The game is fine without a jump button.. To me Batman AA is pretty close to what it feels NT tried to achieve with Heavenly Sword. Batman's freeflow fighting system would work so well with Heavenly Sword and that doesn't have a jump button.Kittonwy said:That is the problem. It should have been designed with a jump button, jumping on enemies, jumping off walls, jumping over groundwave attacks, jumping and slashing down to take out an enemy, all of that not possible for the player to manually initiate because there isn't a jump button. The environments end up being essentially narrow 2D corridors with all the vertical space unused and non-interactive.
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Official Heavenly Sword Thread - Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads
- Thread starter XHitoshuraX
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lupinko said:
Yeah but Heavenly Sword is a different kind of game than Batman, its combat needed to be more than just timing counters in what were essentially narrow corridors closed in by invisible walls without even the option to get up in the air because you can't jump, at least in Batman you can grapple up, you make use of the vertical space, in Heavenly Sword there's no such thing, you're stuck on that 2D plane, there was no jumping up to attack enemies in the air, there was no using the vertical space to escape enemy attacks on the ground, a lot of the gameplay possibilities simply did not exist because there was no jump button. There was so much real estate in the game that the player had zero interaction with, you can't climb up pipes, you can't jump on or over things, the way the game environments were done was so archaic that a game like Soul Reaver during the PS1 era had more freedom of movement. Heavenly Sword's environments were so pretty yet there was little to nothing the player can do in them.
I really don't understand this jump button nonsense. If you must really jump in the air, just us an air combo to launch the enemy in the air and attack them there. So there you will be attacking enemies in the air, and using vertical space to escape enemy attacks on the ground.
drakesfortune
Directions: Pull String For Uninformed Rant
Oni Jazar said:
I agree. I think the motion controls are as good as are possible with Sixaxis. It's definitely the best implementation I've seen to date.
As for the block button, I have to agree with most people here. The lack of block button makes no sense. Gee, do I want to think, which stance am I in to block the attack, or do I want to click a frickin' block button that works in any stance? I mean, they have unblockable attacks, so why the flying fuck do I need three stances to switch between to engage my block. It sucks, and it doesn't work well. It takes a lot of time to master, and I don't want to take the time to master it. I just want a frickin block button so I can enjoy the game. Whoever thought have three possibilities to block an attack, which is a split second decision, was a good idea, is nuts. It's fucking terrible.
Making a game more complicated just to make more complicated does not make it more fun. ESPECIALLY when we're talking controls. You want people to pick them up and know them as quickly as possible. The wheel wasn't flat, the wheel was full of air, why did we need to make a new wheel, write a new language, just to play a 5 hour game? We needn't do that. God of War controls work perfectly, and changing them was an arrogant, ill advised, and poor decision.
I like having a jump button, and sure as shit like having a block button. I mean honestly, I feel like I'm driving a Russian tank playing this game.
I'm replaying the game now and I'm so bitter that this series is dead. I love how it moves, how it feels, and how it sounds...and the framerate isn't as bad as I remember. It's still really bad (inexcusably so) in the big scenes, but those hardly require precision anyway. The music is really superb too.
The block button is triangle.
Don't you think using vertical space to evade enemy attacks when they can only attack on 1 plane would sort of break the game, Kittowny?
The block button is triangle.
Don't you think using vertical space to evade enemy attacks when they can only attack on 1 plane would sort of break the game, Kittowny?
tirminyl said:
First of all you would have to be near another enemy to do that, and if there's only one boss enemy you're fighting launching groundwave attacks at you then you can't really use that, can you?
When you take a movement option away from the player you not only limit how the player moves the character through the enviroment, you also limit how the player can defend himself as well as what kind of attacks you can give each enemy, the fewer options you have, the less variety you have in terms of combat, traversal and the level of interactions with the environment, and the repetitive the gameplay becomes, it's like being able to move objects in the environment and jump on top of them, if you can, you can have environmental puzzles that lets the player move things around to get to higher places, if the option is missing then you can't.
I'm not saying Heavenly Sword was a bad game, it was pretty enjoyable, but game design dropped the ball and that held it back from being a great game.
Tannhauser
Neo Member
I agree completely .
I believe the presentation was its redeeming quality. The potential (strictly speaking) may have been there for free-flowing combat (I realise this is an ambiguous phrase, but refer to Kittonwy's and others descriptions) but if so, it'd be far too difficult to pull off to actually count.
I believe the presentation was its redeeming quality. The potential (strictly speaking) may have been there for free-flowing combat (I realise this is an ambiguous phrase, but refer to Kittonwy's and others descriptions) but if so, it'd be far too difficult to pull off to actually count.
theignoramus
Member
The goods news is that Nitin Sawhney and Andy Serkis are involved in the making of their next game, Enslaved, so all isnt lost. It will retain the diverse music and intense performances from Heavenly Sword.
And LOL at the "it's overacted" brigade. Does anyone really fucking think Heavenly Sword was trying to deal a straight hand with characters like Kai or the batshit insane villains?
Grand Theft Auto does the same goddamn thing (over the top performances) and it's called "oscar calibre' storytelling and a 'benchmark achievement'. I think HS was the victim of poor gameplay decisions and a gaming press looking to judge the first blockbuster PS3 game on the basis of Sony's hype. Kind of sad really, I would have liked to have seen a sequel with a better framerate and a more serious combat system.
And LOL at the "it's overacted" brigade. Does anyone really fucking think Heavenly Sword was trying to deal a straight hand with characters like Kai or the batshit insane villains?
Grand Theft Auto does the same goddamn thing (over the top performances) and it's called "oscar calibre' storytelling and a 'benchmark achievement'. I think HS was the victim of poor gameplay decisions and a gaming press looking to judge the first blockbuster PS3 game on the basis of Sony's hype. Kind of sad really, I would have liked to have seen a sequel with a better framerate and a more serious combat system.
DodgyGeezerFella
Member
True story -
I sold Devil May Cry 4 PC to some guy who works at Ninja Theory.
I sold Devil May Cry 4 PC to some guy who works at Ninja Theory.
theignoramus
Member
GTA San Andreas says you're full of shit. Catalina, The Truth, Ken Rosenberg,etc.karasu said:
^
I'm playing it for the first time right now on my new PS3.
The presentation is great, but it could do with a few improvements.
The art direction is spectacular and I love the look of the world. The character design and animation is superb- some of the best. In a sequel, I would like to see an improved framerate, a longer quest and a slightly deeper combat system, although I love the fundamentals of the current system with fast, ranged and power attacks.
Is it wrong that I'm having more fun with the Kai missions than with Nariko?
I'm playing it for the first time right now on my new PS3.
The presentation is great, but it could do with a few improvements.
The art direction is spectacular and I love the look of the world. The character design and animation is superb- some of the best. In a sequel, I would like to see an improved framerate, a longer quest and a slightly deeper combat system, although I love the fundamentals of the current system with fast, ranged and power attacks.
Is it wrong that I'm having more fun with the Kai missions than with Nariko?
Ninja Moomin
Banned
Bernbaum said:
There's basically no chance of a sequel? Right?
Who would make it? And why would sony greenlight it given that the first seemed not to live up to expectations... and god of war is basically what heavenly sword would offer if it was fixed?
learnedhand
Member
I really enjoyed this game when it came out, for all the reasons mentioned before.
But the loading times were insane.... at least 60 seconds, which, when you're staring at the screen, seems more like 60 minutes.
But the loading times were insane.... at least 60 seconds, which, when you're staring at the screen, seems more like 60 minutes.
TheBrain76
Member
Sony owns the IP for this, right?
bernardobri
Steve, the dog with no powers that we let hang out with us all for some reason
TheBrain76 said:
Yes.
About the game, I really enjoyed the atmosphere and some gameplay ideas seemed interesting, but the technical issues really let down the game's potential.
I wouldn't mind an optimized version on PSP like GOW, though.
LLaMa-Tech
Member
A sequel would be great.
Kai using the Heavenly Sword after she has grown a bit perhaps?
Kai using the Heavenly Sword after she has grown a bit perhaps?
Thanks to the poor reviews and low sales, I would say no. If it was a Warhawk situation where the sales weren't the best, but got great reviews, then maybe. But as of now, I would bet no.NinjaFusion said:
However, the real way to tell if there is a chance for a new one is to see if the trademark is still alive. And in Heavenly Sword's case, it still is. So it's still possible. Odds are, if it were to be made, Studio Cambridge would make it.
