Heavenly Sword - IGN review (UH OH INCOMING)

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mepaco said:
I think this is something that is being ignored by too many people who are determined to love the game no matter what. I bet you did enjoy the demo but pay attention to what the reviewers are criticizing the game for ... specifically all the things that cannot be determined from a demo. Repetitive, too short, etc. These problems won't show up in a demo so even if you loved the short time you had with it, renting first is still probably the best option.

The game magazine I used to read (it was the best Italian magazine imho but closed some years ago) gave one of the games I liked the most (Blood Omen:Legacy of Kain) a 6.5, but the text of the review highlighted every feature of the game, so to me that game, which I was anticipating, still looked like the game I wanted, and I bought it and I loved it.
So while I didn't agree with the score, the text was informative, without the reviewer's opinion getting too much in the way and clouding the "reporting" about what the game did and how it did it.
That's why I believe that numbers don't mean much, and the text is what matters. Not even the opinion of the reviewers, unless one knows what their general likes and dislikes are and if they are similar/different from his own, but what they are able to convey to us through the review about the flaw and perks of a game, as the only real opinion I need to decide if I want to buy a game is only mine (because I'm simply too awesome to accept someone else's opinion =p).
 
Looks like HS could be the second most polarizing action game ever made behind God Hand. What's strange is that complaints seem to mostly revolve around the game being too short with the general gameplay being good.
 
Lain said:
The game magazine I used to read (it was the best Italian magazine imho but closed some years ago) gave one of the games I liked the most (Blood Omen:Legacy of Kain) a 6.5, but the text of the review highlighted every feature of the game, so to me that game, which I was anticipating, still looked like the game I wanted, and I bought it and I loved it.
So while I didn't agree with the score, the text was informative, without the reviewer's opinion getting too much in the way and clouding the "reporting" about what the game did and how it did it.
That's why I believe that numbers don't mean much, and the text is what matters. Not even the opinion of the reviewers, unless one knows what their general likes and dislikes are and if they are similar/different from his own, but what they are able to convey to us through the review about the flaw and perks of a game, as the only real opinion I need to decide if I want to buy a game is only mine (because I'm simply too awesome to accept someone else's opinion =p).

I agree completely. Having said that, enough reviews in a certain range could at least indicate that you should be cautious before giving up your hard earned money. Better to spend the extra $5 on a rental than spend $60 and hate it.
 
I can't believe people were actually thinking HS would be an amazing action game :lol

I dunno what you're talking about, because he gave the king of action games, Ninja Gaiden Sigma, a 9.3. ;)

Last time I checked, the king of action games was, and still is, God Hand :D
 
Jon_Danger said:
a 7 is pretty good, seems like the gameplay is kinda blah

well, at least the story is good!
yeah. it's not a terrible score. the problem is that it was hyped as a AAA title, and it wasn't the skeptics that did that. it was the press and sony fans.

a 7 is a terrible score for a supposed AAA title.

it's entirely unfair that HS was positioned and hyped as a AAA title but to all the sony fans that did just that... you gambled and the backlash that's happening is of your own creation.
 
Vyse The Legend said:
I dunno what you're talking about, because he gave the king of action games, Ninja Gaiden Sigma, a 9.3. ;)

No way in hell does Ninja Gaiden Sigma deserve a 9.3, I must say. The game has incredibly good action, and an incredibly good combat system...but literally nothing beyond that.

DMC3 really blows it out of the water...in every way but the combat (which is different, but equally good...more of a freeform combat system).
 
I have been waiting for the reviews since the Sony conference at E3 06. The thread went something like this:

Sonyfan_1: OMG @ Heavenly Sword!!!
Sonyfan_2: OMGOMGOMG!!!
Sonyfan_3: I think I just came!
Jive Turkey: Looks pretty but I don't see anything special...
Sonyfan_2: GTFO TROLL!!!
Sonyfan_3: WTF? Get that shit out of here!
Sonyfan_1: Oh God! So fucking sold!!!
Sonyfan_1: Die in a fire Jive Turkey!

