Media: Ubisoft Builds Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands from the Ground Up for Wii

While Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands is being released for all three consoles (and both handhelds), not all versions are created equal. And while that is usually a bad omen for the Wii version of a title, often relegated to the “oh yeah, we’re making it for this, too” pile, Ubisoft has gone out of their way to hype this version of PoP:TFS separately by detailing it in a new press release, complete with two new screens we’ve added to our gallery.

Of course, one might suppose that this could be related to the fact that the game is slated for release for a certain family-friendly console around the time of a certain major motion picture release from a certain family-friendly company. On the other hand, Ubisoft is one of the few publishers that seems willing to view the Wii as its own entity, so that might have played into it as well.

That said, one thing Ubisoft wants to make very clear is that the Wii version of The Forgotten Sands is being built “from the ground up” for the Nintendo hardware. Development tasks are being handled by the company’s Quebec City Studio, who are said to be utilizing “the full graphical capabilities” of the Wii.

For those who are unaware, The Forgotten Sands is a “midquel” or “interquel” story which takes place between the first and second chapters of The Sands of Time trilogy which saw release on last generation’s platforms, and also served as the basis for the upcoming film (see what they did there?). The story is as follows:

After leaving his father’s kingdom to prove his worth, the Prince is drawn toward a mysterious realm. He quickly discovers that he must harness his acrobatic abilities and powers over the environment to not only survive, but to save a mystic palace from unfathomable evil.

Features included are:

• Classic Gameplay Reinvented: By utilizing the Prince’s acrobatic prowess, players will be able to perform unparalleled feats from maneuvering through treacherous traps and combating massive enemies, to solving elaborate puzzles in an effort to survive.

• Create Your Own Path: The Prince will possess supreme mastery over his environment and enemies. By manipulating his power over sand, The Prince will uncover new areas to explore that will only be accessible by wielding his new powers, skills and abilities.

• Impressive Graphics for Wii: Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands utilizes advanced technologies to deliver a smooth, clear and impressive graphical experience on Wii. With 15 hours of original storyline as well as alternate paths, secret areas and unlockables, The Forgotten Sands™ provides players with a significant adventure that rewards exploration and encourages replay ability.

• A Blockbuster Experience: Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands will treat players to a variety of unforgettable locales that complement the Wii’s unique controls and capabilities. Epic in-game moments aim to have fans on the edge of their seats as the Prince battles with ferocious beasts and colossal bosses.

Yes, you read that correctly. Using a special ring, the Prince will have the power to control sand in different ways in this installment, which should help to set this chapter apart from the rest of The Sands of Time trilogy– or should that now be tetralogy?

Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands is scheduled to ship on May 18th, 2010, with the movie following ten days later.

You’ve seen one screen from the game at the top of the article; you can find the other in our gallery below.