Heavy Rain

[Evil Avnovice]

Gamekyo has a public presentation video (http://www.gamekyo.com/videoen13496_heavy-rain-public-presentation-video.html) for Heavy Rain from the Micromania Games Show 2008 in Paris. These were some of the details culled from the playable demo there:

- In this demo, the player takes the role of a young journalist who is investigating on several girls' disappearances, she goes to a house of a former taxi driver who is suspected of killing these women. In this presentation, the Producer of the game shows 2 different ways to finish this demo, there are lots of different ways to get through the story.

- Multiple view camera system, not always behind the girl.

- The demo is fully playable, no cut-scenes, the player can control the girl at any time.

- The Sixaxis motion sensor is used in the game to make different moves (open a window, raise or hit on an object, etc.).

- It is possible to hear what is happening in the mind of the character, so the player knows the different choices that are available.

- No loadings in the game!

- Backgrounds are fully interactive (all objects can be used, all doors can be opened, etc.).

- Very interesting Split Screen System to keep an eye on the murderer, control the character at the same time.

- The player has to maintain several buttons to stay hidden, uncomfortable situation for the player to reproduce the same stress in the game.

- Quick time events for some action scenes.

There's also a new batch of images, along with a mirrored (http://www.gamekyo.com/videoen13497_heavy-rain-public-presentation-video-mirror.html) version of the presentation.

http://www.gamekyo.com/Webmasters/Images/51661420081101_182541_0_big.jpg (http://www.gamekyo.com/images0_5_13497.html)

http://www.gamekyo.com/Webmasters/Images/51661420081101_182543_10_big.jpg (http://www.gamekyo.com/images10_5_13497.html)

http://www.gamekyo.com/Webmasters/Images/51661420081101_182546_23_big.jpg (http://www.gamekyo.com/images23_5_13497.html)

http://www.gamekyo.com/Webmasters/Images/51661420081101_182547_34_big.jpg (http://www.gamekyo.com/images34_5_13497.html)

http://www.gamekyo.com/Webmasters/Images/51661420081101_182548_39_big.jpg (http://www.gamekyo.com/images39_5_13497.html)

http://www.gamekyo.com/Webmasters/Images/51661420081101_182549_41_big.jpg (http://www.gamekyo.com/images41_5_13497.html)

[Dread7x]

Even in crappy screens the game looks awesome. After playing through Fahrenheit (the beginning), this will make me get a ps3.

[carnage11]

Even in crappy screens the game looks awesome. After playing through Fahrenheit (the beginning), this will make me get a ps3.

Why....remember what Sony said? Nothing is 100% exclusive. It will come to the 360 or PC eventually.:p

Regardless, I want this game badly. I loved Indigo Prophecy. This looks to top it in every way. Can't wait.

[frederec]

Even in crappy screens the game looks awesome. After playing through Fahrenheit (the beginning), this will make me get a ps3.

In my opinion the best part of Fahrenheit is the beginning, but the game was cool enough to make me look forward to Heavy Rain ever since it was announced.

And I guess I haven't really been paying attention, but I missed when this was a PS3 exclusive. I guess I didn't expect that since Fahrenheit was multiplatform when it came out (which is why I call it that instead of Indigo Prophecy, I picked up the uncensored import PC version).

[Froghourt]

Hopefully the story wont go bat-shit insane towards the end like Fahrenheit did.

This does look rather exciting, hopefully it will follow through.

[jeffbax]

In my opinion the best part of Fahrenheit is the beginning, but the game was cool enough to make me look forward to Heavy Rain ever since it was announced.

And I guess I haven't really been paying attention, but I missed when this was a PS3 exclusive. I guess I didn't expect that since Fahrenheit was multiplatform when it came out (which is why I call it that instead of Indigo Prophecy, I picked up the uncensored import PC version).
Sony is Publishing this AFAIK, so it is as likely to hit the 360 as Gears is to hit the PS3.

[Morangie]

The player has to maintain several buttons to stay hidden, uncomfortable situation for the player to reproduce the same stress in the game.

Thats one excuse for shit controls.

[Evil Avnovice]

Some artwork. (Gamekyo (http://www.gamekyo.com/newsen29653_heavy-rain-unveil-new-artworks.html))

http://www.gamekyo.com/Webmasters/Images/51661420090115_151853_2_big.jpg (http://www.gamekyo.com/images2_4_29653.html)

http://www.gamekyo.com/Webmasters/Images/51661420090115_151853_6_big.jpg (http://www.gamekyo.com/images6_4_29653.html)

http://www.gamekyo.com/Webmasters/Images/51661420090115_153443_0_big.jpg (http://www.gamekyo.com/images8_4_29653.html)

[KingGorilla]

I don't want pictures, I want a release date.

[Tron]

Thats one excuse for shit controls.

Or it's a novel idea.

[Karak]

So strange. I don't get the love for this game. It has the same "eye dead" look many games like this have, the graphics in the videos and not the target renders look good but are almost impossible to get excited over. And I LOVED LOVED Indego Prophecy but this sort of stinks like fake hype to me.

[KingGorilla]

For me Cage got me into the door. But it was what was shown at Leipsig(I think) that got me hooked. The focus on facial animation and conversations is what most intrigued me(maybe they can do what Bethesda and Bioware have promised for years). Plus, the 75 percent of Indigo Prophecy that did not fall apart was brilliant writing. Given a shot to finish a game bodes well for Quantic.

[carnage11]

For me Cage got me into the door. But it was what was shown at Leipsig(I think) that got me hooked. The focus on facial animation and conversations is what most intrigued me(maybe they can do what Bethesda and Bioware have promised for years). Plus, the 75 percent of Indigo Prophecy that did not fall apart was brilliant writing. Given a shot to finish a game bodes well for Quantic.

I think Bioware did about as good as anyone's every done with Mass Effect. It might not have been exactly what they were promising, but they got it pretty close. The facial animations were pretty darn good in ME.

[Stoke]

http://www.gamekyo.com/Webmasters/Images/51661420090115_151853_6_big.jpg (http://www.gamekyo.com/images6_4_29653.html)

I see a nipple. I have been corrupted.

Isn't that an automatic AO?

[fitbabits]

I see a nipple. I have been corrupted.

Isn't that an automatic AO?
Nope. God of War and Conan both had gratuitous nipple display.

[Stoke]

Nope. God of War and Conan both had gratuitous nipple display.

Ah, ok. I should have remembered that about AoC considering I actually bought and played that train wreck.

[Siraris]

I see a nipple. I have been corrupted.

Isn't that an automatic AO?

I was just about to post the same thing. Not about the AO, but about the nipples.

[Variable Gear]

So strange. I don't get the love for this game. It has the same "eye dead" look many games like this have, the graphics in the videos and not the target renders look good but are almost impossible to get excited over. And I LOVED LOVED Indigo Prophecy but this sort of stinks like fake hype to me.
I still worry about the actual game portion of the "experience," which is sad, but the presentation looks awesome. Heavy Rain's sidling up to the uncanny valley with its character models, but the environments look amazing. I'm obviously conflicted, since Fahrenheit was such a mixed bag, but I'm still looking forward to Heavy Rain. Despite my doubts, the game has a ton of potential.

[Karak]

I still worry about the actual game portion of the "experience," which is sad, but the presentation looks awesome. Heavy Rain's sidling up to the uncanny valley with its character models, but the environments look amazing. I'm obviously conflicted, since Fahrenheit was such a mixed bag, but I'm still looking forward to Heavy Rain. Despite my doubts, the game has a ton of potential.

I would have to disagree but only on what I have see(the above video link being one of them), that does not look amazing(the gameplay parts) nor does it look like the character is anything other than a typical high poly model on a normal static(or mostly static) background.
I don't know. I have been so burnt by everything that is supposed to be amazing this gen that I just dont get into the hype anymore at all. I guess I will just wait.
I loved Indigo Prophecy so much...for the gameplay(it looked like rotten dick) so I guess I am a bit...disturbed that the game hasn't been shown much other than to get fanboys all wet.

[Evil Avnovice]

New Heavy Rain media should be available this Thursday. I use the rumor tags just to be on the safe side. (Grey Fox's blog (http://www.gamekyo.com/blog_article224837.html) at Gamekyo; GoOnlineGames (http://goonlinegames.net/2009/05/19/new-heavy-rain-footage-this-thursday/))

So Sony’s E3 press conference is two weeks today at the Shine audotoriom in LA, you will see some games there of course, some like Uncharted 2, Ratchet & Clank: A Crack in Time, God of War III as well as hopeful reveals of Team ICO’s next game and Gran Turismo 5 and hopefully see another game demoed there like the former 3 above, like Heavy Rain. Bad part is you’d have to wait two weeks, right? Wrong.

There will be some brand new footage of Heavy Rain coming this Thursday on GameTrailers TV. The embargo for the game is set to break this Friday with new info, screens and details, but it seems we will be getting our first look at Heavy Rain since August 08 in Leipzig at Game Convention a little sooner then Friday or June 2nd when the Sony press conference takes place at E3, as the game is listed to be appear on the show on the show’s webpage on GameTrailers.

[CES]

Thats one excuse for shit controls.

Hey, at least they mention it up-front.

Fucking QTE's need to die. The only two games they ever worked in was God of War and Mass Effect.

[Wilkz07]

wasn't this supposed to be a ps3 launch game? hopefully it comes out, the footage i've seen looks cool.

[danhoo]

wasn't this supposed to be a ps3 launch game? hopefully it comes out, the footage i've seen looks cool.

I don't think it was ever supposed to be a launch game. They did have a "tech demo" of sorts being shown at the E3 before the PS3 launch (the one with the audition -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuitbK5kO90&feature=related) but I always got the impression that it was just a tech demo that didn't necessarily reflect much, if anything, of the actual game.

[carnage11]

Hey, at least they mention it up-front.

Fucking QTE's need to die. The only two games they ever worked in was God of War and Mass Effect.

You didn't like the QTEs in Indigo Prophecy? I thought that game was perfect for QTE type gameplay.

[KamaItachi]

You didn't like the QTEs in Indigo Prophecy? I thought that game was perfect for QTE type gameplay.

