Heavy Rain Review (PS3)
March 18th, 2010 by Hussain
So I got the chance to play Heavy Rain in the past few weeks and here is what I think of the game:
Heavy Rain might be 8 hours long give or take, but I can assure you that the end result will be nothing less than satisfactory. The game starts slow but after the first few chapters it picks up pace and begins to engage you in the story. The game has a very dark atmosphere which makes it feel like a very bad dream and that’s exactly what the game aims to do. The gameplay is based on quick-time events that force you to make difficult choices leading to different outcomes. Even the small choices you make can affect the entire story and lead to a completely different ending.
The story revolves around four characters connected to each through the origami killer. I can safely say that the story Heavy Rain offers is one of the best in the video game industry and it made me feel like I was watching a proper Hollywood flick. I also liked the script and the dialogue used by the characters of the game. It may not be the best, especially if you compare it to Uncharted 2, but it’s still considered very good. The character development was remarkable and I really felt attached to the main characters. The only point I have against the story is the plot holes in-between. But I’m not sure if I can really blame it for that especially when you have a game that relies completely on your choices and can take many different paths. After all, this is a video game, not a movie.
Before its release, a lot of people were questioning Heavy Rain‘s gameplay style which is based on quick-time events. I found the controls working quite well to the point that I forgot I was controlling a character, it felt very natural to me and the choices were in my hands. Another point that played in Heavy Rain‘s advantage is the impressive graphics. You might find some flaws throughout the game like the details of the background graphic. But overall the work they did on the character models and surrounding environments was excellent. It played a big role in getting you in the atmosphere of the game. I also thought the game’s soundtrack is terrific and suits well with the game’s dark theme. The voice acting was okay but I felt that it could have been much better especially with a game that relies on the story and the dialogues.
In general, Heavy Rain is a well-made game and a must for gamers / movie lovers. The game tells a lot about the future of gaming and looking at how well Heavy Rain is doing in sales, I have a feeling this won’t be the last game in this genre.
4 out of 5
