Review: Heavenly Sword (PS3)

For: Breathtaking graphics; best ever cuts scenes; top quality acting; immersive story and characters; solid gameplay; good use of motion controls; fighting 500 enemies at once!

Against: Tiresome boss fights; short (5-6 hours)

It is a shame that the PS3 price will prevent most gamers getting a chance to enjoy Heavenly Sword, as it is probably the most beautifully crafted and visually arresting games of this generation.

The quality of the cut scenes alone, produced by Andy Serkis and Weta Workshops, is simple breathtaking and of the same quality of the Gollum digital animation in the LOTR trilogy. The level of detail on the skin, eyes and facial movements (all in engine) is quite incredible for a video game. The script and acting is also top quality with some genuine wit, humour and intensity. If you get a chance, check out some of the videos online.

As for the gameplay? Well it is a clone of God of War, but with a few new, interesting and innovative features thrown in.

The sword combat is very satisfying and consists of attacks in the different stances: speed, range and power. The enemies attack in the various stances -identified by colour- and you can only block and maximize your attacks by matching the stance. The combat also features a combo and counter system similar to that in Tekken or Soul Calibur. As you make kills you earn style points which can then be used to perform special moves - usually resulting in instant kills and a groovy animation. Most of the time you fight between 4 and 10 enemies at once, but the power of the PS3 is fully shown on the last level when you literally fight 500-1000 enemies at once on a "Helm's Deep" style battle field - absolutely astonishing technically, and quite brilliant.

At least 50% of the game is played as Nariko and her Heavenly Sword, whilst the other 50% is played with either her kooky friend Kia and her "Twing-Twang" (Bow), or as Nariko operating a huge cannon. These "shooting" missions are unique in that require the use of the tilt controls of the SixAxis controller.

Throughout the game whenever you throw or fire something, you can switch to an "aftertouch" mode where you have complete control of the projectile in flight - it is like the Bullet Tequilla Bomb in Stranglehold. You can adjust the projectiles direction by tilting the controller. The missions where Kia takes down archers from across a valley are very satisfying when combined with the arrow aftertouch - not to mention gruesomely cruel. Most of the games puzzles also use the "aftertouch" to direct thrown hats or arrows onto shields and switches.

Like God of War and Tomb Raider Legend, Heavely Sword also makes use of "quick time" events - movie sequences where certain buttons must be pressed in time. These "Hero Time" sequences are largely enjoyable, but they do become tiresome in the Boss Battles where they are required to perform the finishing moves.

If this game does have a weakness it is with the 'old school' Boss battles. The actually Bosses are all very strange and weird -which is fine-, and remind me a lot of the Bosses in Metal Gear Solid. Each Boss Fight, however, feels artificially lengthened and you often have to defeat the Boss 3 or 4 times before it concludes. These battles often result in tiresome 20-30 minute fights that Capcom would be proud of.

For me this is the PS3's first standout title, and while not perfect, it is a game that everyone should try to play. If you have a buddy with a PS3, camp yourself around their house to play the demo, or better the game. Is it enough to justify a new PS3? Probably not, as the game is too short and you'd just be left with Motorstorm and Warhawk to play afterwards. However, if the PS3 comes down to a sensible price (sub £250), and you are wondering what game to get to show the system off...Heavenly Sword is the game to buy.

8/10