The QTEs spoiled Indigo Prophecy for me. They were incredibly tough at points and the last battle required you to hammer on the triggers for upwards of a minute at an extreme velocity. Suffice to say, when I realized that I was never, ever going to see the best ending without giving myself Carpal Tunnel, I just gave up on the game completely.

The least they could do was make the shitty second half of the game easy so I could get it over with.

[Food Nipple]

Hey, at least they mention it up-front.

Fucking QTE's need to die. The only two games they ever worked in was God of War and Mass Effect.

there we go

[Evil Avnovice]

Some scant details. (kekel evolue sur http://socair.fr.tc/socair/ (!!ps3 morte!!!)'s blog (http://www.gamekyo.com/blog_article224964.html) at Gamekyo; upsblogit (http://www.upsblogit.com/?page_id=3626))

At first I want to analyze the structure of the storyline: in Heavy Rain we will be able to use four different characters. Each one of them will follow his own path that, as we can imagine, will converge with the other characters’ ones, to finally define only one big plot. During the game, every choice will modify the storyline that - I confirm it - will lead us to different endings. Different-paths lead to Differet-endings.

David Cage has never been totally clear about gameplay, leaving a lot of doubts to players and press. Heavy Rain was described to me as an adventure based on three main elements: Investigation, Conversation, Quick Time Events. What does it mean? It means that there won’t be active shootings/fightings, so that the gameplay will move on a simil-GraphicAdventure style, even if it will mantain different elements from real graphic adventures. Quick Time Events will be an important aspect of the game, but they can be considered only a part of a more complex gameplay. Investigation, Conversation, QTE.

Now i’ll spend few words about GameOver: it doesn’t exist. If a character dies, the plot goes on even if that path has been interrupted, modifying the other ones.

Another important point is the game-length. Heavy Rain will have an Inverted-lenght, and here I’ll try to be more clear:
if the player isn’t such a good videogamer, the plot will end in a really short time (here we talk about 4 hours). On the other side, if the player is really good, the plot will result more complex, so that it could end after over 12 hours. My reliable source talks about “Faster-ending Paths” that will be suggested to the player, and that will make the game-experience shorter. Thanks to all the alternative paths, a good replayability is ensured.

Obviously, Heavy Rain will be shown at the E3 and it seems that Quantic Dream is preparing something really big for Los Angeles. Heavy Rain will be out on Fall 2009.

[Evil Avnovice]

A new gameplay video. (Gamekyo (http://www.gamekyo.com/videoen15124_heavy-rain-new-video.html))

http://www.gamekyo.com/Webmasters/Images/51661420090522_163559_0_big.jpg (http://www.gamekyo.com/images0_5_15124.html)

http://www.gamekyo.com/Webmasters/Images/51661420090522_163600_9_big.jpg (http://www.gamekyo.com/images9_5_15124.html)

http://www.gamekyo.com/Webmasters/Images/51661420090522_163559_5_big.jpg (http://www.gamekyo.com/images5_5_15124.html)

http://www.gamekyo.com/Webmasters/Images/51661420090522_163601_14_big.jpg (http://www.gamekyo.com/images14_5_15124.html)

[Evil Avnovice]

Sorry if some of these are reposted from the last trailer I put up:

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[Orca]

I really - REALLY - dislike the style of the QTE controls. I found myself concentrating far more on the controls instead of the scene, because it was harder to recognize what the input was supposed to be.

[Gorvi]

I watched them this morning, I can't stand that detective. At all. He sounds like such a pushover it's ridiculous.

[Dukefrukem]

the graphics are insane. I'm loving this. This due out this year?

[menage]

I really - REALLY - dislike the style of the QTE controls. I found myself concentrating far more on the controls instead of the scene, because it was harder to recognize what the input was supposed to be.

Biggest reason why I dislike QTE's, you're not waching the scene anymore, but the prompt to push the button. I'd rather watch someone playing at such a point than to do it myself, which kind of defeats the purpose of playing a game. I don't mind it in God of War cause it doesn't happen that often and well, they were one of the first to do it impressively, and PoP also get's away with it cause they do some smart shit with animation (actually knowing what the QTE is going to be due to preset animation sequences preceding it, which makes it more of a reminder instead of the holy fuck I need to press square) and not dying. But since you can die here and the story will continue on it's kinda hard to rely on QTE for the action. One hit and you're doomed??

I'm still not really sure about this one. Maybe a CGI movie would have been better, and I would love a real detective style game. But the action really pisses me off already.

[Tayaya]

I'm really looking forward to this game. I don't care if it's mostly QTE driven or plays like one long cutscene for the most part. If the game is cinematic, tells a good story, and really pulls off the "every action can completely change the way the story unfolds" business, then I think it's a title I wish to own.

I like the way it looks, and I appreciate the direction the developers are trying to take the game in.... but then again I am the kind of gamer that actually enjoys QTEs, and have since Shenmue came along and called them QTEs...

[carnage11]

I don't understand the hate for the QTEs. The argument about you don't see the cinematic when watching for QTEs? It's no different than reading subtitles in a movie. I have a friend that hates subtitles in movies because he can't watch the movie if he's reading the whole time, but I don't have a problem with it. I mean I can, for the most part, watch both. You see with your peripheral vision what's going on and focus mostly on the QTE. It just doesn't seem like a problem for me, but I guess maybe it's just me.


Either way, this game looks exceptional. The graphics are gorgeous, and the story looks interesting. I also like the idea of multiple play throughs with different characters. I'm really hoping this game comes to the 360 eventually. Wasn't Indigo Prophecy exclusive to the PS2 at first? It did eventually come to the Xbox, so here's hoping!

[jeffbax]

Indigo came out for everything at launch AFAIK, and I'm pretty sure Sony is publishing this so I wouldn't expect a 360 version.

As for QTEs... I'm mixed. I loved Shenmue but the total trial/error/redo aspect of them bothers me. If this game can make it so you don't simply just redo them that will be a big improvement on most QTEs.

[menage]

I don't understand the hate for the QTEs. The argument about you don't see the cinematic when watching for QTEs? It's no different than reading subtitles in a movie. I have a friend that hates subtitles in movies because he can't watch the movie if he's reading the whole time, but I don't have a problem with it. I mean I can, for the most part, watch both. You see with your peripheral vision what's going on and focus mostly on the QTE. It just doesn't seem like a problem for me, but I guess maybe it's just me.


I'm not totally anti QTE's. But if this game is really as they say it will work out, and you continue on even if someone dies it would seem a matter of reflex and focus where the story is going instead of making a real choice. That's what bothering me with this, if I'm playing an adventure game with dozens of storyline and paths to take the last thing I want is it to depend if I hit x at the right time. At least in GoW I could do the scene again. Maybe it still can in this game, but then the claim of there being no game over would be wrong.

I don't understand the hate for the QTEs. The argument about you don't see the cinematic when watching for QTEs? It's no different than reading subtitles in a movie.

Yes they are, I'm Dutch and in Holland we get everything foreign subtitled all the time. The time frame for subtitled is quite long and usually evenly paced. Yes you still read them but I hardly ever miss a shot. QTE's always try to get on the edge of your reaction ability. The timeframe gives you less time to see what's going on.

Also subtitles are needed the most when there's conversation, QTE's are needed when there's spectacle. I want to understand conversation, but I don't want a big fucking blue button flashing when there's spectacle. If John McClane is blowing up a skysraper and shouting yippykayay motherfucker I'm hardly looking at the subtitles. There's just isn't much validation for QTE's over a great cut scene on that front.

[DangerousDaze]

I'll be getting this. Story is the most important element for me in a game. Gimme.

[KamaItachi]

The guy's unconscious and you have a gun. Just shoot him!

What's with the James Bond style death trap?

[SilentScreams]

Who comes up with these game names and do they actually get paid for it?
I'm already anticipating the sequel, Dense Snow.

All joking aside, it looks pretty cool. I don't think the name will ever stop sounding ridiculous to me though.

[carnage11]

Who comes up with these game names and do they actually get paid for it?
I'm already anticipating the sequel, Dense Snow.

All joking aside, it looks pretty cool. I don't think the name will ever stop sounding ridiculous to me though.

I'm pretty sure it's metaphoric.

[inmostlight]

I saw the Gametrailers TV episode on this, and for some reason it really turned me off the game. Which is weird, because I really liked Indigo Prophecy. I can't quite put my finger on what I didn't like. As others have said, I found the way they're doing the QTEs to be distracting.

I'm also not a fan of the graphics. They may be technically impressive but artistically they are doing nothing for me. I'd almost rather see something stylized than an attempt at ultra-realism.

[Morangie]

The player has to maintain several buttons to stay hidden, uncomfortable situation for the player to reproduce the same stress in the game.

So according to a Joystiq hands-on (http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/27/hands-on-heavy-rain/), not only will the QTEs be uncomfortable to do, so as to "reproduce your character's stress", but you also won't be able to see the convoluted chain you need to follow:

From its interface (which will become harder to see as characters become more stressed)..

These guys can write the beginning of a great story but I'm starting to think they should just release a CG movie. If a game is supposed to stress me, it should be the situation I'm in and not the controls that do it.

[Xerxes]

I saw that one video with him detecting, and I'm so bored, and I couldn't imagine it being any funner at home.

[Wraith]

Found this linked from Tycho's news post (http://www.penny-arcade.com/2009/9/30/) today.Things that occur in games tend to be things which veer from the routine, just by definition. There are games which take mundane lives as their subject, The Sims stands out, but those lives are abstracted to a tremendous extent. Heavy Rain certainly has high drama, but not since Shenmue have I seen a game so obsessed with manifesting the actual world. Heavy Rain relies on "scenes" as a metaphor for progression instead of an explorable nineteen eighties Japan, sure. But in their almost romantic devotion to the ordinary, the commonplace, and the real, they are cousins (http://www.gametrailers.com/video/corner-store-heavy-rain/56911).Corner Store Extended Gameplay video. NSFW for language.

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[LeRolls]

If I ever end up getting a PS3 I'm pretty sure I'd give this game a shot.

[Wraith]

New trailer: Destructoid (http://www.destructoid.com/this-new-heavy-rain-trailer-is-wow-159791.phtml).

