A cleaner look at next-gen, cel-shaded Prince of Persia

by James Ransom-Wiley { May 22nd 2008 at 4:58PM }

An Ubisoft rep tells us, "We haven't officially released any screenshots online for PoP" -- kinda hard to believe when there's a fresh cluster warming up the server on Czech Republic site Tiscali Games. (There's a preview too, in Czech -- and here's Google's best effort.) While the images look virtually identical to those seen in the leaked Joypad feature from last month, being online screenshots, these new offerings have an obvious advantage over the scans we were forced to make due with previously. As for when Ubi plans the official release of screenshots online: "All screens and artwork will be available on the Ubidays press kit on Wednesday, May 28th."

In addition, we've posted a new "Speed Art" trailer after the break, depicting Elika, a "powerful companion who accompanies the Prince throughout the game." Elika will apparently be integrated into the actual gameplay, assisting with acrobatics and combat. Just think of her as the new Dominic Santiago, you know, minus the Hispanic meathead part.

[Via NeoGaf]

Tags: cel-shaded, pop, prince-of-persia, prince-of-persia-prodigy, ubisoft, ubisoft-montreal

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Marty @ May 22nd 2008 5:02PM

I really thought the look of the Sands of Time game was nice... why do they keep re-inventing the game?

343 Guilty Fart @ May 22nd 2008 5:13PM

Seriously. I don't think a cartoon style fits PoP well.

Jhongerkong @ May 22nd 2008 7:14PM

Cause people will bitch if they reuse the same stuff

Laggy @ May 23rd 2008 7:52AM

That's what we all said about Wind Waker, but that ended up being one of the best zeldas to date.

kip (SSBB:3437-2813-1377) @ May 22nd 2008 5:05PM

Is that a bear claw?

Chase @ May 22nd 2008 5:09PM

Nope. This is a bear claw.

http://i26.tinypic.com/2rokvh5.jpg

Yum.

LaughingTarget @ May 22nd 2008 6:29PM

Well, if you have the right to bear arms, you should be able to just use the claw at the end if the arm.

Fatass of Sarcasmness @ May 22nd 2008 5:05PM

I like it. It's very clean and crisp, though I'm not sure it beats (yeah, I'm dead serious when saying this) that new Naruto game coming out for the PS3 in terms of pure cel-shading goodness.

samfish @ May 22nd 2008 5:21PM

Yeah, it beats it easily. The PS3 Naruto trailer was one huge bullshot, judging by the batch of screens later released:
http://kotaku.com/387599/so-many-naruto-ultimate-ninja-storm-screens
The Haruhi Wii game actually looks better than the Naruto game from what I can tell.

What the Naruto game is doing is, unlike every other cell shaded game, is not amping up the brightness/saturation to sky high levels. The muted colors give it more of a subtle TV paper-ish feel. That's what people are reacting to, mostly, I'd say.

As far as this art style goes, I'm conflicted. The BGs look absolutely gorgeous, but the Prince himself is kind of funky looking. I'm not sure I like that black outline going around him like that. It's just...a black outline. Maybe it'll be different in motion, but for now I find it very off putting.

Mr.ESC @ May 22nd 2008 5:26PM

I'm going to be downvoted by weeabos but when you compare POP to Naruto something is seriously wrong.

What I don't like about cell-shading is that is lazy and you forget quickly about detail and the anime look makes anything look goofy. This is a slap to the face since I'm a POP follower since the first one was released.

Certain games like No more heroes make Cell-shading work since they focus totally in the color but the average Cell-shading like the ones you find in Anime games suck.

Even so I'm a huge POP fan.So I hope for the best.

Gehodra @ May 22nd 2008 7:01PM

Lazy? Cel-shading is supposed to be a pretty complex process.

born2kill @ May 22nd 2008 5:05PM

I think it looks too cartoony and goofy. I'm not sold on this art style yet. Lets see how it develops

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ May 22nd 2008 5:20PM

ummm what? were we looking at the same pics? While it has a more cel-shaded style. It definitely does not look at all goofy.

Mr.ESC @ May 22nd 2008 5:27PM

To be honest the new Prince reminds me of One piece and agains that ain't good.

born2kill @ May 22nd 2008 5:37PM

I dont know but the bright colors (especially the red and blue scarf) look really goofy to me. Especially with the serious demeanor he has. I'll have to get use to this I guess.

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ May 22nd 2008 5:55PM

@esc

Really? If so, I suggest going to see a doctor to get those eyes fixed.

Mr.ESC @ May 23rd 2008 1:16PM

Or Vegeta you should laid down the Manga.

Cell-Shading is pretty cheap I mean is not that I want realism but the figure of the prince looks fugly.Cartoonish graphics can look better and with more detail ask Valve if don't believe me.

Jayslacks @ May 22nd 2008 5:13PM

Christ. This looks awesome. There goes another $60 bucks out my pocket.

Pureshooter @ May 22nd 2008 5:15PM

I typically don't like cel-shaded graphics, but this looks awesome. Great art direction.

Mr.ESC @ May 22nd 2008 5:19PM

I don't like the cel-shaded look.The Anime look doesn't fits POP.I hate it.

I can't believe what I'm going to say but if there was anything that I consider awesome in AC was the art style and Graphics.Something like that fits more the POP series.

na2ru1 @ May 23rd 2008 11:09AM

Very much agree.

