 Preview By: Andrew Joy |
Developer: | Ninja Theory |
| Publisher: | SCEA | |
| Genre: | Action | |
| ESRB: | Teen | |
| # Of Players: | 1 | |
| Online Play: | No | |
| Accessories: | HDTV 720p | |
| Estimated Release: | 09/12/2007 |
Few words can describe a game like Heavenly Sword...or, perhaps I should say, few words have been used to describe Heavenly Sword, a hack and slash game exclusively for the PS3 that is already being called the God of War (well, to be accurate, they are calling it "Goddess of War") for the next generation.
Apart from a few glorious screens and a video (which, like so many other PS3 videos, is claimed to be actual footage), all that really gives us a vague notion of what to expect from Heavenly Sword comes from just three sentences given to us by developer Ninja Theory (the people behind Kung Fu Chaos for the original Xbox):
Heavenly Sword is a stunningly beautiful martial arts drama designed exclusively as a next-generation console game. The storyline concerns a girl with only a few days left to live who embarks on one final act of redemption against a king and his invading army. Heavenly Sword employs state-of-the-art technology and gameplay to take players through a roller coaster of emotion and action that truly exploits the potential of gaming as the new artistic entertainment medium.
As for the screens, well, they can only be described as the true definition of next generation...that is, next generation as we believed it to be, not as it turned out to be with most of the games released for the Xbox 360 at the end of 2005. And should the Heavenly Sword screens turn out to be a true depiction of what to expect from the PS3, than Microsoft and Nintendo indeed have something to fear. Only time will tell if that's the case or not.
In addition to touting the power of the PS3, the screens also provide us with a possible glimpse at what to expect from the gaming aspect of Heavenly Sword. Swarms of angry warriors covering the battlefield, the aforementioned girl their only target, tell us that this game will likely be able to handle massive levels of ongoing combat, similar to what we have seen in Kameo: Elements of Power for the Xbox 360. And, as she dispatches each and every one of them with lithe movement and cunning skill, we know already that the game will need combat to rival even the best action games, like Devil May Cry, and may look as good as even the best of movies (such as The Matrix) while doing it.
Hopefully that has at least whetted your appetite, because I'm sad to say we have little else. No clear release date for Heavenly Sword (or even the console itself) has been given so far, but with a showing this strong already the game's release will likely closely coincide with that of the PS3. Until more details are revealed, you must be content with the knowledge that at least you are not alone in your thirst for more. In the meantime, feel free to satiate your hunger with the beautiful screenshots we've provided.
Posted: 2006-01-21 13:50:00PST