Let's see if it's on Gametrailers... Well, there are three new videos (http://www.gametrailers.com/game/heavy-rain/2717) from CES, but the one on Destructoid's a new Japanese trailer, not a gameplay video.

[Yeti2005]

New trailer: Destructoid (http://www.destructoid.com/this-new-heavy-rain-trailer-is-wow-159791.phtml).

Let's see if it's on Gametrailers... Well, there are three new videos (http://www.gametrailers.com/game/heavy-rain/2717) from CES, but the one on Destructoid's a new Japanese trailer, not a gameplay video.

I loved Indigo Prophecy and I was stoked for Heavy Rain but these videos aren't really selling me anymore. I guess I'll wait and see when it comes out.

[Wraith]

Release Dates:


North America: February 16, 2009
Europe: February 26, 2009

Destructoid (http://www.destructoid.com/heavy-rain-gets-us-release-date-of-february-16-159878.phtml)


Scratch that. The Qore dates weren't exactly right. The real dates, from U.S. Playstation Blog (http://blog.us.playstation.com/2010/01/heavy-rain-officially-releasing-on-february-23/) and EU Blog (http://blog.eu.playstation.com/2010/01/08/heavy-rain-approaching/), via Joystiq (http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/08/heavy-rain-release-date-febraury-23-in-north-america/):


North America: February 23
Mainland Europe: February 24
UK & Ireland: February 26

[Wraith]

North American box art:

http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/9/2010/01/rainus.jpg

Another Perfectly Good Piece Of Box Art, Ruined By Americans (http://kotaku.com/5446049/another-perfectly-good-piece-of-box-art-ruined-by-americans) (Kotaku)

[Ink Asylum]

Not as bad as it could've been. At least they retained the origami and did something moderately cinematic with the characters. Still lame, though.

[SilentScreams]

Kotaku has a point. I definitely prefer the more subtle PAL version.

I'm pretty sure I could sell shit in a packet in America if I put some boobs on the front. :D

[carnage11]

I don't know why they feel the need to plaster the cover with the characters from the game. We all know there are people in the game, let us play it and get to know them. I don't need to know there's a token black guy and some big tittied woman in it for me to buy it. Jeez. The Jap version is way better.

[Yeti2005]

Kotaku has a point. I definitely prefer the more subtle PAL version.

I'm pretty sure I could sell shit in a packet in America if I put some boobs on the front. :D

I agree the PAL version kicks the crap out of the US version. I love the not so subtle effect of placing the title directly over the boobs so it catches your attention.

If they're going in this direction, I wouldn't be surprised if the US marketing intentionally "show off" the stripper scene to generate media outrage (i.e. free publicity).

[divinechaos]

I don't know why they feel the need to plaster the cover with the characters from the game. We all know there are people in the game, let us play it and get to know them. I don't need to know there's a token black guy and some big tittied woman in it for me to buy it. Jeez. The Jap version is way better.

There's a token black guy in the cover and game?

[Spigot]

While I wholeheartedly agree that the PAL cover is far better, if only because of its simplicity, I don't really think of the female character being in the middle as something incredibly exploitative. And maybe my sense of scale is off, but she's about as far from being 'big-tittied' as you can get in a female character.

[Ink Asylum]

Well, is she any more important than the other characters on the cover? If not, then there's a 25% her forward central placement is just random and 75% because she's dripping wet and has tits.

[Spigot]

Well, is she any more important than the other characters on the cover? If not, then there's a 25% her forward central placement is just random and 75% because she's dripping wet and has tits.I haven't followed the particulars of the plot too much, but I always thought she was one of the more important characters that you play. Granted, that might have just been because a lot of the very early coverage and trailers showed her parts of the story.

[Gorvi]

I'm not a fan, it just looks awkward. Of course, I'm always a fan of cover art that leans more towards simplicity, I end up disliking most box art.

[Ink Asylum]

I haven't followed the particulars of the plot too much, but I always thought she was one of the more important characters that you play. Granted, that might have just been because a lot of the very early coverage and trailers showed her parts of the story.

Might that be because one of her gameplay segments involves her stripping? :)

A lot of the early coverage I've seen involves the father character and his interactions with his sons. I was under the impression that you're basically playing four characters of equal importance.

[TheEpicOfTyler]

US Box art is always terrible. That's shame, I love the PAL boxart.

[Spigot]

Might that be because one of her gameplay segments involves her stripping? :)
Actually, no. It was the scene where she's being chased around a house. It was one of the first to illustrate the way they were doing QTEs.

I've heard about the father/son scene but haven't actually seen the footage. The only other real footage that I've seen is the convenience store scene with the old cop/P.I.

[johnperkins21]

Actually, no. It was the scene where she's being chased around a house. It was one of the first to illustrate the way they were doing QTEs.

I've heard about the father/son scene but haven't actually seen the footage. The only other real footage that I've seen is the convenience store scene with the old cop/P.I.

There's also the one where she's in the nightclub, and does a bit of striptease to get close to a contact, though they stop it before she does the full on strip. And there's yet another scene with the FBI guy going to some rock quarry or whatever, and he gets in a fight with some dude. It shows off a lot of the cool gadget UI in that one.

There's five scenes floating around, but the most in-depth is the PI in the convenience store.

[Spigot]

I've tried to avoid the other scenes outside of the chatter on podcasts. I want to try to go into the game proper as fresh as possible.

[Ink Asylum]

Which reinforces that it's an ensemble cast with no real lead. Unless we learn that the woman ends up getting more screen time or is somehow more important than the other three, her position on the cover is to draw the male gamer eye.

[Spigot]

Which reinforces that it's an ensemble cast with no real lead. Unless we learn that the woman ends up getting more screen time or is somehow more important than the other three, her position on the cover is to draw the male gamer eye.Yes, yes. But honestly, given how exploitative the cover COULD be if that was the main thrust of the marketing campaign (pun fully intended), that cover is quite demure.

And for all we know, she might be the central storyline that ties everything together. Or she could just be there to tittilate. But her character model is definately a lot more realistically proportioned than the usual female in a videogame and just because she's front and center on the cover doesn't make it that much more sinister.

All of that aside, I'd almost be willing to import the EU version for that cover if that didn't mean that I'd have to wait longer to play the game.

[BlackPete]

Yet another vote for the PAL box cover. Why do they insist on facial collages on so many US box covers?

[Spigot]

Because here in North America, we love people! And faces! And the faces of people!

You can keep your crazy, artsy-fartsy pop-art covers...

Bah, I can't keep that up.

[Ink Asylum]

Yes, yes. But honestly, given how exploitative the cover COULD be if that was the main thrust of the marketing campaign (pun fully intended), that cover is quite demure.

And for all we know, she might be the central storyline that ties everything together. Or she could just be there to tittilate. But her character model is definately a lot more realistically proportioned than the usual female in a videogame and just because she's front and center on the cover doesn't make it that much more sinister.

In other words, the marketing team exploited the attractive female angle as best they could given the characters they had to work with, thanks to the developers rendering a believable female character.

[Spigot]

I... guess. I don't know. I just don't see it as being as sinister as people seem to be making it out to be.

[johnperkins21]

I... guess. I don't know. I just don't see it as being as sinister as people seem to be making it out to be.

She's in a wet fucking t-shirt. Not sure how much more sexified they could have made it. The dark spots under the E and V in "heavy" are approximately where her nipples would be. I think they did quite a bit to "sex" it up. However, I don't mind. They need to do everything they can to sell this game, as I don't see it selling more than 200,000, and figure 100,000 is probably more realistic.

[BlackPete]

She's in a wet fucking t-shirt. Not sure how much more sexified they could have made it. The dark spots under the E and V in "heavy" are approximately where her nipples would be. I think they did quite a bit to "sex" it up.

Except in this game, rain is a pretty huge part of the game, so it makes sense in that context. I still don't necessarily see it as being exploitative as it could've been. It's not like her shirt was nearly invisible.

[johnperkins21]

Except in this game, rain is a pretty huge part of the game, so it makes sense in that context. I still don't necessarily see it as being exploitative as it could've been. It's not like her shirt was nearly invisible.

You are correct, but she's still wearing pretty much the exact t-shirt seen in every single wet t-shirt contest I've ever been to (which is a fairly large number). I know rain is a big component of the game, but she wears a suit in the game at least once, and they could have positioned her a little differently so that the shadows from those two letters don't look like nipples.

I'm not faulting them for the practice, but I'm certain that they spent a lot of time trying to sex the cover up in the most understated way they could. A lot of it is subliminal, but it's most definitely there. They could have made it more sexy, to be certain, but there's absolutely some sex there, and it was wholly intended.

[johnperkins21]

Look at how they italicized the word "rain" but not "heavy." Notice what would happen if "heavy" was italicized as well? The "a" would cover her cleavage.

Notice how her shoulders are slightly back, pushing her chest forward. Not just good posture, but actually showcasing her boobs.

Hers is the only mouth slightly open, basically inviting you to look at her lips and mouth. As we all know from watching that scene in Hackers over and over until our penis is raw, lips and mouths are sexy.

It's obvious that they're playing on her sex appeal here. It's a little more subtle than DoA or Bayonetta, but it's definitely there.

[Spigot]

I just think that anyone who has a prediliction for wet t-shirt contests shouldn't be the first person to shout, "EXPLOITATION!" :)

I didn't really notice subliminal nipples either. Granted, I haven't really stared at the cover. I basically glanced at it to see what the hubbub was about.

[Ink Asylum]

I... guess. I don't know. I just don't see it as being as sinister as people seem to be making it out to be.

It's not sinister, just realistic. You don't believe that whoever came up with the US cover, knowing as we do that US covers are routinely butchered from their original artistic designs into something more marketable to the average gamer, looked at pictures of the four main characters and said "Put the chick in front"?

[Spigot]

It's not sinister, just realistic. You don't believe that whoever came up with the US cover, knowing as we do that US covers are routinely butchered from their original artistic designs into something more marketable to the average gamer, looked at pictures of the four main characters and said "Put the chick in front"?Oh, I won't argue that. It's more the hyperbolic shouts of exploitation and big titties that were bugging me, I guess.

