Eurogamer Expo 09 Hands On Preview: Heavy Rain

Released March 26 exclusively for PS3

Sony has some of the biggest gaming gems clutched close to its chest when it comes to exclusive games.  The Gran Turismo series has brought many racing dreams into the living room and the Ratchet and Clank collection have given the likes of Mario and Sonic some run for their money.  And who can complain about the epic God of War trilogy?Next year though could be the release of the biggest of the collection when Heavy Rain drops onto the Playstation 3 scene.  It is not usual for a preview to start with the graphics in place of the gameplay but this has to given the exception.  The game looks so realistic that it is a bit of surprise that this isn’t a movie rather than a game.  Just looking at the character’s face close up during the loading screens reveals so much about the features, from the scar on the cheek down to every single eyelash.  This increases after this loading sequence, with every setting finely combed over to make it look as realistic as possible.  You will actually believe you are in a store when this level is played.

But a game isn’t given perfect marks purely because of the graphics and gladly the gameplay matches the stunning detail of the look of Heavy Rain.  It should be noted that this game does require patience as the cut scenes can drag on a little bit with a lot of talking going on but don’t dismiss this as a fault and definitly do not feel that you can look away from the screen when these sequences take place.

This is because the QTE’s come thick and fast and missing one can change the outcome of the scenario.  These appear all over the screen and your reaction comes more out of human instinct than actually focusing on which is the best to press.  For instance, when a robber comes into the store you are shopping at and sticks you up at gunpoint, responses to the robber flies across all directions.  These go from asking for the name of your gun friendly foe to playing his bluff.  You have no time to look at all the reactions and instead have to pick the first one you see which suits you best.

Controlling the player feels real too.  You walk in a slow steady tone, like how you do if you were working around a garage or a shop in reality and leaning down to look at something on the floor requires the down button on the right thumbstick.  You can hear true emotion in the voices of each character too, from the sorrow in the shopkeeper’s face when talking about the death of his daughter to the anger of the man you have just pinpointed.  These can also be seen in the faces too.  It is like what an interactive movie would feel like.

Heavy Rain just might be one storm that will wash away everything else that stands in its path and well worth the drenching to witness it.