Second entry of the Sands trilogy, a darker nu metal turn. The prince is hunted by the Dahaka through grim levels, with brutal combat and a gothic feel. Disliked at launch but ageing surprisingly well. A trilogy curio worth reconsidering.
Your verdict
Category
Action Adventure1 player16+
Description
The Prince of Persia battles Kaileena and the Dahaka in this second Ubisoft GameCube Prince of Persia Warrior Within. Published by Ubisoft, released in the United States in December 2004. Dark action-adventure with the prince on the Island of Time, enriched brutal combat and metal atmosphere.
Prince of Persia - Warrior Within review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
3/5
Story
★★★★★
"Solid"
Warrior Within radically darkens the series: the Island of Time trades the gold of the Arabian Nights for a gothic, bloody aesthetic, grim ruins, stormy skies and menacing creatures. The more mature, almost metal art direction fits the vengeful tone of the Prince hunted by the Dahaka. A dark, deliberate visual turn, cutting against the reverie of The Sands of Time.
Breaking with the first game's Oriental fusion, Warrior Within's soundtrack embraces aggressive metal: distorted guitars, heavy riffs and hammering rhythms that accompany the bloody fights. The music fits the Prince's vengeful, brutal tone, imposing a radically darker sonic identity. A muscular, controversial accompaniment, the mark of the game's adult turn.
Gameplay
"Solid"
Fun
"From the very first minutes"
Addictiveness
"Captivating"
Difficulty
"Difficult"
Lifespan
"Average"
Technical info
💾1,2 GB📅30/11/2004
Published by Ubisoft
Prince of Persia - Warrior Within (GameCube) price, value & rarity
Is Prince of Persia - Warrior Within still worth playing in 2026?
A darker sequel to The Sands of Time, Warrior Within leaned into heavy metal and overt violence, splitting fans at launch. Today its acrobatic fluidity and enriched combat system still hold up remarkably well, even if the edgy tone has aged unevenly. The open structure of the Island of Time stays gripping. An excellent action-adventure for anyone who enjoys demanding platforming and a game-design legacy that still feeds the genre.
