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Official Heavenly Sword Thread - Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads
- Thread starter XHitoshuraX
- Start date
I just finished the game.
Very, very awesome.
And kudos to Ninja Theory for placing such a heavy emphasis on the quality of their cutscenes. It's refreshing to see a games developer take animation and performance in their storylines seriously.
I was quite shocked, really... it was one of the few times I actually found myself engaged in a video game storyline. That doesn't happen often.
Very, very awesome.
And kudos to Ninja Theory for placing such a heavy emphasis on the quality of their cutscenes. It's refreshing to see a games developer take animation and performance in their storylines seriously.
I was quite shocked, really... it was one of the few times I actually found myself engaged in a video game storyline. That doesn't happen often.
DeanoCalver
Splash Damage
dark10x said:
The reason for the dynamic shadows is not one of techy showing off but a game design feature that we decided against in the end.
Originally when you performed a special move, a dramatic "time of day" effect kicked off. The sun and moon would rise/set, and all the lighting and shadows would change accordingly. You can see a small part of it in the E3 2005 trailer IIRC, its starts in day but ends up at night.
This however was dropped for several reasons in the final game.
One reason was simply how hard it was to get the environment looking amazing at any time of day, by fixing the time it allowed our artists to really go to town so to speak, the other major reason was that its quite confusing when shadows suddenly move and lighting change rapidly. Our brains REALLY dislike an unnatural change of light, and during combat its exactly what you don't want to occur.
So the "time of day" gameplay mechanic wasn't used, however due to how late in development this decision was made, we decided to go with the fully dynamic system we already had.
Seriously, I just can't credit Ninja Theory enough for their insane cinematics.
For instance, near the beginning of the game when Shen slams the Heavenly Sword into the ground while Nariko is sleeping. Kai's reaction to that moment was so incredibly nuanced and effective that I couldn't believe I was watching a digital sequence.
Or even just the raw emotion the character models exhibited with their faces. It was like staring at a real-life human being, not an imaginary 3D construction made in a computer program.
For instance, near the beginning of the game when Shen slams the Heavenly Sword into the ground while Nariko is sleeping. Kai's reaction to that moment was so incredibly nuanced and effective that I couldn't believe I was watching a digital sequence.
Or even just the raw emotion the character models exhibited with their faces. It was like staring at a real-life human being, not an imaginary 3D construction made in a computer program.
DeanoCalver
Splash Damage
deepbrown said:
The AI is divided into a number of systems, the army AI which covers everything except until its passed over to the formation system when you have greater than about 30 people. There is also a high level non Army AI system for smaller groups of people. Both systems cover things like path finding and what AI are doing when there not fighting you.
When you get into combat there is the formation system, which decides which patterns the AI can form around you and also contains the GROMBO system (GRoup cOMBO), this coordinates attacks between enemies in a formation. For example an Axeman might be programmed to try attacking after a shieldsman to try and catch you off stance. Probably more noticable in Hell mode.
And then finally there is a individual combat AI, this controls which moves each AI can do, what probability, health and avoidance data.
DeanoCalver said:
I'm not sure how people can complain about the AI, at least in some cases. I admit that I don't pay that much attention to it in a game unless it's either blatantly bad or blatantly good. In other words, if the enemies are giving me enough of a visual cue that they're pulling some sort of strategy, I'll take notice.
I really felt that the AI during some of Kai's sequences was very strong. If you're gunning for an enemy, they'll notice, and attempt to dive roll behind something or dip their shoulder or otherwise thwart your attempt to hit them with an arrow, even in aftertouch. I really liked that.
Nostromo said:I didn't want to reveal that!Yep..HS has fully dynamic time of the day lighting and shadowing..that no one will ever see. damn..:lol
But you certainly hinted at it:
"keep in mind that features set/engine requirements can change over time. What you can have at the end of the project is only a part of what you have designed your engine for as the game evolves and changes during development." :lol
I want to see it
Please please, can i play the whole game at night time. Wow - I knew the lighting was good, but not that good. Shame really - just didn't work out then. HS2? Or a patch Or perhaps since your lighting engine seems to be so good you can add some levels with different lighting - a bit how Motorstorm changes how a level looks by changing the time of day.has anyone got three medals on riding high, which is the bit where kai's on the cable cars? i can barely get two, which makes me think i'm doing something wrong. bleh. i'll play chapter 4 and come back to it.
edit: hm, i think i'll try sniping people individually instead of going for the explosives
edit: hm, i think i'll try sniping people individually instead of going for the explosives
SlasherJPC
Banned
Just finished Chapter 3. Game is just sooo dangggg good!
XHitoshuraX
Banned
An opening up of Hell mode would be extremely interesting.
