Computers games as art, games as film, games as education. It appears at times that developers try and sell their games as anything but what they are – a game. Computer games are meant to be a form of entertainment that is unique to the format, interactive, yet able to tell a narrative. We should spend less time trying to makes game something they are not and instead make them the best possible in terms of being a game. Every couple of years a new product comes out that takes a step forwards; be it in online access, co-operative gameplay or any of the other areas of gaming. For years games have fought to create compelling narratives that impress as much as the best Hollywood films. The first ‘Bioshock’ came close to this, but ‘Heavy Rain’ cracked it.
Gameplay
Opening a review of ‘Heavy Rain’ with a look at the gameplay is going to highlight the one area that will prove most controversial for traditional gamers. In many ways ‘Heavy’ is an interactive film that you play a pseudo passive role in. You play as a series of different characters whose lives have all been affected by the actions of the Origami Killer – a psychopath who has been kidnapping young boys and allowing them to drown over a series of days. You play as a father whose son is missing, a PI who is investigating the case on behalf of some of the parents, a FBI agent who is involved in the official investigation and a reporter. Over these four separate narratives the game weaves the stories in and out of one another whilst maintaining the central mystery of the Origami Killer.
The game itself has a mostly relaxed feel and is probably best described as a new generation point and click adventure. You walk around fully realised 3D environments and interact with objects and people by either pressing a highlighted button of moving the joystick. At first it feels strange, but a slow tutorial allows you to get the feel for the controls and they become second nature as they mimic the actions on screen e.g. pull down on the joystick to pull open a door.
At first the gameplay may feel too sedate, but ‘Heavy Rain’ has more than its fair share of surprises and fast action set pieces. During these you must press buttons like your life depended on it, because it does. If one or more of the characters dies the game carries on without them and their narrative input is over – brilliant. Knowing that you cannot respawn adds to the tension and makes the gameplay frantic at times. Once you get used to it the simple controls make perfect sense, although some people may struggle with them. I urge people to overlook the slightly less than perfect gameplay as other areas by far make up for it. (4 out of 5)
Characters/Story
Wow.
I could just write that and give character and story 5 out of 5. In terms of narration ‘Heavy Rain’ is head, shoulder and most of a torso above the rest of the gaming world. Creator David Cage tried to create a split narrative crime thriller a few years ago with ‘Fahrenheit’ (Indigo Prophecy in America), but it was a glorious failure. With the power of the Playstation 3 he has achieved his goal with ‘Heavy’.
As mentioned the game continues no matter what you do branching off on different paths depending on your actions. A good example is a scene in which an unstable man holds a gun to your characters face. Do you try and calm him down, or take him out? How will this affect the mental state of your hero? Will he fall into the clutches of drug use as the impact of what he has done crushes him, or will he man up? There are so many different threads in the game that you will want to go back and retry chapters to see what else could happen.
Separate from all the variables in the game is a central murder mystery that everyone will solve no matter what they do in the game. This is a fantastic noir plot that has such a great ending that my jaw dropped. The story proved so compelling that my non-game playing partner sat down and watched me play the entire game like a brilliant movie. (5 out of 5)
Longevity
Playing through the game once is likely to set you back 6-8 hours, but this will not include when you want to return to the game and play the sections differently. I cannot imagine that many people who will not return and at least play a few of the more compelling set pieces in a different manner. Saying that, the game is probably a healthy 10 hours and could have perhaps have done with an additional mode or to extend the lifespan. Just remember that those 10 hours are amongst the best gaming moments of your life (4 out of 5)
Graphics
When ‘Heavy Rain’ was first previewed some years back at the massive E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo) in LA the image of a lifelike woman crying was one of the moments of the year in terms of gaming. Quantic Dreams were looking to set the benchmark for graphics. The fact that the game was to be PS3 exclusive would mean that Quantic Dreams could build it to the potential of the console. I play my 360 most, but I have to admit that graphically the PS3 is the stronger machine and ‘Heavy Rain’ is its new king.
The game is set in present day America, but an America clouded in a constant stream of drizzle and darkness. The noir look of the world is both mundane and compelling. Quantic Dreams have captured an almost real life existence and placed it in a game. There are moments of uncanny valley, were things look slightly off, but for the main part the graphics are simply stunning.
Level Design
‘Heavy’ is less of a game of levels and more about the narrative itself. However, the whole is split up into a series of vignettes that I suppose could be seen as levels, but are more akin to scenes in a feature film. What to say about them? They are fantastic and vary in style and feel. One minute you are infiltrating a night club, the next you are fighting for your life. The fact that the game is split into four separate characters means that the levels vary wonderfully and the styles are mixed up constantly. There are several stand out moments in the game that push the concept of what a ‘level’ is. (5 out of 5)
Sound
In terms of music and sound effects the lavish budget that Quantic Dreams spent on the game is for all to hear. So much of the atmosphere and heart wrenching emotion is played through the ambient soundtrack and melancholy chords. To add to the atmosphere is some of the best pitter patter rain sound effects ever heard in a game. Perhaps the one area that is a little disappointing is the voice acting. Some of the characters are voiced brilliantly, whilst a couple are a little flat or have accents that make them slightly difficult to understand. (4 out of 5)
Summary
With the Winter 2010 big hitters still to come I would normally shy away from making predictions, but I have to say that unless something almighty happens ‘Heavy Rain’ is the game of the year 2010. Just weeks before ‘Heavy’ I played the sublime ‘Mass Effect 2’, but even that game pales in comparison. ‘Heavy’ has become one of my top 5 games of all time (and that’s over 25 years of gaming since ‘Horace Goes Skiing’ to today). The storyline is so gripping and the ambience so compelling that it is unlike any game made before it. I urge any owner of a PS3 to buy this game and those who do not to get a PS3 and the game (with Uncharted 2 as well of course).
‘Heavy Rain’ is simply gaming genius.
Sammy Recommendation
(5 out of 5)
Maker: Quantic Dreams RRP £50
Amazon uk £37.99
Play.com £39.99
