This fall, many consider the most important period in the life of the PlayStation 3. How's the show itself a platform for the first since the start of the pre-holiday sales period? Justify the expectations imposed upon them potential blockbusters? The latter has long attributed and Heavenly Sword, an ambitious fantasy-action film, obviously encroach on the laurels of the famous God of War. Sony representatives at every opportunity Stresses the nahvalennogo project. Warranted it?
We all learned a little ... Staff development studio, obviously, do not hesitate to use others' ideas: those in the Heavenly Sword a dime a dozen, only manage to see. Both in the scenario and in gameplay and artistic decision. For example, it all starts with dramatic scenes of resettlement of the protagonist in another world - familiar, does not it? Someone forgot - propose to run the first part of the already mentioned God of War and see the entrance video. More - more. Some of the footage clearly taken a loan from the authors of "Crouching Tiger, an invisible dragon, some emigrated to the local video series from the very first" Conan the Barbarian "with the future governor of California in the title role. Why are there shots - level selection screen, and he seems to have copied from LotR: Return of the King of the authorship of Electronic Arts.
But borrowing know-how competitors - business as usual. Other surprises. Collecting with the world on a string, the creators of Heavenly Sword, however, managed to end up weaving a very self-sufficient and integrity of the project, which is not much left to get lost against the background of his own kind.
 | They are looking for police |
As the story progresses you will quickly realize that King Bohan - a nasty little person. And his supporters, he picked relevant. Each of the three aides of the King - the figure is highly remarkable, as is easily seen in person. The first on your way get Flying Fox, the best warrior in the army Bohan, bloodthirsty maniac with a very distorted idea of beauty and some of my personal accounts to the Trust Nariko, Kai. Flying Fox fight will have to double, and if the first meeting is proving to be just a warm-up, the second surely will end the death of one of the contenders. No less vivid personality - zmeyuchaya lady named Hlystohvost (Whiptail), it is the same - the boss at number two. Snake Woman fights directly, for which he paid his own scaly skin. Finally, the boss number three - the native son Bohan nicknamed Roach (Roach). Ugly and clumsy, Roach has tremendous power, but he really lacks agility, which in the end affect the outcome of the fight with brisk Nariko.
 | |  | One blow with the sword of Power Stance - and the army Bohan per volunteer less. | | Blades for long chains - a reliable way to keep opponents at a distance of reverence. |
Three Ways to Cut Meat The combat system Heavenly Sword, at first glance, podkupayusche simple and ridiculously messy. Know PUSH the two buttons - and admire the expanding opponents in the corners. Beginners, torn ruthless Ninja Gaiden Sigma, rejoice; hardcore preparing to creation Ninja Theory bloodbath on the forums. However, those and others do not get too to jump to conclusions: a red-haired Nariko is proving to be a lady unpredictable, and its ability to fight is not so superficial as it may seem initially.
Beating a few introductory stages (and at the same time learn the basics of management), you get the most Heavenly Sword - in fact, the only weapon available to the protagonist until the finale. Too little will not it? One blade, complete lack of bonuses and seemingly has the usual "upgrades", which is good? But no, the sword is not so simple, not in vain chase him woozy king with an army of henchmen. Power of the sword is "racks» (stances), which, in essence, turning the blade in one of three completely different types of weapons, with their strengths and weaknesses.
Base stand, she's Speed Stance, Nariko can wield two short semi-circular blade, moving with considerable speed and causing a lot of fast, but not too severe shock. Speed Stance advantages are obvious - losing Nariko agility, foe forced on the defensive and are unlikely to counterattack without risking to miss the deadly attack. Disadvantages are also predictable: the small radius of defeat forces you to stay close to the enemy, losing opportunities to evade special moves and unlockable attacks. Besides, being in Speed Stance, the easiest to find in the environment.
On the contrary, Range Stance - an excellent, albeit faulty way to keep the villains at some distance away. The Sword in the rack becomes a kind of chain swords from the arsenal of ferocious Kratos: two light blade bolted to the long chains. To approach Nariko as she uses the Range Stance, it is very difficult, but expect a speedy conclusion to the battle is not necessary, too weak shocks are obtained. And therefore never forget the reception number three.
