[009] paper cuts.

Released: February 2010
Platforms: PS3
Modes: Single-player
Developer: Quantic Dream 

Heavy Rain was very surprising for me. Looking forward to the releases of Bad Company 2 and Final Fantasy XIII, I wasn't really paying attention to the other non-sequel games that were also coming out, such as Dante's Inferno, Darksiders, Bayonetta, etc. Out of nowhere, we were bombarded with adverts on the TV, magazines and internet about a game called Heavy Rain where you help solve a series of murders and decide how the story ends. Sounds intriguing, but was it actually any good ? I'm always attracted to games with no set storyline, but was I willing to spend money on a random game when there were plenty of releases coming up that I knew were going to be good ? After reading a number of very positive reviews, I decided to give it a chance.

To me, Heavy Rain wasn't just a game, but a cinematic experience. It feels very much like you're in a movie, but not in the way that there's not a lot of interactivity, but in a positive light such as the fact it has such amazingly realistic graphics and very intense, indepth storyline.

You play as four characters. Ethan is a very likeable dad of two whose life is turned upside down by the accidental death of his eldest son. Two years after this traumatic event, his remaining son is kidnapped by the 'Origami Killer'. Madison is the eye candy of the game, an undercover reporter who befriends Ethan. Norman is an FBI agent who is sent in to investigate the murders, but also suffers from some sort of drug addiction. Scott is a private detective, hired to investigate the murders too. The game is so interactive, with so many possible story twists, that any of the main characters can die along the way, and the plot will still find a way to continue.

The Playstation controller is something you're going to have to memorize if you want to get through this game without too many disasters. The faster paced fight and chase sequences require you to press specific buttons quickly when prompted to get the most effective outcome. Surprisingly, this doesn't become tiresome, but adds to the overall excitement and suspense of your situation. You can also listen in on your character's inner thoughts and opinions, which is handy especially if you're stuck on what to do next.

The storyline is something the writers of CSI would be proud of. It is very much a triller, with many twists and turns, but not confusing in any way. You may think you've sussed out who the Origami Killer is at many points during the game, but then something happens which contradicts it, causing you to re-think everything. Even if you don't figure it out yourself, it all comes out at the end, so don't panic if you're not a super sleuth.

Heavy Rain will definetly be in my Top 3 games of the year. Alhough it is quite short (my play time was approx. 8-10 hours), I will be willing to play it over and over to see which of my decisions affect whatever happens. Although Heavy Rain is a Playstation 3 exclusive, it has sold incredibly well, and I would recommend buying the console for the sole purpose of being able to play this game.