Rival Swords: Wii Prince of Persia has a new name, but same game

by James Ransom-Wiley { Dec 18th 2006 at 7:55PM }

dude, the nunchuk makes him swing! woah!

Ubisoft's betting you're familiar with 2005's Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones. So the publisher has cleverly tweaked the name for its Wii release. Now it's Prince of Persia: Rival Swords. But wait ... it's got Wii controls! Lame.

It's clear that Ubisoft is testing the waters, seemingly asking itself: how little is enough to succeed on Wii? Indeed, why waste development costs on new content when you can dig yesteryear's game outta the crate, tack on some wrist-flicking action, and push it back out to retail? True, Rival Swords has multiplayer modes and new quick-play levels (confirmed for PSP version); but let's not kid ourselves, this is Two Thrones all over again.

Ubisoft isn't the first company to re-release a product with some new features, but the name change certainly feels deceptive; and in general, offerings like Rival Swords look to water down Wii's potency. The console's strength is not in finding new ways to play the same old games.

Tags: Prince of Persia, PrinceOfPersia, Rival Swords, RivalSwords, Ubisoft

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Rob Accomando @ Dec 18th 2006 8:01PM

I hope Ubisoft doesn't use the sales figures of this rehash to decide whether or not PoP4 happens for the Wii.

I already bought Two Thrones for $40 and played through it. Why would I spend $50 AGAIN? No thanks Ubi

Enycma @ Dec 18th 2006 8:06PM

Back when Ubisoft announced these titles last year (Red Steel, Rayman, Farcry, POP, Etc.) I thought they were going to be built from the ground up, and since Ubisoft was churning out some good games, it was good their determination with Nintendo's new console.

So much for hoping though... Now every announcement that's coming up from Ubisoft is just painful... sigh...

V1L3 @ Dec 18th 2006 8:15PM

"and the wii is very strong in recreating the way games are played"

So the Wii is a "video game simulator"?

jman @ Dec 18th 2006 8:20PM

ok first of all if this version has multiplayer on it then wouldn't that make it diffrent from the original??

and the wii is very strong in recreating the way games are played....take a look at madden for example the game is so much better with the new controls...i prefer playing it on the wii than any other system....

Random Insanity @ Dec 18th 2006 8:22PM

@3 "and the wii is very strong in recreating the way games are played"

Don't you mean 'redefining'? ;)

Sub @ Dec 18th 2006 8:23PM

4: Madden is a game you can play over and over, it isn't story based. This is a game you don't want to play again.

Judd @ Dec 18th 2006 8:28PM

http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/07/ubisoft-in-red-but-going-in-right-direction/#c2874093

Rob @ Dec 18th 2006 8:35PM

If it's cheap, I might consider it. A full $50, not on your life.

Optimus Prime @ Dec 18th 2006 8:36PM

So far, every Wii game without 'Zelda' in the title has been a bomb. Dont believe me? Go read the review... lol.. here, start with COD3:

http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=71087

And, take the time to read the comment section as well.

Rod @ Dec 18th 2006 8:47PM

Hey Stupidus Prime if Wii games are bombing so badly why is it they're out selling PS3 games by such large margins?

HAHA @ Dec 18th 2006 8:55PM

take a look at madden for example the game is so much better with the new controls...i prefer playing it on the wii than any other system....

Yea i can tell you use the "ask madden" button alot anyone whos half a madden fan have laugh at the wii version

james fear @ Dec 18th 2006 8:58PM

Its almost like ubisoft thinks of the wii the same way sony thinks of the psp.

gLitterbug @ Dec 18th 2006 8:59PM

Well, apart from Raving Rabbids it seems Ubisoft either rushed games to launch like Red Steel or made horrible AND rushed Ports like Far Cry or those ugly racing games. Which is a shame, because it already hurts peoples opinions of the Wii.

Optimus Prime @ Dec 18th 2006 9:01PM

Hey Rod, please take the time to read the comments in that review. Before i thought all Nintendo fans were lost, but, now some people are starting to realise that wiimote is a gimmick. Seriously though, go read the comments.

