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Ninja Theory, the developer behind one of the PS3's biggest showcase titles, was not always known by that name. Several years ago they were actually Just Add Monsters, but with only one Xbox title, Kung Fu Chaos, under their belt, their parent company Argonaut Games went belly up due to financial difficulties.

Gamespot reports this little tidbit back in 2004:

Heavenly Sword, the title that proved to be the glue that kept the team together through these tough times, is currently in development for next-generation consoles. "We still have no publisher, but [we've encountered] plenty of interest [in the title]," (Ninja Theory chief designer Tameem Antoniades) added. The action title uses in-house technology and has been in development since early 2003.

Hit the jump to dive deeper into the rabbit hole, and 422 uses of the word "exclusive", mostly by Joe Pesci.

From Ninja Theory's official website:
...Kung Fu Chaos, a game published in 2003 by Microsoft Games Studios exclusively for the Xbox and released on time, on budget and to critical acclaim in 2003.Ninja Theory believes that the next-generation of games consoles offer an opportunity to elevate the games experience into one that can rival film and literature and was one of the first development studios to commit exclusively to next-generation consoles.

Their previous success and dealings with Microsoft and the repeated use of "next-gen consoles", plural, suggests that not only may Heavenly Sword have been in development on the 360 before Sony swooped in on it, but also that Ninja Theory isn't likely to stay exclusive to the PS3 in the future. 

Either way, their game and their company has certainly come quite a way since it's meager beginnings. 


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26 comments | showing # 1 to 26

Mxyzptlk's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/31/2007 23:27
Mxyzptlk
I remember hearing that Heavenly Sword was offered to MS first, but they passed. Wait, Kung Fu Chaos got critical acclaim? I recall the response being more like "meh, it's an okay party game."
William Haley's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/31/2007 23:31
William Haley
They're trying to make lemonade out of piss, leave them alone!
Roryzilla's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/31/2007 23:31
Roryzilla
I played the demo for that game, and it was teh sucks. Every attack was really weak. It had cool platforming parts, like when you're running down this huge rope, but combat was a bummer.
Joe Burling's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/31/2007 23:32
Joe Burling
I say MS screwed up on this one.
Crunshii's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/31/2007 23:36
Crunshii
interesting stuff. Good report :)
kawitchate's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/31/2007 23:50
kawitchate
most interesting part for me is that in the footage from the 2004 Xbox footage there's a Life Clock in the corner instead of a health bar... now couple that with what i've heard about how mortals aren't supposed to wield the heavenly sword and hmm... maybe she's slowly dying through the game? could be interesting if done right.
GuitarAtomik's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/31/2007 23:55
GuitarAtomik
Does anyone else get the feeling that if it had released on the original Xbox as intended, it would have just been another game that was critically acclaimed yet sold horribly and was forgotten a console generation later like Otogi and Gunvalkyrie? That's the feeling I get from the early videos.

The wait is definitely going to pay off for Ninja Theory.
William Haley's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/31/2007 23:55
William Haley
The sword does in fact drain the life force of those who wield it.
Hipple's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/01/2007 00:05
Hipple
She got a lot hotter as the videos progressed...
ArrestedDeveloper's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/01/2007 00:05
ArrestedDeveloper
I don't blame Msoft for passing the first video looks like a ripoff of Crouching tiger hidden dragon with all that wire combat and Hero with all the fighting on water. plus you figure the guys who made kung fu chaos come to you and ask for a big check would be pretty hesitant too.

As far as the demo, I've played it a few times. Thre first time I was pretty dissapointed but after trying it a few more times I started to enjoy it.
Magesx's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/01/2007 00:30
Magesx
Sony stole Heavenly Sword. :U
hexfix93's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/01/2007 00:58
hexfix93
this game rules. cant wait for it.
Banj's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/01/2007 01:45
Banj
So what's the diff between this game and that new CONAN game that's coming out except in this your play as a bint?

Just looks like another button-mashing, 3D, scrolling beat-em-up to me with fancy camera angles and purty graphics.

...ignore me, I'm jaded.
William Haley's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/01/2007 02:20
William Haley
CONAN is an MMORPG?

