Prince of Persia

David wrote: ↑October 21st, 2017, 12:01 pm I looked at the results of my earlier accuracy tests: viewtopic.php?p=14140#p14140

Maybe it was easier to port the C source of the DOS version to computers than to consoles?

I just tried this test on my BBC Master version and, although it's hard to pull off the move, it seems to be possible if I'm understanding correctly. I would hope so given that this is running the original Apple II 6502 code without modification!

kieranhj wrote: ↑November 13th, 2017, 12:28 pm I just tried this test on my BBC Master version and, although it's hard to pull off the move, it seems to be possible if I'm understanding correctly. I would hope so given that this is running the original Apple II 6502 code without modification!

I also tried it: It works in both directions.

Norbert wrote: ↑July 12th, 2013, 12:46 pmVideo that shows a lot of versions: [...]

Here's another comparison video.

Norbert wrote: ↑April 21st, 2019, 3:30 am Here's another comparison video.

The versions are "In Order Of Greatness", and this order has a few choices that I find unusual.
For example, the NES and Master System versions are ranked above DOS.

SNES vs. Sega Genesis (Mega Drive)

Norbert wrote: ↑November 25th, 2013, 7:54 pmAnother thing some ports won't allow is hopping forward.
Pretty annoying when that's impossible.

I just figured out that the Master System version has hopping.
Kneel, then let go of the down arrow, and quickly press down again.
It's possible to hop in quick succession too.

Norbert wrote: ↑October 17th, 2019, 2:09 pm

Norbert wrote: ↑November 25th, 2013, 7:54 pmAnother thing some ports won't allow is hopping forward.
Pretty annoying when that's impossible.

I just figured out that the Master System version has hopping.
Kneel, then let go of the down arrow, and quickly press down again.
It's possible to hop in quick succession too.

One cool thing about the SMS port of PoP is that it can properly process multiple princes!
No joke.
Several of the custom element numbers will place princes.
(In fact, custom elements will add all kinds of crazy things in the level, try it out...)
When multiple princes are in a room, they both obey the game's 'rules'.
Example: if one falls into a hole to a lower floor while the other has no hole, the latter won't move down.
If any of the princes exits the room, the view (and prince) changes to that room.
All this can theoretically be used by modders to create puzzles.

Norbert wrote: ↑October 17th, 2019, 7:33 pm
One cool thing about the SMS port of PoP is that it can properly process multiple princes!
No joke.
Several of the custom element numbers will place princes.
(In fact, custom elements will add all kinds of crazy things in the level, try it out...)
When multiple princes are in a room, they both obey the game's 'rules'.
Example: if one falls into a hole to a lower floor while the other has no hole, the latter won't move down.
If any of the princes exits the room, the view (and prince) changes to that room.
All this can theoretically be used by modders to create puzzles.

Wow! Maybe I’ll give it a try. It would work for an “Illusion” mod.

Norbert wrote: ↑October 17th, 2019, 7:33 pm One cool thing about the SMS port of PoP is that it can properly process multiple princes!
No joke.
Several of the custom element numbers will place princes.
(In fact, custom elements will add all kinds of crazy things in the level, try it out...)

Yeah, I got Jaffar from the intro to appear when a prince added with 01 fell out of the room.
(01,x=90,y=90 in the first room of level 1)

26 will show a prince entering the exit door, and then the level will end.
Unfortunately the next level won't start.

39 will turn the whole room into flashing pixels, but also kills the prince immediately.
38 does the same, but the prince dies only when he gets to the bottom row.

33 just displays drinking prince frozen in air.
34 will animate the drinking prince, and every time he finishes drinking, the screen fades to black and then back. What's in that potion?
I guess that's the prince from the title screen.

6F displays the Princess!
Actually this code is used on level 14, but the editor doesn't show it.

63 displays Jaffar from the intro with wrong colors. He will even make the hourglass appear!

5F will add a striped square following the prince, but only in that room.

5D will add some smoke flying up.

5A will add Jaffar walking backwards!

41 will add a garbled sprite which eventually turns into the Princess.

Okay, that's enough for now.

I've recently found a French page comparing different versions of PoP: http://www.grospixels.com/site/pop1.php
Here is their page about the Master System version: http://www.grospixels.com/site/pop6.php

This page shows some shortcuts (level design bugs?) unique to the SMS version which let you skip large parts of some levels.
Level 3: You can climb up to the skeleton.
Level 7: The first loose floor will open the gate leading to the slow-fall potion, instead of closing it as in the DOS version.
Level 8: In the first room you can just climb down to the exit. You still need to go the long way to open it, though...
Level 9: You can simply jump over to the button that opens the exit.

I knew about the one on level 9, but all the others were new to me!

David wrote: ↑November 9th, 2019, 1:53 pmI knew about the one on level 9, but all the others were new to me!

Heh, for me the exact opposite; at least I remember all except the level 9 shortcut.
Probably because I watched a walkthrough video not too long ago, from someone who knew most (or all) of these.

I am accustomed to the DOS version

I recently found this blog post, which compares the Apple II and DOS versions of PoP (and Oregon Trail).
https://nerdlypleasures.blogspot.com/20 ... ports.html

Is it possible to get the Hall of Fame at the end of the Apple ][ version or not?
I played through the game using "prince of persia side a/side b (san inc crack).dsk" which I found on popuw, and didn't get the HoF (thus not knowing how much time was left). Is there a hall of fame on other versions? Or was it only added on the DOS port?

VelCheran wrote: ↑March 13th, 2021, 4:08 pm Is it possible to get the Hall of Fame at the end of the Apple ][ version or not?

I don't think it has a Hall of Fame.

These videos don't show any hall of fame in the Apple II version:
• https://youtu.be/JZDAPp61aak?t=3598
• https://youtu.be/JMc7cBVwF-k?t=493

Interestingly, the first of these videos shows that the ending screens look just like in the DOS version, with proper colors (instead of the artifact colors used in the rest of the game).
I think they are the super hi-res images which work only on the Apple IIgs, and which were briefly mentioned here: https://github.com/adamgreen/Prince-of- ... tes.creole and here: viewtopic.php?p=23135#p23135

VelCheran wrote: ↑March 13th, 2021, 4:08 pm Is there a hall of fame on other versions? Or was it only added on the DOS port?

I looked through gameplay videos of various PoP versions.

The following versions have a hall of fame just like the DOS version:
• Amiga: https://youtu.be/ukSECkajKYA?t=2917
• Amstrad CPC: https://youtu.be/90DgcLulN5c?t=2582
• Macintosh: https://youtu.be/zjR_AhxPnVM?t=2311


The PoP ports from Japan work a bit differently:

• The Sega CD / Sega Mega-CD port keeps the fastest times for each level.
If you want your name recorded, you need to enter it before you start playing.

• The PC Engine / TurboGrafx-16 port also keeps per level best times, but they are a bit hidden.
To see the best times, you first need to start the game, open the in-game menu, and select BEST TIME there.
I don't know why is it not in the main menu.

• The SNES port also keeps the fastest times per level, but without names.

• The PC98, FM Towns, and Sharp x68000 ports go further and record the gameplay for each level.
To play them back, select the second menu item from the bottom (再生モード) in the main menu.
To enter your name before playing, select the third menu item from the bottom (名前の登録) in the main menu.
(Or you can download an unofficial English translation of the PC98 version here: viewtopic.php?p=24290#p24290 )