And, lets see the games that were super hyped and bombed:

RedSteel
Monkey Balls
Raymand
Splinter Cell
FarCry
GT Pro
Tony Hawk
Super Swing Golf
4x4 Monster
Excite Truck
Elebits
COD3
Marvel
Rappala
etc..

Wowee, thats about all the launch games. And they all have the same issues.. the graphics SUCK (worst than xbox) and the controls SUCK. lol.. Did i miss any?

Except for Zelda, which took 4 years to make. Now, you understand why they delayed Zelda for the Wii, it masks the crappiness of all the other launch games.

As for Madden, it only got a marginally higher score than the GC version.. is that worth $250?

I give it another 3 months before more people drop off the Wii bandwagon. The only people hanging on will be die-hard Nintedo fans.. you know why? Because all the AAA titles for '07 and on are ALL Nintendo franchises. You know its true.

Grog @ Dec 18th 2006 9:03PM

"9. So far, every Wii game without 'Zelda' in the title has been a bomb. Dont believe me?"

Optimus, I know you're a troll, but let's try to make logical arguments. For example, you could say there are a lot of bad games for the Wii - which doesn't mean there aren't a lot of good games too. On the other hand, you seem to imply that Zelda is the only good game on Wii. Why don't we look at some other good ones?

IGN 8.0+ games: Elebits (8.3), Madden (8.5), Dragon Ball Z (8.3), Rayman Raving Rabbids (8.3), Excite Truck (8.0), Trauma Center (8.0).

And that list leaves out some other games that are either ranked or commonly held to be good: Monkey Ball, CoD3, Wii Sports, and numerous VC titles.

Vlad @ Dec 18th 2006 9:12PM

*steps around rant war...*

I'll take the PS2 version, thank you. under $20 used at Gamestop...booyah.

as for the success of the Wii, the first party stuff and the novelty alone will sell. and, while I won't make any claims about how good or bad the games are now, I remember everyone said the DS was a gimmick during its first year. Now look. you can't predict these sorts of things, especially with wacky Nintendo the last couple years. Only time will tell.

pukerua @ Dec 18th 2006 9:18PM

People who bitch about the Wii controls are just too uncoordinated or don't have the skills to adapt to use them properly.

When you've actually mastered the wiimote it's heaps better than the older control types. The Wiimote is way faster and more accurate than a standard controller. Just don't give up so quickly. Remember the fist time you played a FPS on the PC, took a lil bit to get used to also eh!

0olong @ Dec 18th 2006 9:19PM

They aren't... the PS2 has outsold the Wii this season. I love it how the first thing people do when a Sony article comes out is say how true it is and bash it. Nofriendo comes out with rehashed games and you try the old "redefined" spin. Zelda was made for the GC... yet came out for the Wii first, and the ratings are better for the GC version. M$ had no great games until Gears of War, anyone who disagrees needs to get their pecker out of their 360s.

I thought that there would be plenty Wii to go around? What happened to that?

I would like to see one unbiased blog or whatever from anyone in the biz today... Can't do it? I thought not...

MikeP @ Dec 18th 2006 9:27PM

Wait, I thought this was a post about Prince of Persia. Oh, it was? Sweet!

Seriously though, how many turkeys is Ubi going to put out for the Wii before they throw in the towel and declare the system "just isn't right for action titles?"

It keeps me up at night.

Aran @ Dec 18th 2006 9:28PM

Ok Trollimus Prime, let's imagine everyone else agrees with you; all Wii launch games suck except Zelda.

So how's PS3 launch games? There's Resistance and then there is... the one with... umm... Did I say Resistance already?

What about Xbox 360 launch games? How many of them you define as classics today? How about PS2 launch games? They all were CRAP.

Bash Wii and its games in every single comment section if you feel like you have to but at least try to be more rational. You are an idiot if you think some console's success depends on its launch games.

Rod @ Dec 18th 2006 9:33PM

Retardus Prime the truth hurts don't it???

http://nexgenwars.com/

Rod @ Dec 18th 2006 9:34PM

And you still haven't answered my original question...(waits)...

