Heavy Rain Review

(PS3; $59.99; Rated M for Blood/Intense Violence/Nudity/Sexual Content/Strong Language/Use of Drugs; www.heavyrain.com)

(five stars)

"Heavy Rain" isn't a game for everyone, in fact most gamers who survive on the frenetic shoot-em-ups of the modern video game age will down-right hate this game; but the structure and narrative risks that the game takes will have an influence on the video game genre forever.  If every game from here-on-out were to take parts of "Heavy Rain" and put it into their games, the industry as a whole would mature to a wholly unique storytelling medium.

"Heavy Rain" is a culmination of ideas that began in developer, Quantic Dreams', critically-acclaimed, but commercially-failed psychological thriller "Indigo Prophesy."  "Heavy Rain," like "Indigo Prophesy," is better thought of as an "interactive story" rather than as a "game." The focus of the story, rather than the game mechanics, is the crucial defining element of the game; game mechanics like button pushes and controller manipulation are just the process by which the story progresses.  Unlike most games which focus on mechanics and making a "fun game" first, "Heavy Rain's" director, David Cage, would rather you feel emotionally compelled to proceed for the sake of the game's characters, than for a player's own amusement.

The story centers on four unrelated characters and their individual desires to track down the "Origami Killer," a serial killer who makes a habit of leaving paper animals in the hands of the young boys he abducts and drowns.  Players will jump in between characters from scene to scene as each try to piece their puzzles together in time to stop the Origami Killer from claiming his next victim.

The mood of "Heavy Rain" is somber, cold, and depressing.  In the same way that the film "Seven" used rainfall as an oppressive element which the characters fought against, so does "Heavy Rain."  In part, the art direction really sets an amazing tone for a very "film noir" game; however the coldness also comes from the "uncanny valley" of computer-generated characters who, despite looking incredibly lifelike, have no soul or emotion in their eyes.  Though this is a technical limitation, the "uncanny valley" actually works to "Heavy Rain's" advantage, given the subject matter.

Players control characters in their conversations and action sequences via "quick-time events" - events that require specific button presses or controller movements.  These "QTEs" determine how a character reacts and succeeds in situations, and also shape each character's personality depending on the choices the player makes for them.  I personally have crafted a well-intentioned but inept father, a by-the-book and hot-headed FBI profiler, a hard-nosed private eye with a soft-spot for vulnerable women, and a whatever-it-takes journalist; however each player will craft their own, and even determine whether some live or die.  Like the classic "Choose Your Own Adventure" novels, the story is shaped by player's actions.

In addition to divergent gameplay, Quantic Dreams also succeeded in making a solidly "adult" game that's tastefully executed.  Though there is nudity and sexual situations that the characters can find themselves in, the game never resorts to the immature delivery of mature content that so many M-rated games do.  But regardless, parents should be well aware: this is not a game intended to be played, nor should be played by children, the content is too mature for young gamers.  Though given the pace of the game, I'd be surprised if any young gamers would even be interested- "Call of Duty" this is not.

Playing "Heavy Rain" isn't a "fun" game in the traditional sense; anymore than "Silence of the Lambs" is a "fun" movie to watch.  Certainly the environment by which "Heavy Rain" is approached can be fun - whether it's experiencing the story together with a friend, or turning off all of the lights and allowing yourself to be spooked while playing solo.  But getting through the game is by no means a "fun" experience, rather it's the intrigue, the need to know how it all plays out, that will compel players to finish...

That is, if they can get through the first hour of very methodical gameplay where all the characters and plot are introduced; and mundane tasks like showering and carrying in the groceries are performed.

"Heavy Rain" may not be a game for everyone, but everyone mature enough should at least experience it as it's unlike anything we've seen before in the medium; but likely we'll be seeing elements of it in the medium from now, on.