ENG: Heavy Rain

Skrivet av Petter Lassi

Spelrecension

Titel: Heavy Rain
Genre: Interaktivt drama
Release: 2010
Utvecklare: Quantic Dream
Recenserat på: Playstation 3
Betyg: 

Have you ever questioned the choices a main character did in a movie? Have you ever wondered how the story would end if the main characters girl did not die, or did you ever think that you could do anything better or different than the main character in the movie did? Have you been longing for a game that puts all it's effort into the story-telling rather than gameplay. Your wait is over, David Cage wrote the story, you are the narrator, you make, you change and you experience the story. This is Heavy Rain.

Minutes after the credits faded away, I still sat in front of my TV, stunned of what I just experienced. Thoughts wildly whirling around in my head and I realize that this is revolutionary. Ethan wakes up, just like any other day in his designer home. The sun is shining outside on the clear blue sky. You take a warm shower, brush your teeth and shave. Before getting dressed ,you walk out on the balcony in the warm summer sun, gazing out over your beautiful garden.

Ethan, his wife and two kids visit the mall for some shopping, Jason (one of Ethan's sons) wander away from the parents. Ethan struggles through the mass of people visiting that mall this very day. When he finally finds Jason, he is outside the mall, on the other side of the road. As he notices his dad on the other side of the road, he cross the road. Ten seconds later Jason and Ethan are both lying in front of a car. No movement, just silence.

The once clear blue sky, slowly swifts into a dark, cloudy, depressing sky. The rain starts to fall down, heavy rain that tumbles down on the streets. Six months later, Ethan opens his eyes and wakes up from his coma, his wife has left him, the once warm hot summer day memories has now permanently changed into days of rain and noir darkness. Ethan struggles to stay sane, he suffers from enochlophopia and fights to keep his mind on the few happy things left in his life. One day, his second son Shaun disappears without a trace. Leaving Ethan alone in a world of despair. A mysterious serial killer is loose in the city. The Origami killer kidnaps young boys to drown them in rainwater and Ethan fears this killer got his hands on Shaun and is determined to find him alive.

Think before you act

The story in Heavy Rain is heavily focused on the choices you as the player make and they will form the end that you get. You take the role as four characters during your time with Heavy Rain. Ethan, the architect and father of two, Jayden, an FBI agent working on the case of the Origami Killer, Madison, a journalist working to get the perfect story on the Origami Killer and Scott Shelby, an private detective working on the case. Every choice you make will change the face of the story and the epilogue. David Cage is a superb drama writer, the story is captivating, interesting, thrilling and well-written. Like a good book or a movie, it keeps you in front of the TV. I had problems to turn of the game and get some sleep. I basically played Heavy Rain in one session, there is always a turn or twist in the story that keeps you interested in the context.

The art of pressing the right buttons.

Heavy Rain is an interactive drama. It feels like a movie, it acts like a movie, apart from that you interact with it. The way you do this is by QTE (Quick Time Events), basically it means that you press the designated button / buttons that appear on the screen in time before they disappear. Heavy Rain takes the QTE to a new level. Instead of just mashing the same button to perform the action, you make the kind of movements needed to do the action. For example, while shaving your beard, you must gently move your stick in the direction that you are shaving. The movements can the compared to the movements in the sports game Skate, but the difference is that you do these in Heavy Rain to start the car, open doors, fight etcetera.

When it comes to move the character, this is the biggest problem I have with Heavy Rain. You need to hold down R2 for the character to move forward which feels kind of awkward at first, but you do get used to it  The movement reminds me of Alone in the Dark for the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 which was really bad. It's not as horrible in Heavy Rain, but it is not that far away. The response between the controller and the characters could have been better. But it's not fair to sink the ship due to this. It is a bit annoying from time to time. But it gets hidden in the shadows of the amazing story.

Epilogue

Heavy Rain is revolutionary to the gaming industry. It shows that gameplay is not everything that is needed to make a successful game. The story might not be very unique, it is the way it is presented. It's a typical drama-crime story, well-written and very captivating, but the unique thing is the way you interact with it. It feels like your story, your moment to evolve the story the way you like it and since the game can end in so may different ways I find that it has a high replay value. There is always something you could have done differently. I developed a really strong compassionate bond between the characters and myself and I know you will too. I can't highlight the story enough, but it is really that good. This is a new level of gaming. Heavy Rain is a revolution.

I need to take a walk to clear my mind, it's raining outside, but I don't mind. Rain has a new meaning to me. I simply love Heavy Rain and I'm assured that you will too.

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