They should put the old cop in a wet t-shirt instead :)

[Abyssion]

My god, some of you seem really butt-hurt over this, and are paying way too much attention to the chick that's front and center. If you don't like the cover import or just find a high-res scan, print it up and replace the cover.

[Ink Asylum]

My god, some of you seem really butt-hurt over this, and are paying way too much attention to the chick that's front and center. If you don't like the cover import or just find a high-res scan, print it up and replace the cover.

It's just the usual complaints that publishers think so little of the American audience that nothing can be sold without the promise of sex or violence, especially video games.

[Abyssion]

It's just the usual complaints that publishers think so little of the American audience that nothing can be sold without the promise of sex or violence, especially video games.

Well, personally I was gonna buy it anyway(hell I've had it pre-ordered since September). I'm sure I'll spend more time playing the game than I will looking at the cover, but like I said, thats just me personally.

[Gorvi]

It's just the usual complaints that publishers think so little of the American audience that nothing can be sold without the promise of sex or violence, especially video games.
The sad thing is they're right for the most part. The game buying public in this country is, generally speaking, pretty damn shallow. Of course, that's because most people in general are pretty damn shallow, they're just a slice of the population as a whole.

[Yeti2005]

The sad thing is they're right for the most part. The game buying public in this country is, generally speaking, pretty damn shallow. Of course, that's because most people in general are pretty damn shallow, they're just a slice of the population as a whole.

I agree. The general game buying public is shallow which is unfortunately why I believe this game will be critically acclaimed and amazing but bomb horribly. Word from the unwashed masses is going to kill this game.

The latest videos slightly turned me off but I'm willing to buy this game for a different experience.

[Gorvi]

I agree. The general game buying public is shallow which is unfortunately why I believe this game will be critically acclaimed and amazing but bomb horribly. Word from the unwashed masses is going to kill this game.

The latest videos slightly turned me off but I'm willing to buy this game for a different experience.
It is pretty sad that as far as more traditional games go (as in not Nintendo casual fare) that if it doesn't conform to the "some dude(s) shootin' shit and cussin'" formula that it more likely than not won't sell. That's a sorry state of affairs for the industry. Of course there are rare exceptions, but that's what sells for the most part.

That being said, I think Heavy Rain would have done about as well as Indigo Prophecy if it was coming out at a different time, but with the number of appealing games coming out around it I have a feeling it's going to tank.

[Spigot]

That being said, I think Heavy Rain would have done about as well as Indigo Prophecy if it was coming out at a different time, but with the number of appealing games coming out around it I have a feeling it's going to tank.I think this is the biggest reason why it might flop. I'd almost like them to push it back to, say, late May or early June when there isn't much competition for our time and dollars.

That said, it is supposed to be pretty short per playthrough, much like how Way Of The Samurai is nice and short. I'm looking at Heavy Rain as being the appetizer game that I play before and after sessions of Mass Effect 2 and FFXIII.

[Troggles]

That said, it is supposed to be pretty short per playthrough, much like how Way Of The Samurai is nice and short. I'm looking at Heavy Rain as being the appetizer game that I play before and after sessions of Mass Effect 2 and FFXIII.

I'm following this same plan. Heavy Rain should be the game that keeps me entertained between ME2 and FFXIII. If it doesn't get even decent reviews, I'll go with WKC instead. There's no drought of games this winter.

[Spigot]

I'm getting WKC but god only knows when I'll get around to playing it. Why couldn't it have come out either last fall or sometime later this year either? Talk about a glut of RPGs...

[Troggles]

I'm getting WKC but god only knows when I'll get around to playing it. Why couldn't it have come out either last fall or sometime later this year either? Talk about a glut of RPGs...

At least the RPGs are all very different. Going from ME2 to FFXIII should be like playing a completely different genre, though both are considered RPGs. WKC is different enough, too.

But hopefully Heavy Rain is awesome. I'd rather have that for an overall change of pace.

[Gorvi]

I'm getting WKC day one, not only because I could use a good current gen JRPG but because the PSO-like online portion sounds like a stupid amount of fun.

[Wraith]

Yesterday, Sony revealed the US box art for Heavy Rain, and compared to the European package, it was awful. Fortunately, enough people thought so for Sony to take notice, and SCEA has responded to the hate with a compromise. It will offer up a printable version of the UK box so that fans can use that one instead.

"We’ll be doing that for those that would prefer the UK artwork. Keep an eye out on the blog around launch," confirms associate product manager Christian Cardona.

It's actually pretty cool that Sony would respond to fan reaction like that, even if the offer of a printable cover is a mere gesture. Seriously though, SCEA needs to start using European box art for its games, because this has happened before. Need I remind anybody of the ICO debacle?Sony responds to Heavy Rain US box art hate (http://www.destructoid.com/sony-responds-to-heavy-rain-us-box-art-hate-160360.phtml) (Destructoid)

PlayStation.Blog comment (http://blog.us.playstation.com/2010/01/introducing-the-official-heavy-rain-box-art/#comment-312376):24

KSPRAYDAD | January 12th, 2010 at 10:02 am

Any chance you can have the EU boxart available as a pre formated PDF to print out? Like Madden did with Favre? I really much prefer the EU one.

Cristian Cardona replied on January 12, 2010 at 12:00 pm

We’ll be doing that for those that would prefer the UK artwork. Keep an eye out on the blog around launch!

[Abyssion]

Funny how I mentioned that someone should do that, PROBLEM SOLVED!
(waits for people to bitch about having to buy fancy paper to have that official coverart feel)

[divinechaos]

Wait, so people are bitching about a game exploiting the female character on the cover, when we know for a fact that she's gonna be stripping in the game?

Yeah, the cover sucks but come ON, stop it with the bitching and enjoy a hot slut every once in a while. :D

[Sl1pstream]

You are correct, but she's still wearing pretty much the exact t-shirt seen in every single wet t-shirt contest I've ever been to (which is a fairly large number). I know rain is a big component of the game, but she wears a suit in the game at least once, and they could have positioned her a little differently so that the shadows from those two letters don't look like nipples.

Exactly. I also don't see why they chose for the shirt when they could've just chosen the suit. Added bonus: sideboob.

[BlackPete]

Funny how I mentioned that someone should do that, PROBLEM SOLVED!
(waits for people to bitch about having to buy fancy paper to have that official coverart feel)

I don't have a printer, so...

[danhoo]

This may have already been mentioned elsewhere, but, new trailer?

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/61299.html

EDIT: May be a tad spoiler-ish, btw.

[Wraith]

Demo on PSN Feb. 11, Europe and North America. (Joystiq (http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/28/heavy-rain-demo-lands-worldwide-february-11/))

[Karak]

Wait, so people are bitching about a game exploiting the female character on the cover, when we know for a fact that she's gonna be stripping in the game?

Yeah, the cover sucks but come ON, stop it with the bitching and enjoy a hot slut every once in a while. :D

I am stoked for this. Including the hot slut hahahaha.

I am also stoked to see the extreme haters of QTE try to pretend they don't hate them in a game that is or appears to be mostly QTE.

I also know that the developer says many play throughs will ruin the magic but I can see playing this at least a couple times. Unless you can't button rush. Then I will probably just give it one detailed playthrough.

[Spigot]

I am stoked for this. Including the hot slut hahahaha.

I am also stoked to see the extreme haters of QTE try to pretend they don't hate them in a game that is or appears to be mostly QTE.

I also know that the developer says many play throughs will ruin the magic but I can see playing this at least a couple times. Unless you can't button rush. Then I will probably just give it one detailed playthrough.As one of the few admitted lovers of the mighty QTE, I am also waiting to see how this fares given the popular stance against that event of quick timedness.

I understand the dev's reasoning against multiple playthroughs but it also seems to run contrary to a lot of the ways the game was initially promoted, as it is so openended and full of possibilities that to only play through once seems silly.

[Karak]

As one of the few admitted lovers of the mighty QTE, I am also waiting to see how this fares given the popular stance against that event of quick timedness.

I understand the dev's reasoning against multiple playthroughs but it also seems to run contrary to a lot of the ways the game was initially promoted, as it is so openended and full of possibilities that to only play through once seems silly.

I took it as meaning...they lied.
Not to be rude, I love those guys and love their games.
But I took it simply to mean they lied and there's is not as much open endedness as they played at originally.
Sort of like the old pics of the graphics versus the now pics which basically are a fucking huge downgrade in the last couple vids. Doesn't mean it sucks but...holy wow at some of the older pics of supposed gameplay. I think most of us don't get caught up in that shit anymore anyway but still...
No biggie to me. I love their games. And QTE's, if done right, are awesome to me.

EDIT: Some of the reviews on neogaf and translated seems to point to a great deal of linearity in the story with moments of choice. Again totally fine by me. Fahrenheit only had 2-3 choices at each moment and it was crack to me.

[johnperkins21]

I don't like QTE's, but I enjoyed Dragon's Lair and Space Ace. Hell, I enjoyed Time Traveler. I think in an adventure game, where the story is the main focus, QTE's can work ok. I definitely don't like them when they're just put in as a cheap gameplay gimmick for a mini-game sequence, like to open a lock in Mass Effect 1.

I'm also interested to see how they work in this game as it's not simply button presses, but "mimicking" the on-screen movements. There's a big difference between trying to press the A button at the right time, or doing the Hadouken movement (down, down-forward, forward) to have your character swipe across a table or something. Based on the gameplay I've seen, this is almost like any other adventure game, but they're prompting you as to what to do rather than hoping you do the right thing on your own. It'd be like having an on-screen guide while playing Street Fighter that popped up and told you to press up to jump over a fireball. At least, that's kind of how I see it.

[Karak]

I don't like QTE's, but I enjoyed Dragon's Lair and Space Ace. Hell, I enjoyed Time Traveler.


I love you.
Seriously lets marry:)
God Time Traveler, Space Ace, Dragons Lair, Ninja Warrior, Road Avenger, Space Gal.
My youth was a huge FUCKING QTE.
And yes I meant to write that last sentence that way:)

[Spigot]

Mmmm... Time Traveller...

[Orca]

I'm getting WKC day one, not only because I could use a good current gen JRPG but because the PSO-like online portion sounds like a stupid amount of fun.

