow of time.

Gamers should also be happy to know that series creator Jordan Mechner is one of the lead writers on the screenplay, giving the film some much needed credibility. If successful, the movie will most likely spawn a series of sequels, mirroring the route taken by its videogame counterparts. Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time is set to hit theaters June 19, 2009.

With a fresh new game in the works, as well as a major motion picture, the future of the Prince of Persia series has never looked brighter. After more than 20 years, the series is as relevant as it’s ever been, and ranks up there among the greatest videogame franchises of all time.

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