Prince of Persia , released in 1993 for the Sega Game Gear, is a classic action-adventure game that tells the story of the Sultan's daughter being kidnapped by her Grand Vizier Jaffar. The protagonist, a man the princess loves, must escape from his prison, defeat the guards, and stop Jaffar before he marries the princess. The gameplay focuses on careful advancement through complex levels, with an emphasis on the protagonist's vulnerability and survival aspect. Players must avoid deadly traps, solve environmental puzzles, and engage in sword fights with the guards. The game features a unique rotoscoping technique to give more realism to the characters' movements.
One of the unique aspects of Prince of Persia is its time limit: players must complete the game within an hour. The hero starts with three units of health, which can be replenished with small health potions or permanently increased with large jars. While the game allows for an infinite amount of lives, players must restart at the beginning of a level each time they die.
The Game Boy Color and SNES versions feature additional levels and new enemies, while the Genesis version has a new intro, altered graphics, and four new levels.