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Heavenly Sword: "Half-Assed"?

August 04, 2007 in News comments 21

Itagaki Tomonobu, the lead graphics programmer at Tecmo has reviewed Heavenly Sword as "half-assed". Itagaki says, “I look at Heavenly Sword and it seems really half-assed, because it’s asking you to do all these button-timing sequences but you are not getting much payoff from it.” Heavenly Sword producer Kyle Shubel responds to the harsh comment saying, that if they make the game too hard, it will frustrate gamers.

Itagaki is at it again. Itagaki Tomonobu who is the lead graphics programmer of Tecmo, refers to Heavenly sword as half assed in the latest EGM magazine in which there’s a Heavenly Sword preview and a little article.

Ninja Gaiden creator Tomonobu Itakagi goes on the record as an outspoken critic of Sword’s Hero Sequences.
“I’ve never played a good game where the developers put a big icon of the button you’re supposed to press onscreen,” Itagaki says. “I look at Heavenly Sword and it seems really half-assed, because it’s asking you to do all these button-timing sequences but you are not getting much payoff from it.”
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Most recently commented on by on Aug 6, 2007

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  • 0
    Zero and X Aug 5, 07
    Omg wow Itagaki, dont complain about the gameplay itself, or the graphics but that theres timed button pressing. Seriously God of War did it first and it was succesful yey Itagaki never said anything. I like the timed button presees, it gives me something to do during the cutscenes. Some games rely on story, action games are not those games
  • 0
    Vito Raliffe Aug 5, 07
    Button-timing sequences are *bleep*ing awesome. I remember Shenmue was the first game I played using it (way before God of War ) and it adds a different style of play and lets you "control" the cut-scenes. RE4 did a great job with them too.
  • 0
    Existenz Aug 5, 07
    Such a fool you make one good game, remake it twice and you think you can talk... Now if Hideo Kojima had said this or Suda51 or another legendary Japanese icon, then maybe it would hold more substance, but this guy just comes accross as jealous that Heavenly Sword could kill his creation for best martial arts action.
    • 0
      Cdemon Aug 5, 07
      "Such a fool you make one good game..."

      He has the Dead or Alive series in his trophy case as well.
      • 0
        Existenz Aug 5, 07
        I said good game, DoA is medeocre at best...
        • 0
          tidus04 Aug 6, 07
          To true, it was never one of the best games. Even I retract my statments from ages ago saying that it was the best fighting sim xD
  • 0
    Revenger of Wastelan Aug 5, 07
    That guy is a real fool, God of War did it too and i actually liked it so much, and i bet Heavenly Sword will be as good as God of War, i like this kind of fighting system. I just hope its not the ONLY way to fight.
  • 0
    Seeker X Aug 5, 07
    Before console games ever had button sequences, I remember Die Hard Arcade games having button sequences.

    I will agree that the button sequences don't really hold water, like...gives you too much time to react. If they shorten the reaction time and whatnot, the game would be even more thrilling. But the gameplay in general is definetly refreshing, I really was expecting some GoW-esque gameplay, but the demo definetly changed my mind, gameplay's nothing to complain about.
  • 0
    Bale Fire* Aug 5, 07
    Oh no button presses! Now the game is ruined because Itagaki said so
  • 0
    tallteen86 Aug 5, 07
    Yeah, I havn't played the demo, but I can't imagine its as bad as he suggested 0_o

    Though I admit, I DON'T like timed button presses, they pissed me off in Spiderman 3 -_-
  • 1
    Arcaida Aug 5, 07
    He might be a little harsh, but I really wasn't all to excited when I played the demo. It looks nice, plays okay, but it's nothing revolutionary or even that fun really. Don't get me wrong, Heavenly Sword is good and all. Just nothing amazing. I might rent it, if that.
  • 0
    iLLmatic Aug 5, 07
    I gave these guys props when they said developers should stop bitching about programming for the PS3. Dude started to irk me a little when they [Tecmo] was going on about how God of War and Devil May Cry are good games, but don't compare to the "true" best action game that is Ninja Gaiden. I later said ok he's just puffing his chest out for a great accomplishment, understandable. Now, he's just talking out his ass. His head is a little too big now. There is really no foundation for these unwarranted attacks on the accomplishments of your fellow developers. It would be one thing if he was being 100% truthful about his experience, but it seems as if the guy is starting a pattern, unjustified. Oh, Dead or Alive? ahahahah ROFLBBQ that series is trash. As far as fighting games go, I compare DOA to Super Smash Bros and any fan of real fighting games know what I mean.
    • 1
      MetroidSeeker Aug 5, 07
      What is that supposed to mean? Smash bros is an Amazing fighting game, i also like soul calibur, Mortal Kombat, and such, so i know what im talking about.
      • -1
        Existenz Aug 5, 07
        If you like new Mortal Kombat your opinion on this is instantly flawed.
  • 0
    Cdemon Aug 5, 07
    "any fan of real fighting games know what I mean."

    Haha, that makes me laugh... especially coming from the guy who thinks the PS3's and X360's current library are dead even when it comes to quality titles.

    Dead or Alive is one of the more difficult fighting games to master... I'd say it's right up there with VF when it comes to gameplay.

    I'm not saying his comments are justified, but I think he might have had more exposure to the game than any of us. I've read some opinions on the demo and hear a lot of "meh, it looks pretty" and so forth.

    So you guys are contradicting yourselves by sitting here and insulting Itagaki for his opinion.
  • 0
    iLLmatic Aug 5, 07
    Current library is dead? Is the point of your life to misinterpret what people say and then to "correct" them? I already explained what I was saying 3 times. Get over yourself.
    • 0
      Cdemon Aug 6, 07
      Wow, nice reading comprehension skills you got there. While you improve upon those, it'd be wise to look up the definition of "contradiction" and "hypocrite" as well.
  • 0
    Storm Aug 5, 07
    Dead or Alive isn't mediocre...it's a great fast-paced fighting game. Ninja Gaiden also deserves some recognition. But a lot of games are getting into that 'Resident Evil 4' groove and adding in button-timed sequences...games like Spier-Man 3, Heavenly Sword, and even Marvel Ultimate Alliance had them.

    Itagaki...shutup and work more on DoA5 why dont'cha
  • 0
    Subzer0 Aug 5, 07
    Wow. That was lame. Itagaki is a n00b. It's the button-timing sequences is what makes the game so great. At least that's what made GOW awesome IMO. He's probably just looking for an excuse to take a shot at the producers of HS.
  • 0
    tidus04 Aug 6, 07
    Button-Timings make some game simply amazing so I do not have a clue what he is on about. Though after just reading this it wont put me of the title. It just puts me more on for it.
  • 0
    Tenken Aug 6, 07
    If the button-timing sequences make the game what it is, they may as well not release it then. Far too many games rely on that system.

    It worked in God of War because you could get some pretty gorey moves pulled off. In worked in RE4 because it was meant to play out as keeping you in the action. Why does Heavenly Sword need it? Why did Spiderman 3 need it? I can't tell you why HS needs it, but S3 needed it because it sucked elsewhere.

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