Heavy Rain
Producer: Sony Computer Entertainment
Release Date: February 23, 2010
Platform: PS3
Rating: Mature
Genre: Adventure
Choose Your Fate
Written by Mike Lowther
Back in May of 2006, I watched an early tech demo of a mysterious project from Quantic Dream. Immediately, I was blown away by how they incorporated emotion and character into simple test footage. I cried. It was a fantastic way to show off incredible motion capture and lighting, while preserving the mystery of what the game was actually about. Finally, 2010 has come and Heavy Rain has been released.
The story focuses on the Oragami Killer, a thief who kidnaps small boys and drowns them in rainwater, left to be found by detectives shortly after their death. We’re introduced to a handful of characters, and placed tersely in their shoes. What’s unique is that the gameplay gives you the ability to feel for the characters. Everything you say, every choice you make affects what happens next. For instance, there are no aliens or monsters. ‘Emotional simulation’ is the key phrase here, as Heavy Rain is completely void of any supernatural elements.
The actors who portray the characters in the game visually look like their personas. This reflects upon the remarkable motion capture technology used to put this project together. It gives for stunning performances, verbally, as well as physically, and the actors truly shine. It’s captivating how immersed you can get into this game. It tricked me, made me feel responsible for my actions, and then deal with the repercussions. Moods revolve around the non-stop raining throughout the game, filtered through a score composed by Normand Corbeil. It’s callously depressing. This is one of the first games to simulate social conditions so captivating and so lifelike that sometimes it’s too much to digest. Typically, you’ll have the option to back out and refuse when dealing with impossible, heart wrenching decisions.
Visually, this title is damn impressive. With realistic lighting, remarkable skin detail, and added film grain, it sincerely feels like you’re in a movie. The camera is either handheld or placed on a dolly, feeling ultra realistic and cinematic thanks to the beautifully tested Havok physics engine and Vicon camera systems. Instead of a free-roaming world, levels are broken down into short scenes that are highly detailed and don’t require an immense environment; less is more. Gameplay is easy to catch on, as a QTE (Quick Time Event) system is used where your actions are based on hitting the said button at the appropriate time. Typically, you’ll need to hold down more than one button at a time while controlling the analog sticks or applying motion to the 6-Axis controller.
Ultimately, this is the best thing in the simulation category right next to the Shenmue series. Heavy Rain is a benchmark in social simulation, as it enables you to forget about reality and become immersed in a new world, emotionally. I just can’t get over how original it is. This is a game that breaks your social barrier and makes you feel for each character individually. The voice acting is phenomenal and the detail in this game is utterly amazing. Though I ran into a couple lock-ups, and the movement could be slightly glitchy at times, it didn’t stop me from participating in my role in the story. Playing through this was an experience unlike any other and it leaves you with the ability to go back and play it again a completely different way. The replay value is definitely apparent, though director David Cage urges to play it only once. I recommend the same considering it was my life for an eight hours span, and I wouldn’t have played it any other way.