Prince (Prince of Persia)
Fictional protagonist of the Prince of Persia franchise.
The Prince is the title shared by several main characters in the *Prince of Persia* series, a franchise created by Jordan Mechner and now held by Ubisoft. Since the first game in 1989, different versions of the Prince have appeared, each with common traits like a knack for acrobatics and combat, a taste for magical adventures, and a link to royalty. The best-known version debuted in *Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time* (2003) and later appeared in other games in that storyline.
Mechner designed the original Prince by drawing on Near Eastern myths, including *One Thousand and One Nights* and the *Shahnameh*, and modeled his athletic moves on the opening scene of *Raiders of the Lost Ark*. To create the character's movements, Mechner filmed his own brother and used rotoscoping to transfer the footage into the game. For *The Sands of Time*, the Prince was reimagined and rewritten, with his look maturing in each sequel. The 2008 reboot introduced a Prince who was not born into royalty but was meant to earn the title during his journey. Other versions have appeared in related media, most notably Dastan, played by Jake Gyllenhaal in the 2010 film.
Opinions on individual Princes have varied, but the character overall has been well received. The original Prince is seen as a milestone in game design. His appearances in *The Sands of Time* series have drawn mixed reactions, with his darker turn in *Warrior Within* (2004) receiving particular criticism. The reboot Prince divided audiences due to his new look and American-accented voice, while Gyllenhaal's film portrayal earned mixed reviews from critics.
In the games, the Prince has taken many forms. The original character was the sole survivor of a kingdom destroyed by a witch. Living as a street thief, he won the heart of a princess. In the first game (1989), the vizier Jaffar tries to take over the kingdom, and the Prince, imprisoned in the dungeons, escapes, defeats Jaffar, and saves the princess. In *Prince of Persia 2: The Shadow and the Flame* (1993), a disguised Jaffar banishes the Prince, who then rediscovers his homeland and uses a magical power to finally defeat Jaffar. In *Prince of Persia 3D* (1999), the Prince must rescue the princess from a former fiancé.
The *Sands of Time* storyline follows the Prince as the son of Persian king Sharaman, from his youth through events that make him a leader.
Quick Facts
- Series
- Prince of Persia
- First Game
- Prince of Persia (1989)
- Creator
- Jordan Mechner
- Designer
- Jordan Mechner · Raphael Lacoste / (Sands of Time) · Mikael Labat, Nicolas Bouvier / (Warrior Within)
- Portrayer
- Jake Gyllenhaal (film adaptation) · William Foster (young)
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The original Prince was the only survivor of a kingdom destroyed by a witch. Living as a street thief, he won the heart of a city's Princess and defeated the vizier Jaffar in the original Prince of Persia (1989). In Prince of Persia 2: The Shadow and the Flame (1993), he rediscovered his homeland and defeated Jaffar for good. In Prince of Persia 3D (1999), he rescued the Princess from a former betrothed. The Sands of Time sequence covers the Prince as the son of Persian king Sharaman, from his early years through events that shape him into a leader. In The Sands of Time (2003), he inadvertently released the Sands of Time and, with Farah, attempted to contain them. In Warrior Within (2004), he confronted the Empress of Time Kaileena and defeated the Dahaka. In The Two Thrones (2005), he killed the Vizier and overcame a Dark Prince personality. Other stories from the seven years between The Sands of Time and Warrior Within are told in Battles of Prince of Persia (2005) and The Forgotten Sands (2010).
Reader's Guide
The Prince character has been positively received overall, though opinions of individual versions have varied. The original Prince was seen as a breakthrough in gameplay design. His appearances in The Sands of Time have varied, with particular criticism against his darker portrayal in Warrior Within (2004). The 2008 reboot Prince's portrayal divided public opinion due to his redesign and American-accented voice. Jake Gyllenhaal's portrayal of Dastan in the 2010 film drew mixed opinions from critics. Series creator Jordan Mechner described the character as a version of the Trickster archetype. Ubisoft producer Ben Mattes compared the various interpretations of the Prince to the One Thousand and One Nights. Within the video games, the character has never been given a name, being known only under his title of Prince. Mechner felt each incarnation of the Prince was his own entity and never expected to work on the character through multiple media.
Did You Know?
- The Prince's movements in the original game were created by rotoscoping footage of Jordan Mechner's brother.
- The 2008 reboot Prince is not from a royal family, but was planned to earn his title during his journey.
- In The Lost Crown (2024), the Prince is called Ghassan, reluctant heir to the Persian Empire.
- The Prince has never been given a name within the video games, being known only under his title.
More in Characters & Factions
Elsewhere in Prince of Persia
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