Yeah...
 
Reviews won't kill the hype. The demo did its job in the sense that it sold a lot of people on the game. It will definitely end up being one of the highest selling, if not the highest selling, game on the PS3 so far.
 
Absinthe said:
Reviews won't kill the hype. The demo did its job in the sense that it sold a lot of people on the game. It will definitely end up being one of the highest selling, if not the highest selling, game on the PS3 so far.

Fuck no dude.
 
Just watched the video review and the game looks pretty good except for the crazy choppy combat. It's weird, the game is all about combat yet the animations are so choppy.
 
vertopci said:
Damn right. Wanna make something of it?!


Godhand can have that title among the marginal weird folks on the internet, but Ninja Gaiden is and always will be the true supreme chinpoko royal crown champ.
 
Jive Turkey said:
I have been waiting for the reviews since the Sony conference at E3 06. The thread went something like this:

Sonyfan_1: OMG @ Heavenly Sword!!!
Sonyfan_2: OMGOMGOMG!!!
Sonyfan_3: I think I just came!
Jive Turkey: Looks pretty but I don't see anything special...
Sonyfan_2: GTFO TROLL!!!
Sonyfan_3: WTF? Get that shit out of here!
Sonyfan_1: Oh God! So fucking sold!!!
Sonyfan_1: Die in a fire Jive Turkey!

Yeah...

At least you had the balls to say that...I was too scared :(

Mamesj said:
Godhand can have that title among the marginal weird folks on the internet, but Ninja Gaiden is and always will be the true supreme chinpoko royal crown champ.

Godhand > DMC3 > NG
 
glad as fucking hell I didn't buy a ps3 yet. The wait is on.

Warhawk? Uncharted? Ratchet? Let's see how you do.

I have lots of faith in ratchet and Uncharted.. been hearing mixed stuff about warhawk... and lately I'm REALLY hyped for Killzone.

Been trying to justify buying a ps3 but it's just not there. One game I want (resistance), the rest I already have on 360
 
drohne said:
i really liked the combat in the demo, so this is a definite buy for me, but i'm worried by the information that a good chunk of the game's brief playtime is spent sniping with kai, using some gimped non-heavenly sword, etc. i wish games would stick to what they do best. forget reviewers and their 'repetitive'

The sniping missions can be a frustrating experience. Esp. the first Kai mission, which is setup in an avoidable manner: enemies behind lots of architecture and trees. They do not feel too long though, and can be fun in their own way (ooo, lemme try the head, ooo, now the leg, ok, can I get his left hand? etc.)

See our review if you wish -- http://www.zapak.com/ztvplaying.z?gid=2534&gnrid=5&sgnrid=5
 
Jive Turkey said:
I have been waiting for the reviews since the Sony conference at E3 06. The thread went something like this:

Sonyfan_1: OMG @ Heavenly Sword!!!
Sonyfan_2: OMGOMGOMG!!!
Sonyfan_3: I think I just came!
Jive Turkey: Looks pretty but I don't see anything special...
Sonyfan_2: GTFO TROLL!!!
Sonyfan_3: WTF? Get that shit out of here!
Sonyfan_1: Oh God! So fucking sold!!!
Sonyfan_1: Die in a fire Jive Turkey!

Yeah...

I didnt think the game look like it would be fun until I played the demo, that is what sold me on the game.
 
bounchfx said:
glad as fucking hell I didn't buy a ps3 yet. The wait is on.

Warhawk? Uncharted? Ratchet? Let's see how you do.

I have lots of faith in ratchet and Uncharted.. been hearing mixed stuff about warhawk... and lately I'm REALLY hyped for Killzone.

Been trying to justify buying a ps3 but it's just not there. One game I want (resistance), the rest I already have on 360

Mixed stuff about WOWhawk?! Hell no! The game is too damn fun.
 