Just sayin'.

PS. What the fuck is a bint?
DoctorEuphony's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/01/2007 03:34
DoctorEuphony
welp, good job MS. while the gameplay doesn't look shocking, it does look like it'll be a good positive for sony's end. and hell, i really wanna play it.
lwesquire's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/01/2007 04:38
lwesquire
Bint ~ woman, specifically old women. I would have gone with bird or tart on this one.
braulio09's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/01/2007 04:59
braulio09
hmm...didnt this make it to every news site a few months ago? i remember watching that vid
brainderailment's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/01/2007 06:23
brainderailment
It's not true! NO! They copied God Of War! Just like Rygar for the ps2 did!
bipolar beers's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/01/2007 08:57
bipolar beers
i really like the combo system in this game. this is a great title for sony and most people will enjoy it. there are some that seem like its not their cup of tea but most people ive showed the demo to were all amazed by it. the games got awesome visuals, an exciting fighting system and amazing cutscenes and interaction between the characters so who wouldnt want this game to be a part of their next gen library?
bhive01's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/01/2007 10:22
bhive01
I just like the crazy sister.
spoonerboi's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/01/2007 11:51
spoonerboi
Wow, with that shit for a possible game, no wonder Microsoft gave it the boot.
If Sony had been offered that shitty product, they probably would have turned it down too.
WAIT!!!
I forgot that The Ps2 was a third party Prostitute last console generation!
They would have accepted it, and just proved to even more people that Sony is the Pamela Anderson of Video games.
Looks good on the outside, and you hear alot of cool stories about it, but after you mess with it, you end up with HERPES.
synce's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/01/2007 13:01
synce
Look at all the people green with envy that they won't be able to enjoy Heavenly Sword. I played the demo and it's pretty solid. It takes a few moments to get used to it, but once you do you'll be replaying it over and over again. It's no Ninja Gaiden, but it's still good. Man, it's nice to have both next-gen consoles.
spoonerboi's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/01/2007 13:23
spoonerboi
@synce
I also like owning both consoles, because then I can use the Ps3 for a display stand.
Heavenly Sword looks great, but Man 360 would have been way to go too bad the shit couldn't have looked good back when it mattered for micro-squish.
UniversalTarget's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/01/2007 13:33
UniversalTarget
Most of that appeared to be cutscene footage, but the parts of actual gameplay seemed desperately familiar. At first I thought it was Lei Fang with a sword, but as the trailers progressed then I thought "Hey, when did Kratos get the sex change and the knives that lost their glow?"

What it's starting to look like now is more or less a dynasty warriors game mixed with the brutality of Kratos' moves for the single enemies, and the 'female in a fighting game' finesse. While I like games like this, I don't think it's going to be my cup of tea, simply based on the fact that... Well, I played God of War first, and unless there is a multiplayer mode in Heavenly Sword, God of War probably did-- and will continue-- to outperform this game. To top that off, the God of War series was only a rental for me considering I own Ninja Gaiden; God of War had actual puzzles, but Ninja Gaiden was so very superior combat wise that didn't matter.
Corak's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/01/2007 14:37
Corak
Played the demo and after getting used to the combat style I really enjoyed it. Is it similar to God of War, sure, but there are so many differences that they really shouldn't be compared outside of the fact that they are both action games of similar settings, and the fact that the main character has blades on chains. Ooooo yea that makes them the same right there I'l tell ya.

Nuriko has different stances, speed (default), ranged, and power. Each having different effects and damage range, and it really adds great diversity to the gameplay rather than just holding block down to block pretty much any attack in god of war. You have to be in the proper stance to block your enemies attacks in heavenly sword, and sometimes you have to switch stances when an enemy is attacking you mid combo to block them all. Also, the air combos as you launch an enemy upwards are also different and well done, only thing I would change is shaking the sixaxis to get Nuriko to jump up and go for an air combo.

Overall it looks great so far, and if you like games like this it doesn't look like it will disappoint.
Zlimness's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/01/2007 16:16
Zlimness
Hero The Movie The Game?
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