PS3: Heaveny Sword Demo - Too short, not great

My previous post was about the PS3's uncanny ability to cause a gamer to wait and get annoyed. There's more. After remembering the Heavenly Sword demo was probably downloaded, I returned to find that there was more waiting. The demo had to be "installed". The process was somewhat short, but it seemed like an eternity. Not once have I had to install a demo on the 360, with the exception of FFXI (which makes sense).

Question to Sony: If the PS3 is so great...why is there so much damn waiting involved with it, in-game and out-of-game?

An unrelated side-note: my room mate can't figure out how to sign in to my other account. I had to show him how irritating and non-sensible the process is. Apparently his Ninja Gaiden save is under my European account.

To the media who claimed this "isn't Goddess of War", I have a hard time agreeing. The mini-games are there, the blades on chains are there (not the main weapon), and the combat format is quite similar. However, there is no jump or block button, which is annoying as hell. That means there's probably not going to be much of a platform element. But I can say this game will most likely be multitudes harder than God of War (read: back off, "noobs").

Continue reading...

The graphics aren't quite as expected, but they are better than what we've seen for the PS3 so far. Nariko's pores show up during close-ups, just like in Dead Rising. Aside from that, nothing stood out. I'm sure the final product will be cleaned up heavily. To answer the inevitable question: Nothing indicates this game couldn't be run on the 360.

One HUGE complaint is that the SIXAXIS motion control was forced into the combo system. Who the hell wants to shake the stupid controller in the middle of a combo? How long do you shake it? Can you turn that crap off? Developers, if it isn't natural, then don't bother.

After playing the demo...all I can think of is that the "install" was just decompressing the download. This demo is short. So short in fact, that it fails to sink any hooks in to make you want the game. Ninja Theory is going to have to give a little bit more next time. It's a new IP, which needs to show it's individuality; this demo fails at that. Only the full game can reveal if HS has what it takes.

PS3 Futility Chronicles: Heavenly Sword Demo...

All I want to do is download the Heavenly Sword Demo. Apparently, Sony doesn't want me to do that. I HAVE to update first. Great. =\

It seems like every time we decide to use the PS3, there's a system update. Compared to XBL updates, PSN updates are the most annoying process ever, and take 10x as long to do. This time, I was prepared with a USB cable at least; you know, the one I shouldn't need because wireless is supposed to be convenient.

In the time the update took, we downloaded and watched the Resident Evil 5 trailer on XBL. Now I'm trying to get into the Playstation Store...and it's hannnnngggggggiiinnnnnnggggg. Apparently, I have a friend request from a month ago. See how often this thing gets used? Back to XBLA while we wait for the stupid store to come up.

At least Version 1.90 seems to have some good features. Like setting a background...something I've been able to do with the 360 since day one. Oh, and accessing shared media...something I've also been able to do since 2005.

This kind of thing makes RRoD almost worth it. I've wasted more time trying to get fun out of the PS3 than the whole return process of my 360 took.

Final Fantasy better not suck, that's for sure.

PS3 Futility Chronicles: Vol. 3

And here we go again. My goal today is to download the Ninja Gaiden Sigma Demo.

Vol. 2 should essentially be repeated. Another update was available. Except this time, it was a much shorter download. The servers must not be busy at this hour.

In the store, I cannot find the NG demo. I quickly realize that all the prices are in pounds. That means I'm signed in using my Ogden, UT, U.K. account that cannot be switched to the U.S. Again, I could switch countries on the 360 just fine (I switched to Japan early on for demos). Whatever.

Now I'm trying to sign in with the U.S. account. I figured out that this *might* work if I add another user name. So far, I just get DNS errors. If I go back to the U.K. account, it works fine. But I want the damn US-only-for-the-moment demo.

I guess the next step is to try erasing the hard drive again and starting over. My Resistance game saves were erased last time anyway. My main account should be the Suicide-Ninja anyway. I'll try creating the U.K. as a secondary from there.

I'm fully prepared with 1080p and a USB to mini-B cable this time as well. LOL

I love my PS3 this much.

My PS3

The ugly black taco is obviously on the right. I don't have much to say about it because I absolute abhor the console; it's the WORST console I've ever owned. It's frustrating, it isn't any fun to play, it's overly complicated, and it's not worth the money.

I installed Yellow Dog Linux on it...I never use it though. I set aside a Motorolla HS850 Bluetooth headset to use with it (but there's no chatter online anyway). Ebay got me a deal on Monster component cables...so that does it for accessories.

Honestly, I don't really use this console; I bought it merely because I could. We spend all of our time playing Wii or 360, and I don't see that changing this generation.


Current Games:

• Resistance: Fall of Man traded


• Ninja Gaiden Sigma

Future Games I want:

Final Fantasy XIII
Final Fantasy XIII Versus

Update 12/29/2007: These pictures are no longer accurate. I no longer have Yellow Dog Linux installed, and I use HDMI on a 1080p HDTV.