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PS3 | Action | Heavenly Sword

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: Ninja Theory
Release Date: 09/14/2007
Genre: Action
Number of Players: 1
ESRB Rating: Teen
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82 screen shots

GRAPHICS: 4.75
SOUND: 4.50
CONTROL: 4.50
FUN FACTOR 4.50
AVG USER SCORE 3.9
AVG CRITIC SCORE 4.0

Winner of the GamePro Editor's Choice Award

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Feature: The Tech Behind Heavenly Sword

Feature by Sid Shuman | 04/11/2007 | 11:59:48 AM PST

Sony's Heavenly Sword turns balletic swordplay into fine art. Read on for more details concerning Nariko's story, art direction, and graphics!

by World of Forms

Human samurai and foot soldiers appear to be the chief threat. We haven't seen any supernatural beasts or monsters....yet.

The PlayStation 3 needs a hero, and Heavenly Sword may be just the game to do the job. The game's development history has been cloaked in secrecy, but a short playable demo turned heads at last year's E3 2006. Luckily, we convinced the folks at developer Ninja Theory to grant us an exclusive look at one of the most hotly anticipated games of 2007.

The Heavenly Sword is a gift to effect massive change, but those who carry the sword sign their own death sentence

Has Kratos met his match? Meet Nariko, star of PS3 heavyweight Heavenly Sword.

Set in a fantasy world that blends aesthetics from both ancient Europe and Asia, Heavenly Sword pits Nariko, a ferocious warrior with crimson hair, against the legions of a genocidal invading King. The titular Heavenly Sword was once in the possession of a god-like force, but has since fallen to the mortal world. Although the sword is a gift to effect massive change, this blessing comes with a sacrifice: those who carry the sword sign their own death sentence. In fact, Nariko has only hours left to live when the game opens.

Secrets of the Cell

The visuals in Heavenly Sword are downright delicious, with dreamy twilight lighting, expansive vistas, and waterfalls that look vastly superior to the ugly tumble of particles in other games. Nariko's clothing and scarlet mane respond to gusts of wind as well as her never-ending flips and spins. What's more, Heavenly Sword is the first PS3 game to really stress the console's much-hyped Cell processor. In Heavenly Sword, the Cell enables incredible numbers of enemies to be on screen at one time. The trick is that Cell treats entire regiments as a single unit of artificial intelligence when they are at a distance; as they draw closer, Cell gradually divides the army into smaller and smaller groups, so they eventually become individual troops with unique fighting styles and tactics.