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Logo by Max Layne Photography
| Sony PlayStation 3 |
Minus the rather peculiar last act, I am a huge fan of Quantic Dream’s last game, Indigo Prophecy (IP). It flew under the radar for most
people, and proved to be an underappreciated gem. Even though Quantic Dream labeled it as an “Interactive Movie,” to me it was more
of a modern day adventure game that put more emphasis on the narrative and puzzles in the same vein as Dreamfall: The Longest
Journey and to a lesser extent, Shenmue. Finally, the spiritual successor to IP is here with Quantic Dream’s latest game, Heavy Rain.
Even though it was originally announced long ago before the PS3 even launched in 2006, I can assure you it is definitely worth the wait.
I say “spiritual successor” because like IP, Heavy Rain is another story driven game that plays nearly identical to its predecessor.
Players go from scene to scene with one of four main characters as they unravel the mystery of the Origami Killer. Players control the
identities of Ethan Mars, a father whose son is the latest victim of the Origami Killer. Norman Jayden, a FBI Profiler brought in to
investigate the case. Scott Shelby, a Private Investigator also on the case and Madison Page, a lady who winds up in the middle of it all.
There are also a couple of other major players in the story that you do not control that are along for the ride, but for a game that is
powered so much by its narrative, I would rather you experience them firsthand instead of risk me giving away too much.
I am trying not to be too descriptive heavy on the plot and do not want to give away the slightest spoiler, because the core experience of
the story is what makes Heavy Rain what it is. The overall story arc contains a set amount of scenes, but how you get there and how
they play out will most likely be different from everybody you talk to who has played it. The story can progress in many directions based
on your decisions, and the decisions are not all black and white as in most good/evil moral driven games as say Fable or inFamous.
Just like IP, there are many different endings that are possible. This was one of the few games I had to replay twice just to experience
the mega happy and mega sad endings.
Heavy Rain controls almost exactly like IP where most of your core game play controls are driven almost exclusively through
contextual/Quick Time Event (QTE) commands. I know some people may quiver when they hear QTE, but I can say these are easily
some of the most refined QTE controls in any game I have played. Unlike IP the command prompts are no longer Simon Says-esque
memorization prompts and do not distract from the game play where they took up the front and center of the screen like they did before.
Here the buttons you need to press correspond to where the action is happening, like a button prompt will appear on your hand to block
a punch, or on a door handle to open a door. It is incredibly intuitive, and non-intrusive.
Heavy Rain is also one of the few PS3 games to incorporate SixAxis motion controls that do not feel shoehorned in and blend in well
with the aforementioned QTE prompts. The only qualm I have with the controls is that Quantic Dream stuck with the tank-esque
movement controls. When combined with Heavy Rain’s fixed camera angles that randomly switch perspectives, it results in
unintentional collisions with walls and other objects from time to time. Just like IP I eventually got use to it, but it is bizarre that Quantic
opted to stick with this clumsy style of movement instead of a more conventional method.
Like IP, Heavy Rain’s story has a great pace, with the plot gradually building as the characters develop and the mystery unfolds. Like
any good movie, the action picks up in the final act, and there is a twist that at least I did not see coming. Ultimately I was pretty happy
with the overall story arc in both directions I went, and most loose ends I originally hypothesized were addressed, or I picked up on the
second play-through (although like an episode of Lost, some major plot points I would have liked a better explanation on than a quick
line of dialogue).
Heavy Rain is a game that should be played through at least twice to get everything out of it. I got so much out of it playing through it two
times. Although I originally did it to see the good and bad endings, as I previously stated I picked up on some loose plot points I did not
catch the first time around. Additionally, my decisions led to scenes playing out quite differently and I ended up playing a few new
entirely different scenes that had a profound effect on the characters. Multiple play-throughs also unlock bonus content like concept art
and some very informative behind-the-scenes videos.
For being a game that started its development so early in the PS3 lifecycle, Heavy Rain boasts some of the most phenomenal graphics
on the PS3. Seriously, it is right up there with Uncharted 2 and Metal Gear Solid 4. The characters look incredibly lifelike, and the
attention to detail be it the post-traumatic stubble on Ethan’s face or the way Shelby’s trench coat showcases his authority and
determination really brings these characters to life. I found myself immersed with the scenery and level design too (which I am holding
off on examples so I do not give away any locales you’ll be traversing); just taking in all your surroundings and how pivotal they were to
the game was like nothing quite before it.
The orchestral score was quite fitting, and is so far one of my favorite soundtracks this year. It gets melodramatic at the appropriate
times, and picks up right when the action does too. I would have liked a little more variety though, because by the end of the game I
swear I was starting to hear several tracks over and over. As much as I liked the score, it could have benefited a lot with “Dramatic Track
#5, and Investigation Track #4.” I am a fan of the voiceover as much as the score as the voice cast did a tremendous job from everyone
involved, minus a couple of times I noticed a French accent slip in due to Quantic being located in France and hiring a bulk of French
voice talent. With the exception of a couple of lousy bit parts from cast members that must have been friends or family of the developers,
the quality of the voice acting raises the bar for what to expect out of a videogame.
