Programmer Humor

Heavenly Sword

Intro
I was not one of the first ten, hundred or even thousand to play Heavenly Sword so I was thrilled with all the hype surrounding it. I mean it was being talked about from all angles. Great graphics, great voice-acting, great story, a hollywood movie dead-cert....blah, blah, bloody blah. So I decided to try it out and see if one must believe this hype.

Gameplay
The most important part of any game. With all the publicity Heavenly Sword was getting, gameplay needed to be spot on. To an extent it was. I mean, don't get me wrong - It has every element the average hack 'n slash game would and then some. You can upgrade your fighting skills, use three different stances when fighting for three very different arrays of moves(Speed, Strength and somewhere in-between both for a combination of both but with slightly less of both). But, when you're up against as many enemies as you will wind up being put up against, sometimes you'll find yourself button-mashing, a habit that I vehemently abhor and yet could not help indulging in. It's fun, but half the time I don't know what I'm doing and I don't like that. Camera angles are a bit annoying as they get in the way of my taking arrow shots and throwing stuff. Don't believe me, try shooting at enemies chasing you and see how much fun it is - especially since shooting arrows requires using the sixaxis controller's motion sensors.

Graphics
Now this was one of Heavenly Swords's big selling points. The game took on this dreamy look to match the fantasy world it was created in and it works. All the characters have amazingly realistic facial expressions and the voice acting realy brought them to life. You wind up actually caring about how Nariko ends up and feel sorry for her because of her plight and inevitable end. The landscapes and backdrops all are pure works of art and every move in the game is exquisitely animated.

Plot
Like I said, this game has movie written all over it. You can count on the movie being released within the next ten years. We all know game-movies suck ass, but they never stop trying because we still watch them regardless. Basically, Nariko was a curse from the moment she was born because she was supposed to be a boy but wasn't and her mother died at her birth. Her people's lives and freedom are in jeopardy due to the megalomanic King Bohan and his croonies. To save her peeps, Nariko takes the Heavenly Sword (a magic blade which absorbs the life force of all who wield it but also gives them great power) which her father was supposed to be protecting. She then sets out on a mission to free her people. Like I said, good story.

Summary
Heavenly Sword is a classic hack and slash game with some fresh additions to the system. It is a welcome addition to a tired game genre. My one problem with the game is how short it is. Seriously, talented gamers would finish this in the time it takes to watch a (long) movie. If you think you are that good, then by all means rent the game. Otherwise, it is a great buy and you'll have lots of fun with it.

Pros
Deep and lively lead characters
Intense gameplay
Engrossing story

Cons
Shallow bosses
WAY too short
Might resort to button-mashing if care's not taken
Camera angles a bit dodgy in some parts

Gameplay - 8
Graphics - 9
Plot - 9
Presentation - 10

OVERALL - 8.5

Killzone 2

First of all, let me start by saying that Killzone 2 is not the best that Playstation 3 has to offer. I repeat, it is not the best that the PS3 has to offer. Now that's out of the way, let's get down to business.

Intro
So I get the Killzone 2 on this sweet deal amazon.co.uk was offering (free with a PS3) and after two weeks worth of delivery squabbles I finally hold it in my hand. Good cover and solid presentation.

Gameplay
The best feature of Killzone 2 is it's ability to make you feel like you are actually in a war. Team mates are falling dead around you, shrapnel flying about, explosions thundering in the distance and right in front of you. Try going rambo and watch your screen go dark in about five seconds. Every good aspect of the game, from search and destroy missions to survival runs to all or nothing showdowns are well spread out. Not too thinly so you barely know its there but not too much so you grow tired of it. One minute you are shooting down snipers with tanks, then you are riding a mecha-type robot shooting tanks, next you are shooting down ships with air gunships and then you are fighting mano-a-mano with a sadistic colonel with an invisibility suit. F***ing A! The enemy AI is among some of the best I have ever come across as well. On the downside, there are numerous slowdowns often when moving from one mission or environment to another. I know that reloading your gun is supposed to add realism to the game, but you have no idea how many times I have 'died' because it takes too long. As for online gameplay, it has to be said that Killzone 2 is probably as good as it could get for Playstation 3.

Graphics
Quite simply the best playstation 3 has to offer at the moment. Crisp and detailed while maintaining a certain....biological feel about it. Leaves have a brownish tinge to them, shoot dead bodies and watch blood splatter from them while they roll over from impact. It's all very overwhelming. There is an issue I have though. My team mates have a permanent look on their faces. No changes in facial expression and they never seem to face me when talking to me. It kind of ruins things for me.

Plot
Okay, so there is no such thing as Helghast and there is no way that invading a planet that hostile could ever be seen as anything other than a glorious slaughter waiting to happen, but come on guy 'n gals. Its a game, join the fun. The cutscenes are quite convincing and sometimes even stirring. (That rousing speech from Visari gets me everytime). But it works enough to make everything you do make sense and holds together quite nicely.

Summary
Killzone 2 is a great game not without its flaws, the worst being the short single player campaign. However, it is intense and hugely entertaining with guns. Lots of guns. A must-have for every and all PS3 enthusiasts.

Pros
Incredible graphics
Varied and entertaining Gameplay
Highly varied weaponry

Cons
Numerous slowdowns
'Emotionally unattached' team mates
Somewhat short single player campaign

Score
Gameplay - 9
Graphics - 10
Plot - 6
Presentation - 9

OVERALL - 9