Prince of Persia by Hilary Goldstein IGN

In truth, Elika is really just a manifestation of actions we've been performing in games for years. We've all seen a double jump before and heroes who mix in magic with their swordplay. All Ubisoft did was take these very standard gameplay elements and give them a physical form. It's because Elika is such a natural extension of the gameplay that it's easy to care for her.

To play Prince properly, you need to relax (yes, relax) and feel the cadence of the Prince's movements. You will never furiously tap any button while free running. It's more like: Jump, pause, jump, pause, jump, use Elika, pause, jump. Finding the right rhythm can lead to some spectacular-looking and amazingly fluid sequences. And if you can't get the rhythm, your punishment is having the Prince briefly pause on beams and poles, waiting for you to get it together. When done right, you are treated to some spectacular animations both from the Prince and Elika. It's like playing a Cirque de Soleil video game at times.

Getting the flow of combat is more difficult than getting into the acrobatics. It's going to be difficult -- perhaps even impossible -- for some to break their old habits. For those who can't get into POP's flow, the experience may be short-lived. Prince of Persia isn't for everyone. You are either going to love it or just not get it at all. If you can embrace the idea that this is more about an experience than about the traditional "beating the game" mentality, then you are in for something special.