Like any other entertainment medium, it isn't hard to point out certain qualities that suggest whether a game was developed in Japan or abroad. Japanese games tend to be very character driven, boast a more artistic visual style and are often a part of a long-standing series. ("Final Fantasy XII" rings a bell.)

"Prince of Persia: Warrior Within" (known as "Kenshi no Kororo" here in Japan) stands as an unabashed product of Western game design. (French-Canadian design, in this case.)

The sequel to the critically acclaimed "Prince of Persia: Sands of Time," "Warrior Within" has players once again following the adventures of an accursed prince.

When "Sands of Time" was released in 2003, it won over critics with its clever puzzles, likable lead character and dreamy Disney-like adaptation of ancient Persia. The prince is back in "Warrior Within," but the Disney overtones have been scraped in favor of a violent, sexed-up, adults-only sequel.

And in preparation for this grittier version, the prince got himself an extreme makeover. Formally an upstanding yet naive young prince, Ubisoft has dressed him up in a Goth-rock wardroom with a dirty mouth to complement it.

What happened to our clumsy but lovable prince?

Disappointing sales happened, as did the success of the cop-shooter game "Grand Theft Auto." Now game publishers such as Ubisoft are pressured into making "mature" titles in order to tap the lucrative new appeal of edgy, antisocial games.

But like those Goth trendsetters in Harajuku, the prince's generic rage runs only skin deep. Thankfully there's a pretty good game underneath his dark new facade.

Just like in "Sands of Time," the prince wields a mystical dagger that allows him to manipulate time. This comes in handy as much of the action in "Prince of Persia" involves tricky jumps over bottomless pits and careful precision when avoiding deadly traps.

Misgauged your leap of faith? Simply tap the "L1" button on the PlayStation 2 pad to reverse time and try that jump once more. Naturally -- to keep the game challenging -- the dagger can be used only a limited number of times.

Ubisoft did a great job designing levels as the prince's carnival-like acrobatics are as fun as ever.

To accompany the prince's dark look is a renewed emphasis on combat. In previous games, the prince would battle enemies with ballet-like maneuvers and poke at them with a small dagger. In "Warrior Within," he is packing a serious arsenal of deadly cutlery. Swords, axes, maces and daggers can all be used to slash apart enemy soldiers in a gory celebration of gushing blood and maimed limbs.

It's sad to see the "Prince of Persia" series go in this direction.

For those indifferent to controversy, "Warrior Within" offers a long adventure that includes plenty of great action and memorable battles. The quest to reverse the prince's doomed fate will take players through an impressive number of environments, many of which are haunted by Dahaka, a nasty giant that stalks the prince throughout his quest.

New to the "Prince of Persia" franchise is an online mode available exclusively with the Xbox version of the game.

Those with a subscription to Microsoft's online portal gain access to two new modes, Arena Combat and Time Attack. Each competitive in nature, players can either test their ability to traverse an obstacle course with the clock running in Time Attack, or flex their virtual muscles in Arena Combat by battling wave after wave of enemies. Players' personal high scores are then uploaded to Xbox Live for the world to see.

But you may find the online features somewhat lonely now that the game has sat in American store shelves almost a year and with the next sequel right around the corner. "Prince of Persia 3: The Two Thrones," due out this December in North America, promises to address the split personalities of the prince -- his boyish persona in the first game and his devilish makeover in "Warrior Within."

It's an intriguing premise that may be worth waiting for. Or, take the safe route by playing the first title in the series, "Sands of Time," for an adventure worthy of its blockbuster status.

But for now, Japan is only getting the Xbox and PlayStation 2 versions of "Warrior Within" despite Ubisoft having released a version of the game for nearly every marketable platform in North America and Europe, including the PC, Game Boy and GameCube. For multi-console owners, be sure to pick up the Xbox version as it features a much smoother graphics performance and includes some exclusive online features to boot.

Don't bother with either version, however, if you're turned off by games with unimaginative themes and focus-grouped adult content.