How to Master Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones Java Game

Do you know that how good you are at this game and how far you get depends almost entirely on how well you understand the controls? Not your reflexes, not your memory, just knowing what each button actually does and when to press it. So today, I am going to walk you through everything I learned from playing Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones on mobile, the AVA version, so you do not have to figure it out the hard way like I did.

This is not some generic overview. I am going to show you exactly what buttons to press, what the menu looks like, what I did when I got stuck, and what mistakes I made so you can skip them entirely. Let us get started.

Game Info Table

Attribute	Details
Game Title	Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones (AVA Mobile Version)
Developer	Gameloft
Genre	Action Adventure / Platformer
Platform	Mobile (Java based)
Controls	Numeric keypad (2 8 4 6 5 1 3 7 9 0 *)
Game Modes	Story Mode, Survival Mode
Difficulty	Normal / Hard
Levels	9 total (including 2 chariot races)
Estimated Playtime	4 to 8 hours

History and Background

Back in 2005, Ubisoft released Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones on PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, and PC. It was the conclusion of the Sands of Time trilogy. The Prince returns to Babylon only to find it under siege by the Vizier, who has stolen the throne and captured the women of the city. The Prince also discovers that the Sands of Time have unleashed a Dark Prince inside him, a violent alter ego that constantly fights for control.

But not everyone had a console. So Gameloft, known for their mobile adaptations, shrunk this epic down to fit on a phone screen.

The mobile version is not a perfect copy. It is simplified, with fewer moves, smaller levels, and a control scheme built around a numeric keypad. But it still captures the core feeling: wall running through Babylon, fighting enemies with combos, and dealing with the Dark Prince transformation.

What makes the mobile version unique? Quicktime events are built into the gameplay. You will see button prompts appear on screen during certain actions, and you need to press the right button at the right time. The Prince can also collect throwing daggers and throw them at enemies or buttons. There is a Survival Mode where you fight endless waves of enemies to see how many kills you can rack up. And unlike the console version, you can actually control when the Dark Prince transforms using fire orbs. It is not automatic.

Screenshots

Key Features Breakdown

The Story

The Prince arrives in Babylon alone. The city is burning. The Vizier has taken the throne and captured women in the harem. On your way to the palace, you save a woman who tells you what is happening.

The Sands of Time have created a Dark Prince inside you, a second personality that wants control. You fight the Vizier, rescue your people, and eventually battle the Dark Prince in a spirit world to reclaim your body.

Combat System

The mobile version uses a simplified combo system. You have a primary sword attack, you can pick up secondary weapons from defeated enemies, and you can throw daggers. Enemies include basic soldiers, archers who shoot multiple arrows in a row, shielded enemies with special attacks, and a Hydra boss in later versions.

The Speed Kill System

This is crucial. When you sneak up behind an enemy undetected, a prompt appears. You need to press the action button at specific timed intervals to execute a stealth kill. Miss the timing, and the enemy throws you off. This is way more efficient than fighting head on.

The Dark Prince

When you collect fire orbs or reach certain points, you can transform into the Dark Prince. He uses the Daggertail, a bladed whip fused to his arm, instead of a secondary weapon. He can attack at mid range and grapple across gaps. But here is the catch: the Dark Prince constantly loses health. You need to collect sand orbs to stay alive, or find water to transform back to normal. This creates a risk reward system. Dark Prince is powerful but time limited.

Chariot Races

Two levels are pure chariot races. You ride at high speed, dodging obstacles and fighting off enemies. These are the most frustrating levels if you do not know the controls, but they are also the most thrilling.

Throwing Daggers

You can collect daggers and throw them at enemies from a distance or hit distant buttons to open doors. This adds a puzzle element to combat.

Survival Mode

Available from the main menu, this is an endless horde mode. Enemies keep coming, and you score points based on kills. Great for practicing combat without worrying about story progress.

In the Options Menu:

• Sound: Toggle music and effects on or off. Use 4 and 6 to move between options, 5 to toggle.
• Difficulty: Choose between Normal and Hard. Honestly? I played both and did not notice a huge difference. Enemies on Hard might take 2 to 3 more hits to kill, but the patterns are the same. If you are new, stick to Normal.

*In Game Pause Menu (Press ):

• Resume — Press 5 to go back to the game.
• Restart — Press 5 to restart the current level. Warning: This loses progress since your last checkpoint.
• Quit — Press 5 to return to the main menu. Warning: Make sure you have hit a checkpoint or save point first.

What NOT to click: Do not press Quit during a boss fight unless you are genuinely stuck. You will lose all progress to the last checkpoint. Do not ignore the Help section when you first start. It teaches you the Speed Kill timing, which you will need.