LLaMa-Tech
Member
I present Nariko in action figure form:
http://www.google.com/products?hl=e...esult_group&ct=title&resnum=3&ved=0CB4QrQQwAg
why her hair goes UP, I have no clue
http://www.google.com/products?hl=e...esult_group&ct=title&resnum=3&ved=0CB4QrQQwAg
why her hair goes UP, I have no clue
LLaMa-Tech
Member
from wikipedia:
Possible sequel
According to Ninja Theory co-founder Tameem Antoniades, the story for the sequel has been already written; in fact a whole trilogy is being planned. He stated, "We've had the story for the sequel for a while now. Hopefully, if this game is successful, then there's no reason why there shouldn't be a sequel and we'd very much like to go into that."[22]
On March 21, 2008, on G4's Attack of the Show it was listed on the scrolling banner that Ninja Theory is not planning to create a sequel for Heavenly Sword, and instead has decided to work on a new project. Though information on the decision and the aforementioned project was sparse, it was stated that production time for the new project will span well over two years, and that the project, like Heavenly Sword, will be extremely cinematic.
On May 21, 2008, IT Manager Peonic announced that a follow-up to Heavenly Sword would be extremely unlikely due to Ninja Theory's decision to pursue opportunities within multi-platform development:
"Were not abandoning HS just on a whim because we want to go off and do something different - theres a great huge raft of reasons behind us taking the direction we are - and its also the nature of the business that Im not allowed to share any of those reasons with you.
As for the youre just not doing HS2 NOW comments - well one thing you learn in this industry is that you never say Never. So Im not going to say well never go back and make HS2 - but its something I personally see as extremely unlikely."
Nevertheless, since SCE retains the IP of Heavenly Sword, there is always the possibility of production on a sequel being outsourced to another developer
tldr: a Trilogy was originally planned
I did not know that.
Possible sequel
According to Ninja Theory co-founder Tameem Antoniades, the story for the sequel has been already written; in fact a whole trilogy is being planned. He stated, "We've had the story for the sequel for a while now. Hopefully, if this game is successful, then there's no reason why there shouldn't be a sequel and we'd very much like to go into that."[22]
On March 21, 2008, on G4's Attack of the Show it was listed on the scrolling banner that Ninja Theory is not planning to create a sequel for Heavenly Sword, and instead has decided to work on a new project. Though information on the decision and the aforementioned project was sparse, it was stated that production time for the new project will span well over two years, and that the project, like Heavenly Sword, will be extremely cinematic.
On May 21, 2008, IT Manager Peonic announced that a follow-up to Heavenly Sword would be extremely unlikely due to Ninja Theory's decision to pursue opportunities within multi-platform development:
"Were not abandoning HS just on a whim because we want to go off and do something different - theres a great huge raft of reasons behind us taking the direction we are - and its also the nature of the business that Im not allowed to share any of those reasons with you.
As for the youre just not doing HS2 NOW comments - well one thing you learn in this industry is that you never say Never. So Im not going to say well never go back and make HS2 - but its something I personally see as extremely unlikely."
Nevertheless, since SCE retains the IP of Heavenly Sword, there is always the possibility of production on a sequel being outsourced to another developer
tldr: a Trilogy was originally planned
I did not know that.
Does someone have hi-res version of this pic? It's japanese boxart. I'll probably end up buying the game in platinum edition with fugly yellow box, so I plan to print my own cover... And if I'm doing that, I want to have the superior one
BTW, new PS3 Slim owners - buy this game, don't listen to the haters. It's awesome.
Yeah, already played it, borrowed it from friend some time ago.
I want Heavenly Sword 2 :\
The game was alright. I payed $20 Australian for it and was pretty satisfied. I couldn't imagine paying full price for it though.Alastor said:
Does someone have hi-res version of this pic? It's japanese boxart. I'll probably end up buying the game in platinum edition with fugly yellow box, so I plan to print my own cover... And if I'm doing that, I want to have the superior one
BTW, new PS3 Slim owners - buy this game, don't listen to the haters. It's awesome.
