Heavenly Sword

If this game was longer than six hours, we'd give it a much better score, but the length of it isn't quite redeemed by the great story and mediocre gameplay. [Issue#157, p.72]

Heavenly Sword's presentation is stellar and nicely ties the action sequences together, but we just wish that the same amount of care that went into these cutscenes were applied to the game's pacing.

No amount of lavish technical polish and drama-filled cut scenes can disguise how it feels to play, and the fact that at its core, the combat doesn't quite cut it. Put simply, it feels like it's trying too hard to be different for the sake of it, and throws all manner of good, well-established ideas out to its detriment. Instead of being a spectacular refinement of what's gone before, Heavenly Sword is a reinvention that doesn't quite pay-off.

Though it's mostly good, often excellent and technically spectacular, as a wannabe movie this can't help but fall short of heavenly. [Oct 2007, p.102]

Too short despite early promise of an epic, Heavenly Sword is quite a disappointment. [Oct 2007, p.119]

There are definitely moments of triple-A brilliance to be enjoyed here, but they're occasionally overshadowed by the game's shortcomings.

Heavenly Sword will run you about 6 – 7 hours but as an action game that’s about all we can really expect from a title that wants to tell a spin a narrow tale.

Heavenly Sword turns out to be a short experience, and one that isn’t going to challenge even the cerebrally impaired.

For those who are fans of the fantasy action genre and who overlooked this almost-classic first time around, I would strongly suggest you not let the negative criticism keep you from missing you on this incredible ride.

For all its flaws, Heavenly Sword is still somewhat satisfying. Perhaps its short length (just ten hours or so) keeps the button-mashing from becoming overwhelmingly repetitious. Perhaps Nariko’s sexily smoky voice and gorgeous hair is just distracting enough to take your mind off the annoying camera?

For all its showboating, this is an average action game with few standout moments. [Nov 2007, p.74]

A pretty, short, next-generation God of War-alike with quirky gameplay.

It’s worth experiencing for the artistry in its visual flair, excellent cutscenes and one or two inspired directional moments, but as a game? The previous generation God Of War has the definite edge. [Oct 2007, p.86]

The excellent characters and simply beautiful looks throughout the many cut-scenes will do a fine job of impressing those looking to see what their PlayStation 3 is capable of, but despite these highs, it’s likely to be the lows that stand out. [Oct 2007, p.112]

If Metal Gear Solid and Halo had acting this good, we'd be on to something.