Heavenly Sword: Part Deux

Just found this link about Heavenly Sword's writer in another forum. It has been posted here before but I didn't even bother to click on it because I did not expect writing and story progression can have so much impact on the game:

http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/30/joystiq-interviews-heavenly-swords-rhianna-pratchett/

HS gamers owe some of their joy to her work.

 

Why are some people claiming HS was ever meant for XBOX when clearly the developer stated it was meant as a next gen game from the beginning?

I watched Gametrailers review and they say that it was meant originally for XBOX.

Ahm.....yeah....

 

I've just gotten through Kai's level, and I have to say I've been impressed with this game on every front. The combat system is unique with plenty of depth, I really enjoy how the dynamics can change based on how many enemies you're fighting and which attacks/blocks they use.

The game's biggest strength so far has to be the incredible production values, I've not seen such great acting and visual artistry combined in a game before.

 

Funny isn't it, I've had to put a few to rest with some strong evidence. And they all shake their heads in shame.

 

*nod* *nod*

I was expecting talking heads and stiff acting, but the entire experience is indeed rather engaging. I have long given up any hope on integrating movies and gaming, but this is the best attempt yet. It works really well too. I pray they don't overdo it in the sequel.

The other thing few people elaborate on is the SIXAXIS combat. It shows that the designer has given much thought and testing pertaining to its uses. In some stages, the player can choose their own strategy (different SIXAXIS skill level) to complete the game. It increases the replay value and offers variety in gameplay. I thought that was pretty smart.

 

Considering the age of the project and the progression from the 2004->2005 showings, is it entirely unreasonable that someone might jump to that conclusion?

 

It was supposed to be for the next-gen Xbox at the time. I believe it was DeanoC who mentioned that early next gen Xbox alpha kits had Radeon 9800s, then X800s and G5 CPUs. The second video in that link with the lighting/shadowing of the armies could be found in a Eurogamer article way back.

 

Yes, but they're wrong.

Well it was meant to be for next-gen consoles. The point is it was never meant to be on the Xbox1 - not even in concept, nor in reality.

 

Ah, sorry. Didn't mean to indicate that was the case, just that it's a somewhat understandable mistake. To quote Terry Pratchett: "A lie can run round the world before the truth has got its boots on".

Their 2004 Just Add Monsters, saved by Ninja Theory press release makes it abundantly clear it was always targeted for next (i.e. this) gen.

 

Heavenly Sword was never targeting at XBOX1, its first real incarnation ran on a PC with a Radeon 9800Pro.

I still have a working version of that version (it turned 3 in May) on my machine at work. Its the version that produced the earliest screens/videos that you can see on the net.

Its very nostalgic for us who worked on it that long, to be able to see that running side by side with the shipped version.

 

Oooh fun...love to see it! lol

 

It would be great if we can see anything from that build...

 

There are screens from that built and I believe that there is a video too (proof of concept).
Can't find a link now... I'm at work. Perhaps later.
I think the video link was posted here in an old HS thread.

 

Here is a user video from gametrailers that shows the evolution of Heavenly Sword.
Videon from Gametrailers.
Maybe someone from NT can confirm that it contains photo from that build.
Enjoy!

 

That videos showcases a HS 2003/04 techdemo, and if that is running on a PC with a 9800pro then wow, especially the shadows (even compared to final)!

I woud think so based on the above coment.

 

Well they made an assumption then use it as a fact. It just doesnt sound right. Especially when they are voicing that assumption as a fact loudly in press, reviews etc. This game looked doable on a PC than on XBOX. Not to mention that it was running on PCs anyways and the targeted platform was never mentioned.

They talk about it as if it is certain

I am annoyed a bit by this because its like they are saying the developers werent targeting much high with HS, they aimed for the 128bit console genre, when they actually targeted above and before anyone else since the beginning for a game that was supposed to appear a gen later. Next gen quality graphics, AI, animation etc were planned from the start. Undoable by any console of the time

 

That last bazooka scene in E3 2005 is exactly where I'm stucked at (until I have more time to play). I never thought about misplacing the bazooka amongst the corpses when I watched the trailer.

The "Last Man Standing" segment in E3 2007 and the subsequent fight with Roach is one of the best stages in the game (Although the Kai's level tops it IMHO).

 

Taking that video from gametrailer, bit by bit...

The first segment was done in Maya all CG. It was the original pre-vis of the game, as you can tell its changed a fair bit from there to the next bit.

Next clip is from the build I mentioned, which would have been showed behind closed doors to various publishers in E3-2004. Its probably the first 'real' Heavenly Sword footage, you can derive lots of things from there to the shipping game.
I can actually run and play that very build today on my PC. It used the best PC money could buy at the time to be playable. Even then it was usual to turn off some of the graphics options (like shadows) if you were demonstrating combat for the extra speed.
There were essentially three environments, the main one is the 'demo' it consists of Nariko fighting multiple waves of enemies in an arena with some dialog and anims to set the action. This has descended directly down through the E3-2006 playable and into the game as the CH2 'Banquet Hall' fight, which finishes with the first Flying Fox fight.
Also there was a walkable section which had no gameplay but showed off the vistas. This section (the level would forever be known as "walkways" inside NT but technically was called the water temple) would become CH2.
There was also a boid-AI system driving lots of guys, the first approach to the army sections.

The next segment is E3-2005 which we frame-captured from the game at that point and used in the PS3 launch. I posted on here back when it was first shown with details.

Next clip is E3-2007 which is of course, pretty much what shipped.

That montage is missing the E3-2006 trailer but that's because that E3 was dominated by first playable.

 

Heavenly Sword 2

If you guys were to do a part 2, would it be very difficult to include jumping in the game.

Also, enable some more exploration?

So far the game is great, good visual, great cinematics and the combat is great. I just keep finding myself trying to jump to places


Speng.

 

Hmm... are you at Kai's level yet ?