Heavy Rain

[Venture]

So this arrived from Amazon yesterday, and I fired it up.  Ooops, after downloading and installing the 220+meg patch first though.  Oh, and then an auto-install to the PS3.  Thankfully, they included a little origami paper in the box, with step-by-step instructions on how to fold it during the actual game install process.  Let's just say, I'm not very good at folding.  At all.  Nicolle actually followed the instructions on screen (I *thought* I was doing that, but hey...), and she got it folded correctly.

We didn't play much (was getting late), but from what we did see, we both liked it.  Looks to be a 'choose your own adventure' type of game, although I'm sure that doesn't do it justice.  The controls are pretty easy - moving the right stick around and pressing buttons in time with the on-screen prompts.  The only thing that was a bit silly for me was the shaking of the controller up and down and from left to right.  Other than that, the on-screen prompts fit it well (think Zombieland), and was not distracting.

All in all, looks to be a good game for us both watching the story unfold.

[Jaded]

I finished this today.

Short version: Not a very good game, but a really great experience. Thumbs up from me.
More here => http://dragonchasers.com/2010/02/28/heavy-rain-spoiler-free/

[Rock]

That's an interesting observations about the game having slow moments like a book or movie have, but which is usually missing from games.  I'm experiencing that right now as I play through a rented copy of Aliens vs Predator.  The game is so stressful it almost gave me a heart attack a couple of times.  I really, literally jumped out of my chair once, and I've never done that before. 

Meanwhile, the pacing of Heavy Rain is keeping me away, but mostly because of how I play games.  If I want to just relax and lay back, I read or watch TV.  If I'm in the mood for something a little more involved which requires more concentration, I play a game.  On that, Heavy Rain does deliver even in its slower moments so far.  Opening doors, brushing teeth, and a whole host of other activities require seemingly pointless button presses, but I kind of like it because it ensures that my whole attention is within the game.  What I really love are the really intense moments.  Like the sequence where you first switch to a female character.  It starts off really slow, and builds up, but even during the action sequences in the game, it seems like the game is purposely built for you to fail to press buttons in time sometimes, but that doesn't translate to a total failure.  It's a very intense and different way of involving the player in the action in a scene.  It's basically an interactive cutscene, and even if certain scenes are meant to be failures, it makes the player feel like they could have made a difference, could have prevented something from happening, and that makes it all that much more intense.

I'm a big fan of David Cage.  His games never quite pan out, but I love that he attempts big, wild ideas like this one, even when they don't always end up being top notch.  I enjoyed my time with Omikron: The Lost Soul, even though I didn't finish it, and I enjoyed my time with Indigo Prophecy even though I didn't finish it.  I might or might not finish Heavy Rain, but I'm enjoying myself, once again. 

[Rock]

I finished the game last night.  I couldn't stop playing for a few straight hours until I was done.  Lots of really interesting and great moments in this game.  I would definitely be up for experiencing more "interactive dramas" in the future using this methodology.  I think what I loved the most about the game is that there was no permanent fail state where you reached a game over screen and had to reload.  You dealt with situations as they came, made some decisions, or fought your way through some sequences, and then dealt with the consequences.  That really ratcheted up the tension at times.  I would definitely recommend this to PS3 owners, at least as a rental. 

[splusmer]

Hmm, "Heavy Rain"... I'd call that "hail". ;P

[Splusmer scampers off]