The Official Heavenly Sword thread

[Zenien]

Heavenly Sword

Emotionally charged, stunningly beautiful and delivering unprecedented dramatic character performance, Heavenly Sword showcases the power of PLAYSTATION®3. A dramatic tale of revenge sees Nariko, a fiery red-haired heroine embark on a quest for vengeance against an invading King and his army. The story builds around the ancient Heavenly Sword which once belonged to a powerful deity. It can never be wielded by a mortal without it draining their life-force, killing them within hours.

When the invading King (played by Andy Serkis) destroys the warrior clan that guards the Heavenly Sword, the clan leader’s daughter, Nariko, takes up the sword in a desperate fight for survival. Nariko must now pay the ultimate price as she embarks on one last mission of vengeance against the King and his army before her life is finally drawn to a close…

Andy Serkis, the world’s leading CG actor, famous for his roles as Gollum in “The Lord of the Rings” and Kong in “King Kong”, was heavily involved in the creative process. As well as starring in Heavenly Sword as the villain, King Botan, Andy was a major contributor to the character development, writing, casting, directing and performance capture for the PLAYSTATION 3 game.


The Heavenly Sword itself can Transform into Three Distinct Stances – Players can switch between on the fly allowing players to create their own fighting styles.
The Combat Engine can Scale Up – From sophisticated one-on-one encounters to one-on-many, where enemies employ intelligent squad-based dynamics, right up to combat against battalions pushing real-time gameplay and AI to unprecedented new levels.
Physics-based Combat – Players can sweep debris against opponents, kick tables to halt an oncoming surge of fighters, smash the enemy into the scenery or throw bodies into other enemies using aftertouch controls.
Wide Range of Objects and Weaponry – Including multi-skewering spears and devastatingly explosive bazookas.
Creative in-game Cinematography – Coupled with real-time story evolvement and amazing set-pieces makes the action feel like a blockbuster action movie and takes combat gameplay to new heights.


Awards and Recognition (E3 2006)
Next-Gen's Top 20 Playable Games of E3 - Number 1 (http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3023&Itemid=2&limit=1&limitstart=1)

GamePro's Top 20 games - Number 1! (http://www.gamepro.com/gamepro/domestic/games/features/55528.shtml)

Gamespot's People's Choice Awards (http://uk.gamespot.com/features/6149834/index.html?q=awards)

IGN E3 Award for Technological Excellence - Winner (http://uk.ps3.ign.com/articles/709/709245p5.html)

IGN E3 Best Artistic Design - Winner (http://uk.ps3.ign.com/articles/709/709245p3.html)

Meristation E3 Best PS3 Game - Winner (http://www.meristation.com/v3/des_articulo.php?pic=PS3&id=cw44662fae04751&idj=&idp=&tipo=art&c=1&pos=1)

GameDaily E3 Nod Award (http://www.gamedaily.com/Specials/GameDaily-Nod/?page=5)

GameZone - BEST OF SHOW (Overall) (http://www.gamezone.com/e3bestof.php?SiteID=gamezone.com&page=bestofshow)

Game Critics Awards - Best Fighting Game (http://www.gamecriticsawards.com/nom.html)

IGN E3 Best Action Game - Runner up (http://uk.ps3.ign.com/articles/709/709245p1.html)

IGN E3 Best Graphics - Runner up (http://uk.ps3.ign.com/articles/709/709245p4.html)

IGN E3 Game of the Show - Runner up (http://uk.ps3.ign.com/articles/709/709245p6.html)

GameSpy Best of E3 2006 - Top 10 Console Game (http://uk.gamespy.com/articles/709/709100p8.html)

Videos

A Scenery Demonstration (http://www.gametrailers.com/umwatcher.php?id=3100) (E3 2006)
Motion Capturing with Andy Serkis (http://www.gameklip.com/v/659/) (E3 2006)
Heavenly Sword Conference Premier (http://www.gametrailers.com/player.php?id=10427&type=mov&pl=game) (E3 2006)
Gametrailers E3 2K6 Gameplay HD (http://www.gametrailers.com/player.php?id=10440&type=mov&pl=game) (E3 2006)
Gametrailers E3 2K6 Gameplay 2 HD (http://www.gametrailers.com/player.php?id=10444&type=mov&pl=game) (E3 2006)

For the BEST quality and videos check out Playsyde (http://playsyde.com/game_644.html)

Artwork
http://playsyde.com/news_3257_en.html

[블라스]

I love this game.
Like I said before, it'll be one of the first games (if not THE first) I get for Ps3.

[Zenien]

Videos will be up shortly Gammy.

[블라스]

Yay!

I'll go pick up my free copy of Dead Rising in the meantime ;)

[Mentok]

Free???/111/1/!??!

[블라스]

Yes sir!
Reached a certain amount of store points after trading/buying games there, so yay!