Power Stance. Here is where fans expanse of brute force! Blade in Power Stance is only one, but a huge, hitting his truly devastating. To finish off the opponent, rather just a pair of precise strokes. And if you get the hand, then two or three thugs at once deprive of life. Alas, along with the strength and weakness coming - go to the Power Stance, Nariko is too slow, and at times it is extremely dangerous.
As you can see, use only one rack is hardly reasonable, therefore, playing the Heavenly Sword, you must learn to practice all three, alternating strong and weak attacks, ranged attacks and short quick thrusts. Fortunately, this science is not very complicated: to switch from one rack to another can be literally on the fly by pressing the «R1» (for the Range Stance), or «L1» (for the Power Stance).
Topic for another day - protection. No special buttons below do not have to allocate a block, but instead invented a system of "auras": with their help, and you will be able to determine how to block this or that enemy attacks and is blocked if it at all. Lack of aura around the enemy, as well as the aura is blue, meaning that an attack can be reflected, being either Range or Speed Stance; orange aura signals the need to go to the Power Stance. Red aura - highly recommend to depart from the adversary away, or very soon will be very painful.
| Playing in the Thwing tveng |
Several times you happen to manage Kai, the sole representative of the once powerful tribe, completely exterminated the army Bohan. Aimed fire from the crossbow Kay calls "the game in the Thwing tveng, and in this field it has achieved considerable success. It was playing for Kay, you often have to think about the built-in Sixaxis gyros - they can be used to manage fired from a crossbow arrow. Without it hardly will overcome some of the key episodes of Heavenly Sword, as the random shootings on the principle of "shot - forgot" is not too effective. Switching to Kai, it is worth to remember that in the melee that the meaning a little girl, her skill only enough to evade the blow, but not to block attacks, nor, especially, to answer them a little snipers fails. Try to always keep the enemies away - it is not difficult to drive into the corner of Kay and a few strokes to finish off.
 | |  | Husky Roach - fighter slow, but incredibly strong. Do not want to miss his punches. | | Stand in open battle with Kai chances a bit. And because sometimes not be amiss to hide. |
Do not look for easy ways? However, a cause for concern given the opponents are not too often - despite the huge numerical advantage, they are not too strong, not very assertive, and mind do not shine. Besides, almost everywhere you can run into the red pitchers, restoring health.
Bosses also objectively quite weak, and few of them, even allowing for more than a moderate duration. Three royal assistant (one would have to meet twice), plus the King's own persona - small army. And besides Bohan, none of the bosses of a serious opponent can not be considered: for example, Flying Fox, so what is formidable battlefield, in fact, is a complete mediocrity, even though the agility, the ability to fly and the ability to produce multiple twins.
| If the number of sparrows, we prepare a gun ... |
Mentioned Flares in press releases before the game is somewhat surprising - what can be rocket launcher in a medieval world of Heavenly Sword, from where? It turned out really is rocket launcher, and use it a couple times Nariko will. In addition, the heroine will be able to check their own accuracy, driving this artillery installation - a miraculous hybrid of mortars and catapults.
 | |  | Opponents of using numerical superiority, often try to surround the main character. | | Closer to the final you happen to take part in a truly grand battles. |
Self-control Management in games of this genre - one of the terms of success or failure, if something went wrong. In Heavenly Sword, fortunately, with the management of any problems should arise, at least until then, until it reaches the aimed fire from the crossbow, rocket launcher or mortar. Here come into its own notorious gyros, and with them not everyone will quickly find a common language. Manage the flight of an arrow or kernel tilting the controller - an idea that certainly is not bad, but it requires skill. And, in some cases requires not only accuracy but also speed - much patience.
