Go get your Heavenly Sword demo!

[Frisbee Dog]

Yep, it's available now on PSN!!

Unfortunately, I noticed this on my lunch break, and I had to get back to work before it finished downloading. Impressions to come when I get off of work! C'mon 5 o'clock!!

[Legend]

SHINY.

I know that Shino-sama will be downloading it for me whenever he gets home. <3 <3 <3

[Shino]

Yeah I forgot to download it during lunch. Actually, I just didn't have time.

And I forgot my PSP too. I could have totally linked to the PS3 and started the download that way. Damn my absent mindedness!

I'll start the download when I get home!

[Shino]

Holy Shiznit is this game fun! I mean the demo is ULTRA short. It's like a tease like there were no other.

My only complaint is that it's a 720p only game, so on my TV it displays in 480p.

But even at 480p, it seriously looks better than anything I've ever played before.

The game stars a chick (that Legend has a crush on b/c she's so hot) named Nariko who wields a sword that was only meant for the gods. She is after the king who is played by the same guy that played golum in LOTR. The acting in it is top tier for a video game. Better than anything I've ever seen.

The fighting is surprisingly deep. You have one weapon that has 3 forms depending on your "stance." If you are in the speed stance (default) then the sword is actually 2 smaller daggers that are super fast. If you are in the power stance (hold R1) then the sword becomes one large sword that pretty much takes out everything, but is slower. Then there is the ranged stance (hold L1) where the 2 daggers are now on chains and it's a flash back to God of war.

There's lots of combos for each stance, although in the demo, most of them are not unlocked.

One cool thing is that Nariko blocks automatically. There are 3 type of attacks from enemies too. Weak, where the enemy will glow blue, Strong, where the enemy will glow orange, and unblockable, where the enemy will glow red. A blue glowing attack can be blocked by speed or power stance, an orange attack is blockable in power stance, and a red attack needs to be evaded by using the right analog stick... just like God of War. In the ranged stance, Nariko cannot block.

While blocking, you can perform counters if timed correctly. When they are timed correctly, the camera will zoom in on Nariko and she will do a crazy power move that will kill the enemy you are fighting.

Doing counters and good combo work will build "style points." When you build enough, you can do a superstyle move. The only one the Demo gives you is the one where she thrusts the sword into an enemy while in ranged mode then starts swinging him around on the chains. This also takes out anyone in the vicinity that gets hit by the poor soul you are using as a weapon.

The game also makes subtle use of the sixaxis. You can launch stunned enemies in the air, then by pulling the controller upward, Nariko will jump in the air and allow you to perform an air combo.

Also, if Nariko is knocked up in the air, pulling the controller upward will allow her to recover.

Overall... I want more. The game consists of the demo that most people have seen. It starts out with the action sequence that most of us saw on Heroes, when she's running down the ropes. Then you jump into battle. After finishing that battle which consists of probably 10-12 enemies or so, you cut a rope and the piller falls into a populated area where you fight another 15 or so guys. Some enemies break through a door and the demo ends.

To put it simply... if you like God of War... YOU WANT THIS GAME. It's just as much action and the fighting is deeper and just as much fun! It's a shame that this game isn't getting more press... b/c it's a system seller in my eyes.

After playing the demo... Heavenly Sword had now distanced itself from everything else on my "Most anticipated" list.

[Legend]

...and yes NORIKO IS TEH HOTNESS.

Just thought I'd put in my two cents.

This game is going to be hell for me to learn, but dammit, I will!

[Frisbee Dog]

Well, instead of a carbon copy of what Shino said, I will just say that I agree with him 100%.

Wish the demo was longer.

[Shino]

[Shino]

Well, I think it has been confirmed that this game is 720p only.

Looks like I'm buying a new TV.

[Frisbee Dog]

Try the Sharp AQUOS series. Fantastic picture. They usually have pretty good deals at Newegg.com.

[RuneLateralus]