It’s not often that we get a game like Heavy Rain, and when we do it’s imperative that we open our minds and clear them out to take in the type of experience that it offers. The comeback title from Quantic Dreams after their critically acclaimed Indigo Prophecy (Fahrenheit overseas) is out, and after finishing the campaign we only have one question: how far are we willing to go to consider this game a must buy? Read on for our long-winded answer.

Right from the start, you can pretty much tag this game as unusual but that shouldn’t necessarily turn you away. You play father, husband, and architect Ethan Mars as his unbelievably moving saga begins with what would seem like an ordinary day in the life of any family man. I find myself struggling to keep spoilers to a bare minimum as this is one game you’ll need to experience every waking second of for yourself. Even though Ethan is recognized as the center of this mysteriously dark universe, you’re also given control over four other characters, all with very different careers and operating on different wavelengths in the beginning, but come together to realize an elaborate plot conclusion in the aftermath.

One thing I’ll put on the highest pedestal about this story is how believable it is. You find yourself struggling with tough decisions from the very start and right down to the game’s final moments, inching closer to the one explanation that’ll put everything into perspective for you as you track down the fabled Origami killer before he’s allowed to strike again. It’s because of this humane narrative that the player can easily be captivated and emotionally pulled into the characters and the world which surrounds them. With the exception of a few small pegs, Heavy Rain’s story is devoid of anything that would make you second guess its authenticity as a plausible plot.

A huge part of Heavy Rain (and what has been a huge part of Quantic Dream’s development paradigm) is the amount of weight put on each and every decision you make in the game. Every choice you make, from deciding if you want to use the bathroom or not to if you should take the life of another man, is pivotal to how the game plays out in the end. It’s because of this structure that makes the game an on-going mystery in and of itself: you’re almost literally writing your own script as you go along, and it will dictate and shape how you see the story play out to the last second. It’s because of this that the game’s 10-hour completion time (on hard difficulty) is easily forgiven as you’ll be compelled to play this several times over.

There are some elements borrowed from Indigo Prophecy in several areas of the game, of course. The control scheme largely enough remains the same, with the player using the controller’s various face buttons and two analog sticks to interact with certain world objects, complete quick time events, and more. One new addition, though, is the utilization of the six-axis technology found in all PlayStation 3 controllers. A jumping action might require you to jerk the controller upward, while you might turn the six-axis left and right to maneuver between cars in a fast-paced chase scene. Quantic Dreams spared no expense to any of the PS3’s unique features throughout this game. I would’ve loved to see the return of the mental/emotional health system we saw in Indigo Prophecy, but perhaps there wasn’t a place for it here as I certainly didn’t miss it all that much. We do get the ability to trigger the thoughts of the characters, though, which helps guide the player along (and, in some cases, serves its purpose to more closely connect the player with their virtual counterparts).

Some fairly unique features have made their way into the game, too. The ARI system used by one of the characters allows you to scan an area for evidence and clues in your investigative work. I would’ve appreciated more depth in the forensics analysis department, and I couldn’t help but think I was playing a next-gen version of the Matrix in this mode. Another gripe I have with the game is how cumbersome it is to navigate the areas with your characters. You use a combination of the R2 button and your left analog stick to move about, so you’re stuck on a fixed (yet dynamically moving) camera angle which can be switched using the L1 button. While this old-school Resident Evil style of control is great for showing off the beautiful environments in Heavy Rain (which is what I assume Quantic Dreams employed it for), it’s a lot more frustrating to get from point A to point B than it is easier to appreciate the highly detailed world in which Heavy Rain exists.

When we caught our first look at Heavy Rain back in 2006 in the form of a casting call tech demo, the visuals looked just as impressive then as they do now (if not better, even). I believe with the utmost sincerity that Heavy Rain is the greatest looking game I’ve ever seen to date. Objects are highly detailed with great looking textures, precipitation noticeably hits various surfaces drop by drop, and even without the highest possible HD resolution Heavy Rain remains one of the crispest looking video games in existence. One thing I have to give a huge nod to is the amount of detail that went into each character model. Each character’s face really brings the concept of “the uncanny valley” to a beautiful realization which is especially apparent during emotional scenes where we see feelings communicated through realistic facial expressions. You really appreciate this level of polish during the loading screens when your eyes are treated to a close-up of the character you’re set to play as in the next scene.

There isn’t enough that can be said about how the game looks, but the praise extends beyond just how the game captures you visually. The ability of Quantic Dreams to keep this high level of detail up in heavily populated areas really does impress. Whether you’re wading through a crowded mall or navigating a busy police precinct, you’ll often feel like you aren’t alone in this living, breathing world. The color palette used varies heavily throughout, too, with vibrant colors popping out at you in some of the less-dark scenes. Overall, the game looks amazing and Heavy Rain will remain a technical marvel and a blueprint for just how much the PlayStation 3 can be pushed (and according to Quantic Dreams, they’ve yet to max its or their potential).

It features a very diverse cast that meshes well and offers a different enough personality in each character for anyone to relate to. Their stories are told through their own voices and actions, though the actors who play these characters seem to hurt the dialog just as much as it helps. Some characters are obviously only emulating true American accents, with at least one voice actor confirmed to be a French native masking his dialect. This isn’t too much of a problem, but the tone of their voices can sometimes prove too monotonous to tune out as a letdown. Still, their lines are very well written, and for the most part you’ll be just as pulled in by the audio as you would be by any other corner that makes up Heavy Rain (including a very moody soundtrack).

It would be an understatement to say that I was highly impressed by this release, but nothing I can say will do any justice to describing just how great this game is. Quantic Dreams continues to innovate and push every tool at their disposal to the limit, and Heavy Rain was no exception in realizing their capabilities in the current generation of gaming. With amazing visuals, a truly compelling story, and an engaging world to take part in, it’d be hard for me not to recommend this game to anyone who appreciates a true work of art in video game form.

AnalogHype Rating: 9.5/10

Buy Rent Demo Rating: Buy