Absinthe said:
Reviews won't kill the hype. The demo did its job in the sense that it sold a lot of people on the game. It will definitely end up being one of the highest selling, if not the highest selling, game on the PS3 so far.

Eh, I'm not too sure on that.

I just think that the lack of replayability will force some people to rent this game rather than purchase it for $60.
 
Mamesj said:
Godhand can have that title among the marginal weird folks on the internet, but Ninja Gaiden is and always will be the true supreme chinpoko royal crown champ.

Haven't played GodHand...

But DMC3 > NG.

DMC3 has more flexibility in the combat, has better characters, better level design, far better bosses, tighter controls (though that's just a design decision), and better presentation. Only thing NG could possibly have over it is it's combo system.
 
bounchfx said:
I have lots of faith in ratchet and Uncharted.. been hearing mixed stuff about warhawk... and lately I'm REALLY hyped for Killzone.
You mean you've heard a shitload of good stuff from almost everyone who's tried it before, and 1 PSM review :D

Honestly though, most of this year's PS3 lineup is drought filler IMO. Let's face it, the main reason why a lot of people look at the PS3 is for the MGS4's, FF13's, GT5's etc, the huge titles that are coming next year or later, and a lot of people are gonna be on the fence until they're sure those franchises aren't getting canned or jumping ship. Who knows what may surprise us, but while I'm sure stuff like Uncharted and Ratchet are going to be solid titles, I don't expect many PS3 exclusives to be absolutely jaw-dropping this year. Except maybe GT5P and UT3 ;o
 
plagiarize said:
why people have been hyping HS more than Uncharted and Ratchet and Clank has never made sense to me.

No idea... HS looked good, and plays ok when you get used to the style... If the game is really 6hrs, then that's bs, and no excuse for it... Though, they should be a lil more fair since Gears wasn't exactly a lengthy game either, but that pulled scores out it's ass, and should've got a 7 for that as well especially since it's mp was a mess so it should be null..

Rachet and Clank is going to be the real deal, more than just a passing "solid" title :lol ... There's just so much to that game, and with Insomniac's pedigree with their games (especially Rachet), it's gonna be AAA no doubt, the ultimate mix-n-match of fun with shooting, platforming, story, pure fun :P... Though, i can't wait for the sub 9 reviews for it because reviewers tend to hold PS3 games to a higher lvl for some reason... It could very well be GOTY worthy though...

Uncharted is gonna be a wildcard... Everything looks ace with it: graphics, gameplay, gun play, platforming, sound, story... and ND is one hell of a talented dev... If they polish up the controls (the only neg that we've heard "some" bicker on), it can very well have the awe-factor of RE4 when it hit...
 
any mention of HELL mode or whatever it is?

I thought the gaming sadists were looking forward to the challenge. Didn't NT have to have one of their testers beat the game in front of some Sony reps to prove it could be done because Sony's testers couldn't beat it on the hardest difficulty?
 
Guy LeDouche said:
any mention of HELL mode or whatever it is?

I thought the gaming sadists were looking forward to the challenge. Didn't NT have to have one of their testers beat the game in front of some Sony reps to prove it could be done because Sony's testers couldn't beat it on the hardest difficulty?

Seriously. The main replay incentive for me is harder difficulty settings, and not seeing anyone comment on it really me gets me thinking about the reviews.

Something else I really appreciate about the game is the intimacy of the boss battles. I enjoy how the whole game has this epic feel to it, but in the videos of the boss battles, they seem more intimate( or personal if you will) and tactical than the normal grunt battles.
 
ex0du5 said:
Haven't played GodHand...

But DMC3 > NG.

DMC3 has more flexibility in the combat, has better characters, better level design, far better bosses, tighter controls (though that's just a design decision), and better presentation. Only thing NG could possibly have over it is it's combo system.


as an NG fan, I've encountered many a DMC and GoW fan over the years. I just don't respond any more. either you get it or you don't. but my whole thing is that they both kick ass for different reasons. It's GoW that I would argue is clearly objectively worse than NG and DMC.



back on topic, I didn't expect HS to topple NG, DMC, or even GoW (which I'm not much of a fan of in the first place.)
 
