While it shouldn't be shocking that the next iteration of the Prince of Persia series would boast an unbelievably stylish presentation, our first look at the game still has us stunned. Before even getting to the wealth of changes being introduced with this reinvention of the franchise, it must be stated that this is one of Ubisoft most beautiful, stylish titles ever. Prince of Persia has all the trappings of pure art in motion, backed by a number of new gameplay concepts that coalesce into one of the most promising action games of the year.

Instead of the foolish royal at the center of last generation's trilogy, Prince of Persia hones in on the adventures of a wandering man whose travels have tattered his clothes and weathered his complexion. It's upon entering a magical garden that game begins, this unaware prince witnessing the destruction of the tree of life. Out of the tree erupts the Corruption of Ahriman, an ancient evil that seeps into every corner of the garden. The corruption spread in physical form like a goo across the garden and servants arise from the evil as well, standing ready for their deity's return. Naturally, the prince takes it upon himself to combat the Corruption of Ahriman in order restore tranquility to the garden.

Releasing the garden from Ahriman's malevolent grip involves relinquishing the corruption in several self-contained areas. While the game isn't entirely open, you will have freedom to choose the order in which you tackle each level. By defeating the servants located in a particular area, you effectively drain the corruption from that section of the garden. That evil doesn't disappear; instead, it simply moves from that freed location to concentrate in the remaining corrupted areas. In other words, the corruption intensifies in later areas as you free more and more of garden from Ahriman's influence.

Clearing the corruption demands dispatching the servants of Ahriman that patrol each area of the garden. Unlike the combat mechanics of the trilogy in which multiple enemies surround the prince, here you engage enemies in one-on-one fights. These duels are absolutely intense, pitting you against fearsome magical creatures like the wolf-like Hunter in close quarters bouts.

Fortunately, going toe-to-toe with these creatures doesn't require memorizing complex button combinations. Instead, a simply three-button interface allows you to attack with the prince's sword using one button, while another button is reserved for jumping and evasion, and a third tied to grabs and context-sensitive maneuvers. It's hard not like the new combat system, not because it offers more of a challenge but rather due to the heightened intensity it instills in the game.