Over all: What stands out the most is the production, by far one of the best looking video games ever made. Months ago I was watching the e3 gametrailers.com videos for this from the last e3. Well that is when I finally decided i was going to buy a next gen system, being utterly unimpressed with my friend’s 360(at that time) and my wii(at that time, ps2 ports and kiddy fluff), i started to get very jealous after watching the bow and arrow videos(shooting people in the eyes or crotch) from those e3 videos. My favorite character in the game is Kai, the girl everyone says is like a cross between bjork and tank girl. For me it is her levels that really made me love this game, shooting arrows in slow motion, with six axis tilt controls to aim, this is amazing. When you play as the main character, it is kind of like god of war, but in my opinion, way way way better. 3 fighting stances + arial attacks. There is way more depth to the hack and slash aspect of this game when comparing it to god of war. You have to block the different stances according to color, you get the hang of it pretty fast and this is what adds more depth to the fighting system.

Now Let me complain a bit. Frame rate, oh frame rate, will you ever stop fluctuating in my favorite ps3 games? ahahhaha. For most of the game, it isn’t a problem, one of the things I like about this game, is that it kind of plays like soulcalibur in a way. In the early levels the blocking and countering is a lot like a standard 2 player beat em up. I really prefer this to the mindless button mashing of games like dynasty warriors. But in the later levels, mainly the last one, the frame rate gets so bad that you cannot tell what kind of move is going to be thrown at you. Dropped frames, and laggy game play really ruined the last boss fight for me. Made the ending very anti climatic for me. But honestly, that doesn’t hurt the over all experience too much. Still even now, months after the release of Heavenly Sword, the only game to me that looks better on any console is a Darke’s Uncharted. You are also on the rails, on a pre destine path, no wandering like in assassin’s creed, or grand theft auto, I know this puts off some people these days. Not me though.

Warning: playing this game is like watching a 6 hour epic movie that rivals lord of the rings. The main bad guy was voice acted by the same person who did golem in the lord of the rings movies. The quality of acting is simply astounding. I cannot believe i am playing a video game. I feel like it is a cinematic experience more than a video game. Normally this pisses me off in action games. But this is so well done that it sucks me in. I love the bad guys, I like the good guys. I care about what happens in the story. The Emotion expressed on the faces, the gestures, everything, the inflections on the voice acting, it is top notch. Nothing to date has even come close to this in a video game.

If you are into beat em ups, THIS IS A MUST HAVE. YES, it’s short, like 7 hours short. But it is like watching a good movie, and like any good movie, you eventually watch it again, and that is what makes me say this is a buy for sure. Because i still go back to it and have fun. Shooting arrows, or throwing any object including dead bodies in slow motion with six axis tilt controls never gets old. This is fun like that gravity gun in half life 2 is fun.

10 Presentation
The story, acting, cut scenes, the best i have ever seen in a video game. EPIC is almost an understatement.

8.7 Visuals
I would of given this a higher score like a 9.5, but the frame rate drops in some of the epic battles, real put me off. The art style is great, the characters are great, the hair, the clothing animation, great. above most everything out there.

9.5 Audio
Amazing. Some of the best game sound i have ever heard, EPIC.

8.2 Game Mechanics
Very good, cept the frame rate issues in the end do effect how the game responds to you in the late levels. It plays like a 2 player fighting game in some aspects, reminded me of soulcalibur, to me this is a good thing, playing with the heavenly sword is fun, and so is shooting things with arrows.

7.0 Replay
Like any good movie, this game deserves 2 or three screenings at least. You’ll notice new details each time..

8.8 Total Score.
(out of 10 / not an average)

Buy this, despite it’s flaws, it is like a really kick ass movie that you get to play. It’s fun, It looks amazing, and seriously impresses almost everyone i show it to. But do trying and get it used, I don’t think it’s worth 65 dollars after taxes or shipping. Most of these next gen games are short, and yeah the production is through the roof, but man, i can buy a dvd movie for 12 bucks. The game being so short really makes me think this game should of cost 45 dollars. not 60. This is the game that made me buy a ps3, there is nothing like this on the wii or the 360. I simply love playing female heros in video games! After playing this game, presentation is a big deal to me, and when i went to go play mario galaxies, and had to sit through comic style bubble dialogue that isn’t even spoken, i threw up in my mouth a little bit. I hope all games are this epic in the future. This RAISES THE BAR BIG TIME! Click here to buy

Music Listened to while writing this review: The Crushed Velvet Apocalypse - The Legendary Pink Dots.