The Heavenly Sword Thread...

LookingFor

So, this releases this week, finally. It's been one of the higher profile PS3 titles from Sony. Currently tracking a 81% average on gamerankings.com. The consensus seems to be that it's a bit short, but sweet.

A couple of reviews..

Gamespot

Add it all up and Heavenly Sword is a fantastic game from start to finish. It's just a shame that it's not longer. The developer made the wise decision to keep the action tight by not including any fetch quests or backtracking, but skilled players will probably finish the game in a little more than six hours, and it probably won't take longer than eight hours for anyone else. There are some DVD-style extras to unlock and you can play it again on "hell mode" once you've beaten it; just don't expect to get much more than a great weekend for your $60. If you're OK with that, you won't be disappointed in Heavenly Sword.

Overall: 8.0

1up

For those looking for the next big triple-A action game, Heavenly Sword is close, but not quite there. To its credit, there's a scene near the end of the game where you essentially go bowling through crowds of enemies -- it makes you realize just how epic games like this are going to be a few years down the road. But for now, Heavenly Sword does one better than hint at the future. It's an example of developers doing a good job being inspired by good taste, rather than looking up the recipe and coming up with something that's a bit different, but not quite as good as the original. Heavenly Sword is on the positive side of that line: solid in its own right and definitely worth playing.

Besides, can a game that lets you pick up a body, throw it, and tilt it with the PS3 controller as it flies at other enemies be bad?

Overall: 8.0

I've been keeping an eye on it from the start, so I'll probably pick it up despite the short length. May not be a bad thing for me with how few games I actually finish these days! But it's a shame there's no online mode or anything.

Zapp Brannigan

Will hold off on this. It looks gorgeous but I can't stand games that end just as I'm getting into them.
I might pick it up of I see a 2nd hand one.

lee_baby_simms

I think i'll rent it for a week rather than drop 75 quid on it.

I was well impressed by the demo and will definately be picking this up straight after work on Friday.

Clover

very tempted but i don't know if i'll pay the €75 ( if it's that hight ) , might just rent it for a week.

Ciaran500

Where rents PS3 games?

Clover

think xtravision do but i'll know for sure tomorrow unless someone who works there can clear that up and save me a trip into xtravision.

notahappycamper

lee_baby_simms wrote:

I think i'll rent it for a week rather than drop 75 quid on it.

It's €51.49 delivered on Play.com.

WarZoneBrother

lee_baby_simms wrote:

I think i'll rent it for a week rather than drop 75 quid on it.

think i might just do the same...should really rent games for a a few days to see what there like before you spend 70-75euro on them...i got ninja gaiden knowing the demo was good but tbh it wasnt a great game and if i rented it i would not have paid 70euro to buy it..

lee_baby_simms

notahappycamper wrote:

It's €51.49 delivered on Play.com.

I hear ya but it just looks like the type of game that you play through once and not go near again. Theres no multiplayer and it doesnt have Oblivion like longevity. I picked up the darkness on the ps3 for 70 quid and a few days later i finished it and had that horrible feeling that i should have just rented it for a fraction of the price.

Really looking forward to playing this nonetheless.

Ciaran500 wrote:

Where rents PS3 games?

Xtra-Vision do a weeks rental for 10 quid.

Zapp Brannigan

It's a first party title ain't it? If so it won't be more than 60 bones.

Clover

Zapp Brannigan wrote:

It's a first party title ain't it? If so it won't be more than 60 bones.

priced it today in smyths , xtravision , hmv and gamestop and there all saying €59.99 . so in smyths it will be €59.99 - 10% with there loyalty card plus xtavision said they would be renting it on friday but that may not happen.

steviec

Well I just completed the first chapter and enjoying the game so far.

The gameplay is mostly as in the demo, with some shooting sections to spice it up. Really enjoyed the bit playing as Kai, guiding arrows in slow motion towards enemies is enormously satisfying and probably my favourite sequence of the first chapter.

Loving the setting and story telling so far - King Bohan is looking like a great bad guy with a sense of humour from the few scenes involving him. Really enjoyed the battle against a bunch of his henchman with him overlooking and throwing in insults.