Something I have always wondered is the significance of
And this should be stickied! lol
I wonder if it was a deliberate choice that
Something I have always wondered is the significance of
Bohan losing his eyes
And this should be stickied! lol
I wonder if it was a deliberate choice that
Kai never really formed coherent sentences until after Nariko died. The journey of her character was an amazing one and by the end, she's set up as a perfect protagonist. Oh and when Kai realizes who General Flying Fox is and starts to scream hysterically, absolute chills I got!
~Devil Trigger~
In favor of setting Muslim women on fire
can you Imagine...
Heavenly Sword 2 , .
:lol
Heavenly Sword 2 , .
Kai takes on the Heavenly Sword
got it! there's actually another pot you can get at the very beginning -- it's behind the door that the first set of enemies comes out of, and you can just barely aftertouch your way to it. i'm actually not sure you're supposed to be able to hit it. and sniping enemies does seem to yield bigger combos than touching off explosives.
oh, and replaying that section, i got a good chance to look at nostromo's dynamic shadows, what with the waving banners and the shadow of the chain on the cable car. they're pretty damned cool, even if they are a bit ragged.
oh, and replaying that section, i got a good chance to look at nostromo's dynamic shadows, what with the waving banners and the shadow of the chain on the cable car. they're pretty damned cool, even if they are a bit ragged.
Systems_id
Banned
They better find a way to
Whoops! Sorry about that.
bring Nariko back for the sequal. No Nariko = No Sale. Probably the best female lead since Jade.
Whoops! Sorry about that.
XHitoshuraX
Banned
Tiduz said:mark as spoiler for people please
maybe the heavenly sword can revive her "when its in danger ie. not being used and being forgotten as nariko stated, since she was the last that wielded it and knows how it works ie. mastered it
I don't know...Nariko
was amazing no doubt, I can honestly say from my side of the industry one of if not the greatest female lead in gaming.
Lord Error
Insane For Sony
I have finished the fight with the Flying Fox, and I absolutely love the game so far. It's everything I was hoping it would be and more.
One thing I can say about the combat in the game is that even though it lacks the razor sharp precision of combat from NG, it has achieved something better than any game of this kind in my opinion - the way your sword connects with the enemies, and the way they react to it, is immensely satisfactory. In all these games so far, there was always the feeling that the animation resulting from the weapon impact was pre-canned. Not so here. Enemies bounce away just the way you'd expect them to when hit with a massive sword, and when they block your hit that resulted from your running/jumping downward slash which occurs when you start attacking an opponent that is a bit further away from you (and which btw. is one animation that makes your moveset), it somehow feels like they really barely managed to block.
This kind of relation between characters/environment/weapon impact is something that this game does better than anything else in this genre, and I don't think it got nearly as much credit for it as it should have. It's just really satisfactory to slash through those bastards, especially listening to their smart-ass comments that soon turn into cries of agony or regret that they joined Bohan's army.
The acting, voiceovers, cutscenes, and the main selection menu are without question better than anything else I've seen in a game. Hell, the whole graphics package is amazing - those TV photos posted earlier won't prepare you for seeing those waterfalls animated, or the stream of thousands of army men running through the field and over the frozen river while you cannonball them into nothingness from the wall above. I know it's too early to give it such high praise, but I honestly think that so far the overall graphics are more impressive than in anything released yet, and framerate doesn't dip nearly enough to make it, at least for me, any less impressive. One thing's for sure - there's nothing of this caliber of production quality or ambition on PS3, it's one of the few games out now that feels truly, honestly, next-gen, whatever to hell that means.
On a downside, there are some small glitches, like an occasional but rare audio glitch/skip or the stuttering during some cutscenes while the game loads. I hope there's a patch to fix this later on. Also, I've seen early in the game one lipsync that was approx 0.5s behind the voiceover (when Nariko talks after the short intro battle), but it hasn't happened since.
One thing I can say about the combat in the game is that even though it lacks the razor sharp precision of combat from NG, it has achieved something better than any game of this kind in my opinion - the way your sword connects with the enemies, and the way they react to it, is immensely satisfactory. In all these games so far, there was always the feeling that the animation resulting from the weapon impact was pre-canned. Not so here. Enemies bounce away just the way you'd expect them to when hit with a massive sword, and when they block your hit that resulted from your running/jumping downward slash which occurs when you start attacking an opponent that is a bit further away from you (and which btw. is one animation that makes your moveset), it somehow feels like they really barely managed to block.
This kind of relation between characters/environment/weapon impact is something that this game does better than anything else in this genre, and I don't think it got nearly as much credit for it as it should have. It's just really satisfactory to slash through those bastards, especially listening to their smart-ass comments that soon turn into cries of agony or regret that they joined Bohan's army.
