The future looks bright if Sony can continue to produce more games like this.
Sony's Big-Title for the 2nd half of the year has to be Heavenly Sword, which has been dubbed as Goddess of War. While there are some similarities, the two games do play a bit differently and it's not a bad thing to copy such a great title. In Heavenly Sword you spend most of the time playing as Nariko, a beautiful woman who welds a powerful but cursed sword. As we start the game, we encounter Nariko being consumed by the curse and we play out the events that lead to that moment. The story here is incredibly well done as you get a great lead character in Nariko, a believable and truly dis-liked villain in Bohan (played by Andy Serkis) and a good range of other characters. While most of the game is played using Nariko and her 3 sword abilities, you do have some variety in gameplay with segments played using a Catapult and a secondary character called Kai. One addition that Heavenly Sword has over God of War is the cool aftertouch feature. Using the six-axis controller, when using the Catapult or any ranged weapon (crossbow or cannon) when you hold the shoot button, you essentially take control of the bullet/rock/bow and 'lead' it to your designated target. While it takes time to master, having the satisfaction of watching that arrow slam into an enemy's head is quite enjoyable.
The action is excellent in the game, but the lack of variety does hurt the game a bit. You do only encounter about half a dozen different enemies so it becomes a bit tedious when you're fighting the same group over and over again. The boss fights are interesting, but outside of the final fight, you won't have too much of a hard time.
The storyline works well in the game because of the great direction and graphics. The development team really did a well done job making this feel like a movie more than a game. Bohan really looks like Andy Serkis and the Fox character is really annoying, as he should be. There are a couple of times when the voices don't match the mouths, but considering this is cg-animation, you really can't complain.
While most people have complaint about the length of the game, my biggest complaint is the loading in the game. If at anytime you die or wish to re-start a level/stage, expect to sit and wait about 30-35 seconds before playing. For the PS3, loading that long should not happen. The game's story is short (you should be able to finish it in about 6 hours), the loading makes the game feel longer, and that's not a good thing.
In the end, this is a great addition to the PS3 library. It is a bit disappointing that it is a bit on the short side, but it does contain a great story, stunning graphics and incredible sound. It seems more than likely that a sequel could be made and if it does occur, hopefully they will add a bit more in the gameplay department. If you are looking for a good game with plenty of action, then Heavenly Sword will not disappoint you.