8/10
I think I have to admit that Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time is probably the better game in terms of its balance between action and platforming—and if I had played them in release order, my personal ranking might have been different.
But fate introduced me to this one first, and its level of edginess, art style, and overall atmosphere really left a mark on me. Having recently played the PSP version probably boosted that feeling as well, but I still don’t think it has aged poorly enough to take away from the enjoyment.