[Mentok]

I hate you now :mad:

[블라스]

I sooooo doubt that.
You love me and you wanna have my babies :down

[Mentok]

Yeah :)

[블라스]

Where's them videos, A? :mad:


Yeah :)

Sooo knew that :up:

[Mentok]

Where's them videos, A? :mad:




Sooo knew that :up:

Our Man-Love is a beautiful thing.

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k8/mentokmentok/shirtless-gay-couple.jpg

[블라스]

Our Man-Love is a beautiful thing.

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k8/mentokmentok/shirtless-gay-couple.jpg

Hahaha disturbing :(

:( :up:

[Manny Calavera]

Hahaha, zenien's thread has been turned into a thread about man love before page two :(

Anyways, the game looks fun, but I still don't get why people are calling it graphically stunning and all that, it really isn't :confused:

[THE LIZARD#1]

Hey Zenien great job with the thread, but in the meantime i'm going to post something if thats okay?

This is the story of Heavenly Sword or so 1.up is told.

What's The Basic Concept?

Barbarians invade main heroine Nariko's country and proceed to wreak the requisite havoc across the land. To avenge the wrongs done to her people, Nariko arms herself with the titular. Heavenly Swoord which in addition to being badass unfortunately saps away the life of any mortal who wields it. Nariko's challenge. To defeat all of the intruders before her life ends. However there is a twist, with the blood of the victim that stains the sword your life span increased giving you a longer life. So I think its cool she's killing to advenge her people however she also has to kill to stay alive. WICKED.

[THE LIZARD#1]

Hahaha, zenien's thread has been turned into a thread about man love before page two :(

Anyways, the game looks fun, but I still don't get why people are calling it graphically stunning and all that, it really isn't :confused:

Well didn't we get the short end of the stick? Gamespot keeps claiming that none of the pictures/videos do this game justice.

[블라스]

Is Red's style based on an actual martial art, I wonder?
Hmm?

[Manny Calavera]

If a "video" doesn't do the game justice, nothing will.

[Zenien]

Some videos are up but the best stuff is on Playsyde for download. :p

EDIT: And can we please keep this thread on topic people.

[THE LIZARD#1]

More on Heavenly Sword, and to answer some questions.

Who's making it?

Development studio Ninha Theory was formerly known as Just Add Monsters, which made 2003's Xbox exclusive title Kung Fu Choas. The company explains the recent name change. "Its because we wanted a name with NINJA in it, and thats the best we could come up with.

Whats the big deal?

Heavenly Sword was one of the prettiest-looking games to grace the PS3 at E3 next to Resistance: Fall of Man*NO joke*and its got a fancy Hollywood pedigree to go with its glamorous appearance. Andy Sekis the voice actor and cg model for LOTR's Gollum and King Kong's KONG provides the voice of the evil invader King Botan, and he helped out with the motion capture sessions and contributed to the storyline, character development, and casting sessions as well.

Is there anything to worry about?

Between the blade equipped wrist chains, button pushing cut scenes a la Chenmue and doomed protagonist motif, what we saw seems very similar in many ways to God of War (a popular nickname during it E3 premiere was "Goddess of War" Hopefully as more of the game is shown we'll see something that gives it its own personality.

Dude if they compared it to God of War you totally know its going to kick ass, God of War was of the greatest games i've ever played.

[THE LIZARD#1]

If a "video" doesn't do the game justice, nothing will.

Not really, some videos I watch of Gears of War don't give the game justice but i'm still interested.

[Drakon]

You ***** and moan for me to clean the other thread, then I delete 136 posts of that crap, and you make a new one.

_nIm

[Manny Calavera]

Gears of War
You're so lucky I'm as cool as I am Zenien :o





Anyways, the Andy Serkis stuff I had no idea about, thats really awesome :up:

[THE LIZARD#1]

Thanks Zenien those videos were sweet. Man the graphics look amazing compared to the somewhat ugly screenshots.

[Mentok]

You ***** and moan for me to clean the other thread, then I delete 136 posts of that crap, and you make a new one.

_nIm

Ban them :mad:

[블라스]

Is Red's style based on an actual martial art, I wonder?
Hmm?

Is Red's style based on an actual martial art, I wonder?
Hmm?

[THE LIZARD#1]

You're so lucky I'm as cool as I am Zenien :o





Anyways, the Andy Serkis stuff I had no idea about, thats really awesome :up:

WTF dude lol I wasn't bashing Gears lol, I just said your statement about a video not doing a game justice is..........*Flash Back of previous argument* Yeah, i'm staying on topic.:)

[Mentok]

I want to see more of the game, not just that single room.

[Manny Calavera]

Is Red's style based on an actual martial art, I wonder?
Hmm?
They might have used a real martial art to get the animations right, but I doubt the actual moves will resemble one.

[THE LIZARD#1]

Ban them :mad:

Stoner from Super Troopers: "Please no..":O

[THE LIZARD#1]

I want to see more of the game, not just that single room.

Dude that single room is sweet, god the combat in that small area alones makes you gitty with joy over the combat system. Do you guys think it will compare with God of War?

