Heavy Rain

This one's been a while in coming, I know. The game's already out on its Greatest Hits version, so maybe this review won't be that helpful. Or maybe it will. What if, like me, you waited and were going to pick up this game for cheap? Well, then I would say to you, "Good call." My review agrees.


Presentation: 7
In the graphics department there's not too much to complain about. The biggest problem is the woodenness of the movements you control. For example, when watching an NPC walk across the room it looks fine. The mo-cap really works. Try the same thing with your currently controlled character, and you look like a puppet with termites. Same goes for the facial expressions. Don't get me wrong; the faces themselves look pretty great. But if you watch someone talk in a scene, it looks much better than if your character speaks as you stumble about with blankly staring eyes and a lack of expression.
There are also numerous clipping issues in any scene involving a crowd. You can have people walk right through you.
The persistent damage to the characters is nice though. If someone gets beat up in a fight, it changes the character model to reflect how badly, and it stays that way. Very nice touch.
As for the sound, the biggest problem is from the early game's Ethan character. And when he yells for his kids he just sounds ridiculous. He gets better as he goes on, but at the start he sounds very hollow. Madison also gets this occasionally. Other than that, no real problems.

Story: 7
The game's greatest strength, but it's not without its own faults. I'll say very little of the actual story because it was good enough that I can recommend playing the game for it and wouldn't want to spoil anything.
The structure of the story is very malleable. It changes depending on your choices and successes with (or rather against) the controls in many scenes. You'll get one of 18 combinations of endings based on that. Most of the time it flows pretty seamlessly. It's like watching a good movie. However, there are instances where it seems that the story counted on this or that to have happened when you didn't actually do it. Someone pulling a name out of the air when they never encountered them or even heard of them, for example. And in one case, a full on retcon of an event to be something other than what the player witnessed. Not just seeing it from a different view, but actually changing it. Very immersion breaking.
Also taking away from the story--and again it's like a modern movie here--are the all too standard issue nudity (male and female) and an obligatory sex scene. These instances have no place in the story other than to be what they are; that is, ways to cater to the lowest common denominator or add "shock value". The problem, of course, is that to be there simply for the sake of shock value makes them pointless in terms of shock value. By contrast, the fact that your characters have numerous places in which they can be permanently killed adds real shock value if it happens. Having fakes alongside it really belittles the genuine article.
There are also several missed opportunities and things left unexplained. I want to say more, but won't spoil it here. Might post in the Heavy Rain thread later for those who have finished the game and want to know what I'm talking about though.

For all that, when you reach the ending stretch, and all (well most) of the pieces fall into place it all really comes together.

Characters: 8
Aside from the aforementioned hollowness, these characters are pretty good. When he's spending time with his family or trying to save them, Ethan's affection and desperation really come through (except for with that silly yelling).
Madison fills the role of dedicated journalist very well, but has the unfortunate drawback of being the sex object of the game. Still, when she's not making the day of the 14-year-old boys who managed to get this game due to lack of parental interest, she shows that she's intelligent and brave.
Scott is perhaps the best character. This retired cop turned PI is dogged in his search for the evidence that could catch the Origami Killer and put an end to the murders. Smart and tough as nails despite his age, his story segments provide some of the more entertaining parts of the game.
Jayden is very convincing with his flaws, and even manages to break out of his stereotype of 'criminal profiler'. He deals with his problems and does his best not to let them get in his way.
Even the side characters manage to have some solid personality to them.


Gameplay: 3
Ouch. You read that right. "3".
Most actions in the game are handled by virtue of a QTE. The first problem is that there are far too many pointless actions. In the tutorial/prologue it's understandable since you need to learn all the controls and what they do. But even as the game progresses you're still expected to do each and every little thing. QTE to open the cabinet. QTE to walk up the hill. QTE to do everything. It's boring and unneeded. The QTEs in the various action/fight scenes are better because there at least it feels like you're accomplishing something.
Unfortunately, actually succeeding at them is also spotty sometimes due to the inclusion of motion controls. These just do not seem to work sometimes.
During the times when you get to walk around you're fighting the camera and controls. Instead of simply letting you walk around with the stick, you're forced to use R2 to walk at all and the direction you're going changes with the camera. So you can be walking one direction, have the camera change (or change it yourself) and suddenly be going the opposite direction than you were. This can be infuriating during time sensitive events.
Moreover, your characters all subscribe to the Fatal Frame school of movement. That means no matter the circumstances, while under the control of the player they are never, ever supposed to move faster than a brisk walk. Not to save their lives or anyone else's.
An entertaining, but ultimately damaging feature is Jayden's use of the ARI, or augmented reality interface. It's a combination of glove and sunglasses that basically function like Batman's detective vision from the Arkham games. They let you see clues in a very limited area and analyze them instantly, or replace your surroundings to something more entertaining. Handy, yes, but it doesn't make any sense for this setting. Particularly when you return to a chapter he's in to find him sitting at his desk...on Mars or above a huge waterfall. It's pretty, no mistake, but pointlessly kills the suspension of disbelief which is vital for a game or even the movie this one's trying to be.

Replay value: Fair at best
Despite there being so many ways the game can play out, you can't unsolve the mystery. Once you know, you know forever so there's no way to bring the same tension and fun to the table again.

Overall: 5
This is a great game...as long as you don't have to play it. I would gladly have watched this in a theater, or even still played it as a game if the controls were better. But as it is, I can only advise buying it on the cheap.