Heavy Rain

[Jason]

It's been a long time coming, and somewhat typically, it's still not 100% clear, but it appears that PS3-exclusive Heavy Rain: The Origami Killer finally has a release date.
Amazon.co.uk and Play.com are both listing the release date for the gorgeous-looking thriller as the 26th of February.

Boasting a 2,000-page (yes, 2,000 pages!) script featuring branching storylines, hugely in-depth character development and a plot to rival the likes of Deus Ex and Bioshock in its complexity, (it's possible for the main character to die and the story and game will still continue) this looks like being yet another reason for PS3 owners to feel a bit smug. Plus it has a topless scene that has -typically- already been leaked, just for those who enjoy their games with their 'other' brain.

I don't mind saying that I've already decided I'm getting this puppy on release day - I'm just waiting to see what the prices and preorder deals are like before handing my hard-earned cash over.

[CemeteryGates]

Amazing!
Heavy Rain is one of those few games that have me seriously considering getting a PS3 for.

Indigo Prophecy was insanely good, and I thought very innovative as well.
I can't wait for this... I've been reading David Cage interviews and replaying Indigo like a 13-year-old obsessed fanboy lately.

[Knighto]

If I ever get a PS3 it will only for 3 titles: Heavy Rain, Uncharted 2 and God of War 3.. *sigh*

[Jason]

I genuinely think I'd struggle to keep Uncharted 2 out of my 'top 5 games ever' list. It's that good.

I'm not expecting Heavy Rain to be that kind of quality, but I am expecting it to be pretty special... I just wish somewhere would offer a good pre-order deal on it! :p

[Jason]

Interesting factoid about this I picked up 'on the wires' today:

The developers have got permission from Sony to delay the announcement of trophies until breaks in the action - this is apparently because there are moments where there is real tension/drama/emotion, and they didn't want the little 'trophy' bing and message appearing and shattering the mood. Instead, they will be delayed until the end of the chapter, at which point you'll be told which trophies you've earned.

Every little thing I hear about this game makes me wish February was a little bit closer.

[Jason]

They've now also announced that there WILL be DLC for the game in the form of 'episodes', which are purchased individually and played through. I'm not entirely sure how they'll tie in with the overarching story, but either way, it's yet another plus point for this game.

Is it February yet?

[Jason]

Further information:

Not only have I preordered the collector's edition, but apparently one of the DLC episodes currently being worked on has you playing as a blind man. Your screen is entirely black, and you use sound to navigate your way around. Sounds like an interesting concept, not to mention a potentially frustrating one.

Looks like it's time for me to invest in some surround-sound headphones.

[Jason]

First review is in. The UK version of Official Playstation Magazine gave Heavy Rain a very respectable 9/10 and some glowing praise.
Considering their reviewers are considered to be among the meaner ones out there (despite their 'official' status, which in the past has been the ticket to some generous scoring in some magazines - Nintendo magazine, anyone?), which can only be a good thing. Praise was heaped on the innovative and constantly changing and evolving control system, as well as the gorgeous visuals. The downsides were that you occasionally have moments where you're doing nothing but sitting around looking sad, and that the stereotypical console-gaming adrenaline junkie probably won't like it much.

Expect more and more reviews to be creeping in over the next few weeks - for those of you in the UK who are interested in knowing more, the next issue of OPSM is out tomorrow (Tuesday 18th).

[MyNameDidntFit]

Interesting... sitting around looking sad sounds like quite a fun thing. I enjoyed sitting around being beaten up in that one part of SC:CT, so perhaps I should look at getting this.

(In other news, I still have a weird feeling in my stomach from those damn games...)

[Rob]

MNDF are you sure that wasn't the bad takeout you ate last night?

Does anyone know an estimate on how long this game takes to play through? Episodes are a great way to expand upon an already awesome game but if it makes the game twice as expensive in the end then the DLC had better rock.

