You'll be In Heaven with the PS3's best game to date pick up the sword and get swinging
Game play is a step above the rest. Imagine God of war, but will precise calculation and without the gore. Is that good um no, but it sure isn’t bad. Watching Nariko (the heroine) fight is watching a sweet ballet of martial arts. She moves sways and performs combos with the ease of your control. Sometimes too easy and at other times you'll be overcome by the staggering depth of her moves. Even though you'll fight hordes of enemy Soldiers you'll find it hard to use all of her combos. The counter attack system is cool too. When you block an incoming attack with timing you will be able to counter which will show a brief cut scene of Nariko performing what is often but not always a death crushing move. What's even further flabbergasting is that it is seldom repetitive. The controls them self are dead on as she will respond to your every button press. Then there is something called "After touch" which smartly (and its bout time) uses the SIXAXIS controls to aim and throw or aim and fire cannons or almost anything for that matter. Nariko's aid Kai is a little girl she has found and helps her out from time to time. When she does it seems to fit perfectly within the confines on the adventure and doesn’t feel forced at all. Even her moves are graceful and fun to mess around with. Kai uses after touch the most because she is equipped with a bow gun. It is so sweet to aim an arrow from a great distance and guide it with precision into and enemy's forehead. In short the game play is here all the way around.
The Story-- not often an important in a beat em up game, but it here not only is it great, but it is original. You’re not fighting to stop world domination, not for revenge, and not just because. You fight for the survival of your clan from the disillusioned KING BOHAN. Who at times is very funny. Nariko (seemingly the only female in her clan smurfette lol) the heroine is looked down upon by everyone else in her clan even by her own father. Nevertheless she helps them survive the pursuit of Bohan at every turn. One day she is given the task of protecting the Heavenly Sword by her father Shen. This chore is given at a time of great distress as Bohan is staging a massive attack on the clan. The sword is said to be sent to heaven and was wielded by a great warrior long ago. It is said that when used it gives great power, but deals death to its uses as well. When faced with a tough decision on her journey Nariko chooses to use the sword. From start to finish she is constantly on the move and never has a chance to rest. The story is told in flashbacks, but with more originality and a twist Nariko seems to be speaking to the sword from another world as the story unfolds in a reverse order. To play it is to understand and truly appreciate it.
The music is epic but somehow at the same time forgettable. No one tune stands out in my mind but the score hits when needed. It is the brilliant voice work and acting done that takes things over the top. The lines conform to mouth and actions follow speech with a scary realism. At times the dialogue will have you sad, or laughing (especially Kai and Bohan) or angry as with one exchange between Nariko and her father Shen. A full range of emotions are reached with this game. The bosses also have that metal gear solid feel to them as they all have personality and are not just some guy or gal to get past. No one likes Nariko except Kai and you get that feeling through the speech. To close this review out there are a few things that make Heavenly Sword stand out from so many before it. Nariko isn't a savior, she isn't some Bada$$, or even some sexy dominatrix. What she is is a woman lost and determined to help those who don't even deserve to be helped. She fights for survival and nothing more. Even in the end of the game she does something uncharacteristic of heroes in these types of games. I won't spoil it, but let’s say when face with a certain decision if it were Kratos of God of War things would have gone differently. Speaking of the ending I had not been enthralled by an ending like this since the likes of Metal Gear Solid 3. The battle between Nariko and Bohan is .......well it’s hard to describe.....once again to play it is to love it. I will be playing this one for some time to come as it has become my second favorite game of all time. Loved every minute of it thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy this game too. PEACE!!