Heavy Rain (PS3)

Overview
Heavy Rain is the latest instalment for the PS3 from Quantic Dream, the same folks who brought us the interesting and innovative “interactive movie” that was Fahrenheit (or Indigo Prophecy in the States). After playing Fahrenheit on the Xbox many moons ago and becoming completely enthralled in the unique playing style and interesting storyline, I was very excited when I first spyed the trailers for Heavy Rain. The premise of Heavy Rain is fairly similar to that of Fahrenheit, an interactive movie that the player essentially directs, every action the player takes (or chooses not to take in some cases) affects the storyline and final outcome. Without providing any significant spoilers for you, the game revolves around four playable characters who are all affected or connected to a series of grizzly deaths undertaken by the origami killer who, as the name suggests, has a penchant for origami figures. Through playing various sequences as each of these four characters, the storyline develops and gradually a gripping plot unwinds and the identity of the origami killer is revealed. Each character, particularly the four main characters, is well constructed, very interesting and important to the storyline.

First Impressions
One thing that has to be said for Heavy Rain is that it starts really slowly – there is a very extensive opening sequence that, although it does set up the rest of the game and acts as a tutorial to learn the control system, is far too long and if you choose to play through multiple times it’s recommended that you start from a later “chapter”. It is well worth staying patient and sticking with it though, as a couple of hours in you’ll really get your teeth into it and be on the edge of your seat until the end. Heavy Rain really is unlike any other game available out there at the moment and is a refreshing injection into the gaming industry.

Interface
Anyone who has played Fahrenheit previously will understand the type of control system that Heavy Rain employs. The game successfully brings together intricate storytelling with gameplay by using a series of quick-time events (like Dragon’s Lair, or God of War’s takedown sequences) but unlike Fahrenheit, missing a prompt doesn’t mean curtains for you – in fact, you can’t actually fail in Heavy Rain. There is no game over, just a different conclusion to the story. It’s actually possible to “kill off” certain playable characters, this doesn’t mean that you are forced to replay the part where your character dies, it simply means that their portion of the game and storyline is over. However, thanks to the chapter options (much like a DVD) it’s possible to replay any sequence at anytime if you are unhappy with the outcome – but of course, this all affects the overall storyline.
The game makes quite effective use of the Sixaxis controller too – for example, opening a door that sticks requires a swift tug using the controller – however, this can be quite annoying when trying to play the game subtly whilst your flatmate is asleep on the sofa next to you!

Aesthetics
Quite simply put Heavy Rain is a stunningly beautiful game. I got it as part of my PS3 bundle, and the first evening I played it, I was using standard definition (damn you Sony and your lack of included HDMI or Component Cable!) and even in SD, the rain drops of the opening sequence are wonderful. However, the real magic comes when it’s played in High Definition – the attention to detail on the faces of the characters is simply awe inspiring and looks more lifelike than any other game I have ever had the pleasure of playing. The developers have effectively used actors for motion capture and likeness that certainly brings a realistic quality to Heavy Rain that enhances the gameplay experience and makes you feel like you really are in control of an interactive movie.
The voice acting for the most part is also very good, however, during one or two particular scenarios it repeats several voice samples, often in quick succession and this does unfortunately detract from the experience as a whole.
As you play through the game you can unlock bonus features, much like you would find on a DVD – these come in the shape of behind the scenes snippets and loads of frighteningly beautiful concept art. These bonus items that are a really nice treat to anyone who really appreciates the art and craft of making games, especially one that is so majestically delivered such as this.

Difficulty
The game comes with three different “difficulty” options. Although, as I stated previously, there is no way to actually fail Heavy Rain. These options are based on your familiarity with similar games and merely adjust the time in which you can react to the quick-time prompt sequences, or the complexity of the buttons that need pressing to complete a particular action. Heavy Rain is a game that can be enjoyed by even the most casual of gamers thanks in part to its riveting storyline, very simple control system and no fear of being unable to complete the game.

Will you still be playing it in 6 months?
Due to the fact that pretty much every action or option you can take in Heavy Rain will have an effect on the storyline, it’s possible to play through the game several thousand times and have a different experience every single time. Yes, certain scenarios will always have the same set up so a player can be forgiven for not wanting to replay it immediately after completion, it really is just like a movie in that aspect…there aren’t many movies out there that I want to watch again in its entirety immediately after first watching it. However, like a very good movie, it will sit on the shelf and will be brought out and replayed several times (frequently on rainy Sunday afternoon!)…in fact it was less than a week after I first completed Heavy Rain that I was back playing it again, this time to do essentially the exact opposite of everything that I did the first time round just to see how the storyline and end result would differ.

Overall
I thoroughly enjoyed Heavy Rain, it’s just the type of game that I’ve been waiting for ever since I first played the brilliant Fahrenheit. It’s one of the few games recently that really hooked me and had me playing until the small hours. Plus after first completing it, it had me wanting to go back for more. Sure, it’s not for everyone – hardcore first-person shooter fans will probably be bored by the lack of explosions and it certainly features enough swearing, violence, nudity and sex to be unsuitable for kids (it is an 18 after all), but for gamers who are looking for a really absorbing storyline coupled with stunning aesthetics and an innovative control system – Heavy Rain ticks all those boxes and comes highly recommended.

The Scores…
Concept – 9.5
Graphics – 9.0
Sound – 8.0
Gameplay – 8.5
Longevity – 8.5

Overall – 8.7 out of 10