Mabui @ Dec 18th 2006 9:34PM

Dear Optimus Prime,

You obviously can't spell, and that's sad. Next time you try to incite a flame war I suggest you run your retard comments through the spell checker first. Perhaps you could have your mommy proof read for you.

As for your initial post, I don't see a point in even responding. To someone who makes their career off of trolling? Obviously you will never see the light and that's on purpose, you very well may be at home playing a Wii yourself and loving every minute of it.

My suggestion to you would be, savour these moments during launch. When Wii gets legs and runs right over the competition you'll be eating crow, but your flaming persona will still be spewing garbage.

Rod @ Dec 18th 2006 9:40PM

(Still waiting)...........................................................

endejas @ Dec 18th 2006 9:50PM

"The console's strength is not in finding new ways to play the same old games."

I could've sworn that Nintendo said something along the lines of, "A new way to play the same game."

nabisco @ Dec 18th 2006 9:53PM

Good God Optimus Prime, this discussion had nothing to do with why you hate the Wii.

http://www.metacritic.com/games/wii/ has reveiws based on all of the video game critics opinions, and it looks a WHOLE LOT more praise have went to those games than you gave tham credit for(except for gt pro series).

nabisco @ Dec 18th 2006 10:01PM

I don't think Optimus Prime wants to answer your question, Rod. He knows your right and doesn't want to admit it.

Optimus Prime @ Dec 18th 2006 10:03PM

OK.. sorry for the spelling, im quite drunk right now. But, i can still think.

Yea, these are launch games. But, the multi-platform games (COD3, Marvel, SC:DA) are scoring MUCH lower than the other counterparts. In the case of FarCry, its universally worse than the XBOX version from a few years ago. How is that acceptable? The scores should be comparable, but, they are not even close.

What makes the situation worse is that they all have the SAME issues.. wonky controls that dont make no sense. Add to that wonky graphics, non-existent AI, etc..

Games built for the Wii like RedSteel have bombed. They were bragging about how it cost 12+ million and how they had dev kits early in the production. The other marginally good games are point-and-click or mini-party type games. Good luck trying to build a home console around those types of games.

And, to Rod's Question: HYPE!

Terrak @ Dec 18th 2006 10:03PM

Wow optimus prime is back.

Finally got that foot out of your mouth for long enough? Just kidding ;P.

SO Wii has some crappy launch titles, so what. ps3 had some real shockers - Gundam, ohh thats worth the US$600 for the ps3 + US$60 for game. Oh remember Genji, Real killer app that one. The rest are games that are pretty much the same as those you can find on 360 save for Resistance. SO your ragging on about a problem that plagues every console that launchs. SO what your problem?

What? you still sucking those bitter grapes after the last discussion? Get over it man. So sony made you sonyfanboys look like fools after your year long "Wii is a gimmick" campaign only to try and patent there own version. Is that any reason to lash out at the Wii? You need to relax and take a couple of deep breaths, and have a think before you type, it might save you some embarrasment in the future.

As for your claims if Wii can emulate the DSs success then surviving on First party titles is possible for the Wii. Its no denying that 3rd parties haven't really put too much effort on the Wii, but that could change in 2007.
For now the Wii is doing extremely well, so developers have good reason to take notice, I guess we'll see in the next few months. I'm not saying the Wii has got in the bag yet, but things are going extremely well for Nintendo no matter how you f**kin slice it.

nabisco @ Dec 18th 2006 10:16PM

Um... yeah, your arguement still doesn't hold up too well. Some scores were hurt because of no online multiplayer, and that will be arriving sometime next year.

Rod @ Dec 18th 2006 10:23PM

Wait wait wait a minute what happened to all the "HYPE" Sony was suppose to have with PS3? And please don't blame the alcohol for your poor typing skills. I don't really blame you for drinking after Sony butchered their launch, if I had as much of an obsession about my gaming system as you I'd probably be an alcoholic too.

chenry @ Dec 18th 2006 10:23PM

wow thanks ubisoft.

pukerua @ Dec 18th 2006 10:59PM

"Games built for the Wii like RedSteel have bombed."

oh were the controls to difficult for you. ha ha, that’s the same comment everyone says when THEY personally don't have the skills to use the wiimote properly. And then they go on to say how the controls are all "wonky" only becouse they didn't 'get it'.

