Eurogamer:Heavenly Sword first impressions

By now you'll have read Eurogamer's recent Heavenly Sword first impressions. By now you'll have downloaded the Heavenly Sword demo released on PSN last week. By now you'll have been able to finish it approximately 47 million times. By now you've probably decided it's too short and doesn't really show us anything we didn't know.

There have definitely been complaints. First up, it lasts about five minutes. Second, it's heavy on Quick Time Events, where control is reduced to prompted button-presses as you slide down ropes or leap from tumbling pillars. Third, combat isn't as complex and nuanced as something like Ninja Gaiden or Devil May Cry. Fourth, the framerate's a bit wobbly

[Violater]

Games exclusive to the PS3 are doomed to overly harsh scrutiny.
If you like what you see guys buy it, if your not sure rent it first.
Judge the games for yourselves, do not be swayed either way by people with their own agendas.

[DiLeCtioN]

Gamers should choose their games not based on site reviews...IE budokai tenkaichi got 6,5, and 7s but i still bought it why because i love the idea of an anime character sending the enemy into oblivion lol
(vegeta, goku, naruto and icigo rock)

[Azures]

You also gotta learn which places give honest reviews or something close to your mindset. Eurogamer sounds like the jackass Fahey of Kotaku and his demo review of HS.

[VirusE]

I disagree; nothing they said was off base. The frame rate was unstable, it was super short and its a god of war knock off. I loved the demo and i will buy the game day 1 but it did have some ruff edges.

[uxo22]

I don't think anything said in the review was offbase, although I also felt that the game was beautiful. Although, my TV don't support 720p, I thought the clarity could have been a bit better. Someone please tell me that this is not going to be another one of those stupid 720p only decisions. I hope not, cause I really want this game.

Also, if this game is getting bad reviews, which I don't believe it is, it's being done by PS3 users. If an xbox user is giving it a bad review I would take it with a grain of salt. Of course unless they have both systems are can maintain objectivity.

Anyway, I loved the tiny bit I did get out of the demo. Although it was a very stingy dose to say the least.

[Azures]

The game does run in 720p res, it has to upscale to 1080. Given the size of just the demo I can imagine how big this game is running when the final product is ready, probably couldn't afford to put it at 1080p. The difference between those two progressive resolutions is minute regardless.

Gotta get away from interlaced, its the devil. 720p > 1080i :)

[hazeblaze]

I agree with everything except their comments on the combat. The combat system in HS is MUCH deeper than DMC or NG. Amazingly so once you get used to it.

[pandabear]

I love the demo, yes it's short but the question is, when it's finished do you want more? The answer is 'Hell Yeah'. I can't wait for this to come out and besides the game play, the cutscenes, voice acting and motion capture is the best I have ever seen in a video game. Bring it on!!!

[techie]

Deary me - the tone was so regretful and sounded negative, but they remained to give it compliments. I don't know what's up with Eurogamer at the moment - they need to sort themselves out and get some better journalists.

[THC CELL]

i never liked eurogamers they are just thick. Gamespot and ign are the best for previews Etc

[The Karate Kid]

AMzing how all those WACK 360 games got wonderful reviews lol but Heavenly Sword gets battered oh my god just think all those horrible 360 games that got 8's & 9's.

Video game industry just isnt what it used to be, itsall politics now. Example will be the EA SPORTS games all running at 60 frames per second. With Microsoft announcing this at E3 press conference its demostrates how microsoft PAID EA off to make that happen. We all know The EA Sport games can all run at 60 frames per second on PS3. SOunds like somebody was paid off!!!!

All the sites are paid off to bash PS3 games so nobody wont buy them, when there actually great games!!!

I'll admit though the framerate could use alittle work, but thats it!!! The game is going to be awesome, the cut scenes and mini games is what immerse you into the game!!!!!!!!!!!

[VirusE]

Please fanboy tell me what horrible games for the 360 got great reviews?

"All the sites are paid off to bash PS3 games so nobody wont buy them, when there actually great games!!!"

That is the cake topper. Could it be that no real great games have come out yet? In my opinion resistance is the best game out and it was a launch title. Next year will be the big year for the ps3

[Shadow Flare]

i played the demo, i was blown away. The graphics are honestly the best of any game i've played. The scenery at the start of the demo is absolutly stunning. The cut-scenes are absolutlely stunning. The combat system is brilliant and i prefer it alot more to ninja gaiden's. The draw-distance is incredible (btw after defeating everyone on the pillar, has anyone thrown a shield of the edge and watched how far it flies? It doesn't disappear!It freakin flies forever, the draw-distance is incredible)

I just love this game, i know the demo's 5 min, but theres a fair amount you can do in it. And that 5 min demo takes up 1 gig, i think thats why they couldn't make it longer. But it impressed me alot so ninja theory's job is done
Because ninja theory's sole purpose of that demo was to impress Shadow Flare

[radzy]

i think when a game gets a bit graphical on the ps3 , the ps3 struggles.even metal gear didnt look too smooth. i see alot of animation problems when the graphics are upped a bit e.g. uncharted:drakes fortune struggles to the point of unplayable. maybe its the developers being lazy or maybe they need more time , i dont know. hence the delay in nearly all ps3 games. if the ps3 games keep getting delayed just to get it right, then all multi-platform games are going to be exclusive to xbox 360. or do sony release the games same time e.g. madden 2008 with less graphic prowess(30fps instead of 60fps). sony have to make some really tough calls.

