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Heavenly Sword

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Heavenly Sword
Developer(s)Ninja Theory
Publisher(s)Sony Computer Entertainment Europe
Platform(s)PlayStation 3
ReleaseJapan TBA 2007
North America September 4, 2007[1]
PAL TBA 2007
Australia TBA 2007
Genre(s)Action-adventure
Mode(s)Single player

Heavenly Sword is a video game in development by Ninja Theory for the PlayStation 3 console. It is expected to be released in September 2007 in all areas of the world. It is a martial arts action-drama game with a freestyle combat system. According to Ninja Theory's website:

"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."

In a more detailed version of the synopsis, this is a story of Nariko, a fierce, red-haired warrior whose clan are the holders of the "Heavenly Sword", a sacred blade of immense power that slowly drains the user's life-force. King Botan, obsessed with the Sword, embarks on a campaign of destruction against Nariko's people in a ruthless quest for it. In a final act of desperation and retribution, Nariko takes up the Sword to exact vengeance upon King Botan and his army before the Sword kills her.

History

Originally in development to be released on the Xbox 360, Microsoft passed on the title, which was later picked up by SCEE[2]. After its showing at E3 in 2006, the game was nicknamed "Goddess of War" by various game critics due to its similarities to the game God of War.[1]

Gameplay

The gameplay of Heavenly Sword seems to resemble a martial arts game focusing on both melee and ranged weapons. The main character, Nariko, has one weapon that can transform into various weapons. Revealed so far are a chainlike weapon, two separate swords, and one big sword.

File:Heavenly-sword-20070516075659255.jpg
Nariko fighting one of the many bosses found in the game.

The game will have reaction commands; wherein the symbol for a certain button will appear on screen, and when pushed the game will enter a controllable-cutscene where the player must push the different combination of buttons on the screen.

From the demo seen, it appears to have a rotational camera angle. While using a throwing attack on an enemy, players can rotate the PS3 SIXAXIS controller to different angles: making the camera point in the direction the user wishes, though the angles will be static when entering certain events. Another notable element is that it will be possible to pick up and throw objects in the environment; the player can use the main character to pick up and throw enemies with her chain. In the demo Nariko picked up a small shield and threw it, at which point the game went into first person. From this, it appears that the player will have some control over the object in that mode.

Awards

At E3 2006. the game won the following Game Critics Awards:

File:Heavenly-sword-20070507011349527.jpg
Heavenly Sword has been heavily praised for both its artistic design and visuals.
  • Best Fighting Game.[2]
  • Next-Gen's Top 20 Playable Games of E3 - Number 1[3]
  • GamePro's Top 20 games - Number 1[4]
  • Gamespot's People's Choice Awards[5]
  • IGN E3 Award for Technological Excellence - Winner[6]
  • IGN E3 Best Artistic Design - Winner[7]
  • Meristation E3 Best PS3 Game - Winner[8]
  • GameDaily E3 Nod Award[9]
  • GameZone - BEST OF SHOW (Overall)[10]
  • IGN E3 Best Action Game - Runner up[11]
  • IGN E3 Best Graphics - Runner up[12]
  • IGN E3 Game of the Show - Runner up[13]
  • GameSpy Best of E3 2006 - Top 10 Console Game[14]

Trivia

In episode 18 of the NBC TV show Heroes, titled "Parasite", which aired March 5 2007, Micah and Jessica are seen playing Heavenly Sword. This was almost three months before the game's scheduled release date. Additionally, the episode is set in early November 2006, just before the launch of the PS3.

Actor Andy Serkis, who is best known for his motion capture and voice work for the character Gollum in the The Lord of the Rings movies, is doing the voice and motion capture for King Bothan, one of the major characters in Heavenly Sword.

References

  1. ^ "Q&A with Ninja Theory's Kristensen about Heavenly Sword". PS3.qj.net. Retrieved 2007-03-25.
  2. ^ "2006 Winners". gamecriticsawards.com. Retrieved 2006-06-25.
  3. ^ "The Annual E3 Awards: 2006". next-gen.biz. Retrieved 2006-07-13.
  4. ^ http://www.gamepro.com/gamepro/domestic/games/features/55528.shtml
  5. ^ http://uk.gamespot.com/features/6149834/index.html?q=awards
  6. ^ http://uk.ps3.ign.com/articles/709/709245p5.html
  7. ^ http://uk.ps3.ign.com/articles/709/709245p3.html
  8. ^ http://www.meristation.com/v3/des_articulo.php?pic=PS3&id=cw44662fae04751&idj=&idp=&tipo=art&c=1&pos=1
  9. ^ http://www.gamedaily.com/Specials/GameDaily-Nod/?page=5
  10. ^ http://www.gamezone.com/e3bestof.php?SiteID=gamezone.com&page=bestofshow
  11. ^ http://ps3.ign.com/articles/709/709245p1.html
  12. ^ http://ps3.ign.com/articles/709/709245p4.html
  13. ^ http://uk.ps3.ign.com/articles/709/709245p6.html
  14. ^ http://uk.gamespy.com/articles/709/709100p8.html

External links

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