The iOS port runs at a stable 30 FPS on devices from iPhone 5s and iPad Air onward. Visuals are slightly downgraded from console—reduced shadow quality, lower texture resolution, and simpler water effects—but the art direction remains intact. The dark, gritty atmosphere (a deliberate shift from the first game’s warm Arabian Nights tone) translates well to Retina displays.

Audio is a strong point: The heavy metal soundtrack by Godsmack’s I Stand Alone sets an aggressive tone, though some ambient tracks are shortened. Voice acting remains the original console recording.

Warrior Within was also released on PSP as part of the Prince of Persia Revelations double pack. That version is far closer to the console original.

The platforming elements of Warrior Within translated more successfully to the iOS format than the combat. The Prince’s acrobatic repertoire—running along walls, swinging on bars, and leaping between pillars—was largely automated or simplified in terms of input.

The "Sands of Time" mechanics (rewind, slow-motion) were mapped to easily accessible buttons. The rewind function, in particular, benefited from the touch interface; tapping a button to reverse a fatal fall felt intuitive and responsive. The puzzle sections, which involved rotating levers and navigating clockwork machinery, were well-suited to the casual, stop-start nature of mobile gaming sessions.

For a 2010 mobile game, it was a technical marvel. For a 2026 player expecting a console-like experience, it feels like a “best-of” remix.

Before we discuss how to play it today, we must respect the port that started it all. In 2010, Ubisoft partnered with a dedicated mobile developer (often credited to Gameloft’s internal teams) to bring Warrior Within to the then-revolutionary iOS platform. This wasn't a watered-down Java game; it was a near-faithful adaptation of the PlayStation 2 original.

Of course, translating a game designed for a DualShock controller to a glass slab was never going to be seamless. The controls are the most polarizing aspect of the iOS version in hindsight.

Gameloft utilized a "virtual joystick" on the left and context-sensitive buttons on the right. For traversal—running along walls, swinging on bars, and climbing pillars—the system worked surprisingly well. The platforming was rhythmic, and the touch inputs were responsive enough to handle the Prince’s acrobatics.

Combat, however, was a different beast. On consoles, Warrior Within introduced a deep dual-wielding combat system with combos, grapples, and decapitations. On iOS, this was streamlined significantly. The complexity of juggling two weapons and throwing enemies was mapped to taps and swipes. While it lacked the granular precision of a physical controller, Gameloft implemented a "lock-on" system that automated the camera, allowing players to focus on the timing of their attacks rather than wrestling with the right analog stick. It wasn't perfect—accidental deaths due to mistimed rolls were common—but it was playable, and for a mobile game in 2010-2011, that was a victory.

If you’ve played the original, you’ll recognize: