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[XHitoshuraX]

I'm pretty sure he has a review copy.

Plenty of us have them lol

Note: At least here in Southern California, L.A. and O.C. county, it does indeed look like the game is being released today. If you call anytime before 2:00 or so they'll either tell you "No" (because they don't like confirming a game until its completley unpacked) or call back.

We shall see...

 

[Vashu]

Do any Europeans have the game yet ??

First post says 14th of september, normally things get in stores 2 days early, but the store I normally get my stuff from doesn't have it yet. (they had super paper mario and that's only supposed to come out friday so...)

I'm buying it just to play something on that shiny black thing and for the amazing cutscenes.

From what we know, HS was pushed back a week here in Europe so it will arrive next week to my knowledge. I myself got a review-copy, and have been playing virtually non-stop since yesterday afternoon. I finished it during the night, and it's one of few games that actually compelled me to keep going.

Looking at it critically, I can see that the game is nowhere near perfect, but it's a fun game and it rewards players with all kinds of stuff in the shape of artwork, two anime episodes, a behind the scenes category. The characters are quite fun, although some people will call them cliche. There is a bit of humor in it, and as I said before, Andy Serkis is providing the game with a grande performance unlike anything ever seen in a game so far. Over the top is a good phrase to use I guess.

And that's where the game deserves it's merits the most, even though the story is not that deep or very special, the way it's played out is, to me, superb. Combine that with the beatifully shaped characters and their apparent quirks and emotional states, along with some nicely written dialogue and you can clearly see which path Ninja Theory decided to walk upon.

Style over substance really, with the game's combat system being nog that special or essentially deep. The game's 'Simon Says' parts are a fun little distraction, and provide for some stellar action-scenes, especially later in the game you get that epic feel of all out combat. Combine this with the massive army you're facing at one point, and the, at times annoyingly, aftertouch system and you've got a game that just oozes with style.

A style that not many would appreciate, but that is of course due to personal taste. Graphics-wise I didn't find anything really wrong with it. Sure, there are the occasional framedrops, which is a shame, but I've hardly encountered any screen-tears. But as I said, the game is nowhere near perfect, it's a good and fun combat-game filled with an epicly conveied story.

 

[Blimblim]

I can pull off a Perfect Dark Zero a la Blimblim anytime.

Haha, 2 years later and people still remember that.
PDZ *really* looked bad though

 

[Lord Error]

Both local EBs here in Canada said the game comes out tomorrow.

Sometimes they get game deliveries later in the day, though.

 

[dalin80]

game central a uk teletext game site have given HS a 4/10.

this year to date i think the average score for a ps3 game on GC is about 6/10 and i think only resistance managed as high as a 8.

criticised for being far too short, not much fun and having graphical issues fps drops etc.

:-(

 

[Jonas]

Picking up today can't wait to find out what twing-twang is!:lol

 

[Joe Molotov]

**POSSIBLE SPOILERS BELOW!!!**

 

[dark10x]

i just get to save more and more money. Hopefully Uncharted doesnt bomb... it looks like ratchet and clank is the only sure thing this year.

Although there is so much hate spewing forth from TTP but the reviews dont reflect it, while the lair reviews were utterly killer.

I'd say Uncharted is actually a pretty sure thing. Naughty Dog has always delivered polished games and the gameplay looks extremely fun (and is, based on impressions).

As disappointing as Heavenly Sword and Lair may seem, you have to recall that they come to us from not so typical companies. Neither Factor 5 nor Ninja Theory have produced any games for Sony in the past. They do not represent some sort of fall from grace or anything.

After reading how much work was put into Heavenly Sword it really disappoints me to hear that it is an unpolished experience. They should have realized how impotant framerate was and did everything possible in order to achieve a smooth 30 fps. They also needed to add motion blur to everything (which really helps make up for slowdown).

Lair benefits greatly from blur as generally feels pretty good as a result. The only time I could truly say the framerate in Lair was unbearable was during the night raid mission with the spot lights. Whenever you'd fly through smoke or fire of some sort (if you were spotted), the framerate would drop into the toilet. Not too surprised, though, as it has been suggested that their engine handles particles very poorly. In general, though, it feels pretty solid.

HS is a faster game and really would have benefitted from a smoother framerate and/or motion blur.

 

[BenjaminBirdie]

**POSSIBLE SPOILERS BELOW!!!**

:lol

I love the look on her face in the top panel.

 

[~Devil Trigger~]

**POSSIBLE SPOILERS BELOW!!!*

:lol :lol :lol :lol

 

[tanod]

:lol :lol

That's awesome.

 

[Dante]

:lol

I love the look on her face in the top panel.

I'm guessing then that you like the look in the middle and bottom panel as well.

 

[dionysus]

That's because you keep looking at Nariko's ass rather than the whole picture.

Well, it is pretty much the 1 one reason for me to buy this game. That and I love cinematic games.

Anyway, GS just called me and told me my preorder isn't going to be here till Thursday. Are they available yet at retail?

Edit: Looks like I am not the only one getting calls saying it will be in on Thursday.

 

[UntoldDreams]

Okay I just got the game from the Metreon in SF.

So far, the game is great. I really don't see the anything wrong with how it plays or any of the complaints that have been stated thus far.

I'll play some more later today.

 

[f@luS]

cant wait

 

[Elios83]

**POSSIBLE SPOILERS BELOW!!!

AHAHA awesome but really I can't wait until next week, Heavenly Sword+ TGS baby
Anyone got the game today in US? Pics and impressions please

 

[Dante]

Okay I just got the game from the Metreon in SF.

So far, the game is great. I really don't see the anything wrong with how it plays or any of the complaints that have been stated thus far.

I'll play some more later today.

Arrrrgh, my EB isn't getting it till tommorow

Maybe I'll take a ride to the city.

 

[Triz]

Gamestop called me last night said it would be in today.

Now I just got a call saying it would be in tomorrow.

Edit *Sacramento CA*

 

[XHitoshuraX]

For those of you who are being told it will be shipped tomorrow, where do you live?

 

[dionysus]

For those of you who are being told it will be shipped tomorrow, where do you live?

Houston, Texas.

 

[Lord Error]

As disappointing as Heavenly Sword and Lair may seem, you have to recall that they come to us from not so typical companies. Neither Factor 5 nor Ninja Theory have produced any games for Sony in the past. They do not represent some sort of fall from grace or anything.

Eh, I really think putting HS and Lair in the same sentence there is just unfair. The difference between the reviews and scores those two games were getting is simply far too big for people to keep ignoring.

 

[Mesijs]

I'd say Uncharted is actually a pretty sure thing. Naughty Dog has always delivered polished games and the gameplay looks extremely fun (and is, based on impressions).

As disappointing as Heavenly Sword and Lair may seem, you have to recall that they come to us from not so typical companies. Neither Factor 5 nor Ninja Theory have produced any games for Sony in the past. They do not represent some sort of fall from grace or anything.

After reading how much work was put into Heavenly Sword it really disappoints me to hear that it is an unpolished experience. They should have realized how impotant framerate was and did everything possible in order to achieve a smooth 30 fps. They also needed to add motion blur to everything (which really helps make up for slowdown).

Lair benefits greatly from blur as generally feels pretty good as a result. The only time I could truly say the framerate in Lair was unbearable was during the night raid mission with the spot lights. Whenever you'd fly through smoke or fire of some sort (if you were spotted), the framerate would drop into the toilet. Not too surprised, though, as it has been suggested that their engine handles particles very poorly. In general, though, it feels pretty solid.

HS is a faster game and really would have benefitted from a smoother framerate and/or motion blur.

I don't have any problems at all with graphics or framerate. And the game IS polished. Actually, it's maybe the most polished game out on the PS3 yet I think.

 

[chubigans]

That's the best Penny Arcade I've seen in a while. :lol

 

[Diseased Yak]

Put me in the same boat of getting the call last night saying it would be in today, but calling to confirm this just now with my local Gamestop and he says it's been delayed by one day, shipping today to be in-store tomorrow.

Sigh, oh well.

(this is in central Arkansas, btw)

 

[Kabuki Waq]

deleted.

 

[deepbrown]

People - download the HS video from the Japanese store...it's a "playthrough" of the demo. THAT is how you are meant to play the game - it looks incredible when played properly.

 

[Lord Error]

People - download the HS video from the Japanese store...it's a "playthrough" of the demo. THAT is how you are meant to play the game - it looks incredible when played properly.

I actually think Japanese demo may be a bit more polished / more final version of the demo, as well. It looks like framerate in it is a bit better than in the US demo, or maybe I'm just imagining. You are stuck with JP voices though, I see no way to change them.

 

[Elios83]

I actually think Japanese demo may be a bit more polished / more final version of the demo, as well. It looks like framerate in it is a bit better than in the US demo, or maybe I'm just imagining. You are stuck with JP voices though, I see no way to change them.

It is definetly better and the action is faster Tried yeasterday.

 

[ram]

I don't have any problems at all with graphics or framerate. And the game IS polished. Actually, it's maybe the most polished game out on the PS3 yet I think.

njo its not - really its not polished at all and thats one of HS`s biggest problems.

 

[Dante]

njo its not - really its not polished at all and thats one of HS`s biggest problems.

What the hell are you talking about :lol

 

[lupinko]

IIRC the Japanese version is bilingual, I downloaded the demo out of curiosity and I saw the option, but opted not to use it since I wanted to hear how the game is Japanese.

 

[steve]

Future Shop here in Kelowna has 47 copies coming in this afternoon. Confirmed.

 

[Elios83]

Well the game should be on the market starting from today:

http://ps3.ign.com/articles/819/819573p1.html

 

[Tieno]

I don't have any problems at all with graphics or framerate. And the game IS polished. Actually, it's maybe the most polished game out on the PS3 yet I think.

Resistance seems way more polished (content, features, framerate etc). But Weta did an incredible job with the presentation/cutscenes (are they realtime?) and Ninja Theory did some great art , both much more attractive than Resistance's. Uncharted seems to be the game that might have it all (polish, 'different', presentation, gameplay)
I was really hyped for the game, but I can't justify full price but I still really want to play it, if not just to play a good game after all the shooters I'll be playing and have played.

 

[UntoldDreams]

As a more average gamer (no preview copies, I have a ton of ps2 games, I have Ninja Gaiden Sigma)

Heavenly Sword
============
Game looks spectacular. Gameplay is fun.

*** I think the framerate is fine. I don't see the issue. It plays great. I know people can be touchy on this since NG Sigma was like 60 FPS but as far as Heavenly Sword goes with its own unique combat system the framerate is not an issue to me.

I don't get why TTP thinks Lair is better there is no way in blue hades I could agree with him.

[Actually TTP, you are losing street credit with me by making that assertion]

Lair's framerate made me quite dizzy and nauseas but I'm fine with heavenly sword.
(After all, Lair has a rotating 360 degree type of camera system with 180 degree quick turns. Anything low frame rate (20+) on that TYPE of game will make me dizzy/sick)

I'll post more after I beat a few more levels.

AGAIN: I don't see what people are complaining about. I think this game is great.

 

[ram]

What the hell are you talking about :lol

about heavenly swords mediocre gameplay - and yes, i finished the european game already.

 

[otake]

about heavenly swords mediocre gameplay - and yes, i finished the european game already.

I'm really at a loss for these posts. I enjoyed the demo a lot (most played demo next to mgs2). The combat system is far from mediocre. How's it possible that so many people hate it?

 

[Raist]

I'm really at a loss for these posts. I enjoyed the demo a lot (most played demo next to mgs2). The combat system is far from mediocre. How's it possible that so many people hate it?

They thought it was meant to be a button mashing game

 

[~Devil Trigger~]

I'm really at a loss for these posts. I enjoyed the demo a lot (most played demo next to mgs2). The combat system is far from mediocre. How's it possible that so many people hate it?

its very different

it is 3D Ikaruga:lol

i like it personally, it stands out compare to the Gods(DMC, NG, GoW)

 

[Kintaro]

Hope my local store has this for rent.

You know, this industry is in such a shitty place in the community when "sounds like a rental" is said as some kind of insult. Guess it's just me. 90% of games on any system are only worth a rental (or much less) in my eyes, so I guess I don't take it as such. Still, pretty sad.

 

[XHitoshuraX]

Hope my local store has this for rent.

You know, this industry is in such a shitty place in the community when "sounds like a rental" is said as some kind of insult. Guess it's just me. 90% of games on any system are only worth a rental (or much less) in my eyes, so I guess I don't take it as such. Still, pretty sad.

I haven't rented in like...600 years..at least

 

[Kabuki Waq]

My Blockbuster in Toronto will have it for rent this afternoon.

Should be a good afternoon or two.

 

[Zer0]

the us version got the extra languages?

 

[Azzurri]

the us version got the extra languages?

The gamespot review said it had English,French,German,Spanish, and Italian in the US version

 

[SRG01]

The definitive version is when they release it in Chinese. :lol

(I dunno, for some reason, I think it has more of a Chinese-Asian feel to it)

 

[Kintaro]

I haven't rented in like...600 years..at least

How much do you spend on games? =O

 

[kuYuri]

I haven't rented in like...600 years..at least

Same. I usually buy all my games, I also rarely borrow. :lol

 

[HomerSimpson-Man]

Heh, I haven't rented games since the Playstation 1. I bought every game that I was interested in last generation....now I have too many games and too much of a backlog! I love those buy 2 get a 3rd free game deals from Toysrus, bought a dozen games easy from those promotions.

Me thinks I might sit part of this generation out, it's getting too pricey (I have yet to pay $60 for a game and I'm just waiting it out even longer, the backlog helps) and I'm becoming more and more disinterested and gamers are more and more jaded these days that it is really killing any lingering gaming buzz that I have.

 

[Doc Evils]

Same. I usually buy all my games, I also rarely borrow. :lol

Last game I rented was Resident Evil on the Sega Saturn.

 

[Lord Error]

How much do you spend on games? =O

I barely rented anything last gen. I decided to rent a lot more this time around. I think I actually already rented more games this gen than I did for the whole past gen. The game really has to hook me somehow these days to warrant a purchase. Still, I don't care how long, short or replayable it is, I just have to consider it worth owning, by some measure.

Heh, I haven't rented games since the Playstation 1. I bought every game that I was interested in last generation....now I have too many games and too much of a backlog! I love those buy 2 get a 3rd free game deals from Toysrus, bought a dozen games easy from those promotions.

Same here, it's just that I dealt with the backlog swiftly, by playing games that I wanted to play, and cheating through those I just wanted to see what they look like.

and gamers are more and more jaded these days that it is really killing any lingering gaming buzz that I have.

I think my best console gaming experiences are from the early DC/PS2 days when I didn't know anything about console games. I actually think I might force myself into not following forums as much, or discussing about games, and just stick to reading news.