Gameplay impressions
Gameplay ImpressionsHeavy Rain isn’t a "game" in the true sense of the word. Instead, it prides itself not on non-stop action sequences, but intense character-building and slow story-telling, while attempting to build a connection between game and gamer through heavy interaction and scripted QTEs.
At times the interaction is ridiculously over-the-top. Having to change a baby's nappy by rotating your analog stick in different directions isn’t exactly what we’d call a fun gaming experience. It’s also very self- indulgent at times choosing to try and impress its viewers by the likes of nudity. Removing Madison Paige's bra and pants before turning on the shower to watch water trickle down her breasts isn’t as titillating as it sounds. Indeed, a large chunk of Heavy Rain’s interaction does nothing to further the story.
Nevertheless, as you progress through the game you become to understand that -- aside from a few over-the-top examples that are totally unnecessary -- the majority of these interactions aren’t meant to fun, challenging and serious "gaming" experiences, but they’re there to try and immerse you totally in the world and help you build empathy with your character. Getting a plate out of cupboard, placing it on the table, getting a piece of pizza out of the fridge, microwaving it and then placing it on the table it, sounds like a mundane task, but it’s actually just part of the build up to absorb you in the character's life with his son and the world around him.
And what a spectacular world it is! The graphics, animations and character models are absolutely stunning. Whether you're playing frisbee in the park with your son, or strolling through a busy shopping centre, it feels like you're walking through a cut-scene. The emotion on the faces of the character models leaps out of the screen, and even the rain that buckets down persistently plays its part in creating the sombre, dream-like atmosphere that runs through the veins of Heavy Rain.
Click for larger imageThe overall production is top quality and Quantic Dream has done a great job at creating a movie-like experience, but there are a few inconsistencies. The clunky, robotic movements of your character are a far cry from the smooth, intuitive movements of your interactions, whereas the voice-acting could have been a lot better. But it’s hard to be too critical toward Heavy Rain when you see the effort that developer Quantic Dream has put in to deliver an emotional narrative and cinematic production that really does connect with the gamer.
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