Enchanted Arms
Not Played by Gorvi

Blue Dragon
Not Played by Gorvi

Lost Odyssey
Not Played by Gorvi

Infinite Undiscovery
Not Played by Gorvi

The Last Remnant
Not Played by Gorvi

Star Ocean: TLH
Not Played by Gorvi

Nobody to blame but yourself, even if some of those might stretch the 'good' part :p

[Gorvi]

Enchanted Arms
Not Played by Gorvi

Blue Dragon
Not Played by Gorvi

Lost Odyssey
Not Played by Gorvi

Infinite Undiscovery
Not Played by Gorvi

The Last Remnant
Not Played by Gorvi

Star Ocean: TLH
Not Played by Gorvi

Nobody to blame but yourself, even if some of those might stretch the 'good' part :p
Of those I'd only call Lost Odyssey "Good", it's on my to play list. ;)

EDIT: Hell, why not throw Cross Edge and Eternal Sonata on there too? They're both mediocre as well. :p

EDIT 2 (Super Extra Late Edition): And I still have Persona 4 to play, which beats out all of those, so it's tough to look at any other console RPGs right now. Level 5 stuff and a new FF are pretty much the only things I'd buy in the interim.

[Spigot]

The Last Remnant is actually pretty decent, but not on the 360. The PC version is the way to go for that one. Otherwise, the only one on the list that really qualifies as good to great (and I lean heavily on the great side of things) is Lost Odyssey. Some are fun for a bit but there's a difference between being mediocre and fun and being great and fun.

[Tayaya]

I love you.
Seriously lets marry:)
God Time Traveler, Space Ace, Dragons Lair, Ninja Warrior, Road Avenger, Space Gal.
My youth was a huge FUCKING QTE.
And yes I meant to write that last sentence that way:)

Wasn't Time Traveller on Sega's holographic arcade cabinet? The other game being Holosseum?

Oh, and Karak, you mean TIME Gal, not Space Gal. And god I'd give anything for an iPhone port of Time Gal.... you have no idea. I have Dragon's Lair on it as is and I think they ported Cobra Command already, but if they made Time Gal, I could die a happy man.

[Spigot]

Wasn't Time Traveller on Sega's holographic arcade cabinet? The other game being Holosseum?

Oh, and Karak, you mean TIME Gal, not Space Gal. And god I'd give anything for an iPhone port of Time Gal.... you have no idea. I have Dragon's Lair on it as is and I think they ported Cobra Command already, but if they made Time Gal, I could die a happy man.Damn you. There goes $10 for both Dragon's Lair and Space Ace on my iPhone. Grr...

[Karak]

Of those I'd only call Lost Odyssey "Good", it's on my to play list. ;)

EDIT: Hell, why not throw Cross Edge and Eternal Sonata on there too? They're both mediocre as well. :p

EDIT 2 (Super Extra Late Edition): And I still have Persona 4 to play, which beats out all of those, so it's tough to look at any other console RPGs right now. Level 5 stuff and a new FF are pretty much the only things I'd buy in the interim.

If you haven't played them...how do you know they are mediocre? Especially since you have talked about a good deal of games that you love that others did not.
Eternal Sonata was very good. Just my opinion and not shared by everyone obviously.
I would give them a try before instantly judging them. Right?

[Karak]

Wasn't Time Traveller on Sega's holographic arcade cabinet? The other game being Holosseum?

Oh, and Karak, you mean TIME Gal, not Space Gal. And god I'd give anything for an iPhone port of Time Gal.... you have no idea. I have Dragon's Lair on it as is and I think they ported Cobra Command already, but if they made Time Gal, I could die a happy man.

Yep Time Gal sorry.
Cobra Command was my favorite of them all but last night when I posted I couldn't remember the name.
Cobra Command is epic if only because you can destroy the heads on easter island with missiles:)

Yes Tim Traveller was on the holographics arcade. I loved the leap in tech. Even though it wasn't the best it was so fucking Buck Rogers that I couldn't think of anything else for a year.

[Gorvi]

If you haven't played them...how do you know they are mediocre? Especially since you have talked about a good deal of games that you love that others did not.
Eternal Sonata was very good. Just my opinion and not shared by everyone obviously.
I would give them a try before instantly judging them. Right?
Eh, general consensus mostly. I have very limited time when it comes to gaming, if the general opinion of most who play a lot of JRPGs is that it's mediocre, that's usually the case, so I can avoid them. I'm not talking about mainstream site reviews, but the more dedicated RPG sites.

Of course, with stuff like Eternal Sonata, I tried the demo and just didn't like it. Same with Blue Dragon. Then there's Infinite Undiscovery and Star Ocean 4: both Tri Ace games, a dev who has done nothing but disappoint me since Star Ocean 2. It's why I don't have a whole lot of hope for Resonance of Fate, or whatever that game they have coming for the PS3/360 next month is.

I really don't think you'll find many who will stick up for much on that list aside from Lost Odyssey, which does look good and I really do need to make time to play it.

[johnperkins21]

Eternal Sonata was very good. Just my opinion and not shared by everyone obviously.

It's shared by me. I had a great time with that game.

[Karak]

Eh, general consensus mostly. I have very limited time when it comes to gaming, if the general opinion of most who play a lot of JRPGs is that it's mediocre, that's usually the case, so I can avoid them. I'm not talking about mainstream site reviews, but the more dedicated RPG sites.

Of course, with stuff like Eternal Sonata, I tried the demo and just didn't like it. Same with Blue Dragon. Then there's Infinite Undiscovery and Star Ocean 4: both Tri Ace games, a dev who has done nothing but disappoint me since Star Ocean 2. It's why I don't have a whole lot of hope for Resonance of Fate, or whatever that game they have coming for the PS3/360 next month is.

I really don't think you'll find many who will stick up for much on that list aside from Lost Odyssey, which does look good and I really do need to make time to play it.

I have never been too concerned about people sticking up for a game I like or what others think. Just remembering some of the games you have enjoyed I thought you would try them first.

[Wraith]

Eternal Sonata was very good. Just my opinion and not shared by everyone obviously.It's shared by me. I had a great time with that game.And me, as well. I get why some people who've played it didn't like it, but I enjoyed it. Not great, but quite good, in my book. It's rated 79 / 80 (360 / PS3) on Metacritic, which I'd say is about right.

[Gorvi]

I have never been too concerned about people sticking up for a game I like or what others think. Just remembering some of the games you have enjoyed I thought you would try them first.
Given the time I absolutely would. Having a wife, kids, a full time job, and a house seriously cuts down on your time to try out all the games you'd like. 3 years ago I would have, but now, the hours in the day simply aren't there.

[Karak]

Given the time I absolutely would. Having a wife, kids, a full time job, and a house seriously cuts down on your time to try out all the games you'd like. 3 years ago I would have, but now, the hours in the day simply aren't there.
Understood.

Back on Topic.
Heavy Rain looks fun.

[Yeti2005]

Understood.

Back on Topic.
Heavy Rain looks fun.

It does look fun. I'm really looking forward to playing it. Whether I buy it or rent it or not really depends on the length of the game.

[Karak]

It does look fun. I'm really looking forward to playing it. Whether I buy it or rent it or not really depends on the length of the game.

I will be renting it. But in that time I think I will get the basic meat out of it anyway and it will be a good ride.
I think heading into it I just have to make sure my expectations are for a story that is very interesting and not treat it as a game, or expect amazing sound graphics anything.
Story or die:)

[Spigot]

Just saw something that says the game will require a 4.2 GB install. Yerg.

[Yeti2005]

Just saw something that says the game will require a 4.2 GB install. Yerg.

I've come to grips with installing games on the PS3. Sony really should have included a faster blu-ray drive but I'm sure that was cost prohibitive at the time. I'm ok with installing games rather than have really slow load times. The only time it's frustrating is when you're excited to play the game and you have to wait 20 minutes for the install to finish.

[Gorvi]

If I remember correctly there's supposed to be a tutorial video or something that plays during the install that teaches you how to make the origami crane (I think it's a crane) that's on the cover.

I still have no idea what to think of this game. If I do get it it'll be cheap over the Summer.

[Spigot]

I've come to grips with installing games on the PS3. Sony really should have included a faster blu-ray drive but I'm sure that was cost prohibitive at the time. I'm ok with installing games rather than have really slow load times. The only time it's frustrating is when you're excited to play the game and you have to wait 20 minutes for the install to finish.Yeah... but 4.2 gigs? Sigh...

[OldJadedGamer]

Just saw something that says the game will require a 4.2 GB install. Yerg.

Meh, what are you going to do? It's a design flaw of the system. You just have to accept it and move on. This game is looking like a good rental for me. I'll give it a shot.

[Gorvi]

Yeah... but 4.2 gigs? Sigh...
Fallout 3 is over 6GB with all the DLC, there's a reason I bought the 250GB system to replace my dead 60GB.

[RandoM51]

Meh, what are you going to do? It's a design flaw of the system.

Lol, design flaw of the system. Not quite. Developer's choice whether or not they use hard disk install.

Developers make it mandatory to guarantee the higher level of performance offered by a hard disk. You don't see it happen on 360 for the simple fact that few developers want to cut out Arcade owners just for better overall performance.

[TheEpicOfTyler]

I just put my pre-order down on the game so I can get that DLC for free. Looking forward to it.

I do think the installing is a little ridiculous when you consider that Uncharted 1/2, Killzone 2 and God Of War 3, which are some the best looking games released, require no installation at all and just a small amount of MB for caching purposes. It doesn't bother me though since I have a large enough HD in my system.

[OldJadedGamer]

Lol, design flaw of the system. Not quite. Developer's choice whether or not they use hard disk install.

Developers make it mandatory to guarantee the higher level of performance offered by a hard disk. You don't see it happen on 360 for the simple fact that few developers want to cut out Arcade owners just for better overall performance.

Then why does the best looking game for the system Uncharted 2 have no mandatory install and the biggest Japanese game ever released over there for the system FFXIII doesn't have an install as well. Your excuse would only make sense if all games had mandatory installs. In fact... when is the last time we saw a first party published title with an install in the last year?

