Heavenly Sword review

[deathdealer]

Heavenly Sword

 

 

 

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developer: Ninja Theory

 

Genre: Action-adventure

 

players: 1

 

learning curve: 3-5 minutes

 

console ps3

 

Price: $60 U.S.

 

online: no

 

Rating: T

 

 

storyline:

The story revolves around the character Nariko. Nariko is shunned by her clan because she failed to fullfill a prophecy at birth. The clan guards a weapon known as the heavenly sword. The sword can only be held by a god and it drains the lifeforce of a mortal if s/he weilds it. One day, Nariko's clan is being chased by an army led by Kong bohan, who is after the heavenly sword. Nariko's father gives her the sword and tells her to flee. After seeing her father get captured, she uses the sword and vows to save her clan and kill bohan before the sword kills her. The story is told through a flashback and the cutscenes are very cinematic. The script was well thought out and the acting was awesome.

 

score: 10.0

 

graphics:

The graphics are sharp and clear. The background and the cinematics are breath taking. Overall it is very detailed and the graphics here are top notch.

 

score: 9.5

 

gameplay:

The gameplay is mostly sword combat with a few long range attacks (nariko uses the cannon and a launcher at certain levels and the second character,kai, shoots arrows) and if you hold the fire button down you can control the direction of the projectile through the sixaxis controller. Speaking of projectiles, you can pick up objects (swords, debris, food, dead bodies) and throw them at enemies. When nariko gets the heavenly sword there are three stances: fast,strong, and ranged. Each stance has it strengths and weakness and it prevents the gameplay from becoming stale fast since you can't whore out one stance and survive the level. There are loads of enemies to fight and at one point you fight hundreds of people at once.

score:9

 

Sound effects:

The sound effects are pretty good and put you right in that moment. It makes you feel like you are having a sword fight with enemies or monsterous creatures and the explosions sound awesome.The music has a great tune and the music matches the situation correctly. the music has an epic sound, especially in boss battles.

 

score:9

 

enemy A.I.

 

The A.I. in this game can get cheap in this game. Most of the enemies, including bosses, would use a charge move. luckly, if you're quick, you can counter the move and, if you time it right, instantly kill them (excluding the bosses). The A.I. is challenging but not to a point of frustration. The boss battles are very challenging but once you learn thier attacks you can overcome them.

 

score: 8.5

 

 

This game is about 6 hours long, pretty short, but it is a well thought out game. Although not exactly a killer app, it certainly comes close to it and it is definetly worth the $60. Great gameplay, great graphics, and a great storyline.

 

 

 

 

overall: 9.2

Edited September 18, 2007 by deathdealer

[EasyAs]

I think you've overated it personally. Even though the game play looks kinda fun, 6 hours is not worth the 60 bucks. I'd give it a 7.9

[Grandthefter]

I agree with this, especially the storyline. The voice acting and cinematics surpased every other video game i've played so far.

[iRloading]

I think you've overated it personally. Even though the game play looks kinda fun, 6 hours is not worth the 60 bucks. I'd give it a 7.9

aye, but it is an enjoyable, short but sweet experience nonetheless~

 

at least games like the MGS series had an incentive for replayability w/c makes a short-game fun to play again and again~ (ex: collecting dogtags, secrets, etc.)

 

6 hours maybe, but it's an EPIC 6 hours imo

 

I give it an 8.5 ~ 10 if it had more replayability

 

but worth the price for a keeper in the games library

[deathdealer]

I think you've overated it personally. Even though the game play looks kinda fun, 6 hours is not worth the 60 bucks. I'd give it a 7.9

quality over quanity my friend. There is still hell mode and unlockables so that does add a few more hours.

[sainraja]

I don't think time dictates how fun a game is.......it just means there isn't more of what you enjoy about the game. Heavenly Sword is a good game and there is no way you can master all the combos with the first play through.

[deathdealer]

I don't think time dictates how fun a game is.......it just means there isn't more of what you enjoy about the game. Heavenly Sword is a good game and there is no way you can master all the combos with the first play through.

totally agree with you. For all who think that fun depends on time, play heavenly sword and you'll change your mind.

[Glycerine]

Very fun game. I could not get over how well the voice acting was and this is the only game were they did the eyes right. Hell Mode could have been a bit more harder. I love playing as Kia. Went back and played her levels about 6 differnt times.