Sands of Time is still yet to be surpassed in terms of art, visual direction, music and story.

PoP2? Smithered with hidious gothicy, grungy and emo-ish theme, rubbish music that obly appeals to long haired head shakers. Way to lower the bar Ubi

MasterCKO @ May 22nd 2008 5:38PM

what are you guys talking about?? These screens look seriously sweet.

KrazyIan @ May 22nd 2008 5:42PM

I like the cel-shaded look a lot.

bigd7387 @ May 22nd 2008 5:54PM

Being a fan of the last version and the art style I'm a little disappinted by the new Cel shaded look. Cel Shading can really make a game come to life but it has to be the right kind of game like, 13 was but I will wait to see how it turns out before making a judgement since I've yet to play it or actually see it running.

Jody Anthony (cookingrebels.com) @ May 22nd 2008 5:59PM

that looks amazing.

Mark @ May 22nd 2008 6:00PM

I half expect him to yell out Thundercats!! Hooooo!!!

Benny @ May 22nd 2008 6:17PM

The art style is nice, but I'm not sure if I prefer it over the Sands of Time look.

PojoMofo @ May 22nd 2008 6:27PM

I didnt realize Jack Sparrow and Wolverine could have a love child???

Jfk Aok @ May 22nd 2008 6:30PM

pfft...you didn't!? Where have you been? Get a load of this guy.

*Looks back at his croonies and forces a chuckle*

Jfk Aok @ May 22nd 2008 6:28PM

It's cool and has definite potential. The watercolor-esque feel seems pretty slick. There's detail, but it's not real detail.
The background and foreground don't mesh at all, though. The animated things appear photoshopped/green screened in the world. Backgrounds in games are usually stiff enough as it is. To intentionally break up the space between characters and backgrounds is like artistically stabbing yourself in the foot...unless they pull off a "living" world that few games (or even no games?) have accomplished.
That, and as I have aged, I've learned to dislike most anime for what it really is: shovel art. And this reminds me of anime a bit too much.
I do admit, I got my eye on this one here. ;-)

So-hee @ May 22nd 2008 6:34PM

Strider/Vincent, is that you?

Wii60Warrior @ May 22nd 2008 7:44PM

Cel Shaded = FAIL

God I was so looking forward to this game too...

Squid @ May 22nd 2008 8:34PM

You don't make due. You make do.

FailedNinja @ May 22nd 2008 5:15PM

If you're nature, you can make dew.

KeenCommander @ May 22nd 2008 5:17PM

No, actually they were right. Prepare to be voted down to zero hearts.

KeenCommander @ May 22nd 2008 5:17PM

If you're Pepsi, you can make Dew!

rivaldi22 @ May 22nd 2008 5:25PM

No, Squid is right. Sorry.

Evan @ May 22nd 2008 10:36PM

That's not really cell shaded, it's just high-contrast with outlines. "Cell shading" is supposed to look like a hand-painted animation cell, and requires that the game draw a definitive edge between the shadow. PoP looks like the designers were too timid to do full on cell shading, so they picked a middle ground. That's fine, proper cell-shading like in Zelda: The Wind Waker wouldn't really fit the style of Prince of Persia. Just don't call PoP's style cell-shaded when it's not.

Atr-Slzr-Ctr @ May 22nd 2008 11:09PM

Reminds me of Street Fighter IV for some reason...

ian @ May 22nd 2008 11:40PM

This is the dumbest choice that Ubisoft has ever made in the history of history. When they created sands of time, they reinvented an idea. It had an incredible physics concept and a compelling story. Now that EA games basically owns them now, the franchise has gone south, like Florida in 2000. But if theres one thing we've learned about the entertainment industry, is their ability to destroy great original ideas.

Korova @ May 23rd 2008 4:45AM

I think history of history is shorter that history itself. Did Ubi make some epically fail choice in the time before history of history began?

mabadaba @ May 23rd 2008 12:03AM

First off I think this can still be considered cell shading. It looks like they are using textures for more definition, but the hard outlines and the shading look to fit the standard definition of cell shading.

Second off the designers are trying to establish a new trilogy, that is separate from the Sands of Time trilogy. What better way to do that than to completely overhaul the graphics, especially after you just released Assassins Creed.

Third off cell shading is a pretty intensive process and can actually be more difficult than photorealistic rendering in some cases. Given that the technique being used here is some mixture of processes I would guess that they are in no way taking the easy way out. This was a definite art style choice and not some way to push out a quick design.

Fourth off, it looks fucking gorgeous. Almost like storybook illustration which seems to fit PoP the more and more I think about it.

/long

David @ May 23rd 2008 1:17AM

I'm looking forward to it.

chez @ May 23rd 2008 4:48AM

Now that's a lot better.

Korova @ May 23rd 2008 4:50AM

The screens look very impressive like a mix of action and AC's beautiful visual. I loved the vistas and the depth of image in AC, I hope there is a lot of that in PoP, too. Ubi seems to be good at it.

ian @ May 23rd 2008 5:19AM

your obviously not a fan of the series, or are so young that you cant tie your own shoes. Shell shading is the most pathetic medium in video game art! Its people like you that killed the dinosaurs and the electric car. Why don't you go back to no more hero's, where his only power is to jack off on his light-saber, that can't cut things because there shell shaded!