And I really doubt that Kojima thought it was a good idea to have his game do separate installs for each level through out the game. Then there are games like DMC4 that have a mandatory install on PS3 but not on the 360 and the 360 version without a HDD actually runs and loads faster. Saying it's not a design flaw in the system is just wearing blinders at best.

[Yeti2005]

Lol, design flaw of the system. Not quite. Developer's choice whether or not they use hard disk install.


The blu-ray drive is too slow. It's a known issue that some developers can work around while others have to require installs. Design flaw maybe a little too harsh but it's definitely not optimal.

[Spigot]

Don't get me wrong. I wasn't trying to start an arguement over how fast the Blu-Ray drive is or whether or not installs are annoying. I was griping about the fact that my 60 GB is almost full and I might have to uninstall stuff to free up space. Sigh.

[Yeti2005]

Don't get me wrong. I wasn't trying to start an arguement over how fast the Blu-Ray drive is or whether or not installs are annoying. I was griping about the fact that my 60 GB is almost full and I might have to uninstall stuff to free up space. Sigh.

Do you feel comfortable enough installing a new HD? I haven't tried it myself but it's supposed to really easy and HD prices are cheap.

[OldJadedGamer]

Don't get me wrong. I wasn't trying to start an arguement over how fast the Blu-Ray drive is or whether or not installs are annoying. I was griping about the fact that my 60 GB is almost full and I might have to uninstall stuff to free up space. Sigh.

But how many games do you have installed that you are still activity playing? As long as you keep your save file you'll be fine to go back to it. Personally, I tend to stay away from games that have installs. Only a few of my games I own have them.

[Karak]

Damn I just read the Gamersyde. Damnit.

Eh well I will enjoy the one playthrough.
They ding the graphics but I think that was expect, and ding the linearness of it, but I am only going to play once so fuck it.
Still going to rent.

EDIT: And my hope is in the next ten years SOMEONE will get the "deadeye" look out of games and actually make characters fucking look alive. ME2 and now this with their doll eyes and porn 1000 mile stare just makes me depressed. Someday...someday..

[Spigot]

Do you feel comfortable enough installing a new HD? I haven't tried it myself but it's supposed to really easy and HD prices are cheap.

But how many games do you have installed that you are still activity playing? As long as you keep your save file you'll be fine to go back to it. Personally, I tend to stay away from games that have installs. Only a few of my games I own have them.I'm not in any rush to upgrade the drive. I do need to go through and clean out some of the stuff that has been cluttering up the drive though. I don't have a problem with installs except for when I start to run low on space and then it's more of a matter of doing some spring cleaning than anything else.

Hell, I'm still running my 360 with a 20GB drive. Talk about cramped quarters!

Karak: Dare I ask what Gamersyde said? I doubt anything will sway my ardour for the game...unless they say that it tells a boring story that takes 4 hours to work through with no reason to replay it. I'll be fine with the linearity though. Deviations in the narrative aside, I always felt that it was billed as a rather linear story as opposed to some kind of wide-open free-for-all.

[johnperkins21]

Damn I just read the Gamersyde. Damnit.

Eh well I will enjoy the one playthrough.
They ding the graphics but I think that was expect, and ding the linearness of it, but I am only going to play once so fuck it.
Still going to rent.

EDIT: And my hope is in the next ten years SOMEONE will get the "deadeye" look out of games and actually make characters fucking look alive. ME2 and now this with their doll eyes and porn 1000 mile stare just makes me depressed. Someday...someday..

How linear can it be if all 4 main characters can die? Wouldn't killing one of the main characters change the story somewhat? I guess if nobody dies in your first playthrough, it won't be that different on subsequent playthroughs as it probably just eliminates scenes. But if you do have someone die during the first playthrough, playing again to make sure they don't die should be at least somewhat different.

And I'm right there with you on the eyes.

[Karak]

How linear can it be if all 4 main characters can die? Wouldn't killing one of the main characters change the story somewhat? I guess if nobody dies in your first playthrough, it won't be that different on subsequent playthroughs as it probably just eliminates scenes. But if you do have someone die during the first playthrough, playing again to make sure they don't die should be at least somewhat different.

And I'm right there with you on the eyes.

Ya I am not sure. I plan on one super detailed playthrough and can't wait. This is the 3rd review to hit on the fact that it is very linear. My assumption and the german review seems to hit on it. That you can actually do barely any small stuff between big decisions. It seems like basically like a shooter. You can go right or left, and see mostly the same stuff but your partner may die.
I never believed most of the hype anyway. I just feel that the company makes solid games and thats why I want to play it once.

[Spigot]

I... I like Mass Effect 2's eyes. Except Miranda's. SHE looks like a bloody plastic doll.

And I still always thought that the game would be the way you describe it as being, namely one main story with a slew of little tangents to go off on that always bring you back to the central narrative. How much that changes when/if people die off, I have no idea, but I don't think it has ever been hyped as something either as wide open as a GTA-style sandbox game nor as ridiculously variable as the Way Of The Samurai games.

Hell, at this point, if it basically feels like an HD, serious version take on a visual novel a la the Ace Attorney games, I'll be happy. Those things are as linear as you can get and I love them to death and gladly pay whatever they ask for them :)

[Karak]

I... I like Mass Effect 2's eyes. Except Miranda's. SHE looks like a bloody plastic doll.

And I still always thought that the game would be the way you describe it as being, namely one main story with a slew of little tangents to go off on that always bring you back to the central narrative. How much that changes when/if people die off, I have no idea, but I don't think it has ever been hyped as something either as wide open as a GTA-style sandbox game nor as ridiculously variable as the Way Of The Samurai games.

Hell, at this point, if it basically feels like an HD, serious version take on a visual novel a la the Ace Attorney games, I'll be happy. Those things are as linear as you can get and I love them to death and gladly pay whatever they ask for them :)

Read some of the previews. "You can do the same story so many times and blah blah blah"
They go on and on. Then the developers go on and on and on and on.
Again its all hype and I never bought into it for the most part. But it sounds like my level was even higher than what they offer. Fuck it, sometimes a flawed gem is just as cool.
Oh and I don't know the Way of the Samurai games or how they play so I am not a good judge of that.

I don't care because I like the dudes and they make some serious games. But it basically equals, you can knock down a milk carton or you can't but the same shit happens.

And...wait?
You liked Mass Effect 2 eyes. Mordin looked somewhat good but for me, for some reason they all give me that 1000 yard stare look. Without the spark of a true eye. I am not sure how someone will accomplish it and I know for some time developers were talking about taking pics of real eyes and mapping the texture onto the eyeball. Seems doable. But ME2...creeps me the hell out for some reason.

Miranda is hot plastic but her freakish lower lip and dead eyes make me think a shark is going to attack me.
A hot, slutty shark.

[Spigot]

I like my female Shepard's eyes. I think she is quite lively. And the alien eyes (esp. the Krogan and Sularian) look nifty, but that's because they're alien.

But yeah. Miranda has just bugged me since I first laid eyes on her. Give me a Turian any day.

Anyway, I've done my best to keep myself shielded from Heavy Rain's hype parade as much as possible. I've avoided most of the hyperbole about it being the finest story ever crafted. That said, it is basically being designed to tell a story first and be a game second and I'm fine with that.

[Wraith]

Miranda is hot plastic but her freakish lower lip and dead eyes make me think a shark is going to attack me.
A hot, slutty shark.
Miranda has just bugged me since I first laid eyes on her. Give me a Turian any day.
too short.

[Spigot]

Hmm... That didn't come out right...

[Tayaya]

EDIT: And my hope is in the next ten years SOMEONE will get the "deadeye" look out of games and actually make characters fucking look alive. ME2 and now this with their doll eyes and porn 1000 mile stare just makes me depressed. Someday...someday..

That day is NOW, my son. One of the things I noticed about the characters in FF XIII is that they have very expressive faces, including but not limited to their eyes.

Here's an example - it's from the first hour of the game so it's not much of a spoiler. 100% in-engine, too - no CG - Linky! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6moSSGvc5w&feature=related) Not the BEST example I could provide, but the least spoiler-y. You'll notice that the characters eyes move around and behave a lot like ours, and you can tell where they're looking. I hope someday, though, we can see this level of overall character detail in games that DON'T have this long of a development cycle or this high of a budget.

[Gorvi]

Uncharted 2 looked pretty damn good in that way.

[Yeti2005]

Uncharted 2 looked pretty damn good in that way.

I remember Heavenly Sword looking fairly good too.

[Spigot]

The thing with FFXIII is that it does tend to skew more towards an almost anime (though nice and textured and pretty) art style. ME2 is going for a much more realistic look and so it is a little harder to straddle the uncanny valley.

[Deadend]

That day is NOW, my son. One of the things I noticed about the characters in FF XIII is that they have very expressive faces, including but not limited to their eyes.

Here's an example - it's from the first hour of the game so it's not much of a spoiler. 100% in-engine, too - no CG - Linky! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6moSSGvc5w&feature=related) Not the BEST example I could provide, but the least spoiler-y. You'll notice that the characters eyes move around and behave a lot like ours, and you can tell where they're looking. I hope someday, though, we can see this level of overall character detail in games that DON'T have this long of a development cycle or this high of a budget.

The eyes are still dead looking. They swivel around, and the eyelids move quite a bit, but the irises never contract or show a change in focus. They also are very unrealistic featuring exaggerated expressions and features. Video also has me down on XIII now, as it looks like adventures of Wispy Hair Effeminate Emo Boy and Spunky Girl Vol 56.

I also don't care what Germans think of Heavy Rain, as the Gothic games are considered to be great and amazing there, instead of buggy, clunky messes with some good ideas like in the rest of the world. I am going to hold out and wait for a review from a reviewer who seems to be worth listening to (that means I know of them and agree with their past reviews or at least their logic).

[Karak]

That day is NOW, my son. One of the things I noticed about the characters in FF XIII is that they have very expressive faces, including but not limited to their eyes.

Here's an example - it's from the first hour of the game so it's not much of a spoiler. 100% in-engine, too - no CG - Linky! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6moSSGvc5w&feature=related) Not the BEST example I could provide, but the least spoiler-y. You'll notice that the characters eyes move around and behave a lot like ours, and you can tell where they're looking. I hope someday, though, we can see this level of overall character detail in games that DON'T have this long of a development cycle or this high of a budget.

