Heavenly Sword [PS3]

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Regardless, between the flashing blade and combo options, you'll have a blast cutting through Botan's armies. There are some God of War style button-prompt sequences as well, and even a handful of well-designed puzzles to balance out the action.

While the basic combo system works well, the counter system is an odd choice to complement it. Instead of having a block button, there's an auto-block system. If you're in the proper stance, Nariko will automatically block an attack. But it's too easy to break the block movement by initiating an attack at the wrong time, as blocking is very dependent upon the intersection of attack animations. Once you get the hang of it, however -- and there is a discernable rhythm -- things get easier. An option to initiate a counterattack after a successful block also helps.

We bashed the SixAxis recently in our Lair review, and sadly it's time to do it again, though this time the reliance upon the tech is much lighter. For Heavenly Sword's 'sniper' sequences (in which you play another character, Kai) you'll use the SixAxis tilt controls to guide projectiles to their target. The controls aren't bad, but also don't deliver the responsiveness we'd like. Fortunately, there's an option to use old-fashioned analog stick controls instead, eliminating the outrageous irritation of Lair.

Heavenly Sword is about four fifths of the way to being a great game; hence the review score. It is almost unerringly gorgeous and a blast to play, though the combat could have been pushed forward to true God of War levels with just a few different options. Even so, this is the best action title going on the PS3 this fall.