Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones

Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones, the concluding chapter of the trilogy about the Prince and the Sands of Time, brought players back to Babylon, where the hero returns after inadvertently bringing back with him the consequences of his interference with the flow of time, as well as a malicious dark twin born of the sand. Ubisoft Montreal combined the best of both previous games in this installment — the elegant acrobatics and fairy-tale atmosphere of Sands of Time with the darker, more action-oriented combat system of Warrior Within — creating a more balanced entry that became the best received by both players and critics in the whole series.

New to the game were so-called Speed Kills, spectacular quick-time events unfolding during fluid movement through the environment, where the Prince ambushes an enemy unexpectedly, and a single timing mistake sends him back into open combat. The game also introduced the option to temporarily play as the dark twin, who possesses different, more aggressive abilities including shadow movement and a chain weapon, with these sections chasing the player because of constantly depleting health. The game expanded the acrobatic repertoire with new moves such as sliding down ropes or fighting while riding a chariot, adding even greater dynamism to the pace, and the ruined Babylon offered a more open, urban scenery instead of enclosed palaces.

The story, told partly in retrospect through the Prince's memories, elegantly closed the plotline established in the first game and offered a satisfying resolution to the relationship between the Prince and Shahdee, complemented by the twin's inner voice acting as both conscience and temptation. The Two Thrones is still considered a dignified and technically polished conclusion to one of the most acclaimed action trilogies of the PlayStation 2 generation. Critics also praised the balance between acrobatics, combat, and storytelling, which is why many fans consider this the best-tuned entry in the entire trilogy, and composer Stuart Chatwood's score earned numerous accolades.