The acting, voiceovers, cutscenes, and the main selection menu are without question better than anything else I've seen in a game. Hell, the whole graphics package is amazing - those TV photos posted earlier won't prepare you for seeing those waterfalls animated, or the stream of thousands of army men running through the field and over the frozen river while you cannonball them into nothingness from the wall above. I know it's too early to give it such high praise, but I honestly think that so far the overall graphics are more impressive than in anything released yet, and framerate doesn't dip nearly enough to make it, at least for me, any less impressive. One thing's for sure - there's nothing of this caliber of production quality or ambition on PS3, it's one of the few games out now that feels truly, honestly, next-gen, whatever to hell that means.
On a downside, there are some small glitches, like an occasional but rare audio glitch/skip or the stuttering during some cutscenes while the game loads. I hope there's a patch to fix this later on. Also, I've seen early in the game one lipsync that was approx 0.5s behind the voiceover (when Nariko talks after the short intro battle), but it hasn't happened since.
Marconelly said:
That is true. When they game first showed, the aesthetic clicked strongly with me, and at the very least I can say that the game delivered and exceeded my expectations on that front so far (and there's just one chapter to go). Ditto with characterisation (surprisingly likeable characters in the duo of Kai and Nariko), the style..in one or two areas, for me, it delivers a number of 'best of breed' elements.
Which just makes its less great elements stand out more..but they're not detracting my enjoyment overall.
And this is definitely the PS3 showcase, IMO. I think in particular, more casual audiences would lap up the game's production and cinematic qualities.
Well I just finished it and that
My only gripe is more Boss fights! Just like in God of war I found the boss fights to be the jewels of the game. Need more of it. Also, I hate QTEs. Ever since RE4, i've felt that I've died unnecessarily cause I was enjoying the cutscene. :/
Anyways, why are only the first two episodes of the Anime are on disc?
fight with Bohan was epic. I felt so bad ass once I figured how to counter his projectiles (which made things easier) and fell into a groove of combo, dive, combo, dive...
My only gripe is more Boss fights! Just like in God of war I found the boss fights to be the jewels of the game. Need more of it.
Also, I hate QTEs. Ever since RE4, i've felt that I've died unnecessarily cause I was enjoying the cutscene. :/Anyways, why are only the first two episodes of the Anime are on disc?
VegaShinra
Junior Member
BluRay=Filled. No not really but I was wondering that as well.djkimothy said:
This title was excellent even with its problems. The title had a lot of hate surrounding it with the game being short but in the end I'm happy with the game and can't wait for the sequel.
XHitoshuraX
Banned
To be honest, the only issue I had with any of the main characters was with General
Whiptail. She was such an interesting character and wasn't given nearly enough time to develop. Her fight was extremely fascinating and I wanted more...
ThirstyFly
Member
Quick question, since you can only have 1 save per profile/user, if I click on New Game, does it delete all my unlocked items and medals, or are those more of a system save thing that'll carry over into a new game?
SlasherJPC
Banned
Just made this tiny little gif guys hehe.
Mammothtank
Member
I have to say, the lighting in this game is simply insane...the way the sun glows on people's skin is just...wow...kicks bloom in the teeth.
I usually love QTE's, however they just didn't feel right in HS. I think it was a combination of having too short a window on the dire ones and lack of randomness. It ended up being more memorization then feeling good like in RE4 dodging special events.
I usually love QTE's, however they just didn't feel right in HS. I think it was a combination of having too short a window on the dire ones and lack of randomness. It ended up being more memorization then feeling good like in RE4 dodging special events.
Jeez, I loved that final boss fight. It was a very tough battle...and I loved it. I managed to get through it with just a sliver of health left.
It always pisses me off when the final battles tend to hold your hand. Zelda: OOT was an epic battle and looked amazing...but so incredibly easy that it didn't amount to much, gameplay wise. Here, all the boss battles were intense and difficult...as they should, since they're supposed to put your skills to the test.
I haven't played a better boss battle this year in any game so far. I can't imagine how it will be in hard mode. :lol
It always pisses me off when the final battles tend to hold your hand. Zelda: OOT was an epic battle and looked amazing...but so incredibly easy that it didn't amount to much, gameplay wise. Here, all the boss battles were intense and difficult...as they should, since they're supposed to put your skills to the test.
I haven't played a better boss battle this year in any game so far. I can't imagine how it will be in hard mode. :lol
I can't believe what happened to Kai when she was hung...I was gobsmacked, and was actually friggin ready to lay the smackdown on Fox...I managed to string along a combo that took his health from full to near-empty, and it felt damn good.
ThirstyFly
Member
tribal24 said:
Hm. I don't like how easy it is to delete the save then, since that's the first menu that comes up. I'd hate for one of my friends to delete my game by accident. I better keep a backup save on a SD card.