Slavik81 said:
So... Heavenly Sword = Gears of War? Beautiful, short and repetitive...?
That doesn't sound so bad to me.

But this seems to be a game I'll be buying when the price drops.

Except IGN's review of Gears of War was in the high 9's. And HS has no multiplayer to keep it relevant.
 
J-Rzez said:
Rachet and Clank is going to be the real deal, more than just a passing "solid" title :lol ... There's just so much to that game, and with Insomniac's pedigree with their games (especially Rachet), it's gonna be AAA no doubt, the ultimate mix-n-match of fun with shooting, platforming, story, pure fun :P... Though, i can't wait for the sub 9 reviews for it because reviewers tend to hold PS3 games to a higher lvl for some reason... It could very well be GOTY worthy though...

Just watch Ratchet get dogged on for sticking too close to the trodden path though. And it will probably get another few points cut for lacking competitive MP. I can already tell that Ratchet will be reviewed in a real strange and seldom used light.
 
Trevelyan said:
Seriously. The main replay incentive for me is harder difficulty settings, and not seeing anyone comment on it really me gets me thinking about the reviews.
As a starving student enjoying Madden 08 on his old ass PS2, whether these games are a 7 or a 8 or a 6.9 or whatever doesn't really matter to me at this point and thus I don't really follow the next-gen stuff beyond the news, I just thought the HELL mode was supposed to be a big draw for the hardcore, along side the graphics and junk.
 
Absinthe said:
Reviews won't kill the hype. The demo did its job in the sense that it sold a lot of people on the game. It will definitely end up being one of the highest selling, if not the highest selling, game on the PS3 so far.
I really haven't seen this hype for HS that you are talking about. I expect HS sales to be a pretty big disappointment. The preorders for HS have been very light.
 
AltogetherAndrews said:
Just watch Ratchet get dogged on for sticking too close to the trodden path though. And it will probably get another few points cut for lacking competitive MP. I can already tell that Ratchet will be reviewed in a real strange and seldom used light.


well they have made 4 of them already, i would hope if the gameplay is still stale they would dock it for that
 
Personally, I enjoyed the demo. It will not be God of War quality that's for sure but I like story-based adventure games so I'll get it anyways.
 
I'm 100% sure Uncharted won't get much better, because the fighting gameplay seemed very frustrating/floaty.

It seems all PS3 devs have too much trouble developing for the console, which is taking all of their time and resources, so they can't fine-tune or polish their games:/
 
J-Rzez said:
Uncharted is gonna be a wildcard... Everything looks ace with it: graphics, gameplay, gun play, platforming, sound, story... and ND is one hell of a talented dev... If they polish up the controls (the only neg that we've heard "some" bicker on), it can very well have the awe-factor of RE4 when it hit...
Wouldn't the controls be responsible for the gameplay and gun play?
 
You know what I realized? From what we've seen from the story, and from what we've played...it doesn't seem like this should get much lower than God of War 1.

Better art/visuals than GoW, better presentation, better story (maybe? though GoW2 was bitchin!), better combat, less refinement, same length.
 
ex0du5 said:
You know what I realized? From what we've seen from the story, and from what we've played...it doesn't seem like this should get much lower than God of War 1.

Better art/visuals than GoW, better presentation, better story (maybe? though GoW2 was bitchin!), better combat, less refinement, same length.

You mean, you know what _I_ realized lol
 
Cubsfan23 said:

:lol Thats harsh, but warranted the way people were going on around here about how good HS will be.

I must say though, if this is a 7 game, then its a good sign for the industry.
 
Duck said:
Wouldn't the controls be responsible for the gameplay and gun play?

The controls are what "controls" those aspects... How tight they are to make Drake do what you know he can do... Responsiveness... Stuff like that...
 
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