[Jason]

The devs have estimated 8-10 hours for a single playthrough. Obviously with a game like this with so many branching paths, there's the potential for multiple playthroughs as well as DLC.

[Rob]

I'm going to get it for sure... but if it fails to impress I am going to log onto the forums and bitch about it for years to come. After getting burned by ODST it doesn't take much to set me off. I'm dangerous like heart attack.

[Jason]

More DLC-related news today as David Cage revealed in an interview with a French website that DLC released shortly after the game launches will allow players to take control of the Origami Killer himself. Additional DLCs will also feature the other four protagonists, the earliest one consisting of Madison's investigation of a taxidermist's shop leading to scenes straight out of a horror film.

Sounds interesting.

[Jason]

With the game less than a month away, and a demo for the game confirmed for the 11th of February, it appears Quantic Dream have been busy - and now they're teasing us further with video being released of the first nine minutes of the game:

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/usermovies/338509.html

[MyNameDidntFit]

I take it this demo will be on PSN? I will have to look into that...

[Jason]

I would assume so - I'd expect it to be PSN on the 11th and on magazine covers shortly after.

[Konrad]

This makes me a sad panda for not owning a PS3. It looks like Indigo but on crack. Though I still have to finish the first one.

I wonder if the graphics are as stunning as they showed in the HD demos and pictures, since you can't really tell from the low res video. Though I have to say, the walking around animations look disappointingly unnatural.

[Jason]

A lot of the early reports have commented on just how downright gorgeous the game is, so I wouldn't be surprised if it does look as good as it did in the videos.
As for the moving around animations, I'm not sure. I don't think they looked especially out of place, and I don't remember it really being a problem in Indigo Prophecy, but I may be wrong.

[Konrad]

Well, they're not bad at all. But considering the cinematic appeal of the game I was expecting something organic and revolutionary. I'm sure this won't matter when you're actually playing the game though.

[cmb12000]

Should be released in the US on the 23rd of Feb. I cant wait!!!

[Jason]

Tell me about it... my girlfriend has been suitably warned that she may not see me for the first week or so of March. The fact that her birthday is around this period is simply tough luck. She should have thought ahead. :p

[cmb12000]

Yes, talk about poor planning on her part..... But belated b-day gifts (wink, wink) are usually better any way. She will have to understand, games like this dont come out every day! My wife is already rolling her eyes at me. lol

[Jason]

In case you weren't aware, the demo for HR should have hit the playstation store today. If you're still undecided on this one, here's your chance to play a couple of chapters to see if it pushes your buttons. :)

[CemeteryGates]

Still 8 days to go for the release down here.
I'll likely get it on release day. :D

[Jason]

I think it's 9-10 until release here. Got the special edition pre-ordered and everything. :D

(Normally I don't go for special editions, but I get the first DLC episode free with the special edition and it was no more expensive than the regular one. Win.)

[Jason]

I just got my confirmation of posting email from HMV. It'll be with me in 2-5 days. If I suddenly go missing for a while, you'll know where I am.

[Rob]

I just started downloading the demo... i'm getting excited.

[Jason]

I've made a point of avoiding the demo for two reasons:
Firstly because I don't want to ruin the experience by playing two sections from the game in the demo before I play the actual game - there's nothing worse than playing a plot-driven dialogue-heavy game and having done a scene before. It 'bursts the bubble' a bit, I find.
Secondly, with such a plot-driven game, I don't feel that two scenes could accurately reflect the emotional pull of the game - you have no time to get to care about the characters.

Of course, I could well be talking out of my arse... I'll be interested to see what you think of it. :) (spoiler warning - the controls are apparently a little odd)

[MyNameDidntFit]

I thought the demo for such a plot-intensive game would have simply been the beginning scenes?

Damn my 'common sense' for always making me wrong...

[Jason]

You may well be right - I'm not sure which two scenes the demo contains.

