Heavy Rain successfully blurs the line between film and videogames.
User Rating: 9 | Heavy Rain PS3
Heavy Rain is in a genre of itself in videogames. It's a game but at the same time not a game. It combines a videogame and Hollywood film storytelling almost perfectly. Players live this experience though 4 different characters. Ethan, an architect and father, Madison, a journalist, Norman, a FBI profiler and Scott, a private investigator. The story is a web of mystery and edge of your seat events. Ethan's adolescent son is kidnapped by the Origami Killer, a killer who kidnaps his victims and drowns them. Players will play different sections of the story with each of the 4 characters but, unlike most games where a characters dies it's gameover, in Heavy rain the game continues with one less character. This creates an emotional connection with players and the characters they play as. Players don't want to see their beloved character die and want to save Ethan's son. This is very successful blend of gaming, emotion and storytelling. Many people debate if Heavy Rain is a videogame. Throughout the game characters are controlled just like any other game but, the entire game is quick-time events. Pressing x or o at a designated moment and shaking the controller to pull an enemy off the character. The controls can feel stiff at times but, overall feel well until players want to get through areas quickly, a lack of a run option can get very frustrating. Probably a development ploy to keep players from rushing through the story. The visuals are by far some of the best of all time. character facial models are incredibly detailed from freckles to hair strands. The visuals are definitely nothing short of stunning. The environments look quite good too. The sound is very well done and fits the gritty, depressing tone. Players will definitely be on their edge of their seat at times in the game, the pacing can be slow though. Heavy Rain can take around 10 hours to beat. The game has multiple endings and different outcomes throughout the game so it certainly does have replay value. Yet it feels like if you have beat once or twice there is no need to play it again for a long time because of the slow pacing and somewhat clunky controls. Overall Heavy Rain is a definite play for gamers and nongamers. It shows how videogames can become a mental, awesome experience not just a videogame. Not a definite buy but, it soon will have playstation move compatibility, which will enhance the experience, a definite rental.
