Ports
Prince of Persia was originally released for the Apple II in 1989. One year later it was ported to other personal computers such as the Amiga, the Amstrad CPC, the Atari ST, and the PC (MS-DOS). Riverhillsoft then ported the game for the Japanese NEC PC-9801 platform in 1990, which first introduced the protagonist's "turban and vest" appearance. Mechner was impressed with the PC-9801 version, which would later form the basis for all subsequent versions of the game. The game was then ported in 1991 to the Sharp X68000, which ran it at a high resolution, and the Japanese PC Engine, which utilized the Super CD-ROM format and featured a new Red Book audio soundtrack; this version was distributed in the US two years later. In 1992, when the home console market was growing steadily, versions for the Sega Master System, Sega Mega-CD, TurboGrafx-CD (the American version of the PC Engine), NES, and Game Boy were released, as well as a version with enhanced artwork for the FM Towns and Macintosh.
An enhanced version for the SNES had been released by Arsys Software, and a Mega Drive/Genesis version was released later in 1993. Another port was released for the Game Boy Color in 1999. Java versions for mobile devices appeared in the early 2000s. For the revival title, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, the Macintosh version was included as a secret that could be unlocked. The first level of the game was also made into a secret 3D minigame in The Sands of Time. The NES version of the game's music was composed by Commodore 64 musician Mark Cooksey. While the game does not have credits, he has confirmed that he was the composer to the game.
The SAM Coupé version, released in 1992, is unique because it was programmed unofficially using graphics copied pixel by pixel from paused frames of the Amiga version and only shown to Domark (the UK distributors of Prince of Persia) for potential release near completion. Although the computer had a very small user base and no other mainstream support, the release was allowed because of the very high quality of the conversion and the fact that it would incur almost no further development costs. Due to its independently produced status and the fact that the work was done almost entirely by one individual, Chris White, this version of Prince of Persia has several unique bugs.
The PC Engine/TurboGrafx-CD and Sega Mega-CD versions used the CD format to incorporate animated cutscenes with voice tracks and CD Audio soundtracks. Both versions of the game had modified graphics that seem to be based on the Macintosh version, where the Prince had a turban and colored clothing. Jaffar appears in the final level whereas the enemy encountered in the penultimate level is a champion guard.
The Mega Drive/Genesis port also had improved graphics and background music. The Mega Drive version differs with the Genesis version in that it has four additional unique levels and new kinds of potions (one that freezes time, others that give additional minutes to complete the game and one that causes a small quake and make panels collapse).
The SNES version is also unique. Aside from graphic and aural enhancements, the game has twenty levels instead of the original's thirteen; the original levels that remain have some extra rooms or different routes. Also, there are boss battles that involve not only swordfighting but dodging as well. Unlike other versions, the player is given two hours to rescue the Princess. The prologue is also different, showing the protagonist courting the Princess, then being arrested and beaten. The scene of the protagonist being beaten is only available on the Japanese version of the game; it was censored in the North American and European versions. The SNES version was ported and developed by Nihon Computer System and published by Konami in North America and Europe. This version for the Wii along with the Game Boy Color version for the Nintendo 3DS has been released together by Ubisoft on Nintendo's Virtual Console in January 19, 2012.
In addition, the Apple II version of the game was included as an unlockable content in the Wii version of Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands.
Prince of Persia also got unofficial ports to the ZX Spectrum, programmed by Nicodim and released in 1996, and to the Commodore 64, programmed by Andreas Varga and released on October 16, 2011.
Ubisoft released a remake of the game called Prince of Persia Retro for the iPhone and iPad, which seems to be based on the Macintosh version.
Read more about this topic: Prince Of Persia (1989 video game)
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“O polished perturbation! golden care!
That keep’st the ports of slumber open wide
To many a watchful night.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)