[Zenien]

It's apparently a much more combat ish game then GoW. It's going to have everything from small skirmishes to battles against huge armies. God of War is sort of like an action Adventure game, where Heavenly Sword (at least based on what we know) imo, is more of a pure combat game.

You're so lucky I'm as cool as I am Zenien :o

Anyways, the Andy Serkis stuff I had no idea about, thats really awesome :up:

Yeah he's actually working directly with Ninja Theory as the 'Dramatic Director'. He's in charge of the motion capturing, casting, voice acting, and is heavilly involved in the writting for the game. I don't think the videos I put up reflect it all the well, but the E3 Arena demo has some really impressive voice acting from all the characters. Probably because partly because of Mr Gollum's[EDITED FOR GAMERA :O) works with them.

EDIT: It's not like you told us you were doing that Drakon, and cleaning out the posts was the last thing I suggested after saying I was going to make a new thread like over a day ago. :confused:

[블라스]

Gollum! :mad:

[Topdawg]

Im looking forward to this game, I hope to see other environments in the game at TGS.

[Zenien]

I don't know if Heavenly Sword is going to show up at Leipzig or not, I haven't heard anythign though. So barring that, this september, baby. :cool:

[Manny Calavera]

What happens in September again? X06 is the only one I know of, and I don't think Heavenly Sword will show up there :confused:

[Mentok]

I dont know, it just seems like you press a button, watch an overly long scripted animation, press another button, watch an overly long scripted animation...

Mabye its just the video... Playing the game looks liek it would get annoying after 10 minutes. I hope its more dynamic than it seems.

[Zenien]

I swear, the only shows you think exist must be E3 and frigging X06. :(

TOKYO GAME SHOW :cmad:

Heavenly Sword has already been confirmed for TGS, but if we're really lucky: Suprise Leipzig Showing?! :-O

[Mentok]

Stupid Double post :(

[Mentok]

E3 no exist anymore :(

TGS will rock this year :up:

[Avalanche]

E3 no exist anymore :(

TGS will rock this year :up:
E3 does still exist doesn't it, just not in the same form. It'll still be there for the industry, just not for the public.

[THWIP*]

E3 does still exist doesn't it, just not in the same form. It'll still be there for the industry, just not for the public.


NOT REALLY.........IN FACT, "THE INDUSTRY" TURNED IT'S BACK ON 'E3' (NAMELY 'SONY', AND THE BIG DEVELOPERS), HENCE THE REASON FOR IT'S DEMISE. THE INITIAL NEWS OF IT BEING "SCALED BACK" WAS FALSE........IT'S OFFICIALLY DONE NOW. :o

[블라스]

What are we going to do now?!?!

[Mentok]

CRY. Apart from that it looks like the other smaller shows will be mugh bigger next year to make up for the lack of E3. PAX is said to be 3 times bigger this year.

[THWIP*]

What are we going to do now?!?!


I SUPPOSE WE'LL HAVE TO SETTLE FOR 'ZENIEN'S INCREDIBLY LAME 1UP POD CAST THREADS. :(

[블라스]

Zenien rocks, it's just that she posts things that are too technical sometimes, and those bore me :(

[Substance D]

the girl from ff13 would kick this *****'s poorly designed, trashy ass. most beautiful female game character ever? yeah right. nasty cheese head.

[Zenien]

Some feels threatened. :confused:

[Substance D]

Some feels threatened. :confused:

Some can't form cohesive sentences. :)

[Zenien]

Someone feels threatened.

Fixed.

Seriously saying stuff like that is just childish.

[Manny Calavera]

I don't know, I thought nasty cheese head sounded pretty "grown up" :o

[B1g Jerm]

I don't know about this one Sony. Not enough potential.

[Axid]

But the whole system is based on potential :o

[Manny Calavera]

All of it unfullfilled, so that they have plenty left over for games like this :o

[hippie_hunter]

But the whole system is based on potential :o

So much that you're actually paying for it :up:

[Zenien]

Short new footage of Heavenly Sword. Well previously it was only available via a cam corder recording. Anyway, Each seperate scene was entirely realtime according to the devs, they made it prior to E3 though, so as nAo said, it was using shaders and systems that weren't as advanced as what they had runing in their E3 build... and it still looks great.

http://media.ps3.ign.com/media/700/700186/vids_1.html

[Manny Calavera]

That QTE scene looked...out of place :confused:
All in all looks pretty fun though.

[Mentok]

Yeah, its Looking great.

[Avalanche]

Short new footage of Heavenly Sword. Well previously it was only available via a cam corder recording. Anyway, Each seperate scene was entirely realtime according to the devs, they made it prior to E3 though, so as nAo said, it was using shaders and systems that weren't as advanced as what they had runing in their E3 build... and it still looks great.

http://media.ps3.ign.com/media/700/700186/vids_1.html
Her hair looks so heavy, and yet it blows to the side in the gentle breeze as though there were a hurrican wind. Still, looks pretty.