However boring this may sound it’s these gameplay elements that take Heavy Rain into that new level of virtual entertainment, and make it a must-play for adult gamers everywhere. The game feels very similar to a cross between your favorite cop movie and an amazing episode of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, with a little soap opera thrown in for good measure. I spent time shaving (literally moving the Sixaxis back and forth as it vibrated), pushing my virtual child on the swing set, looking for clues as an FBI agent, taking a shower as a beautiful (yes shes fully naked) woman, and fighting off tons of bad guys before my time with Heavy Rain sadly came to an end. There is some free movement but most of the gameplay takes place via on-screen cues and some of the most engrossing QTEs (quick time events) ever to make it into a video game. Some of the characters (five total) are better acted and more engrossing than others but as a whole the game’s story really soars in the awesome department (the Origami killer is an amazing storyline). Choices (both actions and dialogue) that the gamer makes directly impact the storyline and what end up happening next in Heavy Rain. If you mess-up and your character dies (you don’t play as one throughout, kind of like chapters) it’s game over for that specific character, there are no reloads or checkpoints. This sense of meaningful failure added a whole new aspect of gaming that I haven’t seen on anything else in my gaming career. Graphically the game is a joy to look at, especially in high-definition, this is one of those titles that you will want your friends to see - it looks that good/realistic.
As the title would suggest the developers created some of the most realistic looking rain ever seen in a video game and the overall realistic feel that HR has helps the increase the in-game drama. For the past couple days since I started my first play-through of Heavy Rain I have not been able to put the Playstation 3 exclusive down, it reminded me so much of a well-written novel, in so many different ways. Thankfully Xbox 360 owners have Alan Wake to look forward to in a few months but until then if you have an opportunity or know of somewhere to borrow a PS3 Heavy Rain is a game you must play. I cannot recommend the title more, especially for those gamers who are into legal dramas and crime-scene television shows. Thankfully for me it’s also a game that can be played multiple times and multiple different ways, as I have a feeling my next time through Heavy Rain will be totally different, yet just as enjoyable, as the first. I can only hope Alan Wake has what it takes to do what Quantic Dream did for me with Heavy Rain, only then will all gamers be able to experience something so memorable in gaming form. Simply put Heavy Rain is the single best Playstation 3 game that I have played to date and had this been an official review it would be tying Mass Effect 2 for the highest PlanetXbox360.com score - a perfect 10 out of 10.