WatTsu @ Dec 18th 2006 11:02PM

Let's get this back on track: regardless of what one thinks about the Wii, this is a pretty classless move by Ubisoft. I sincerely hope this isn't what's going to pass for third-party support later on in the Wii's life-cycle, or we're going to see the N64 and Gamecube all over again. It pains me greatly to say that, as I am admittedly first and foremost a Nintendo fan. However, I'm not sure whether this is a case of Nintendo not reaching out to third parties or third parties just looking for the quick buck - either way, it's pretty shameless.

Ultimately, however, I think the Wii will take a similar path to that of the DS. The first few waves of games were either unique if not shallow first-party Nintendo titles or pretty generic cross-platform games with touchscreen functionality tacked on. It wasn't until towards the end of 2005 we really saw the DS take off in terms of software. By that rationale, we can see some truly stellar Wii stuff by...what, the end of next year? And certainly there will be some killer apps in-between (WarioWare? Metroid? Star Wars?). At least, I hope so.

But that's down the road. Right now, the Wii needs to prove it's not just a gimmick and stuff like this is not helping. I'm actually kind of flummoxed as to why more companies can't just bite the bullet and take a risk on the Wii - it is, after all, pretty cheap to develop for. But I guess even a cheap risk is too much for most companies. It is to weep.

MysticGenie @ Dec 18th 2006 11:09PM

So this is Ubisoft's idea of Wii support. If that game is any indication of what Ubisoft has in store for the Wii, you can expect Ubisoft to provide Xbox 360 and PS3 with high-quality gems (i.e. Assassin's Creed, Splinter Cell, Ghost Recon, etc.) while the Wii will get its share of mediocre ports with tacked-on motion control.

Jesse @ Dec 19th 2006 12:07AM

This sucks!!! I preordered the original game and love it! But am I willing to shell out $50 bucks extra just to play it with my wiimote and nunchcuk hell NO! Thats just plain laziness on Ubisoft's side.

James @ Dec 19th 2006 12:24AM

I don't think there's been a system launched in the last 5 years that didn't start out with some crappy ports of games from existing systems. The content is there, and it makes a great "starter" projects so your programmers can learn to code to a new architecture without starting completely from scratch. It takes a really un-evil company to resist that temptation, and there aren't many of those.

That said, I almost considered re-selling my launch day Wii for a premium, since I beat Zelda and the next big thing I'm waiting for is Metroid. Not gonna do it, though.

fraxyl @ Dec 19th 2006 12:26AM

I think I'll wait until there are more details before calling it a tired re-hash. Sure, given Ubi's current track record with the Wii, the outlook is assumed to be poor. But it could work. I'm cautiously optimistic.

Cuja @ Dec 19th 2006 1:32AM

I love the Wii's motion and point controls. Only the game play can get better. And graphics need to top last gen. But when your getting ports from PS2 and PSP games, its not going to happen. Then we think of EA or Activision. Ubisoft got to do better than this.

Jag @ Dec 19th 2006 2:01AM

dont think we can fault Ubisoft here. Miyamoto himself said that he would like to remake Gamecube games for Wii with Wiimote controls. It seems these Wiimakes will cost less than the original gamecube games. So maybe we can expect this to come at a lower price than a full $50.

Fullstory here: http://wii.ign.com/articles/726/726749p1.html
Lol @Trollimus Prime. That seemed like a more appropriate name.

mo @ Dec 19th 2006 2:13AM

dude i hope they do this to more games

i would love to see giest with wii controls, or mariocart

but not supersmash brothers, tht would be lame

Burnt Meatloaf @ Dec 19th 2006 4:37AM

With Nintendo releasing a gamecube port to the Wii, all the Nintendo fanboys echoing "graphics don't matter", and VC being off-limits for anything but bog-standard recycled ROMs, there's really very little incentive for developers to put real effort into retail games. The stuff still sells, anyway. Expect a lot more of this.

