[PS3] Heavy Rain

<img src="http://i.imagehost.org/0091/HeavyRainBoxArt_thumb.jpg">

For those out of the loop, Heavy Rain is an upcoming PS3 "interactive drama" developed by Quantic Dream (Omikron, Fahrenheit/Indigo Prophecy) and due out late February 2010.

I've been sort of following this for a while, and the more I see of it the more interesting it looks, and I'm reminded of those old school point and click adventures. Of course there are those who argue it isn't really a "game" but an extended interactive cut scene. I'm not sure what to expect, or how gamey it will feel, but I'll be picking it up for sure.

http://www.heavyrainps3.com/

 

I've been looking forward to Heavy Rain for a while now. While I doubt I'll shell out sixty bucks for it, it does look like something I'd like to play given the chance.

 

Waiting for it to drop on PC - like so many games, I wonder how long we'll have to wait until its no longer "exclusive"

 

I'm not horribly excited for this game. It looks good, but I don't think I'll love it like so many people figure they will. I'll wait to read reviews and get impressions, but this is most likely a pass for me.

 

I doubt this game will attract the average 'shoot-em-up' gamer. Fahrenheit certainly didn't. I think it will attract more of the niche of players who appreciate it as an art form rather than a competitive 'game'

 

Dont forget trophy hunters, they'll play anything if it gets them more trophies, including Hannah Montana: The Movie: The Game

 

Trophies are stupid.

Two reviews so far, both great.

 

I never played Farenheit because I never found a copy going for a price I was willing to fork over, I think the cheapest I ever found it was something pathetic like £50 for a pre-owned copy that probably didn't even work, but it certainly sounded like an interesting game.

Heavy Rain looks to be a game of a similar ilk. It may be that killer app alongside MGS4 that would justify me shelling out for a PS3. I'm not going to rush to the store to get one but I've certainly got my eye on it as an option now, especially with all the horror stories I have read about the RROD.

 

I can't see it being a killer app, I can't see it even getting in the top ten. I'm sure the critics will love it and it will be a good game, but it probably won't sell well.

 

I meant as a killer app for me personally. I fail miserably at terminology.

 

I suppose that'd count. Not sure how long the game is supposed to be though, I get the feeling it's kinda short.

 

Aren't most games these days? I've breezed through nearly every single game in my collection other than the ones by bethesda. If it wasn't for achievements I wouldn't have touched half the games on my shelf again!

Besides I've always been a firm believer of quality over quantity in video games.

 

It looks short, but there also seems to be so many different ways you can do things that it looks like a game that's almost mandatory to play through more than once.

 

Probably won't be well made even though it's got a good title.

 

On the contrary, it looks very well made. What are you basing your presumptions on?

 

QFT. This looks like a very well put together adventure game made by the same team that made one of the most ambitious titles of last-gen. You don't have to be a Sony fan boy to see that.

 

Something about Black31 reminds me of a certain troll that popped up here a few weeks ago...

 

I think I missed this troll. A pity. I like trolls. They make good pointy stick fodder.

 

Alright I'll buy it based on its title only.

 

I smell troll bait here but, frak it, I gotta say it: Are you serious? You think that's the best possible criteria for plunking down $70+ bucks on a game. "Based on its title only"? I'm afraid to tell you that that's the least intelligent argument I've read on this forums since, well, ever! There's plenty of early previews and even a hell of a lot more articles on the technical and gameplay aspects of the game for you to make a more intelligent decision regarding it.

 

I like to do random things like that from time to time. Sometimes it turns out good. Usually for games I read reviews and buy nothing below 9 out of 10 and yeah you're right. I read the description of 'Heavy Rain' on Amazon and I was right, it's not as well made as the title suggests. It's basically an interactive crime investigation, where I'm guessing you go and have to click on items and things to investigate. What a waste. I don't like the idea of multiple endings either, I just want to go through a game once for one possible ending.

 

We've taken care of the smell.

 

Were you expecting the game, based on its title, to be about a rogue meteorologist who dies but then wakes up in an unfamiliar city where its always raining, but occasionally it rains really hard and he has to.... *drifts off*

 

Well I just finished playing the demo, and it's... different all right. There are two scenes available: one involving a private detective questioning a prostitute about her son's murder, and the other involving an FBI agent investigating a crime scene.

The graphics look amazing, it's almost a CGI movie in real time. What lets it down is the the voice, it's a little stiff and can be distracting. For a third person adventure game, the controls are the biggest difference. R2 is used to walk forward, while the right thumb stick is used to interact with the environment. It takes a while to get used to, but it seems to work in context with the game.

While it relies heavily on cut scenes and set pieces, it still feels like a game, but in the sense of those old school games involving static scenery and mouse exploration. Overall it has a great sense of atmosphere, and voice acting aside, I'm looking forward to picking this up.

 

So I got my copy yesterday, I totally expected to be one of those slow burn games that you play a chapter at a time then take a break... but after I started playing, I just couldn't put it down.

It's also pretty emotionally heavy. Don't expect to have a "fun" time playing this, your four different characters are dragged through hell and back... and I've only just started.

So yeah, I'm very impressed with this so far. Can't wait to get back into it tonight.

Some awesome moments so far (spoilers):

As Ethan Mars, I lost my first born in a mall, found him out on the street, but trying to call him over caused him to be hit and killed by a car.

Again as Ethan, several years later, I lost my second born by taking him to a park, blacking out and waking up hours later with him missing, presumed to be taken by the Origami Killer.

As Madison, I fought off a bunch of intruders in my apartment in my underwear, but ended up getting my throat slit.

As the PI Scott Shelby, I talked down a guy trying to rob a store at gunpoint (I could have been shot if I failed).