Heavy Rain is perhaps one of the most exciting games I have played. It is a atypical roller-coaster of a game that provides some of the best action and intensive moments that one can rejoice. Its atypical because I have never seen more character control in a PS3 game that influences the entire plot than this one. There are action-packed adrenaline boosting sequences like the Mad Doctor one, the Save Shaun sequence, the reverse-driven car sequence etc that simply accentuate the progress in gaming world that has been made possible due to advancement in technology.
As a fan of Sims game, I have always been in favor of a game that gives players liberty to control the thoughts and actions of a character. In the previous GTA games, one could not do much to the storyline because the player had no choice. However, in GTA4, the progressive nature made it possible to influence the plot-line. Still, it did not give the amount of liberty that this game has provided.
In terms of presentation, the game-play is polished and pristine. The graphics are superlative for such a game. I could forgive the somewhat expressionless crowd and uncontrollable characters as the focus in this game is on the main ones. However, if a Rockstar had made this game, it would've unconditionally ensured that every single character was given certain life and importance. Yet, the presentation is chic and slick.
The beginning of the game gives an insight into the lives of the principle character, Ethan. His two sons, Shaun and Jason and his wife live a happy and peaceful life in their huge bungalow. The very first scene introduces the gamer to an exquisite method of game-play, in which each and every button has different uses. However, I advice beginners and novice game-players to browse the manual as I too was having a bit of confusion regarding the buttons at first, especially when I had to help Ethan's wife to carry the grocery bags and got confused regarding the buttons.
The game-play never concedes to repetition and continually shifts from one scenario to another. I took time in saving Norman and he died. The game didn't wait for me to save him. But the game does give us time during sticky situations and it is up to us to decide the fate of the characters. A brusque intro is given for each character and in a few moments, the player is immersed into a fascinating world that is profoundly satisfying and emotionally draining. Your throat gets all heavy at times and this is the first time this has happened to me.
There are a few plot-holes however in the game. The ending at times seems a bit implausible especially since one is given so much control into the killer's mind. In a "Murder of Roger Ackroyd"esquire manner, the killer turns out to be one of the main characters who is a part narrator too. Since the player is given extreme control of him throughout the game including an insight into his thoughts, I found certain discrepancies in his thoughts and actions. It also happens with other players as at times, I make them think something else and respond in the opposite manner and it happens. Like when Norman has the choice to kill or subjugate on the suspects, he thinks for the former choice but implements the latter.
The control system is a bit wonky too. I especially was a bit annoyed when I did press the button or push the analog stick in the directed manner and yet didn't manage to get it right. Its because at times, one tends to continue his previous action for a longer time and when he does react to the next action, his previous action his taken into consideration. For example, I was told to press X button and in a trifle moment later, I was told to press triangle button but the game considered my X at that time and I got it wrong when I pressed triangle button. However, this can be forgiven due to the vast nature of the game. You can play it deftly or unskillfully, both yield different results. I was a bit apprehensive about the maneuvering though, because the prospect of pressing L2 and then controlling seemed a bit redundant.
The graphics are brilliant and the facial details and intricacies are commendable. The nudity doesn't seem too vulgar like the GTA games. The breasts of Madison are neatly detailed and don't make her look like a "night-slave" at all. It all seems so cinematic it would've qualified for a movie. There are some hiccups though, especially in the camera angles as it kept me moving in circles when I had to keep shifting the angles. Also, my save file got effaced completely once and this hasn't happened in the other games at all.
The game-play is fantastic, as I have mentioned on numerous occasions. The game-play may dull down at times, especially during the beginning and in the middle but this happens if one plays the game multiple times. That brings me to another fault of this game. The re-playability value is less, one the player has done the game. I kept experimenting with the endings by altering the final stages rather than playing the entire game again. I still am not very keen to play this game from square one.
The sound is brilliant at times and terse at others. "JASON!!!" is memorable but the slip-up in accents and delivery may be a bit of a putt-off. The background sound nails it perfectly though. The action could never be so exciting and chilling if it weren't for the sound.