Mostly button mashing my way through right now. The blocking / counter system is a little weird because when I make an effort to use it it usually involves long stare downs while I wait for enemies to attack so I have something to counter - hopefully that's just early level encounters who don't attack often because it never seemed so pronounced in the demo. By the end of the first chapter it seemed to be picking up when all the stances were added and things got a bit more frenetic. It's all a bit mindless still, but at the same time its fun to just watch the beautiful battle play out and enjoy the journey through the game. Will be interesting when I start getting to more difficult bits.

steviec

Well, about two thirds through chapter 2 and calling it a night.

Still enjoying the game lots - the boss designs are very weird. The first boss really seemed like he belonged in a Metal Gear Solid game, particularly with his camp speech. My first attempt at fighting him I got slaughtered - that was when I was button bashing. Second attempt and it was a walk over. This was mainly due to not losing 90% of my health to his henchman rather than the boss fight itself.

There was what I think was an homage to Donkey Kong during the level too, where I was running up some stairs avoiding the barrels being rolled down at me. There's a lot of little gameplay segments like that (often involving the excellent ranged weapons and after touch system) which break up the fighting nicely and makes sure it doesn't get monotonous, which it definitely would otherwise. I'd say the fighting system is average to decent, but the other parts around it add up to make a much better overall experience than the core gameplay would suggest.

cashman

I would say it would be around €70 in xtravision the new games usually are.

notahappycamper

Clover wrote:

priced it today in smyths , xtravision , hmv and gamestop and there all saying €59.99 . so in smyths it will be €59.99 - 10% with there loyalty card plus xtavision said they would be renting it on friday but that may not happen.

Play.com it's €51.49 delivered.

Zapp Brannigan

Think I actually will buy it, complete it and then trade it in for the boxed version of Warhawk next friday.

Got it for €59.99 in Game yesterday. I'm very very impressed with this game. Best visuals I have ever seen and it plays great. Every PS3 owner should play Heavenly Sword.

steviec

Quite a bit into it now. I'm on the fourth (which judging by where the story is going, probably final) chapter and really been enjoying it.

My favourite bits by far have been the bits where you control Kai, which I guess may say something about the core combat mechanics, if I enjoy the shooting based side quests more. But the character of Kai which is brilliant, and the crossbow / slow mo / aftertouch combo makes for incredibly enjoyable and satisfying gameplay.

The fighting is still rarely more than button mashing outside of boss fights, but I don't really mind because there's enough distractions to keep me entertained and I'm enjoying the story and atmosphere of the game a lot. I'll probably have it completed by the time the weekend is out.

AnCapaillMor

Quite like it, but i'm the opposite of you, i hate the arrow bits. On the bit now with protect the master, it drove me nuts, i had to turn it off.

iBoards

AnCapaillMor wrote:

Quite like it, but i'm the opposite of you, i hate the arrow bits. On the bit now with protect the master, it drove me nuts, i had to turn it off.

Yeah arrow and later cannon sections were horid. (well that's unfair. They were grand the first few times, but after you have done the same thing hundreds of times - it loses any kind of goodness and the novelty wears VERY thin)

Took me 6 1/2 hours to complete this game.

My issues are you don't really need to master the fighting, simply get off one or two combos and learn when to press your button to auto counter and the battles become much of muchness.

Graphically it's lovely but.... the lack of proper camera means you always feel you cant really enjoy this world, it feels at time as restrictive as any old 2D game in the sence that you can never see behind the camera. At times you want to spin the camera around and appreciate the attention to detail, but you simply cant.

The biggest problem I have is that... its not as good as God of War 2 on nearly ALL levels.

The bosses are ok, but forgettable. The cutscenes are pretty but it's a shame they are not real-time (done to hide the loading screens).

Also after finishing it.... I dont feel any incentive to play through it again.

This was not the killer APP Sony promised us. If GTA IV hadn't been put back till spring, I think this game would have suffered at retail.

Will be trading in my copy on friday for Warhawk.

AnCapaillMor

got onto the final battle last night. the guy handed me my ass, was too knackered for a 2nd attempt.

quite enjoyed the game, visually impressive, its a crying shame that its so short tho. took me a while to get used to motion aftertouch with the arrows, but when i got used to it, it was one of my favourite bits of the game. Is Kai meant to be bjork?

iBoards

AnCapaillMor wrote:

Is Kai meant to be bjork?

Basically she's Golem mixed with Bjork with that extra annoyingness of Jar Jar Binks.


In the words of comic book guy from simpsons 'worst character ever'....