Following the recent announcement of Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands; the latest instalment in the series, game Producer – Graeme Jennings – answers a few questions.

Yesterday, Ubisoft announced that Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands is scheduled for release in May 2010, for the Nintendo Wii, DS/DSi; as well as the PS3, Xbox 360, and Windows PC. Introducing a new storyline, new characters, and “new powers over nature and time”, the game will be set in between the events of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, and Prince of Persia: Warrior Within.

While the HD console versions will undoubtedly offer “huge scale” multi-enemy combat, it’s currently unclear how true this would be of the Wii version. Whether this is one area the latter will try to impress in, the press release states that the game on Nintendo platforms will offer “a different gaming experience” than that of the PS3/360. However, the Prince will possess “mastery” over nature and time, though what that exactly means, we can only speculate for now. In a recent Q&A session, producer Graeme Jennings was careful not to reveal much more than that.

Fans of the series will already know about the ability to rewind time, but perhaps this new additional control over natural forces might suggest new offensive attacks? Producing a small scale tornado by out-stretching an opened palm, perhaps? The ability to rain down lightning strikes? Summoning earthquakes to rattle your opponents?

Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands is set in the popular Sands of Time universe. The developers at Ubisoft were keen to revisit this setting as it allowed them to tell different stories with different Princes, but retaining that sense of familiarity that gamers expect. The Prince in the latest game is the same protagonist featured in Sands of Time, Warrior Within, and Two Thrones.

The narrative sees our hero visiting his brother, whose kingdom finds itself under siege from an invading army. The Prince’s courageous sibling is prepared to go to any lengths in order to protect his people and kingdom. Is this an act of bravery, or and act of suicide?

Jennings goes on to add that the development team went for an “Arabian Nights inspired” realism, that fans of the franchise will recognise. Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands is scheduled for release in May 2010.

(Announcement Trailer)

Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands [Official game site]

Press release [Ubisoft]