Presentation: 9/10 Graphics: 8/10 Sound: 8/10 Game-play: 7.5/10 Re-playability: 6/10 Overall: 7/10
As a fan of Sims game, I have always been in favor of a game that gives players liberty to control the thoughts and actions of a character. In the previous GTA games, one could not do much to the storyline because the player had no choice. However, in GTA4, the progressive nature made it possible to influence the plot-line. Still, it did not give the amount of liberty that this game has provided.
In terms of presentation, the game-play is polished and pristine. The graphics are superlative for such a game. I could forgive the somewhat expressionless crowd and uncontrollable characters as the focus in this game is on the main ones. However, if a Rockstar had made this game, it would've unconditionally ensured that every single character was given certain life and importance. Yet, the presentation is chic and slick.
The beginning of the game gives an insight into the lives of the principle character, Ethan. His two sons, Shaun and Jason and his wife live a happy and peaceful life in their huge bungalow. The very first scene introduces the gamer to an exquisite method of game-play, in which each and every button has different uses. However, I advice beginners and novice game-players to browse the manual as I too was having a bit of confusion regarding the buttons at first, especially when I had to help Ethan's wife to carry the grocery bags and got confused regarding the buttons.
The game-play never concedes to repetition and continually shifts from one scenario to another. I took time in saving Norman and he died. The game didn't wait for me to save him. But the game does give us time during sticky situations and it is up to us to decide the fate of the characters. A brusque intro is given for each character and in a few moments, the player is immersed into a fascinating world that is profoundly satisfying and emotionally draining. Your throat gets all heavy at times and this is the first time this has happened to me.
There are a few plot-holes however in the game. The ending at times seems a bit implausible especially since one is given so much control into the killer's mind. In a "Murder of Roger Ackroyd"esquire manner, the killer turns out to be one of the main characters who is a part narrator too. Since the player is given extreme control of him throughout the game including an insight into his thoughts, I found certain discrepancies in his thoughts and actions. It also happens with other players as at times, I make them think something else and respond in the opposite manner and it happens. Like when Norman has the choice to kill or subjugate on the suspects, he thinks for the former choice but implements the latter.
The control system is a bit wonky too. I especially was a bit annoyed when I did press the button or push the analog stick in the directed manner and yet didn't manage to get it right. Its because at times, one tends to continue his previous action for a longer time and when he does react to the next action, his previous action his taken into consideration. For example, I was told to press X button and in a trifle moment later, I was told to press triangle button but the game considered my X at that time and I got it wrong when I pressed triangle button. However, this can be forgiven due to the vast nature of the game. You can play it deftly or unskillfully, both yield different results. I was a bit apprehensive about the maneuvering though, because the prospect of pressing L2 and then controlling seemed a bit redundant.
The graphics are brilliant and the facial details and intricacies are commendable. The nudity doesn't seem too vulgar like the GTA games. The breasts of Madison are neatly detailed and don't make her look like a "night-slave" at all. It all seems so cinematic it would've qualified for a movie. There are some hiccups though, especially in the camera angles as it kept me moving in circles when I had to keep shifting the angles. Also, my save file got effaced completely once and this hasn't happened in the other games at all.
The game-play is fantastic, as I have mentioned on numerous occasions. The game-play may dull down at times, especially during the beginning and in the middle but this happens if one plays the game multiple times. That brings me to another fault of this game. The re-playability value is less, one the player has done the game. I kept experimenting with the endings by altering the final stages rather than playing the entire game again. I still am not very keen to play this game from square one.
The sound is brilliant at times and terse at others. "JASON!!!" is memorable but the slip-up in accents and delivery may be a bit of a putt-off. The background sound nails it perfectly though. The action could never be so exciting and chilling if it weren't for the sound.
Presentation: 9/10 Graphics: 8/10 Sound: 8/10 Game-play: 7.5/10 Re-playability: 6/10 Overall: 7/10