Heavy Rain is unlike anything you have ever played before. I say this with the utmost respect to competent gamers and casual gamers alike. Being a title that has received a large portion of the media’s attention since being announced, one could be forgiven for expecting Heavy Rain to fall short in terms of critical reception, like so many others that have been swallowed by the Hype Machine hole. Fear not, this title is not one of them. In fact this game has plenty to offer the most discerning player, but not in the way we would usually expect.
The Story
Heavy Rain is based in a realistic world, dreary to say the least. It revolves around a central theme, namely a serial killer dubbed the “Origami” Killer. It’s a story I would like to delve into rather deeply, but a game like this would be completely spoiled to anyone who plays it, if even the smallest detail were leaked to you. What I can tell you though, is that Quantic Dream have created a world and a set of characters that not only seem completely believable, but the bond it creates between player and game is something that will set the bar going forward.
The Characters (or for all intense and purposes, you for the next 8-10 Hours)
In the game, players take the role of 4 primary characters. The main character Ethan Mars, FBI Agent Norman Jayden, PI Scott Shelby and the lovely Madison Paige, are virtual entities that will not only shape your experience throughout the game, but will also stir emotions within you that you may or may not want brought forward. They are all uniquely different in there personas, and even more so in the way they interact with the world. It’s amazing how well the Developers managed to tie the player and the character together, with simple feelings like fear or panic flowing between game and player seamlessly. When your character is scared, there is a good chance you will be too.
It’s also very well written. To tie each character to the main plot in an initially unrelated way, then to seamlessly bring them together, is pure mastery. Any of the characters in the game can also die, with little real effect on the main outcome, but that specific storyline will come to an abrupt end. This game is all about the characters, so you’ll find yourself looking after them a little more than usual. The story is by no means perfect, and many of the plot points never get explained or tied up, but the overall impact is one of deep emotional drama, which generally keeps one very gripped.
Put on your raincoat, you’re in for a very wet ride
So how does it all play out you ask? Well, it goes a little like this.
Heavy rain plays out like an interactive movie. You still have to move the characters around and explore, by holding down the R2 button and moving the left analogue stick in the direction you want to walk, with the character spinning on a central axis. It takes some getting used to, but after a while, the concept is grasped. It is noteworthy to mention here that this is one of the weak points of the game. It’s just not as precise as one would want.
When you start exploring, you will have to interact with various people and objects, and this is done by moving the Right Analogue stick in all sorts of different positions and combinations. You will also have to learn timing, over and over again. The reason for this is that events take place rather unexpectedly, and the reaction time the player has, mimics real life. Don’t stress too much if you miss an action key here and there, it won’t affect the outcome too much, but be prepared to get to know you Sixaxiz quite well. It also employs button presses in various action sequences (Think God of War Boss fights), and the dialogue is also controlled via the very same button presses, with the various options spinning around the characters head.
This mechanic is rather new to most, as it takes the form of “Thoughts”, and when the L2 button is depressed, it shows what the character is thinking, and these options appear above the characters head, to guide the player in the correct direction. Remember though, should your character be in distress, these options will shake and blur all over the screen, rendering the options rather difficult to read, creating that extra “panic” effect.
Heavy Rain also utilizes the Motion control really well, something that other titles have sorely lacked. Think “Minority Report”, and you’ll have a pretty good idea of what I’m getting at here.
If you were thinking this is going to be one long cut scene with random button presses, fear not, you will be very surprised how well it works.
Wipe the rain from your eyes, and you’ll be amazed at what you see!
One of the main talking points of Heavy Rain is its visuals. Countless articles have been written about how the PS3 is pushed to its limits and they describe a world created in so much detail, that you’ll fall off your chair in amazement. Whilst the presentation of the game is excellent, it might not be what you were expecting. Forget happy colourful worlds or panoramic vistas, this game is set in a seriously morbid setting. It looks amazing, and the character models are beyond anything I previously thought possible. The world is designed to tie in with the story and the fact that most of the time in the game it’s raining adds to the atmosphere, and will constantly remind you just how important the setting of a good story actually is.
Emotion is something I keep talking about, and in the graphics department, this aspect presents itself stronger than in any other part of the game. The characters are created in so much detail, that quite often you’ll find that no words or dialogue are needed to set the mood or tone.
Yet, it’s not all rosy. This level of immersion and graphical boundary is not always as smooth as one would like, and frame rate dip and screen tearing occasionally rears its ugly head. It doesn’t detract too much from the experience though, and overall, this department is one of the strong features, and the player will find themselves more than once gasping at what the developers have created.
If you listen closely, the sound of water is not all you’ll hear
Another strong area of Heavy rain is in the sound department. Once again Quantic Dream has added another level of realism and immersion, by adding sound to this game that perfectly complements the story unfolding around you. The musical score is excellent, and it fits in nicely with what’s going on around you. The same can be said about the voice acting, with characters carrying their mood over in their dialogue. I did notice a few issues around the lip syncing, but it only happened twice in the game. Overall, the sound engineers of this game should be applauded at what they have achieved.
Does it work?
In a nutshell, yes. This is a game that takes its queues from the adventuring days of old. It allows the player the freedom to explore, without them losing their way too often. You have choices in the way you play this game, and although at first it seems like a scripted interactive film, one quickly realises that there is more under the hood than meets the eye. It could take you eight hours to finish this game, but it could also take you twenty! If you sit back and take in the beautiful locales and immersive characters, you will find yourself drawn into a world that clearly has a lot to offer.
The blend of great visuals, a deeply emotive character set and some excellent sound engineering creates a story that needs to be told, and a world that needs to be explored. It’s something different, a game that not only captures the players’ imagination, but sets it off in a completely new direction.
You have to understand what you are getting yourself into here. It’s a game that can only really be played through once, and although the option is there to do it again, the experience will never have the same impact as the first time. The twists and turns in the plot can only be experienced once. This limits the longevity of the game. As far as I’m concerned, this is a good thing, and it’s an experience I believe every gamer should try.
If you are looking for your run of the mill shooter or action game, then maybe this is something you’ll want to skip. If you’re looking for a glimpse at what the future of entertainment could turn out like, then you will be doing yourself an injustice by missing this title. I really hope this is the push this genre needed, and many more developers realise that done properly, adventure gaming still has a lot to offer.
In my humble opinion, this is a must buy!!
Second Opinion
I agree strongly with most of the points raised by Philip. Despite its bugs – which are most predominant in the first 30 minutes it seems – Heavy Rain is a technical master piece. The use of sound effecs and music is exceptional, and the visuals are uniquely rendered and gorgeous.
The story and level of character interaction is also brilliant, and despite being often clunky, the controls show off some innovative ideas.
Having said all that, I have two main gripes with Heavy Rain. Firstly, there were a few times where I found myself getting frustrated and even bored. The narrative is the driving force behind Heavy Rain, and the gameplay consists mostly of navigating the world and having conversations. The problem is that all the action sequences are handled using quick time events and button pressing sequences, a gameplay mechanism which many will not appreciate.
The problem for me, was that despite all its strengths, I’m not sure how much it succeeds at just being fun.
My second issue is the game’s longevity. It really offers just one single play through of about 9 hours, with little option to gather any enjoyment out of a second playthrough. Essentially gamers are paying around R700 for a game that is unlikely to last longer than a week of casual game time, calling into question the game’s value for money.
Still, having said that, it’s an excellent game, and what it lacks in certain departments, it makes up for in others.
83/100
Nic Simmonds
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