This game delivers quality over quantity.
Seriously, this is by far the best Playstation 3 game I have played to date. The words can't describe how much I enjoyed this game from start to finish. You can see that the developers took the time to make almost everything right.
Let me start by describing the gameplay. In short words, it rocks. There's just so many combos that you can pull off. Once you master the controls and unlock all the moves, you will have a great time disposing of your enemies. With three stances, and a vast amount of combos, its hard for you to do the same thing over and over. This game is not a button masher. You need to know what attack to use in certain situations and how to block certain attacks. However, there is no jump button. This would have been a nice addition to the gameplay, but to me it is not completely necesarry because you can still dodge the attacks with the right analog stick (and it works). Also, there's some levels where you get to play as Kai (Nariko's friend). While she does not have the same amount of attacks as Nariko, she keeps things fresh. Now lets talk about the graphics. Heavenly Sword's graphics are beautiful. The levels are well designed and the amount of details is great. It has a very peculiar artistic style and so it cannot be compared to any other game. The character models are top-notch and so are their movements. In short words, the game's graphics can be described as: art in motion.
The music is excellent. It's full of emotion and I believe it suits the game very well. Sound is also great. From the sound of the swords, to the explosions, this game delivers. Perhaps one of the most astonishing things about this game are the performances. I have to say that they are the best I have seen in any video game. It feels so real and you can actually feel what the characters are feeling. You feel their anger, you feel their happiness and you care for them. This game is full of strong feelings. It feels like you're actually playing a movie. I need to congratulate Andy Serkis for another excellent performance.
All in all, Heavenly Sword is a title that any Playstation 3 owner should play. With its interesting (and sad at the end) story, the combo system, the music and sound, and the performances, this game has potential. Buy it or rent it, if you have a Playstation 3 you should play this game. Although this game is short, it actually has a lot of quality. I like games like this one, that deliver quality over quantity. Besides, this is one of those games you can play and never get bored. Some games are long but lack the level of quality that Heavenly Sword has. There are many things to unlock (concept art, making of movies, in-game cutscenes, anime mini series), and specially, if you beat the game you will unlock Hell Mode. I hope there is a sequel (even with that ending), because quite frankly, I really enjoyed this game. If you haven't played this game I suggest you do so. Most of you won't be disappointed. And if you have the money, buy it. This is the kind of game that deserves to be in my collection (and perhaps in yours). Bravo Sony and Ninja Theory for finally delivering a quality title.