Button	Function
2	Jump / Climb Up / Interact (contextual)
8	Crouch / Drop Down / Slide
4	Move Left
6	Move Right
5	Attack / Action / Confirm / Speed Kill prompt
1	Throw Dagger / Diagonal Up Left
3	Throw Dagger / Diagonal Up Right
7	Diagonal Down Left
9	Diagonal Down Right
0	Transform to or from Dark Prince (when available)
*	Pause Menu

First Level Practical Walkthrough: The Ramparts

Let me walk you through what actually happens when you start playing.

Launch the game. Press 5 on “New Game.” Watch or skip the intro cutscene by pressing 5 again.

The first screen: You are on a rooftop. The Prince is standing still.

Movement basics: Press and hold 6 to walk right. Press and hold 4 to walk left. The Prince moves at a fixed speed. There is no run button, just walk.

Your first jump: You will see a gap ahead. Do not just press 2. Here is what I did wrong the first three times: I pressed 2 while standing still, and the Prince barely jumped. I fell into the gap every time.

The correct way: Hold 6 to run toward the edge. Keep holding 6 as you press 2. The Prince does a running jump that covers more distance. This is the single most important technique in the entire game. Running plus Jump equals Success. Standing plus Jump equals Death.

Your first wall run: You will reach a wall with scratch marks. Run toward it (hold 6) and press 2 when you are close. The Prince runs up the wall and grabs the ledge above. If you press 2 too early, he just jumps into the wall and falls. If you press too late, he runs past it. The timing is about one body length away from the wall.

Your first combat: A soldier appears. Here is what NOT to do: spam 5 repeatedly. I did this. The soldier blocks most hits, and when he counter attacks, you take damage.

The correct combat flow:

What I did when I messed up: The first time I tried a Speed Kill, I panicked and pressed 5 too early. The enemy grabbed me and threw me down. I learned: wait for the prompt to fully appear, then press 5. Do not anticipate it.

Advanced Techniques To Play Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones Java Game

Combo Attacks: After dodging with 4 or 6, press 5 three times rapidly for a basic combo. If you have a secondary weapon (picked up from a defeated enemy), the combo changes and does more damage. Secondary weapons break after a certain number of hits, so use them wisely.

The Dark Prince Transformation: When you see a fire orb or reach a transformation point, press 0 to become the Dark Prince. His controls are similar, but:

• He uses the Daggertail for mid range attacks (press 5 from slightly farther away).
• He can grapple across gaps by pressing 2 near certain hooks or torches.
• His health constantly drains. You need to kill enemies or collect sand orbs to stay alive.
• To transform back, find water and step into it. This is automatic. You cannot choose to stay as Dark Prince near water.

What happened to me: In the sewers level, I transformed into Dark Prince and went on a rampage. I killed five enemies, felt unstoppable, and then my health hit zero because I could not find sand orbs in time. I died and had to restart from the last checkpoint. Now I transform only when necessary and always look for sand orbs immediately.

Throwing Daggers: Press 1 or 3 to throw a dagger in a diagonal direction. These are limited. You see your count on screen. Use them for:

• Hitting archers before they spot you
• Hitting distant switches to open doors
• Weakening enemies before close combat

What I learned: Do not waste daggers on basic soldiers you can Speed Kill. Save them for archers and shielded enemies who are hard to reach.

Chariot Race Controls: This is where most players quit. Here is how to survive:

• 6 = Accelerate / Move right on the road
• 4 = Brake / Move left on the road
• 2 = Jump over obstacles
• 5 = Attack enemies on adjacent chariots

The strategy: Stay in the middle of the road when possible. When you see an obstacle, press 2 to jump. When an enemy chariot pulls alongside, press 5 to attack. If you are about to crash, press 4 to brake hard. Better to slow down than die.

My chariot race disaster: The first race, I held 6 the entire time and crashed into every obstacle. I died in 30 seconds. The second try, I tapped 6 to maintain speed but released it before obstacles, giving me time to react. I also learned to watch the road ahead, not the Prince. Look at what is coming, not where you are.

Level by Level Quick Tips

Level 1 — The Ramparts: Learn running jumps and wall runs. Practice Speed Kills on the first few enemies.

Level 2 — The Streets of Babylon: More enemies, more archers. Use 1 or 3 to take out archers before they shoot. Shielded enemies appear. Dodge their charge attack with 4 or 6, then counter.

Level 3 — The Sewers: First Dark Prince section. Transform with 0, but watch your health. Kill quickly, find sand orbs, and revert at the water pool.

Level 4 — The Chariot Race: Tap 6 instead of holding it. Jump (2) early, not at the last second. Attack (5) only when enemies are directly beside you.