Ultimately, however, it is the customer's fault.

Lou D @ Dec 19th 2006 7:15AM

I never bought the GC version ... maybe they'll include online multi-player. For $40 it might be worth it. $30, definitely. For $50, I'll buy it at half-price used over the summer.

Paul P. @ Dec 19th 2006 9:10AM

All I can say is Fuck U... bisoft.

They've freakin turned into EA over here. Peddle your crappy ports elsewhere.

tom @ Dec 19th 2006 1:15PM

I seem to remeber reading an article 6 months or so ago which said Ubisoft were pinning all their hopes on the Wii and more "casual gaming" as their best way to compete with the monster that is EA.

The weird thing is.. every single ubisoft Wii title has sucked. But EA has managed to put out Madden and make probably the best use of the wiimote by any third party so far.

Considering that Ubisoft supposedly is stakeing its future on the success of the Wii, you'd think they'd have put a bitmore effort into making some decent games. Instead they seem to have taken the "throw lots of cheap ports at it nd hope something works" approach.

@optimus:

part of the reason the Wii games keep scoring lower is that many sites have scoring systems that agregate Graphics, Gameplay and Multiplayer. Wii versions have been consistently scoring higher in the gameplay dept, but their graphics scores keep dragging the total down. (and the ffact nintendo hasn't lauched its multiplayer system yet).

However if you look at the non-gaming press (where they rate the games on FUN rather than all the geeky criteria) the Wii has been consistently wowing non-gamers, while the PS3 keeps getting ignored or bashed.

Maybe the "real" gaming press needs to adjust its attitude a bit to take account of this new split in direction.

PS/ Farcry's controls are actually supposed to be pretty sweet, better than dual sticks.. but the graphics suck. If only ubi had managed to put thefarcry controls on Red Steel they might have had a winner.

PPS/ Remember the early console FPS games, before games like goldeneye and halo perfected the controls? They all had major control issues.. its gonna take a while for developers to work out what works and what doesn't.. but its clear that games like Madden and Farcry show a lot of promise in the control dept.. if they can just iron out the creases...

Chili @ Dec 19th 2006 1:32PM

Let's see Optimus Prime... you're named after a cartoon character and you're up drinking and starting flamewars over consoles. You just might be in the running for biggest loser of all time. Enjoy virginity.

doubtful @ Dec 19th 2006 5:16PM

Some developers will get it and others won't. After the Wii has sold several million consoles, companies that want to make money will try very hard to get it. So far, Ubisoft isn't getting it, although I hear good things about Raving Rabbids.

It'll take some time, just like with the DS, but eventually the controls will be part of the design and not an afterthought. Once the developers break out of their existing 'same game' mindset, I think you'll see some real gems on the Wii.

Until then, I'll have plenty of first party fun with Zelda and Wii Sports and Mario and Metroid next year.

And frankly, I like Excite Truck. It's a good pick-up game that anyone can play.

v1cious @ Dec 20th 2006 1:04AM

Your comments: "Bash Wii and its games in every single comment section if you feel
like you have to but at least try to be more rational. You are an
idiot if you think some console's success depends on its launch
games."

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

oh man i'm no fanboy but is this really the pot calling the kettle black. sorry i just can't help but laugh at this... especially when this comes from the same people who have completely the doomed Ps3 based on it's launch. it's almost like you're admitting your a hypocrite.

Griffon @ Dec 20th 2006 3:43AM

"The console's strength is not in finding new ways to play the same old games."

Really? Because none of us have never played bowling, tennis, or a bland me too FPS on a console before? I think you might be a bit confused on Nintodos goals :).

The wii is supposed to be about the game play and experience, not the content right, so doesn't this release trail that logic. Name change is deceptive though.
Prince of Persia has been garbage since sands of time (I curse the scum that have destroyed the spirit of the series) but actually retuning a lot of games to work with the wii controller could give a pretty big and sarong base, and not force it to rely on emulation of old titles.