Prince of Persia: Warrior Within [PS2]

Last year's Prince of Persia was the best game nobody played. Despite winning awards and earning sweeping critical acclaim for its awesome acrobatics and inspired level architecture, the title languished in the holiday rush. Make sure you don't miss out on its sequel, Warrior Within. It isn't just an update; it's another epic re-imagining of designer Jordan Mechner's classic action/adventure and one of the most cinematic and enchanting offerings this season.

Darker and crueler than the prior tale -- slow-mo beheadings are common, as are gouts of blood and the occasional curse -- the title is also way more ambitious. The premise: Having unleashed the Sands of Time, the titular regent must not only set things right, but cheat fate itself. The hero's destiny is death, as evidenced by the Dahaka, destiny's immortal avatar, a hulking brute who pursues him across space and time. Fleeing from the entity, the prince chances upon an idea so off-kilter it just might work -- by traveling back in history and destroying the cursed grains before their construction, he might avert certain disaster.

Cue the game's opening sequence and introductory level, set atop a storm-tossed ship. It's here you first experience Warrior Within's deftly written dialogue and natural flair for the dramatic. Pounced upon by horned, humanoid horrors -- think bandits with glowing-eyed animal skulls as heads -- the hero quickly leaps into action. As harpoons breach the hull and sails blaze, his royal majesty enters into combat with the terrors. The revisited fighting system is very fluid, and now offers dual-weapon wielding and more combo attacks than the original.

Picking up axes, sticks, swords, daggers, and maces from fallen foes is just the beginning. You can also spin around poles, slice off craniums and kick enemies right in the kisser. Grabbing a human (or half-human, as it were) shield is also a possibility. You can even steal assailants' armaments and throw blades or bludgeons at distant troublemakers. Charged blows, throws, spinning kicks, and impromptu leaps off opponents' torsos are also available moves. But beware: Secondary weapons break after a set amount of usage. Whereas some considered battle a necessary evil in the previous game, it's now looking to be the game's high point.

Ditto for the massive puzzle rooms you'll encounter as you explore The Island of Time, a haunting locale divided into 3D areas. Players follow a corkscrewing course -- charted on an in-game map -- which leads the star through ruins, fortresses, and underground caverns. There, you'll encounter fiendish traps (buzzsaws, deadfalls, poles with mounted blades) and seemingly insurmountable obstacles (chasms, rockslides, switch-driven doors) at every turn. Only by tiptoeing over rail-thin beams, twirling between metal bars, and leaping amongst columns can these settings be survived.

Original features, such as the ability to impale adversaries on spike traps and clamber down curtains by shoving your sword into them, prove helpful. Still, a sharp wit and finely-honed reflexes remain your best assets. The excellent camera system from Sands of Time returns, which provides first-person and landscape views on command. By using these views in tandem with an improved control scheme and the initial panoramic perspective, maneuvering through most environments is a challenge, but rarely frustrating.

Enemies are also getting a makeover, as evidenced by the creatures we encountered. Notable rivals include crows which come together to form hooded swordsmen and shadow creatures that burrow into the ground and spit sand. You'll also face Ninja-esque femme fatales garbed in red. Early on, the most fearsome foe is Shahdee, lackey of the Empress of Time, and a powerful warrior woman who captains the vessel responsible for capsizing your ship. Following a vicious duel, you'll chase her deep into realms unknown.

Gorgeous and over-the-top, Warrior Within's presentation is as captivating as its actual content. Smoke, colored sparkles, heat wave and lighting effects are all extremely atmospheric touches. While creature noises seem somewhat annoying, we can't say the same for the dazzling sound effects and voice-overs. All signs suggest the game should shape up into a winner, especially if you're into heavy metal remixes of Arabian tunes.

Do the honorable thing -- don't overlook the game when it ships November 30. Miss the series once, shame on Ubisoft. Miss it twice, hey... sucks to be you.