Heavy Rain is an experience not often found in the gaming world. A gripping narrative unfolds that instills a sense of emotional attachment to the characters, plot, and decisions being made. The feeling of uncertainty and curiosity that accompanies the player throughout the entire journey is something that places Heavy Rain above the average video game.
The plot revolves around a serial killer abducting young boys and slowly drowning them over a period of several days. The story is told through the eyes of four separate and highly distinguishable characters. Ethan Mars (a father), Norman Jayden (the FBI agent), Madison Paige (the journalist), and Scott Shelby (private investigator) are all trying to determine who the Origami Killer is and also save Ethan's young son Shaun. Just like all good thriller and mystery movies, there is plenty of doubt put into one's head while playing through the game. It is quite common to be convinced that somebody is the killer only to have the game flip your reality upside down. The game does not shy away from mature content which is a welcomed decision; the last thing I would want is to alter this excellent journey to sell more copies. A gripping story is not all that Heavy Rain has going for it, the gameplay is one of the most distinguishing characteristics of the game.
All four characters are controlled by the player, often independent of one another. This often creates a path that the player will follow throughout the game. Experiences had with one character often influence the actions of another (from the player's viewpoint). The actual control is quite limited in the game, having more in common with point and click adventures than the typical action games of present. The player controls where the characters walk and what/who they interact with. Both environmental and personal interactions are integral to the outcome of the narrative. These choices are often mapped to different patterns on the right thumbstick (pushing right or left for example). Any kind of action sequences involve quick reflexes and various button prompts in addition to the right stick. Sixaxis control is also used in both interactions and action situations. The problem with this design choice is it doesn't always work as intended.
I found the Sixaxis controls to simply not work in many easygoing situations leading me to feel as if I wasn't in control (not sure if that's the fault of my brand new controller, or poor implementation). Not only that, but some of the right stick prompts seemed to not be recognized when I was almost certainly doing them correctly. This, layered on top of the poor walking controls around doorways and objects, are the only blemishes on this otherwise superb game.
The game is tremendous in almost all facets. It looks fantastic (even a year later), it brings the player into the interactive drama and never fails to excite, and it pushes the boundaries of what we imagine games to be. Progressive games like this should be enjoyed by all, as long as the content doesn't make you feel uncomfortable. Do yourself a favor and a get drenched by the Heavy Rain.