Heavy Rain is a superb game all around. It is quite the gem, and it is rare to see games like this so story driven that result in a great
experience from start to finish. In case you still had some doubts, I can assure you the story does not get bonkers to the tenth degree
towards the end as it did in IP. It is different and fresh than almost any other game you will find on the PS3, and it is one that you must
have in your PS3 collection.
people, and proved to be an underappreciated gem. Even though Quantic Dream labeled it as an “Interactive Movie,” to me it was more
of a modern day adventure game that put more emphasis on the narrative and puzzles in the same vein as Dreamfall: The Longest
Journey and to a lesser extent, Shenmue. Finally, the spiritual successor to IP is here with Quantic Dream’s latest game, Heavy Rain.
Even though it was originally announced long ago before the PS3 even launched in 2006, I can assure you it is definitely worth the wait.
I say “spiritual successor” because like IP, Heavy Rain is another story driven game that plays nearly identical to its predecessor.
Players go from scene to scene with one of four main characters as they unravel the mystery of the Origami Killer. Players control the
identities of Ethan Mars, a father whose son is the latest victim of the Origami Killer. Norman Jayden, a FBI Profiler brought in to
investigate the case. Scott Shelby, a Private Investigator also on the case and Madison Page, a lady who winds up in the middle of it all.
There are also a couple of other major players in the story that you do not control that are along for the ride, but for a game that is
powered so much by its narrative, I would rather you experience them firsthand instead of risk me giving away too much.
I am trying not to be too descriptive heavy on the plot and do not want to give away the slightest spoiler, because the core experience of
the story is what makes Heavy Rain what it is. The overall story arc contains a set amount of scenes, but how you get there and how
they play out will most likely be different from everybody you talk to who has played it. The story can progress in many directions based
on your decisions, and the decisions are not all black and white as in most good/evil moral driven games as say Fable or inFamous.
Just like IP, there are many different endings that are possible. This was one of the few games I had to replay twice just to experience
the mega happy and mega sad endings.
Heavy Rain controls almost exactly like IP where most of your core game play controls are driven almost exclusively through
contextual/Quick Time Event (QTE) commands. I know some people may quiver when they hear QTE, but I can say these are easily
some of the most refined QTE controls in any game I have played. Unlike IP the command prompts are no longer Simon Says-esque
memorization prompts and do not distract from the game play where they took up the front and center of the screen like they did before.
Here the buttons you need to press correspond to where the action is happening, like a button prompt will appear on your hand to block
a punch, or on a door handle to open a door. It is incredibly intuitive, and non-intrusive.
Heavy Rain is also one of the few PS3 games to incorporate SixAxis motion controls that do not feel shoehorned in and blend in well
with the aforementioned QTE prompts. The only qualm I have with the controls is that Quantic Dream stuck with the tank-esque
movement controls. When combined with Heavy Rain’s fixed camera angles that randomly switch perspectives, it results in
unintentional collisions with walls and other objects from time to time. Just like IP I eventually got use to it, but it is bizarre that Quantic
opted to stick with this clumsy style of movement instead of a more conventional method.
Like IP, Heavy Rain’s story has a great pace, with the plot gradually building as the characters develop and the mystery unfolds. Like
any good movie, the action picks up in the final act, and there is a twist that at least I did not see coming. Ultimately I was pretty happy
with the overall story arc in both directions I went, and most loose ends I originally hypothesized were addressed, or I picked up on the
second play-through (although like an episode of Lost, some major plot points I would have liked a better explanation on than a quick
line of dialogue).
Heavy Rain is a game that should be played through at least twice to get everything out of it. I got so much out of it playing through it two
times. Although I originally did it to see the good and bad endings, as I previously stated I picked up on some loose plot points I did not
catch the first time around. Additionally, my decisions led to scenes playing out quite differently and I ended up playing a few new
entirely different scenes that had a profound effect on the characters. Multiple play-throughs also unlock bonus content like concept art
and some very informative behind-the-scenes videos.
For being a game that started its development so early in the PS3 lifecycle, Heavy Rain boasts some of the most phenomenal graphics
on the PS3. Seriously, it is right up there with Uncharted 2 and Metal Gear Solid 4. The characters look incredibly lifelike, and the
attention to detail be it the post-traumatic stubble on Ethan’s face or the way Shelby’s trench coat showcases his authority and
determination really brings these characters to life. I found myself immersed with the scenery and level design too (which I am holding
off on examples so I do not give away any locales you’ll be traversing); just taking in all your surroundings and how pivotal they were to
the game was like nothing quite before it.
The orchestral score was quite fitting, and is so far one of my favorite soundtracks this year. It gets melodramatic at the appropriate
times, and picks up right when the action does too. I would have liked a little more variety though, because by the end of the game I
swear I was starting to hear several tracks over and over. As much as I liked the score, it could have benefited a lot with “Dramatic Track
#5, and Investigation Track #4.” I am a fan of the voiceover as much as the score as the voice cast did a tremendous job from everyone
involved, minus a couple of times I noticed a French accent slip in due to Quantic being located in France and hiring a bulk of French
voice talent. With the exception of a couple of lousy bit parts from cast members that must have been friends or family of the developers,
the quality of the voice acting raises the bar for what to expect out of a videogame.
Heavy Rain is a superb game all around. It is quite the gem, and it is rare to see games like this so story driven that result in a great
experience from start to finish. In case you still had some doubts, I can assure you the story does not get bonkers to the tenth degree
towards the end as it did in IP. It is different and fresh than almost any other game you will find on the PS3, and it is one that you must
have in your PS3 collection.
| Genre: Adventure Developer: Quantic Dream Publisher: SCEA Reviewed By: Dale Kulas |
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