FIGURES AND MORE GAME REVIEW

TITLE: Heavy Rain

PUBLISHER: Sony Computer Entertainment

DEVELOPER: Quantic Dream

# OF PLAYERS: 1

ESRB RATING: M for Mature

RETAIL PRICE: $59.99

Heavy Rain is a new, and very innovative Murder Mystery game, published by Sony Computer Entertainment. Though, to call Heavy Rain a game really does it a tremendous disservice. It is probably more accurate to call it the most interactive CGI Movie EVER! You will play as four different characters over the course of the game. However, Heavy Rain is predominately the story of Ethan Mars, a young suburban father of two boys. Ethan is about to embark on a road of unbelievable road of pain and suffering. The game introduces it’s revolutionary control scheme. You will literally control every major action in Heavy Rain. For example, to get out of bed at the beginning of the game, you press up on the right stick. The game mixes up the control inputs between analog stick movements, holding buttons, tapping buttons and holding a sequence of buttons. Fortunately, the game is very clear about what you need to do at any given time. There are also sequences in the game where you have a choice of different points on a room to interact with. You can perform these interactions in any order you choose. You walk by holding the R2 button and moving the control stick in the direction you want to go. Dialogue is managed using the face buttons on the controller to select a line of questioning or dialogue.

Throughout Heavy Rain, you will play alternating chapters as one of four different characters. Here is a brief description of each.

Ethan Mars is the character around whom the main story revolves. Ethan is a young father of two who lives in a suburban town and leads a fairly idyllic life when the game begins. His biggest difficulty when the game begins is getting ready for his son’s Birthday party. Soon after, a seeming routine trip to the Mall leads Ethan down a road of pain and tragedy that will lead him to cross apths with the infamous Origami Killer. Ethan’s health and resolve will be put to the ultimate test and he will be asked to do things no man should have to….

Scott Shelby is a grizzled middle aged former cop who is now a Private Investigator. He is investigated the case of the Origami Killer and his search for clues leads him to Lauren, the mother of the last victim. Together, he and Lauren will begin to unravel the tangled threads that make up the case, but a deadly secret is waiting for them at the end…

Norman Jayden is an FBI Agent who is brought in by the local authorities to assist on the Origami Killer case. Jayden is in his 30’s and has access to a revolutionary new clue analyzing technology called the ARI. Jayden puts on a pair of glasses and is suddenly transported to a Virtual Reality world, where you can analyze clues, files and videos. When you use ARI in the field, you will see icons pop-up noting the location of clues. It looks very CSI NY and is very cool. Jayden and the local Lieutenant, in charge of the case, Lt. Blake, do not get along very well. Blake is determined to solve the case at all costs, whereas Jayden is determined to make sure the right man pays for the crimes….

Madison Page is a woman who meets Ethan purely by coincidence once his real trials begin. She offers medical and emotional assistance to Ethan. She is young, headstrong, but sympathetic. But, she is hiding something from Ethan…..

The game begins for real after Ethan’s harrowing ordeal at the Mall. He is living in another apartment with just one of his sons. After another harrowing ordeal, Ethan becomes an unwilling pawn of the Origami Killer, who wants to know how far Ethan will go to save his son. A series of challenges, printed on the back of origami animals, is set before Ethan. Each one is worse than the previous one. Ethan is also given a cell phone. After each challenge that is successfully completed, Ethan receives a series of letters and numbers that when compiled form an address. As Ethan is completing his challenges, Scott and Jayden are trying to piece the clues together.

Though I can’t say too much about the plot, I do want to say that the story is very engaging and will keep you guessing until the big reveal. Some of the segments are incredibly harrowing and emotional. Some are even cringe worthy and there is one that might even make you pause the game to think about your choice.

The biggest difference between this game and the others is the fact that one or more of the main characters can die. There are points in the game where both Madison and Jayden can die. If they die, the game goes on without them. Also, depending on how the characters’ fates play out, you will get one of five different endings.

The game also has a robust collection of Trophies to earn, so of the most mood setting and creepiest music in a game and the coolest game install ever.

Finally, I must issue a warning. This game’s developers felt it necessary to justify every bit of it’s “M” rating. There are some mature situations, some nudity and a LOT of swearing. Almost every character swears at one point or another and a lot of them drop the “F Bomb”. In addition to that, this game has a lot of blood in it and some VERY disturbing scenes involving mutilation and murder. Bottom Line: THIS GAME IS NOT FOR KIDS!!

Heavy Rain is an amazing achievement in games. There were points in the game, especially in the later parts, where I forgot that I was playing a game and was pulling for things to work out for the best, even though I was the one that would be making it happen. It is also, emotionally, one of the most difficult games I have ever played. I highly recommend it, as long as you are prepared emotionally.

Heavy Rain impressed and affected me like no other game I have played. If it were appropriate for a broader audience, it would be perfect. Even though it is limited in audience, it is still spectacular however, so I am giving it a 4 out of 5.

For more information on the game, visit www.heavyrainps3.com

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