[MyNameDidntFit]

Well, Rob can let you know :p

[Rob]

Sleazy Place and Crime Scene

After playing through the demo I will definitely be getting this game. I think it came out today in the U.S. and if so then I will probably pick it up tonight or tomorrow. The game looks very good and the controls are intuitive.

The demo was just enough to interest me without revealing to much or frustrating me. My excitement for it hinges on the demo experience and a few headlines I saw from gaming blogs that basically say OMFG FUN DRAMA ON PS3.

[TheNezzie]

Demo scenes seem to be from early in the game.. will let you know soon. I have the game in my hands right now (well not while I am typing that would be difficult).

I am excited. I hope to start this arvo.. need to start while the kids aren't home.

And yes I found the controls weird.. even simple stuff like walking and turning, but I am sure I will get the hang of it.

[Jason]

I managed to get a couple of hours on this yesterday inbetween chasing after my daughter and grappling with the vBulletin update process, and from what I've played so far, it's a simply amazing game - the controls are a little unwieldy at times, but in the moments when it counts (the parts where a character's life is on the line), they're streamlined, effective and simple enough that you don't end up getting frustrated with them - there are some real moments of genius in the game - I'll put my favourites so far in 'spoiler' tags, so as not to ruin the experience for anyone - don't worry though, I won't be giving away any plot points. ;)

The second challenge in the power plant where you have to crawl through the condensers - the way it tied your fingers in knots as you painstakingly inch through the cables is brilliant - not to mention damn tricky!

The chase through the street/supermarket with Jayden really got the heart pumping, particularly the section in the meat locker at the end... talk about tension.

[TheNezzie]

I will find any PS3 game easier when I can remember where the X O etc buttons are.. I keep getting them wrong.. Why can I remember the lyrics to 80's songs I didn't even like, but can't remember which button is X

[Jason]

Hah, yeah... the memory is a strange thing. I have to say, there have been a couple of occasions when I've tilted the pad in completely the wrong direction due to a brain lapse... which way's left again?

[Jason]

Good god, just when you think this game can't screw with your morals any harder, it goes and does it. If you've not completed the fourth origami challenge with Ethan, I suggest you don't click the spoiler below.

So, you're asked 'Would you kill to save someone you love?' - my first reaction was 'nah, I'll do without those few letters - I've done reasonably well so far, and I don't want to kill', but when you get there and the guy turns out to be a drug dealer, I was thinking 'actually, screw it - the guy deserves to die'. Then when he pulled out the photos of his daughters and begs to live so he can see them again (and you're in his daughter's room no less)... do I have the right to take his life?

So, did you kill him?

I did. I didn't want to, and I really didn't like it, but I did it - no hesitation. The second I saw that R1 button I hit it. I felt that he'd have killed me with no hesitation had it been the other way round, so I should extend the same courtesy to him.

I think that's the hardest decision I've had to make in a game. I genuinely felt awful when I did it, and I'm just interested to know what others did in that situation (assuming you got to see it).

[CemeteryGates]

Ahh, I know David Cage stated that he intended for players to give it a single playthrough and live with their choices, and after I beat it I almost agreed with him, but I've decided to give it a second go and see different paths.


In reply to Jason:
I had my mind made up to kill the guy, but when you're in the actual scene where you're knocking on his door, I froze. He closed the door on me, and I knocked again. When he's showing you the picture of his daughters, I stopped to think about it for a little while... but shot him in the end.

[Lance]

Got to have a shot at Heavy Rain tonight for about an hour or so - got up to being the FBI agent with the cool tech. Very nice game indeed - it takes a bit of getting use to from your GTA type games, plus I'm use to a 360 controller and not the PS3s but over all I liked it - can't wait to get my PS3 now so I can borrow it :D

[Jason]

Yeah, the one tiny complaint I had was that the control system was a little odd and unwieldy, but beyond that it's a fantastic game. If only I could play it again without having to go through the damn 'mall' scene at the start. Gah.

