The franchise has come a long way from the two-dimensional side-scroller that frustrated a generation of young gamers - Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands will be the latest in a long line of Prince of Persia games when it is released on May 18.
The series has long been known for its graphical innovations. The first Prince of Persia featured rotoscoping technology that allowed the main character's movements to be displayed in a much more natural way than was generally considered possible at the time.
Nor have the later releases disappointed in that department. A promotional video seen at Gamespot shows visuals best appreciated on a full-HD computer monitor, plasma-screen TV, or HDMI projector, as the eponymous Prince swings acrobatically on frozen icicles, battles monsters, and scampers up lovingly detailed stone walls.
Gaming blog Joystiq announced earlier this month that Ubisoft, the game's developer, has already been ratcheting expectations up by providing extra content to consumers who purchase the game from different outlets and those who pre-order the title.
