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(More customer reviews)Ubisoft, along with many other software companies, is turning to increasingly drastic methods in order to protect their software from pirates. While I understand the need for anti-piracy protection, I don't agree with the invasive and potentially damaging methods to which Ubisoft, publisher of The Two Thrones, has turned.
You see, this game comes with something called 'Starforce Protection System', an anti-piracy solution designed by a group of Muscovites (from Moscow, that is). This 'protection system' installs when you attempt to run The Two Thrones, and installs hardware drivers that basically give new instructions to your optical drives (CD-ROM, DVD-ROM drives). Ostensibly, these 'protection drivers' are meant to verify your copy of the Two Thrones to ensure you aren't using a pirated version. However, these drivers function at a very high level of authorization on your computer (so-called Ring 0 Privileges), which allegedly can leave your computer vulnerable to such malicious programs as trojans and virii. Also, Starforce has been implicated in the damaging of optical drives and hard disks; with the Starforce drivers installed, whenever you attempt to read a disk, there is a chance that Starforce will actually permanently slow down your drive speed each time you access it in any way. Starforce drivers supposedly prevent you from burning cd's or dvd's, in case you wish to make a mix cd of music from what you own, or backup some of the software you have purchased. It also allegedly restarts your computer if it believes you are engaging in illegal activity (for example, you might have drive emulation software running, and are trying to run an image of a cd you've purchased, it may restart your computer because it thinks you're using pirated software).
What it boils down to: The Two Thrones is a great game. I've played through the entire Prince of Persia trilogy and loved it. What I didn't love, however, was the fact that this game installs a possibly damaging and malicious program called Starforce, doesn't inform me BEFORE PURCHASING THE GAME that it utilizes Starforce, and disclaims any liability for any damage that the program or 'included 3rd party programs' may cause to my computer. I understand this is a standard clause for an end-user license agreement, but the 3rd party line gets to me, as if they know Starforce may cause you problems and they are washing their hands of the matter.
My suggestion: If you TRULY wish to play this game, purchase it for the Playstation 2 if you can. If not, it's not worth risking damaging your computer just to play a great game. Ask at a store before you purchase any game if it uses Starforce. I certainly do.
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The Prince of Persia, a seasoned warrior, returns from the Island of Time to Babylon with his love, Kaileena. Instead of the peace that he longs for, he finds his homeland ravaged by war and the kingdom turned against him. The Prince is rapidly captured and Kaileena has no choice but to sacrifice herself and unleash the Sands of Time in order to save him. Now cast out on the streets and hunted as a fugitive, the Prince soon discovers that past battles have given rise to a deadly Dark Prince, whose spirit gradually possesses him.
Utilizing the concept of "duality," the player can play as two separate warriors with different combat styles, attitudes, and histories. The Prince, using the Dagger and another disposable weapon, uses a Speed Kill system that focuses on timing and precision. The Dark Prince utilizes a style that is based more on violence and aggression, and he makes deadly use of the Daggertail, allowing for long-range attacks.
True to the Prince of Persia franchise, the game provides a variety of action combat, agility, and story-driven puzzles - all masterfully blended together to provide a rich gaming experience. Explore incredible platforming environments such as the dangerous urban babylon. Dominate enemies on the perilous rooftops, dodge through chaotic streets, and ambush pursuers in dark, underground passageways. You can even seize the reins of a chariot to fend off hordes of enemies at breakneck speed in impossibly tight pursuits!
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