They look good and shiny and indeed look better than ME2. But they aren't even close to lifelike. I think its most likely a mix of sparkle and contrast that no one has got right yet. Heavy Rain looked like it might do it but that's obviously not true.
I can't wait. For some reason its a big deal to me when I play anything with alot of cutscenes and so forth.

[Karak]

I remember Heavenly Sword looking fairly good too.

Ya Heavenly Sword did look ok for sure. But still far far removed from some of the jumps that they have say...made to textures on faces and such. ME2 and Jacob or Zaeed just turn it to 14 when it comes to face textures. Heavy Rain looked like it would to but the last round of optimizations and changes removed that snap. Zaeed...man. It just looks real. But the eyes. Even on Zaeed just don't look...real. Ah fuck it I just want to much. Doll eyes for the win.

Not the best version but
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/435063/masseffect/22.jpg

[evilgoodwin]

Ya Heavenly Sword did look ok for sure. But still far far removed from some of the jumps that they have say...made to textures on faces and such. ME2 and Jacob or Zaeed just turn it to 14 when it comes to face textures. Heavy Rain looked like it would to but the last round of optimizations and changes removed that snap. Zaeed...man. It just looks real. But the eyes. Even on Zaeed just don't look...real. Ah fuck it I just want to much. Doll eyes for the win.

Not the best version but
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/435063/masseffect/22.jpg

Gah!! What the hell is that?!

[Karak]

Gah!! What the hell is that?!

Possibly the best NPC in a game.

[Spigot]

Possibly the best NPC in a game.
This man speaks the truth.

[evilgoodwin]

Uncanny valley is true. Those eyes... those eyes!

[Deadend]

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/435063/masseffect/22.jpg
Hi, I'm Commander Shepard, and this is my favorite face in the Citadel.

[Yeti2005]

Video also has me down on XIII now, as it looks like adventures of Wispy Hair Effeminate Emo Boy and Spunky Girl Vol 56.


I got the same feeling from the video. I'm hoping that type of stuff is very minor in the full version of the game.

[Tayaya]

I got the same feeling from the video. I'm hoping that type of stuff is very minor in the full version of the game.

Apparently I picked a terrible video to use as an example... I found many better ones but they are all pretty decent spoliers, even with the language barrier. Looking back at it, it really isn't a great example at all. I'll see what I can do to whip up a better one. Vanille does tend to act a little too bubbly through most (but not all) of the game, though... that part can't be helped.

[Karak]

Hi, I'm Commander Shepard, and this is my favorite face in the Citadel.

Indeed.
However, ME2 really fails when it comes to using 1k textures for the ENTIRE body and armor in ME2. At times you get some low res looking shit.
But Zaeed has character man, and perhaps for me its a mix of getting the look to match the person. So many games I laugh at when you have a rough and tumble sounding guy looking like a fem.
Zaeed is Zaeed in Zaeed goes to Frogtown:) The dude is amazing.

[Wraith]

Screenshots at Andriasang (http://www.andriasang.com/e/galleries/2010/02/03/heavy_rain/).

[Karak]

Screenshots at Andriasang (http://www.andriasang.com/e/galleries/2010/02/03/heavy_rain/).

I swear to god the OLD Sam Fisher shots before the newest Splinter Cell changed gears and the guy in those pics are the same fucker. Its uncanny. Or maybe I am just remembering wrong.

[Karak]

Demo is way cool.
Graphics were indeed a letdown compared to videos but still good.
Atmosphere was awesome! Love the teary eyed chick.

[Seika]

I think it looks great.
Man, I can't wait for this game, the demo is awesome.

[Disgustipated]

Day one, this game has style out the ass, and the gameplay is intriguing and fun. Definitely the kind of game you curl up to on a cold day and just lose yourself in.

[Spigot]

Good to hear. I haven't tried the demo and don't really want to ruin the feeling of going into the game fresh, but it's nice to hear positive impressions.

[violent]

Played the demo and I have to say, I need to know this story. Shelby alone sold me.

[Cactaur]

Feels like the adventure games of yore. And thats a good thing.

[rein]

Pretty awesome. Much better than I was expecting after reading previews about poor controls. I don't want to pay full price for a game like this because I am sure it's going to be pretty short but it is definitely staying in the Gamefly queue.

[Badger]

This is going to be an expensive film. Hmm, maybe if I get the DLC I can think of it as a box-set. There we are! Price justified and sold.

I absolutely love the atmosphere in this. The music and sound is perfect, and even if it is dialled a couple notches back it's still one of the best looking games this generation.

RE: The eyes, I see what you're saying and I think I figured out what was bugging me. It's nothing to do with textures, it's all animation. When someone pans their head around they don't stare at a fixed distance, their eyes rapidly snap from one point of interest to another. Of course that's an absolute truckload of tiny animation but I think it would be a step up on the other side of uncanny valley.

[edit] typo

[Spigot]

RE: The eyes, I see what you're saying and I think I figured out what was bugging me. It's nothing to do with textures, it's all animation. When someone pans their head around they don't stare at a fixed distance, their eyes rapidly snap from one point of interest to another. Of course that's an absolute truckload of tiny animation but I think it would be a step up on the other wide of uncanny valley.See, that's what I feel makes the eyes work in ME2. They very rarely just stare glassily into the middle distance. They're constantly tracking around, looking at little things or focusing on points of interest. Miranda aside, but that's more because she looks like a plastic doll in general than anything. Give me Dr. Chakwa any day :)

I haven't seen enough of Heavy Rain to make a decision one way or another but what I'd seen doesn't bug me, so unless things come across as being incredibly creepy in the retail version, I'll make due with a bit of uncanny valley.

[Yeti2005]

The demo was fun but I don't see a lot of replay value. I'm definitely renting it and I expect to enjoy it but I'm not going to buy the game.

[Badger]

See, that's what I feel makes the eyes work in ME2. They very rarely just stare glassily into the middle distance. They're constantly tracking around, looking at little things or focusing on points of interest. Miranda aside, but that's more because she looks like a plastic doll in general than anything. Give me Dr. Chakwa any day :)

I haven't seen enough of Heavy Rain to make a decision one way or another but what I'd seen doesn't bug me, so unless things come across as being incredibly creepy in the retail version, I'll make due with a bit of uncanny valley.

Yeah, I agree. Just realised my post might not be clear, to clarify: I believe that Heavy Rain suffers a bit in the eye animation department because it doesn't have that constant twitch / focus thing that ME does. This is about the biggest nag I could come up with because otherwise the faces look amazing, and the level of detail put into facial muscle animation to display subtle changes in thought or emotion is quite astounding.

I will most certainly be picking this up at some point, it's been a long time since I've played out a mystery story that is as engaging as this looks to be.

[menage]

They're constantly tracking around, looking at little things or focusing on points of interest. Miranda aside, but that's more because she looks like a plastic doll in general than anything. Give me Dr. Chakwa any day

Is that really the best one you could come up with:D Damn, I hate plastic but Miranda certainly is the best plastic I've seen.

[Karak]

RE: The eyes, I see what you're saying and I think I figured out what was bugging me. It's nothing to do with textures, it's all animation. When someone pans their head around they don't stare at a fixed distance, their eyes rapidly snap from one point of interest to another. Of course that's an absolute truckload of tiny animation but I think it would be a step up on the other side of uncanny valley.


Agreed. That is exactly what it is. It is the unfocused exact distance stare. Thanks for pointing it out because I wasn't so sure what it was, just that it was insanely wrong. All games are guilty of this not just ME2 or Heavy Rain or the others lately. And yes it probably takes a fucking boatload of work to do.

[Spigot]

Is that really the best one you could come up with:D Damn, I hate plastic but Miranda certainly is the best plastic I've seen.I know she's supposed to be hot and everything, but I can't look at her and not just feel creeped out. It's like she's a Real Doll come to life. A sentient Sexbot 9000 or something. I like my classy female Shepard a lot more :)

And what little I've seen of the ladies in Heavy Rain makes them seem quite realistic. I've always been rather bothered with CG humans that have flawless skin (see: Spirits Within). It's the blemishes and wrinkles and such that even young women have (believe it or not) that make them seem realistic. Maybe that's why I don't want my Shepard to heal her scars...

[Karak]

I know she's supposed to be hot and everything, but I can't look at her and not just feel creeped out. It's like she's a Real Doll come to life. A sentient Sexbot 9000 or something. I like my classy female Shepard a lot more :)

And what little I've seen of the ladies in Heavy Rain makes them seem quite realistic. I've always been rather bothered with CG humans that have flawless skin (see: Spirits Within). It's the blemishes and wrinkles and such that even young women have (believe it or not) that make them seem realistic. Maybe that's why I don't want my Shepard to heal her scars...

Thank god someone sees the Real Doll Miranda.
However, Heavy Rain is no better, and worse at other times.

[Gorvi]

The embargo is up, and, shockingly, all the reviews seem to be incredibly positive. Like I needed another game to add to the "buy this later" list.

EDIT:
Eurogamer: 9/10 (http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/heavy-rain-review)
IGN: 9.0 (http://ps3.ign.com/articles/106/1067755p1.html)
GamePro: 5/5 (http://www.gamepro.com/article/reviews/213908/heavy-rain/)
Game Informer: 9.5 (http://gameinformer.com/games/heavy_rain/b/ps3/archive/2010/02/10/review.aspx)
Examiner: 10 (http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-12218-Video-Game-Examiner~y2010m2d10-Review-Heavy-Rain-A-true-masterpeice-of-gaming)
1UP: A- (http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3177883)

Double Edit: Wraith, where are you seeing 80 on MetaCritic? It's at 91 right now.

[Wraith]

Destructoid (http://www.destructoid.com/review-heavy-rain-163165.phtml) gives it a 7/10.For its ambition and the genuinely exciting moments it provides, Heavy Rain is a good game. It had enough tools to be something truly spectacular, but its developers were unfortunately not up to the task. PS3 owners should definitely play it, and many will hail it as a classic, but anybody with an eye for a good story and a desire to not have their time wasted will be exasperated by the many slow chapters and the poor writing. Everybody should be able to have fun with it, and that is the most important part. It's just that the fun is accompanied by a sour aftertaste.

