Nariko is motivated to kill lots of nasties while she's on her journey to punish the evil King Bohan. The king has kidnapped Nariko's father, and there's nothing so wrathful as a warrior with daddy issues.
Heavenly Sword has piqued the interest of many male gamers because this heroine is a lovely young redhead whose dress seems to have made up its mind that it will not cover the sides of her hips or the upper reaches of her chest plate.
Nariko slices and dices rival clan members using a Heavenly Sword that must weigh what she weighs. It's enormous. King Bohan wants to gain possession of that big bad blade, because it's magically powerful.
Heavenly Sword has been compared to the masterpiece God of War games because it's a deliciously pretty action-adventure set in a grand fantasy past of rope bridges and ornate castles. But it isn't nearly as fun as the God of War titles. It's paced slower, and the killing becomes routine button-mashing.