Worse than the original? Certainly, but it's far from awful. The basic platforming and nature of the puzzles have remained the same, the combat has improved but still lacks substance, and overall we wish they'd worked on improving Sands of Time rather than taking the series in an entirely new direction. Remember the strikingly beautiful palace from the first game? Lush Persian architecture, flowing silk and pristine hallways? Well, they've been replaced by a series of charcoal-grey castles and minging-brown caves that do little to inflame the senses. They're still there, but they're unimaginative and tedious in comparison with the first game's ingenuity. The puzzles and platforming that made Warrior Within's predecessor so special have also taken a backseat to the combat. Yet the combat still feels airy and light, which is ultimately the game's downfall, since you spend most of your time in the midst of battle. You can toss enemies into each other, lop their heads off, split them down the middle, chuck them into pits, impale them, slit their throats and slash them to ribbons. Along with new context sensitive attacks, such as being able to swing on poles, you can now string together a dizzying amount of twirling combos.
