Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: Ninja Theory
Genre: Third-Person Action
Players: 1
Rating: Teen

Official Site of Heavenly Sword
Heavenly Sword Gallery

Ninja Theory’s Playstation 3 debut is not just another pretty God of War rip off, though gamers may feel some similarities. Heavenly Sword is a gorgeous hack and slash with a gripping story and superb acting and voice-overs of a summer blockbuster. As with any great action summer movie, gamers enjoy it from start to finish with the end coming way too quickly. The game follows Nariko’s last days told via flash back as she must wield a cursed sword and save her clan from the war-lord Bohan.

Gameplay
Heavenly Sword feels amazing through the majority of the game. From attacking one baddie to slashing through hundreds, it never seems to stop. Nariko has several attack combos to master and three types of stances to use them. Ninja Theory did a pretty decent job keeping the fighting style fresh; though at times repetitive. Gamers will have to master the three types: quick, strong and distance, as each will be needed at certain times during random battles as well as in boss battles. With the wide variety of combos and stances, it is highly recommended to master a few as well as some blocks and counters.

As much as I loved fighting through wave after wave of baddies while mashing buttons, there was nothing better than using Ninja Theory’s perfect use of SIXAXIS controls. Nariko is able to pick up almost any object and toss it through the air, including my personal favorite, dead guys. There is nothing better than watching dead enemies fly through the air in super-man type fashion taking out more enemies. Using the matrix-esque slow motion control, you can steer them to do most anything. Another nice touch was how Ninja Theory made things harder to control based on how they actually would fly through the air. A body was difficult to maneuver while shields and sword handle more smoothly.

None of the slow-mo controls compared to Nariko’s side-kick Kai and her crossbow of death. With a quick flick down after firing her arrow at the enemy, gamers could steer the arrow almost anywhere to take out the enemy. During a section, Kai must protect Nariko’s father as he makes a slow escape across a bridge. This was perfect control and use of SIXAXIS yet. Gamers will wish they had more levels like this as they will continue to fire arrow after arrow into the enemies' many nether-regions.