With the camera is not so clearly as we would like. The traditional method of control - the right analog stick - does not work, right and left "triggers" can only modify the position of the camera for a few seconds, but only just. The only alternative - to use all the same gyroscope, but this better not to remember: there will be hell to pay. Bail out bad-chosen viewing angles and competent design levels and arenas, without them there in the world of Heavenly Sword would have to put it mildly, difficult.
| A surprise for the crowd |
In addition to normal attacks, in the arsenal of special moves and Nariko is - they become available as you fill a special scale in the upper left corner of the screen. It is necessary to come on this scale, yellow, and you can safely click on the "circle". After - at least one foe crash with a broken neck, and those who dare to be around, no big trouble.
 | |  | On the part of physical training, none of the ordinary opponents up close and can not be compared with the main character. | | Bout one on one in Heavenly Sword - a rarity. |
Beauty - terrible force Well, we got to graphics, which, like many others in the Heavenly Sword, you can both criticize and praise. For example, you chide the developers for a clear dislike for relief textures - of course they come across from time to time, but most of the time kept in the shadows, declaring itself out just in separate storyline scenes. Referred to the plot scenes, by the way, too easy to turn into an object of criticism - why, he wondered, the most beautiful of them are not implemented on the engine, as required by the modern fashion, and are superbly orchestrated CG-rollers? Another problem - the notorious anti-alaysing, more precisely, its absence. Trouble as much as where the masked blur-effect, where a skillful lighting, but murder will out - attentive and most importantly, demanding user will always find a reason to be angry. And what, to execute, not to pardon? Not at all.
Yes, if the "parse" the image into its constituent parts and meticulously examine each, the impression will remain so-so.But in reality few of us will count the number of polygons in a frame and examine the texture under the microscope. But to ignore the delightful animation, stunningly performed by the scenery, a truly heroic attention to detail in some scenes and the spectacular scope of the other hardly succeed. Unless you decide to play with your eyes closed.
| Click on the button |
QTE-system context of action, so popular today, has found application in Heavenly Sword. From time to time you have to quickly click on one or another button to perform some trick to overcome an obstacle or to inflict a decisive blow to the enemy. By the way, your reaction is not so often subjected to such tests, moreover, in case of failure, always give a second chance. And the third, fourth and fifth - until you get the required result.
 | |  | Unlike Ryu Hayabusa, running along the walls Nariko are not trained, but she jumped not worse than the famous ninja. | | Nariko does not know tiredness - she has to fight day and night. |
Villains says We somehow got used to not give a sound component of attention: in those cases when the music is bad, and the voice dialogue is disgusting, it has little effect on the final assessment, as well as vice versa. But in this case to ignore the efforts of composer and actor, or mention them only briefly, it would be a real crime. Of course, everyone has different preferences, and the soundtrack Heavenly Sword is not everyone's taste - but hardly anyone will be taken to assert that it is bad or inexpressive.
As to the voice acting, it is almost a genius - thanks largely to the efforts of Andy Serkis, although colleagues chief Gollum All of New Zealand from celebrities to keep pace. Anyone, even a brief appearance villain Bohan and his entourage will remember you for a long time, some of the same episodes, like a very amusing meeting in the throne room, you can safely enter into the history of the gaming industry as a piece of art. The camp is positive characters, by the way, does not remain in debt - let the master Shen and no special delight, Nariko, and in particular, mad girl Kai easily compete with the creeping Whiptail, beloved Bohan, Flying Fox and (the latter boldly claims to be title of the most memorable in videogame maniac).
Here and a fairy tale ending? As one of the most anticipated and promoted projects for the PS3, the brainchild of Ninja Theory can hardly count on an easy path to success. The game, anyway, turned controversial, and despite the popularity of the chosen genre, not everyone will like - and that proved controversial in the foreign press. Some severely condemn Heavenly Sword for being too short duration, others categorically do not like freaks with gyro and a third surely Give a multiplayer mode, which is not a trace, the fourth kicked for all of the above at once.
But if you are not frightened by the prospect to reach the final for a couple of nights, if you are patient enough to manage the arrows with Sixaxis, and are ready to fight hordes of Bohan in splendid isolation - means that the authors of Heavenly Sword did a great job. And who knows, maybe in a year and a half history of Nariko and the Heavenly Sword will continue. We would, in any case against this turn of events did not object. By the way, and Ninja Theory is something talk of a trilogy ...
| Booted? |
Heavenly Sword - one of those games for the PS3, the launch of which in principle not possible without installing to hard disk. Oddly, the installation (to it on consoles, we are still not used) does not protect from intrusive loading screens: to resume the game from the last checkpoint, will take about three minutes, maybe more. Maybe that's why developers are ashamed to raise the level of difficulty?
|
