Heavenly Sword, an upcoming exclusive PS3 game, was my pick for the best playable game at the last E3. Even though only one arena level was shown with somewhat derivative combat for those who've played Devil May Cry, God of War, etc., it still stood out to me as an amazingly tight action game with a ton of potential if developed properly.
RELEASE DATES:
US: September 12, 2007
EU: September 14, 2007
For the record, my past E3 top picks (I've been to all of them) included Diablo, Tomb Raider, Tony Hawk Pro Skater, Burn Out 3, and God of War as games that impressed me before the media hype and rabid fan support came about.
The game will feature crazy 1v1 boss battles with mega-huge creatures (Dragon Lair styled input, real time graphics), 1 vs mob battles where you take out a group of bad guys in some disgustingly vicious ways, and also there will be army battles, where hundreds of characters on screen fight using independent A.I.
There are several battle stances for your red-haired 'Goddess of War', and there are a number of combos and defensive actions you can implement while you fight. It's been promised that the story will be blockbuster-movie quality with some professional actors doing the voices (like Andy Serkis, of LotR Gollum fame).
The locales are said to be plentiful, highly varied, and stunning to fight through, and the animation is particularly smooth for the amount of action going on, HOPEFULLY at 60fps.
***Post July PSN demo update***
Here are videos that take you through the entire second level, beginning to end (over 30 minutes). You'll enjoy the variety of game play mechanics, the professionally produced story elements as well as some boss fight action (these are Game Informer videos and section titles):
*** STORY SPOILERS ***
Storming the gate
The Flying Fox
The Flying Fox continued
Let's go to prison
OK, prison was a bad idea
King Botan's court cutscene
It's prison break time
A rocket launcher? If you say so...
Whiptail's cutscene
Whiptail battle
Kai's sniper mission
Sniper mission continued
Fight ends, final cutscene of chapter
________________________________
An early, very limited demo has been released on the PSN... the developers say it is from an early build and that technical problems have been since resolved. Here are some pictures of the lead character, some in-game visuals, trailer videos, and a links to their latest interviews:
Newest pics from June '07 located here!
Here's the last preview from ign. First, click here for an awesome new video:
http://streamingmovies.ign.com/ps3/a...wmvlowwide.wmv
Link to HD Movie trailer.
Link to an interview with Ninja Theory, the developers.
Here's an interview of some of the tech features in the game they are trying to implement.
This translated interview reveals some game play and animation techniques.
March '07 edit.... this new in-game shot from the developers is supposedly real time with added post-edit blur effect added to the edges of the shot:
It's due in the summer, so snag a PS3 before then if you haven't already done so!
April edits:
Here are some hands-on impressions from Gamepro.
May Edits:
Check out the new trailer!
Also, a new Sony Gamer's Day impressions write up from ign is here.
JULY edit:
According to this interview, a playable demo is coming to the PSN very soon! Likely before the end of the month.
The demo is done!
According to this article, the Heavenly Sword playable demo can be released at any time Sony is ready. We may get it next Thursday!
AUGUST '07 EDIT
An epic soundtrack treat for us gamers (first posted by DubBucket):
Check out the full writeup on the audio!
RELEASE DATES:
US: September 12, 2007
EU: September 14, 2007
For the record, my past E3 top picks (I've been to all of them) included Diablo, Tomb Raider, Tony Hawk Pro Skater, Burn Out 3, and God of War as games that impressed me before the media hype and rabid fan support came about.
The game will feature crazy 1v1 boss battles with mega-huge creatures (Dragon Lair styled input, real time graphics), 1 vs mob battles where you take out a group of bad guys in some disgustingly vicious ways, and also there will be army battles, where hundreds of characters on screen fight using independent A.I.
There are several battle stances for your red-haired 'Goddess of War', and there are a number of combos and defensive actions you can implement while you fight. It's been promised that the story will be blockbuster-movie quality with some professional actors doing the voices (like Andy Serkis, of LotR Gollum fame).
The locales are said to be plentiful, highly varied, and stunning to fight through, and the animation is particularly smooth for the amount of action going on, HOPEFULLY at 60fps.
***Post July PSN demo update***
Here are videos that take you through the entire second level, beginning to end (over 30 minutes). You'll enjoy the variety of game play mechanics, the professionally produced story elements as well as some boss fight action (these are Game Informer videos and section titles):
*** STORY SPOILERS ***
Storming the gate
The Flying Fox
The Flying Fox continued
Let's go to prison
OK, prison was a bad idea
King Botan's court cutscene
It's prison break time
A rocket launcher? If you say so...
Whiptail's cutscene
Whiptail battle
Kai's sniper mission
Sniper mission continued
Fight ends, final cutscene of chapter
________________________________
An early, very limited demo has been released on the PSN... the developers say it is from an early build and that technical problems have been since resolved. Here are some pictures of the lead character, some in-game visuals, trailer videos, and a links to their latest interviews:
Newest pics from June '07 located here!
Here's the last preview from ign. First, click here for an awesome new video:
http://streamingmovies.ign.com/ps3/a...wmvlowwide.wmv
Link to HD Movie trailer.
Link to an interview with Ninja Theory, the developers.
Here's an interview of some of the tech features in the game they are trying to implement.
This translated interview reveals some game play and animation techniques.
March '07 edit.... this new in-game shot from the developers is supposedly real time with added post-edit blur effect added to the edges of the shot:
It's due in the summer, so snag a PS3 before then if you haven't already done so!
April edits:
Here are some hands-on impressions from Gamepro.
May Edits:
Check out the new trailer!
Also, a new Sony Gamer's Day impressions write up from ign is here.
JULY edit:
According to this interview, a playable demo is coming to the PSN very soon! Likely before the end of the month.
The demo is done!
According to this article, the Heavenly Sword playable demo can be released at any time Sony is ready. We may get it next Thursday!
AUGUST '07 EDIT
An epic soundtrack treat for us gamers (first posted by DubBucket):
Quote:
10GB of sound FX, approximately three and a half hours of music, 4,500 lines of dialogue
10GB of sound FX, approximately three and a half hours of music, 4,500 lines of dialogue
Check out the full writeup on the audio!
. Any of you see the movie, 'Do the Right Thing'? Mookie is talking with Radio Raheem when he notices the cool knuckle jewelry he has on. Mookie then exclaims:
