Ninja Theory wants Heavenly Sword sequel [update 1]

by Nick Doerr { Aug 24th 2007 at 9:30AM }

We can't say we didn't see it coming -- Ninja Theory is willing to give us a second Heavenly Sword game. Chief developer for Ninja Theory (always get the two ninja companies confused), Nina Kristensen, issued this statement: "We'd certainly like to do the sequel with Sony but nothing's been set in stone ... We're looking to expand and do new things but certainly we want to continue the Heavenly Sword franchise." Ultimately the decision comes down to Sony and we're sure their decision will be based on sales of the first game.

Reviews are starting to come in for all of Sony's anticipated, heavy-hitting games. While there aren't a lot of reviews for Heavenly Sword just yet, it's getting mostly positive responses. Also, since it is so heavily anticipated, we think it'll sell well enough for Sony to "okay" a sequel. Even though most of us haven't gotten our hands on the final version, do you think Heavenly Sword should turn into another sequel-churning franchise, or is there just something a little more special about a single game that tells a whole story?

[Update: changed "Team Ninja" to "Ninja Theory"... seriously, these companies need to think a litter harder about their names.]

Tags: heavenlysword, ninjatheory

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Jak @ Aug 24th 2007 9:53AM

First

Elliott @ Aug 24th 2007 10:12AM

I like sequels to good games, but I'm somewhat of a rarity. I'm a casual gamer who owns a PS3.

If I somehow manage to learn which buttons to push to win a game, I don't mind a sequel coming out with a continued story & new levels, but same control configuration.

EDGE @ Aug 24th 2007 10:13AM

@1

wow, that is like so amazing, and stuff .... kinda

On topic, lets hope the reception for Heavenly Sword is a warm one, and that UK IGN were way over critical. If that is the case, then why not expand it to have second and third installments ?

All this hupla over rotten reviews, is just that, meaningless fluff, give us the games and let us decide.

ryano @ Aug 24th 2007 10:25AM

meh, my loyalty lies with the other "Ninja" developer that is making the real twitch-action game sequel. =D

Ithilis @ Aug 24th 2007 10:32AM

That IGN UK review is very disheartening. This game seemed like high 8, or low-to-mid 9 material. But.. 7?

This was going to be the first game that I bought at retail for my new PS3. I have already played Ninja Gaiden, and Ninja Gaiden Black, have Oblivion for my PC, which is better due to the mods, and I have all of the other highly regarded titles for my 360. Shame.

I guess my PS3 will be a Tekken: DR machine for a while longer. That is, if I can pull myself from Bioshock.

Thomas @ Aug 24th 2007 10:35AM

I'll take a sequel please!

ShadowHawk01 @ Aug 24th 2007 10:36AM

"Chief developer for Team Ninja, Nina Kristensen"

Do you mean Chief Developer for Ninja Theory? If I recall I think Team Ninja actually did not care for the timed button presses and thought Ninja Theory was lazy for adding them.

Anyway... I think it all depends on how good the story is and how well it can carry another episode or chapter. In some cases it is hard if not impossible to add on to a completed story. Then in other cases the material simply begs for another story to be told. Some authors can build a world with endless possibilities while others are simply open and close. I guess we will find out how the Protagonist and Antagonist are developed and utilized in Heavenly Sword.

Popfrogs @ Aug 24th 2007 10:38AM

Since GOW3 will probably be the last one, I'm guessing that this will become the new GOW-ish franchise.

Let's not start talking sequels until it hits retail and we can all get our grubby hands on it, mmkay?

shase @ Aug 24th 2007 10:49AM

Ninja Gaiden had almost no story and still had good reviews.. so i am not too worried about this story... Hopefully it does well enough to have a sequel.

gamingeek @ Aug 24th 2007 10:57AM

The demo was a lot of fun. I particularly loved the in game animations-- some of which were brutal in their execution. Definitely be picking this one up!

DownwardMonkey @ Aug 24th 2007 11:11AM

That IGN UK review WAS a ridiculous review, I say this as a rational person and not as a fanboy. I'm 30 and stopped caring about system wars back in the Sega/Nintendo days when it was just as bad. I'd been scratching my head over some of their reviews already, how can you say "this fighting game is crappy because all you do is fight" and then go and give Ninja Gaiden a score of 9.

As I understand it the same person reviewed one game for IGN US and then gave the same game on the same system a lower score for IGN UK. What the hell is that all about!? I'm from England and frankly can't understand why people would think that we're that different from the US then we'd need separate reviews and that for some reason the same game should get a lower mark.

IF this game gets other bad reviews then I'll happy nod and bow my head but as I said above, I'd already stopped reading IGN UK.

Popfrogs @ Aug 24th 2007 11:36AM

#11: IGN UK gave it a lower score because it lacked a hidden soccer hooligan level. ;)

Ithilis @ Aug 24th 2007 11:38AM

To #11 -

They actually stated that you don't fight enough, rather than fight too much. Early in the review, it is mentioned that actual sword-fighting only makes up for half of the game, which is only 6-7 hours long as it is. The remainder of the action is made up of archery, bad puzzles, or situations where you either a) don't have the weapon, or b) the sword-fighting is watered down somehow.

DownwardMonkey @ Aug 24th 2007 11:46AM

@12 Ah I see, as I said as I understand it, I'd not read that review myself.

@13 As I remember it without going back they say something along the lines of "you clear an area of bad guys, then progress to the next section, and do it all again and again and again. It's incredibly boring." Frankly, how is that any different from any other fighting game? From Streets of Rage and Final Fight all the way up to Ninja Gaiden.

anonim1979 @ Aug 24th 2007 11:57AM

"Positive" ?

Edge 6/10
IGN 7/10

6 hours of gameplay - 3 of boring sword hacking + 3 of uterly boring arrow shoting and cutscenes.

Thanks that there is no framerate issues as in nearly all PS3 games (RSX su**)... Or NOT:

http://ps3.ign.com/articles/815/815031p2.html
Graphics
"Minor framerate and tearing issues aside, Heavenly Sword is an absolute tour de force of visual splendour."

anonim1979 @ Aug 24th 2007 11:58AM

PS. Please feel free to disregard my comment - I'm X360 fanboy ;)

gamingeek @ Aug 24th 2007 12:01PM

Love how people escpecially Xbox fanboys are judging the game before it even comes out. How about giving it a chance first? That sound okay to you?

Joe @ Aug 24th 2007 12:17PM

The annoying thing about the IGN UK review is, not only how ridiculous it was, is that theres no way the US review is going to improve that much. IGN UK has notoriously been harsh on PS3 games, such as giving resistance 1 lower than the US review.

But even if the US reviewer loves the game, they surely cant be seen to differentiate that much because it'd raise questions about the credibility of both reviews. So people looking for IGN US to give Heavenly sword a high rating are most likely going to be disappointed. I'll be looking at gamespot, they're actually quite fair with their reviews.

#1FanBoy @ Aug 24th 2007 12:27PM

If they make a sequel, they might want to consider adding the ability to JUMP.

It's silly that a character like this can not jump.

stacy daniels @ Aug 24th 2007 12:47PM

this game is just eye candy and thats about it...

ryano @ Aug 24th 2007 12:56PM

@19.

I agree. I hated Perfect Dark and Goldeneye 64 where you couldn't jump.

Any game that restricts movement is kinda a letdown for me. I love how in Ninja Gaiden it gives you so much freedom of movement. It's like a tony hawk game for Ninjas!

And Ninja Gaiden may have no story, but it's a blast to play and lasts 16-20 hrs. compared to Sword's 7 hrs (wtf is that? what a rip for a game without multiplayer!).

I too was hoping for an epic (i understand Sword takes place in 3 days but still...) hopefully they can build it up for the sequel and add a damn jump button.

EDGE @ Aug 24th 2007 1:00PM

@20

Seeing as you have played the full game, thanks for the review.

Darkdrium777 @ Aug 24th 2007 4:01PM

You can jump, but not in a conventional way.

DownwardMonkey @ Aug 24th 2007 4:40PM

Frankly I don't see why jump is an issue, randomly bunny hopping around the place in games just looks dumb and is mostly useless. It's even worse in FPS games when you're hopping around in front of a fence or box in a firefight just trying to get over the damn thing. Just give me a button that lets my character clear the thing in a realistic fashion.

ryano @ Aug 25th 2007 1:32AM

well, it looks stupid in God of War. especially the double jump. it looks fantastic in Ninja Gaiden. Heavenly sword could've gave a jump animation like the new Tomb Raider gymnist flip and twirl.

just more freedom with my character is all i ask. not to a have a movement be limited to a canned combo animation.

John @ Aug 25th 2007 3:30AM

The demo was 7.5-8.0ish IMO. From what i read its a bit to short for a buy ill end up renting it. The main thing that got to me was the lack of doing things on your own you pushed a combo and did something not create your own like GOW and GOW 2 however it was still a great looking and fairly fun game.