[popup]

Holds true until you see GT5 Prologue @1080P and 60fps. Its all about 'getting to know you'. The framerate issues have 'apparently' been ironed since this demo's build.

Have to wait and see I suppose.

[hazeblaze]

First of all, there were NO framerate dips in the MGS demonstration. Second, the demo of Heavenly Sword was from March... both the devs and IGN confirmed that these issues have been addressed in the demo that was at E3.

[UJUSTLOSTONE]

that this demo is OLD

the Developers stated themselves that most if not all
issues found in the demo, were already fixed

After you learn to calm down and figure out how the combat system is supposed to work. The games heroine, Nariko, performs beautifully.

I don't think its an above average game in terms of gameplay yet. But I cannot wait to play more so that I can find out for myself personally.

oh yeah

and

its a demo

[uxo22]

Why would someone trying to appeal to the general public to make a good impression and increase sells release a demo this late in the game that has known bugs in it. To me that doesn't make sense.

If that's truly the case, the devs are being very lazy. If I'm going to delay something, and keep it out of the public eye, you best believe that when I do release it, it's gonna be on point.

EDIT: And that includes the demo. (I may just rent this one first.)

[Azures]

From the current gameplay footage and in-game cutscenes, the last thing you can call those devs is lazy. They were probably just forced to give Sony something to put on PSN, their focus is finishing the final product...which looks brilliant.

[UJUSTLOSTONE]

that they put out a demo with known bugs, but that all the tests weren't done yet to catch everything.

From my understanding, A demo is put out there to get general feedback anyway, for things to be fixed tweaked and to let the masses see what they are in for, or to just enhance a consumers wanting to buy the product.

Sure you can take the Demo negatively and say that this is indicative of the crappy experience that I am going to have if I purchase the game. Or you can take it for what it is, be positive, and hope you made the right judgement call based on previews, reviews, vids, and demos.

[uxo22]

I understand where you're coming from, but I feel that demos are out there as a sample of the FINAL product. When you get a sample of ice cream at a parlor, you expect the same taste from the pint that you buy. I feel that Betas are there for feedback and to catch bugs. I really didn't notice any bugs myself, but If the devs said the there were bugs and that they are already fixed in the full version, why not fix it in the demo also, my god it only lasted 5 minutes.

@ShiroRX - just because someone did a good body of work, doesn't automatically imply that they are not lazy. I know the game looks good, and the cut scenes are great, but being lazy has nothing to do with that. You can be a good worker, that produced excellent quality and be lazy at the same time. I see it all the time. If you detailed my car and it was perfect except for one blimish on the front bumper and you knew about it but left it anyway, I would label you as either "LAZY" or "Uncaring".

I feel the same way about Devs that knowingly leave bugs in a demo.

[ApocalypseShadow]

the devs fixed these issues a long time ago.so any review of an old demo is useless.

same with motorstorm.the demos in stores were old and didn't look as good as the final game.same with the psn demo.but in the end:

motorstorm sold over a million copies.

heavenly sword will sell over a million copies.that's all that matters.you get a taste.and the final game will be the meal.

[Figboy]

demos take *TIME to create.

it's not like they just grab a chunk of game code and send it out to consumers.

it has to be coded for demo purposes. things have to be rewired and written (ever played a demo of an RPG, and a characters spouts off "this feature isn't available in this demo, but will be in the final build!" that has to be coded into the demo), then it has to be tested to make sure it's working properly.

the main problem, is that the same development team that are working on the demo, are also working on the *FINAL product, so resources are split. it's part of the reason why devs were so glad when E3 got pushed to July, as May was causing unneccesary crunch time to show off their product.

so they go with an older, yet stable build of the game, do some coding and quick bug fixes, then send it out.

if they weren't proud of what they accomplished at the time, they wouldn't release it.

i only saw slight framerate (barely noticable to me) but the combat system seems deeper than God of War, but not as nuanced as Ninja Gaiden, which is perfect for me.

anyway, gamers are spoiled. if the devs don't give us a demo, instead opting to work on making the final product as good as it can be, we b*tch and complain about there not being a demo.

then, when they split resources and make a demo build of the game, we b*tch and complain about minor issues that have probably been resolved by the time the demo goes through the certification and approval process anyway, and gripe when things like framerate haven't been addressed.

this is coming from my experience working the game industry as a game tester and floor lead.

we can tell a crappy game from a demo (ie, Nucleus on the PSN), just like we can tell a game with promise from a demo (ie, Heavenly Sword).

us gamers can be such a selfish, ungrateful lot. i swear.

the demo was short and sweet, and offered a nice taste of what's to come.

*note - since *WHEN did people start giving reviews for *DEMOS? or is it just Playstation 3 demos? as i've yet to see reviews of hardly *ANY of the demos on X Box Live. maybe a quick heads up, letting us know what's on Live, but no scathing, often smarmy nitpicky reviews.

lol. reviews of *DEMOS. wow. that's...well, that's something else.

[Violater]

Eurogamer wasn't on the radar so they didn't receive the entire level like the other media houses did to preview.

[WIIIS1]

From what I see, HS will deliver slightly more than Lair although it is obvious that apart from Nariko's facial expressions, there's nothing outstanding about the game. I'm a little concerned about Sony's obsession to push the graphics of their games at the expense of framerates and gameplay 'cos they're not achieving anything that hasn't been done on other games apart apart from quirky things like facial animations which probably ate up 70% of the size of the demo download. All said and done, I'm guessing it'll likely get a 6.5 from EGM.

[Violater]

Have you played the demo?