[Lance]

Yeah I did find that a little irritating too. I think I rushed through it as well (since I was on a time limit) - I'd like to be able to sit down properly with it and really go through everything with a fine tooth comb.

[Jason]

Yeah, it's a really deep game. I found I actually got just as much fun out of it watching someone else go through it and seeing how the game unfolds differently.

[JustaBitOutside]

I love this damn game, it's tough for me not to play it as a hero though. That's always my instinct. The first play through took me about eight hours, everyone important stayed alive. This one really made me want to purchase a PS3.

[Lance]

You know funnily, I ALWAYS play as a bad guy first in every game, but there's something about HR that I just can't help making the good choices. I don't get much chance to play it, but I'm up to the party with the PI so far - god that's a fun part.

[Jason]

Yeah, that's a good scene. I think my favourite scene was the chase through the streets/supermarket with Jayden (FBI agent). Unfortunately I've loaned my PS3 to the girlfriend (well... she's taken it anyway :p), which means I won't be playing through it again any time soon.

[Archangel]

I just watched the latter third of this get played by one of my mates.

Fucking. Awesome. Game.

Probably more fun to watch than to play, though, 'cause then you don't have the difficulty of ballsing up the quicktime events in one scene. Still, the atmosphere and plot of that game was amazing.

I'm just sad I won't have a chance to play through the whole thing myself unless I get rich, buy a PS3, and get broke, or if the game comes to PC (fingers crossed, anyone?).

[Jason]

It's a different kind of fun to watch than play. Both ways are immense, but the Quick-time events aren't massively hard, but they do get you completely and absolutely sucked into the scene, and there were a couple of times where the game really got my heartrate going.

[JustaBitOutside]

I think my favorite sequence is speeding down the highway against traffic for five miles.

[Jason]

I was still getting used to the 'jerking the pad' motion at that point, and ended up failing it pretty quickly. It was the only challenge I failed, though.

[Lance]

... well, lasted update - I only get to play this occasionally. But I'm up to the point (not giving too much away) where a few tests have been passed at great expenses - I didn't think a few characters would get through those bits alive. I won't tell if they did or didn't. But I have to say it's one of the few games that's gotten my heart racing. I really believe that my actions are do or die and I'm happy about it. I like a game that can invoke such a strong reaction - knowing they're not real, yet still caring about them on a personal level. I find myself dying for the next opportunity to play it (I have to wait until my Brother-In-Law is busy while I'm at his place, which is rare)

Sure, it's not a game type I'm used to and I had my doubts from hearing a lot of bad things about it - and I like action, I like strategy and not "slow and nothing to do". But it's broken genre stereo-types as a whole. I honestly can't wait for the next type of its kind. I'll gobble it up without a second thought.

[Lance]

Ok, finished the game :D

Spoiler ahead if you want to know what happened/who survived and who didn't. For those that don't want to know the specifics, 3 survived, 1 died.

Don't read if you don't want to know what happens!


Ethan survived, didn't get arrested for being the OK and saved Shaun
Madison died jumping out of the window of Scott's apartment (yeah, I know, stupid choice)
Norman survived, went to the right place and killed Scott by knocking him in to the big machine thingy at the Industrial Site where Shaun was being held.


I'm happy with it - fantastic game. I'll play it again once I get my hands on a PS3 and see what other stuff I can do, but it left me with chills and screaming "Nooooo!" at the screen, so I know it was a good game.

[Jason]

Ah, that's interesting. I managed to keep everyone alive right through the end. I nearly jumped out of the window with Madison too, but in the end got out of there. I can't have had much time to spare though. My brother got Norman killed in the fight with Mad Dog, so I'm looking forward to seeing how it ends without him, as he plays a pretty huge role in the ending.
When I get my PS3 back from the good lady, I'm looking forward to seeing what happens if you get Shelby killed early on.