Heavenly Sword
Action
Demo
Ah, finally, a demo of the hyped, heavily-anticipated Heavenly Sword! How is it? It's a crappy demo, plain and simple.
You are Nariko, armed with Heavenly Sword, trying to take down devil King Bohan (correct me if I'm wrong).
The demo starts with a quick cinematic and then puts you in action. Controls are simple and easy to pick up, and the timed button-press sequence is easy.
However, once battling a horde of enemies, it becomes hard to focus. You aren't aware of what enemies have low health, which ones are still strong, and which ones to foucs on. Also, it's hard to focus on a lone enemy when hordes of them are pounding at you.
Graphically, the game is beautiful, with excellent facial expressions, attention to detail, and environments. However, the attacks aren't very fluid, instead feeling like stop-motion art.
Soundwise, the game fares well, with excellent ambience, sound effects, and musical score.
However, this is a bad demo for one main reason: it can be finished in all of five minutes, and leaves much to be wanted. It's incredibly short, and is a major let down.
I'm sure the final version will be much more polished and fare better, but this quick demo warrants onle one play through, if that.
On a side note, it has been said that this is the game in an incredibly early stage, so the final product will be much different. Not sure if that's true, though.
CLOSING NOTE:
-Easy controls
-Confusing but entertaining combat
-Beautiful graphics
-Excellent sound
-Incredibly short
-Only worth the download if you can't wait for the retail version
(See? A quick, but detailed review for a quick demo!)
Now that I'm back in action, I've decided to go with a new review style.
Demos will recieve longer, more in-depth reviews than the previously have, but, there will not be any point system of any kind. Many people simply judge things based by how they're labelled (something taught to me by a friend), so now I'm not going to be using a point system.
However, if you're in a rush and don't care to read the entire review, just read the closig note at the bottom for a quick summary.
I hope you like this new format, and here's the first review using it.
Folkore
Action/RPG
Demo
This game was not on my radar and totally caught me by surprise. A mix of action and light role-playing elements, Folklore is an inventive and amazing demo, and now I can't wait to experience the retail version.
Selecting either Ellen or Keats, you must travel into the Netherworld. Ellen, searching for her mother. Keats, searching to unravel the area's secrets.
However, Folkore shatters normal RPG and action game conventions- both characters are normal, everyday people. You won't see them weilding massive weapons downing enemies by the hundreds.
Instead, you must use the powers of "Folk" you've defeated. Starting off with threee Folk, with a total of four available for use at once, each assigned to either triangle, square, circle, or X, you must battle and take the "id"s of new Folk.
In order to capture the Folks' id, you must weaken them and then rip it right out of them by vigirsouly shaking the controller. For stronger Folk, you'll have to either Beat down the id first (Keats) or Rip the id out (Ellen).
Keats also has the ability to "transcend", becoming a powerful, destructive being that can lay waste to anyone and anything in sight for a short period of time.
You'll need to use the captured Folks' abilities to expose enemies' weaknesses and progress farther. All in all, the gameplay works very well, and never gets tiring.
It's a very different experience playing as Ellen and Keats, with varying abilities, Folk, and landscapes. It should add a nice change in the final version that'll take away repetetiveness.
Visually, the game is beautiful, with constantly moving environments, incredibly detailed character and enemy models, and fluid animations.
Soundwise, the game scores. (See what I did there?) The music fits perfectly, and the sound effects and ambience are excellent.
The only flaw I found were some camera issues, but they were only apparent during Keats' boss battle.
The demo has immense replayability- a full level for both Ellen and Keats, and a boss at the end of both levels. This is an incredible demo, the best I've experienced thus far, and is a must-download.
I can't wait for the final product.
CLOSING NOTE
-Intriguing and innovative story
-Excellent controls and gameplay
-Beautiful graphics
-Great sound
-Only flaw is the camera, but not that apparent
-A must-download