Yeah, already played it, borrowed it from friend some time ago.
I want Heavenly Sword 2 :\
hamchan said:
Many elements of the gameplay - auto-block, fight stances, motion-controlled special attacks - are pretty much "love or hate", but the game also has an amazing presentation. I don't think that many of the day-one, full-price buyers regret doing this. Hell, I wish I could be one of them
And I also really, really adore Nariko
I know there was a lot wrong with the game (like it being...oh...4 hours long) but I really wish they would improve upon what they had and come out with a huge, full-fledged sequel. I wouldn't mind Nariko kicking more butt, if only the sequel would let me do it for longer than the original.
Reposting from the Backlogathon thread:
I was home sick today, so I tackled a game I've had for quite a while (my third for May): Heavenly Sword
I was thoroughly impressed by it. Sure, it's short (about 8 hours for me), but for a launch title, it's quite impressive graphically, and it does a lot of things right (I didn't mind the absence of a jump button). The cutscenes are in a league of their own, even though some of the dialogues in King Bohan's court made me cringe. I thought the Aftertouch (directing projectiles with the Sixaxis) was a nice, well, touch, too. I can't comment on the combat as I'm far from being a combo specialist, but with three different stances + aerial moves, it seems quite deep. The final boss was significantly harder than the rest of the game for me, but I'd recommend it to anybody who hasn't tried it yet!
Endgame discussion:
I was home sick today, so I tackled a game I've had for quite a while (my third for May): Heavenly Sword
I was thoroughly impressed by it. Sure, it's short (about 8 hours for me), but for a launch title, it's quite impressive graphically, and it does a lot of things right (I didn't mind the absence of a jump button). The cutscenes are in a league of their own, even though some of the dialogues in King Bohan's court made me cringe. I thought the Aftertouch (directing projectiles with the Sixaxis) was a nice, well, touch, too. I can't comment on the combat as I'm far from being a combo specialist, but with three different stances + aerial moves, it seems quite deep. The final boss was significantly harder than the rest of the game for me, but I'd recommend it to anybody who hasn't tried it yet!
Endgame discussion:
it doesn't leave much room for HS2 though, with Nariko seemingly dead for good... Not like it looks like it will happen, but maybe it would have a grown-up Kai as a hero? Or a totally different cast in a different era...
I hated this game and played to the end because of the brilliant story only and then I found out that you can turn off motion controls. ffffffffffuuuuuuuuuu. I'd never been THAT frustrated because motion controls were like 80% of what I hated about the game.
yellowjacket25
Member
Me too. The chapter where Kai is protecting the old guy across the bridge was one of the funnest chapters for me. I got to a point where I could guide the arrows almost where ever I wanted. I could drill an eyeball one minute and a kneecap the next. Guiding them with the sixaxis was awesome.Irish said:
jetsetfluken
Member
Damn, thought this bump from the grave was due to some news on a trophy patch or something. Admit it, who clicked in here and thought the same? :lol
I've had this on my shelf for a few years and never popped it in yet...
I've had this on my shelf for a few years and never popped it in yet...
yellowjacket25 said:
I loved that particular chapter as well. My brother and I would just take turns playing that over and over seeing who could get the most head shots. They had a weird way of doing the scoring if I remember cause you could hit a guy over and over and as long as you didnt miss your multiplier or whatever kept building. We'd shoot a guy in the head 3 times before he hit the ground. Hilarious. Oh and for a stupid random story there was one time my brother shoots some guy in the face and it just looked brutal and I remember saying, thats gotta be the worst pain ever. Literally a second later my brother guides a bolt into the guy's asshole while he's falling down. "oh, nevermind, THAT is the worst pain ever." :lol
I was really bummed when I found out NT gave up on going thru with the trilogy.
Heavenly Sword was the first PS3 game I finished. I rented it right after I moved back to the states from Japan (with my new PS3 that I'd ordered a few months earlier waiting for me in my room). Finished it pretty quick and loved every minute of it, especially the motion controls. Really wished they'd gone on with the franchise. So much built up atmosphere, story, mythos, and style... a shame to waste it all on one great quickie. The source material has at least a full trilogy's worth of life left in it... and probably a PSP spinoff or two as well.