by KamenRiderDCD
Heavy Rain is a PS3 game developed by Quantic Dream. Its directed by David Cage, founder of Quantic Dream. The game focuses on 4 players, how they are affected by the actions of the serial killer known only as the Origami Killer, and how they deal with it. The demo focuses on 2 of the four characters, hard assed and heart of gold, Private Detective Scott Shelby and Norman Jayden, a drug addicted Federal Agent. Both are on the hunt for the serial killer. 2 more characters that can be seen in various preview videos are Madison Paige, a female reporter who apparently has a nude scene (HOLY SHIZENITE TITIEEEES!!!) and Ethan Mars, a father distraught over the loss of one of his sons. This game focuses on atmosphere and choices, not good or bad, just this or that. To give away any of more of the plot would do this game a disservice, since being sucked into this world is pivotal for the experience to really have the desired affect.
So I want to start off with a disclaimer, I have been waiting for HR to come out since I first heard about it in 2008. I was so syked when the devs described this game as being a new game play experience, or according to David Cage, Not a game anymore. So to say that I have wanted this game to, not only live up to the hype, but also actually be great and compelling, is a severe understatement. I think Shawn Gordon from Gameinformer said it best, I hope it lives up to the great work it promises to be, I hope it begets a industry change, but I hope it doesnt become that game developers pillage, bastardize, and inject in every aspects of every genre. With all that said this demo was kind of lackluster and left me very unsatisfied. If this was sex I would have a severe case of blue balls. What sucks is that this feeling comes with the fact that I have previous knowledge of this game. What I am concerned with is that if I was someone who hadnt heard of Heavy Rain this demo would have done nothing for me. For all the hype accompanied with this game, saying how revolutionary and different it is and how much of an experience the player will receive, this wasnt the best demo to illustrate that feeling across. I just wanted the demo to be more intense and leave the player salivating for more instead of unsatisfied by the short, uneventful performance.
Now with all that negativity out of the way, lets talk about all the goods that this baby of a demo has to deliver. I was lucky enough to have an audience with me while I played the demo. The first couple of times I played I had one of my boys, JD, a dude who has the intellectual attention span of a cat, always distracted by his ball of yarn, sports and sports games. Accompanying him was his better half, ST, and intellectual superior, currently reading a book by Maya Angelou. These two are obviously NOT the desired demographic. Despite that, these two were very much intrigued and interested in what I was playing. I bring these two up because one of the things that this game has going for it is its ability to set an intense atmosphere. With all its little nuances it causes the player to really be at their highest attention and to pay attention to detail, as a matter of fact it was ST who noticed how each scene is footnoted with how many inches of rain has fallen. JD even helped during Shelbys sequence to help get some information out of prostitute. Now your reading this and saying, WTF do I care about your friends, this is important because if this game can build such a cinematic experience that onlookers can get caught up, It gets a good grade for not only being able grab attention, but also keep it.
Heavy Rain has been ridiculed for being one big (QTE)quick time event. A Quick Time Event allows for limited control of a game character during cut scenes or cinematic sequences in the game. It generally involves the player following onscreen prompts to press buttons or perform other actions (like shaking the controller). Failing these segments takes the scene in a different course, sometimes to the player character's death. Even though Heavy Rain has controller responses that have onscreen signals, this game is nothing like your modern day action adventure, like Darksiders, Bayoneta, or God of War(I refuse to acknowledge Dantes Inferno as a game). Heavy Rains controller scheme is far more in depth. Gestures are made to help the character interact with the environment more then just continue a combo. The control interface is intuitive for the style of gameplay. It doesnt just present a sequence of buttons to press in order to perform moves. It presents them in a way that also describes what those buttons will make the characters. Its cool how these are depicted also. The game places them on areas of the scene where the action will take place.
A perfect example is during the second chapter play through. Federal Agent Jayden inspects a crime scene. There is a dead body covered by a small tent, and there are clues scattered throughout the scene. Every time you approach an area of interest, gesture prompts show up not only letting you know there is something here you can do, but also giving you an idea what you will do. Sometimes actions are chained together, but they arent always partnered with an action scene. For example, Agent Jayden climbs some slippery rocks from the crime scene. The button sequences appear on the places he needs to hold or step in order to climb up. Failure to do what is requested sees Jayden slide down the rocks and get progressively frustrated.
When you do come across a fight sequence, failing to react to a prompt, doesnt cancel and series of moves, you just miss a block and get hit, or miss the opportunity to punch, giving the opponent the chance to gain the upper hand. Either way the scene continues on fluidly without any interruptions.
The last thing I want to comment on is the acting. Many playwrights will argue that the set is just as much an actor as the living beings on scampering around on it. Each landscape and scenery looks real and genuine. Its a world that has been lived in, spit on, worn down, and left to rott.
I really have to commend the graphic artists and animators. The way that everything is so smoothly drawn and how all the elements are integrated is flawless. This is slightly contrasted by the actual actors, the characters are played by an entirely European cast. Yes, for the most part facial gestures and acting is fantastic. The subtle gestures and nuances used to express atmosphere and emotion are really good and are able to adequately telegraph the feel of a scene. However, every so often you will come a character whose accent comes in and out. You will also experience volume fluctuations depend on what reaction comes from your actions. So for example, you will come to a scenario where you have the option to ask one of four questions illustrated by the floaty words around a characters head. The scene will start of calm, but depending on your question you will get a loud volatile reaction that seems unprovoked. Sometimes you will also witness flat facial expressions, this happens rarely, but it is still noticeable when they happen. All in all, despite this, you still find yourself caring for the protagonists and the victims. You want the protagonists to survive, which adds a layer of tension because you know that if you miss any gesture, any prompt you can potentially kill one of them off. David Ellis from 1up.com says it best, Heavy Rain portrays pain, suffering, and death with a stark frankness that doesn't elevate horror as something to be entertained by..
Despite the relatively slow pace of the demo, what it lacks inpace it makes up in atmosphere, graphics, mechanics and acting(for the most part). I cant wait for the game. So go and download this demo and draw your own conclusion, just know that is only a small part to a very large tapestry. Side note, writing this review reminds me of my younger years. When I was younger and the only game I had was Mario, my siblings used to hog that shit up. When my sister would play, she would always swing her arms in the direction she wanted Mario to jump in. Finally a game that wont make her look ridiculous.
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Just moments ago I went and updated my lovely MacBook Pro with the new and shiny update of OS X 10.6.6 and figured I'd give it's newest feature - the Mac App Store - a look.
Life at Nerd Blerp HQ has been crazy this month between events such as NY Comic Con and our very first charity event - the 72 hour Mega Man gaming marathon: "MegaMarathon." Thank you to everyone who donated or contributed snacks, love, and equipment to help push us through the 3 days, especially durring the late hours when we were frustrated and tired.
