Great points. The truth is that most of the "excuses" for Heavenly Sword getting low marks don't stand up to close scrutiny.

We've already shown that some of the greatest games in history are no longer than Heavenly Sword.

If you are into replay then it has Hell mode.

It is no more repetitive than many top games. In fact, the inclusion of Kai breaks the gameplay up even more than most games, especially shooters.

Graphically, I haven't seen a game come close to it.

The sound is top-notch.

The acting is as good or better than anything before it.

The motion capture and facial movement is the best I have ever seen. No contest.

I feel like alot of peopel played the demo and based their reviews off of that. The demo sucked.

It's too short to deserve a 9+, simple as that. I love the game, I reviewed it on a semi-professional level, but dispite my love for the game, I had to take points off because there are issues, like for example its length, that make recommending the game at $60 (or more where I live) problematic. With the Gamespot rating system, I give it a 8.5, but this is Gamespot after all and while some scores can be considered as "off", overall they are harsher than average but mostly fair.BenderUnit22

I'm curious, would you score GoW 1 and 2 below a 9? How about the original Resident Evil? Going by the length rule, Resident Evil deserves a 3/10, but in my opinion it is one of the greatest games of all time. 9.5+. I think its a mistake to judge games based on length. Sure, let it factor in to the equation, but don't make it 20% of the score.

Bottom line is that this is a great game. And for entertainment value alone it is WELL worth $60.

the lenght is killing the gameginglejangle

I'm curious, did you paly and finish Heavenly Sword?

The microsoft comment was an obvious joke, sorry some of you were pulled in by it, and the game length arguement is ridiculous when you give it any thought at all.

How long was Resident Evil? 3 hrs?

How long was MGS?

How long was God of War?

These are some of the greatest games ever made. I'd put Heavenly Sword up with them.

The fact remains that this is a VERY high quality game. It is short. Like any button masher it is a bit repetitive, but it is incredibly immersive. This game isn't a game... it's an experience.

Few games have floored me with their presentation. Resident Evil. God of War. Legacy of Kain (first one). Original Tomb Raider. Maybe a few others, but Heavenly Sword now comfortably sits along side these games.

Is Microsoft padding the pockets of the reviewers here? Heavenly Sword is a phenomenal game and it only gets an 8? I love God of War 1 and 2, and this game is every bit as good as both of them. It deserves at least a 9... maybe even a 9.5.