Level 5 — The Palace: Heavy platforming. Wall runs, pole swings, and precise jumps. If you fall, you usually restart at the last solid ground, not the beginning.

Level 6 — The Harem: Rescue section. More Speed Kill opportunities. Enemies patrol in patterns. Watch their routes, then strike from behind.

Level 7 — The Second Chariot Race: Harder than the first. More obstacles, more enemy chariots. Brake (4) more often. The final stretch has a sequence of three jumps. Press 2 three times in rhythm.

Level 8 — The Vizier’s Tower: Platforming and combat mix. The Hydra boss (in version 1.1.5) requires dodging its shockwave attack with 2 (jump), then countering with 5 when its head is down.

Level 9 — The Final Battle: You fight the Dark Prince in the spirit world. This is a series of quicktime events. When a button prompt appears, press 5 immediately. Miss three times, and you restart the sequence. The timing is faster than regular Speed Kills. Stay focused.

Beginner Mistakes to Avoid

• There is a group of enemies I cannot beat normally
• I need the Daggertail to grapple across a gap
• I have plenty of sand orbs nearby

And I always revert at the first water source I see.

Comparison: Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones (AVA) vs. Assassin’s Creed: Altaïr’s Chronicles (Mobile)

I played both games on mobile, and they feel similar at first. Both are action adventure games with parkour and stealth. But the differences matter.

Aspect	Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones (AVA)	Assassin’s Creed: Altaïr’s Chronicles (Mobile)
Combat Style	Rhythm based combos with dodge mechanics. You need to time dodges and counters.	Simpler combat. Mash attack and you usually win. Less depth.
Platforming	Momentum based wall running. Running jumps require timing and precision.	Simpler climbing. Less parkour depth, more straightforward platforming.
Control Scheme	Numeric keypad with contextual actions. Every button has multiple uses depending on situation.	Similar keypad, but controls feel less responsive in combat.
Story Depth	Direct console adaptation. Dark, mature narrative with the split personality theme.	Original side story. Lighter tone, less emotional weight.
Difficulty	Higher. Requires precise timing. Checkpoints are spaced out.	More forgiving. Checkpoints are frequent, and combat is easier.
Unique Mechanic	Dark Prince transformation with health drain. Risk reward system.	Eagle Vision to detect hidden enemies and objectives.
Stealth	Speed Kill system with timed button presses. Failure means open combat.	Basic stealth kills. Less timing pressure, more forgiving.
My Experience	“In Assassin’s Creed mobile, I could brute force most fights. In Prince of Persia AVA, I actually had to learn the dodge then counter rhythm. The first chariot race made me restart 8 times. AC never punished me that hard. But when I finally beat the chariot race in PoP, the satisfaction was way bigger than anything in AC.”

What I prefer about PoP: The combat has weight. When you dodge an attack and counter, it feels earned. The Dark Prince transformation adds tension. You are powerful but dying. Every decision matters.

What AC does better: Accessibility. If you want a mobile action game you can play casually on a bus, AC is better. PoP demands focus. You cannot half play it.

Pro Tips from My Playthrough

The Hidden Health Refill: In Level 5 (The Palace), there is a section where you wall run across a gap and most players drop down immediately. If you instead wall run to the highest point and jump left, there is a hidden ledge with a health potion. I found this by accident after falling three times.

Skip the Long Cutscenes: During the final level, there are several cutscenes before the Dark Prince battle. You can skip most by pressing 5 repeatedly. Do not skip the first one though. It explains the quicktime pattern.

Best Practice Spot: Level 2 (The Streets) has a section with three basic soldiers and one archer. I replayed this section five times to practice my dodge counter timing. Once I could beat it without taking damage, the rest of the game felt easier.

When to Fight vs. When to Run: Not every enemy needs to die. In the Harem level, there are sections where you can wall run past enemies instead of fighting them. If you are low on health, skip the fight. The game does not penalize you for avoiding combat.

The Dagger Switch: If you have daggers and a secondary weapon, you might wonder which to use. My rule: daggers for archers and distant switches, secondary weapon for groups of melee enemies, fists for single enemies you can Speed Kill.

Survival Mode for Practice: If you are struggling with combat, play Survival Mode for 10 minutes. It throws endless enemies at you, and you learn dodge timing fast because there is no other option. I went from dying in 30 seconds to lasting 5 minutes after three Survival Mode sessions.

Conclusion

Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones on mobile is not a game you button mash through. It asks you to learn its language. When to dodge. When to strike. When to transform. When to run. The numeric keypad controls feel weird at first, but once your fingers know the layout, the game opens up.

Save often. Learn the dodge timing. Do not give up on the chariot race. I promise it clicks eventually. And remember: the Dark Prince is a tool, not a crutch. Use him wisely.