On this day 10 years ago, Heavenly Sword was released for PlayStation 3 in North America. The heavily hyped PS3 exclusive was published by Sony, and was one of the system’s marquee titles in 2007. It wasn’t quite the success commercially as many were hoping for, but it still managed to become a beloved title for many PlayStation owners.
We didn’t review the game when it initially released (we have a good excuse considering the site didn’t exist yet), but we did revisit the action title in 2009. Here’s a snippet of what Adam Wolfe had to say in his Heavenly Sword review:
What helps out the believability of these characters, as well as the fantastical world they inhabit, are the graphics. Though the shadows are a bit jagged, every other aspect is done very well. Huge vistas, detailed walkways, and an organic layout to each level definitely sells the tangibility of this world. Everything is living and breathing, and the game has definitely come a long ways from the GDC previews. The number of enemies onscreen during the final battle is just absolutely ridiculous, and is helped out by the robust physics engine. This is one of the best looking PS3 games of 2007, and a wonderful example of what the PS3 is capable of.
Ninja Theory has stayed busy since releasing Heavenly Sword, and you can take a look at how Ninja Theory has evolved as a developer in the slideshow below:
I hope you enjoyed our look back at Ninja Theory’s action games throughout the years. It’s been an exciting road for the developer, one with ups and downs, but they still manage to make great games to this day. It’s a testament to their longevity that they’re still making awesome games a decade after Heavenly Sword came out.
For more on Ninja Theory’s latest title, check out our Hellblade; Senua’s Sacrifice review. Here’s how reviewer Paulmichael Contreras summed it up:
Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice is a complete experience for a bargain price. Struggling through life as a psychosis sufferer is an alarming experience, and Hellblade provides an illuminating glimpse into the lives of those afflicted by such terror. Combat is visceral, yet on the game’s easiest mode should prove no problem for those interested in experiencing the story. At an asking price of $29.99 USD, the campaign is just long enough to feel like this is money well-spent. Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice is a stellar entry from Ninja Theory, and I can only hope this is the first of many “independent AAA” games to come from the veteran studio.
Let us know what you think about Ninja Theory’s PS3 title below!
Ninja Theory Retrospective
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Ninja Theory Retrospective
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Kung Fu Chaos (2003)
Before there was Ninja Theory, the Cambridge-based studio was called Just Add Monsters. Their debut game was Kung Fu Chaos, a 3D fighting game for Xbox. It was published by Microsoft, so it received a decent marketing push for being an exclusive. It was praised as a party game, and generally received positive reviews, although it wasn't considered anything special.
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Heavenly Sword (2007)
The studio was then purchased by Jez San in 2004, and the newly minted Ninja Theory almost became defunct until they struck a deal with Sony to develop a new action game for them. This would turn out to be Heavenly Sword, which was one of the PlayStation 3's most hyped early titles. Starring the red-haired Nariko, it was a critical hit that showed off what the PS3 could do graphically. While they wanted to do a sequel, Sony decided that it didn't sell well enough to go forward with the franchise.
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Enslaved: Odyssey to the West (2010)
Their next title would be their first multiplatform game. Called Enslaved: Odyssey to the West, the Namco Bandai published game became a cult classic. It's a reimagining of Journey to the West, and had a surprisingly great story.
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DmC: Devil May Cry (2013)
After Ninja Theory proved themselves as a studio that could put out quality games, they got their biggest game yet, a reboot of the Devil May Cry series. While some gamers still cry about the reboot to this day, DmC: Devil May Cry ended up being a phenomenal character action game. Those that actually gave the action game a shot got to enjoy some of the most innovative level design seen in gaming in years.
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Fightback (2013)
The studio also experimented with mobile gaming in 2013, as they teamed up with Electronic Arts and Chillingo for Fightback. The 80s-themed action game received praise for its fun combat, but the business model, which featured a ton of microtransactions, was largely derided.
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Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes (2014)
In 2014, Ninja Theory began working on refining the combat system in Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes. On top of general polish, they also did the combat for Loki, Ronan, Green Goblin and Jasmine from the ground-up. This resulted in a much better playing game, and a big improvement from the first.
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DmC: Devil May Cry Definitive Edition (2015)
They then returned to their best game by releasing a definitive edition on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. DmC: Devil May Cry Definitive Edition managed to improve upon an already great experience by adding in additional difficulties that changed how the game played, better performance (a sweet 60fps), and all of the DLC content. It's an incredible way to experience the PS4's best action game.
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Disney Infinity 3.0 (2015)
The studio continued their work on Disney Infinity with the release of Disney Infinity 3.0. This added a ton of Star Wars characters to the mix, and they made sure that Luke Skywalker and company felt fun to play as. The game received very positive review scores, and that enhanced combat played a big role in it.
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Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice (2017)
The latest game from the studio, and the first one they've independently published, is Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice. Like many of their previous releases, Hellblade is an action game, but this one has a clear distinction in that it's tackling a very serious topic in mental illness.