Ultimately, Heavy Rain is an experiment that both succeeded and failed, when it could easily have been a total success if the brains behind it weren't trying so hard to be smart and cared more about providing a sensible plot as opposed to a shocking one. As a game, Heavy Rain is pretty good for the most part. Heavy Rain is just damn lucky it isn't the movie that it wishes so badly to be. Everything posted on Metacritic (http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/ps3/heavyrain) so far is 80+.

[Yeti2005]

The embargo is up, and, shockingly, all the reviews seem to be incredibly positive. Like I needed another game to add to the "buy this later" list.

EDIT:
Eurogamer: 9/10 (http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/heavy-rain-review)
IGN: 9.0 (http://ps3.ign.com/articles/106/1067755p1.html)
GamePro: 5/5 (http://www.gamepro.com/article/reviews/213908/heavy-rain/)
Game Informer: 9.5 (http://gameinformer.com/games/heavy_rain/b/ps3/archive/2010/02/10/review.aspx)
Examiner: 10 (http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-12218-Video-Game-Examiner~y2010m2d10-Review-Heavy-Rain-A-true-masterpeice-of-gaming)
1UP: A- (http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3177883)

Double Edit: Wraith, where are you seeing 80 on MetaCritic? It's at 91 right now.

I predicted earlier that the game would be critically acclaimed however it won't sell well. Here's hoping people have an open mind on game purchases since I'd like to see more of these types of games.

[Wraith]

Double Edit: Wraith, where are you seeing 80 on MetaCritic? It's at 91 right now.I just meant the range. Lowest review was an 80. So the reviews were 80-100, averaging 91.

Though now there are a couple 70s listed (Destructoid, Games Radar), and a couple more 100s, and the average is 90.

[Farsight]

It's going to be a hard sell (ha!) at $60. The game practically screams, "low replay value". I really admire the attempt to try something this unique, I just don't think I could justify paying full price for it.

That said, I just saw the video that includes both a pretty brutal attack and a scene of the female lead showering and peeing... so the game should have something for everyone!

[Satertek]

I'm so tempted to go out and get this on day 1, but I know with it's limited replay value I'll regret that. Will most likely be patient and wait for GameFly.

[Handmade.Mercury]

Just because I've managed to make money rain from the sky in the past few months, I pre-ordered this.

[Purple Santa]

GamePro: 5/5 (http://www.gamepro.com/article/reviews/213908/heavy-rain/)


I feel validated in buying this game since Gamepro gave it 5/5.

[Spigot]

I don't care if it is short if it feels as satisfying as, say, an Ico or SotC.

I'm not saying from a gameplay perspective. I'm talking more from the narrative/emotional level. Those are both short and linear games but I gladly paid full price for them and don't regret it for a second.

[Gorvi]

I feel validated in buying this game since Gamepro gave it 5/5.
In the past I wouldn't even think of citing GamePro, but with John Davison running the show now, they've at least got some credibility.

[Purple Santa]

In the past I wouldn't even think of citing GamePro, but with John Davison running the show now, they've at least got some credibility.

When the hell did he take over? I thought he retired out of the mag biz to run some family games site or something. Damn, you mean I might have to read Gamepro now?

[Spigot]

When the hell did he take over? I thought he retired out of the mag biz to run some family games site or something. Damn, you mean I might have to read Gamepro now?He ran What They Play for a few years but took over GamePro late last year. I actually peruse their reviews from time to time now! :)

[Ink Asylum]

It's going to be a hard sell (ha!) at $60. The game practically screams, "low replay value". I really admire the attempt to try something this unique, I just don't think I could justify paying full price for it.

That said, I just saw the video that includes both a pretty brutal attack and a scene of the female lead showering and peeing... so the game should have something for everyone!

Odd, I imagine the game has high replay value since there are so many ways to play through the various scenes.

[Farsight]

Odd, I imagine the game has high replay value since there are so many ways to play through the various scenes.

Possibly, it depends on how substantive the differences are. If the effects of your actions not big enough, it could quickly becomes tedious to go through everything over and over (since the gameplay itself doesn't seem "fun" on its own) just for a new ending.

Still, if I had a PS3, I'd definitely want to check this game out. And if the PS3 had more "Heavy Rains" (unique, mature and interesting titles), I'd definitely have a PS3. I don't think I can give a game a much bigger compliment than that.

[TheEpicOfTyler]

Saw this posted on another forum and thought it was hillarious.

Anyone call the phone number on the wall by Blake in the 2nd investigation? I noticed it wasn't a 555 number so I gave it a shot, thinking it was a viral marketing thing.

Got real uncomfortable when an actual person answered.

[carnage11]

Just because I've managed to make money rain from the sky in the past few months, I pre-ordered this.

Yo, what's your secret?

[menage]

9/10 from Eurogamer.

Still not interested that much.

[SonofSeth]

Destructoid (http://www.destructoid.com/review-heavy-rain-163165.phtml) gives it a 7/10.Everything posted on Metacritic (http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/ps3/heavyrain) so far is 80+.

Yes, but Destructoid is like an angsty teenager of gamer blog sites. It's more about reading between the lines with them than reading the text.

[Gorvi]

Anything written by Jim Sterling should be disregarded without a second look. That goes for Destructoid as a whole, for the most party, but double for that waste of space.

[Yeti2005]

Yes, but Destructoid is like an angsty teenager of gamer blog sites. It's more about reading between the lines with them than reading the text.

I never read Destructoid but this part sounds pretty bad. I'm still going to rent it though because a good mystery / adventure games are in short supply.


You are made to believe that any one of your four characters could die at any moment, but that's not true. There are many sections that, no matter how hard you try and fail them, will always be completed successfully. Ethan, for example, must undergo a number of "trials" in order to save his son. They are dangerous and life-threatening and on the first play, you might believe Ethan is in danger. He is not. He cannot fail many of these sections. In fact, most of the time, you can simply put your controller on the floor and the game will play itself for you. In that regard, Quantic Dream most certainly created a movie experience.

[menage]

Yes, but Destructoid is like an angsty teenager of gamer blog sites. It's more about reading between the lines with them than reading the text.

Which would explain why they loved Dante's Inferno.

[Dukefrukem]

I never read Destructoid but this part sounds pretty bad. I'm still going to rent it though because a good mystery / adventure games are in short supply.

I agree. But when you break it down, if you can affect the way your character makes decisions, it's a lot like Bioware's games... with less ACTION scenes.

[Goronmon]

5 Reasons Why Heavy Rain Won’t Run On Xbox 360 (http://www.nowgamer.com/features/571/5-reasons-why-heavy-rain-wont-run-on-xbox-360)

[DangerousDaze]

There's an extremely positive review on Joystiq (http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/10/review-heavy-rain/).Heavy Rain is an experience that will have you unable to put down your controller from beginning to end, and you'll likely be looking back on what an amazing, unique and moving experience it was for years to come.

[Dukefrukem]

5 Reasons Why Heavy Rain Won’t Run On Xbox 360 (http://www.nowgamer.com/features/571/5-reasons-why-heavy-rain-wont-run-on-xbox-360)

lol

The Story Doesn’t Follow On From Halo 3

[Goronmon]

I wish the #5 reason was more of a joke. I happened to check a couple threads on the Amazon message board in the process of pre-ordering Final Fantasy XIII and was preplexed by how many people were complaining that Xbox 360 support was going to ruin the PS3 version for reasoning disturbingly close to "The 360 doesn't have enough graphics."

[Gorvi]

5 Reasons Why Heavy Rain Won’t Run On Xbox 360 (http://www.nowgamer.com/features/571/5-reasons-why-heavy-rain-wont-run-on-xbox-360)
That is too damn funny. :p

[Spigot]

Ha! Not enough graphics!

[Dukefrukem]

I wish the #5 reason was more of a joke. I happened to check a couple threads on the Amazon message board in the process of pre-ordering Final Fantasy XIII and was preplexed by how many people were complaining that Xbox 360 support was going to ruin the PS3 version for reasoning disturbingly close to "The 360 doesn't have enough graphics."

oh man... link me please!

[SonofSeth]

Just tried the demo. Besides controls that require some getting used to, I really liked the feel of it, the atmosphere and how well the more action oriented parts worked.

I missed couple of hits there and I was getting really into it, I was all shit shit shit, have to hit him now or he'll shank me, damn it. Good stuff, I say.

There is some uncanny valley there, but I'll choose to ignore that, I would rather enjoy the stunningly beautiful graphics. Man oh man, that close up while loading is just sick!

[evilgoodwin]

Yeah, I was panicking too. I kicked his ass, though.

Then I went into the options and saw that they set it to "Hard" automatically. That would explain why I kept falling down that hill...

[Wilkz07]

just played the demo and it was great. the trailer that loaded afterwards was had a terrible framerate.

the quality of the demo was going to make or break me keeping my pre-order. I'll be keeping it and can't wait to play the full version. The crime scene section was great and in the sleazy motel i tried to kill shelby by not giving him his inhaler but it wouldn't kill him.

[menage]

From the Destructoid thing

You are made to believe that any one of your four characters could die at any moment, but that's not true. There are many sections that, no matter how hard you try and fail them, will always be completed successfully. Ethan, for example, must undergo a number of "trials" in order to save his son. They are dangerous and life-threatening and on the first play, you might believe Ethan is in danger. He is not. He cannot fail many of these sections. In fact, most of the time, you can simply put your controller on the floor and the game will play itself for you. In that regard, Quantic Dream most certainly created a movie experience.

Is this actually true? Like the trying to kill Shelby thing by not giving his inhaler but it didn't work? Kinda weird to create a sense of danger only for it to be a facade. If nothing really matters what's the point of it being a game.

[SonofSeth]

From the Destructoid thing

Is this actually true? Like the trying to kill Shelby thing by not giving his inhaler but it didn't work? Kinda weird to create a sense of danger only for it to be a facade. If nothing really matters what's the point of it being a game.

That's really stupid thing to say, what's the point of any game when you can just reload as many times you need to beat the part where you are dying.

And if you didn't notice by now, this is an adventure game. I don't remember ever reading you will have freedom to do EVERYTHING you think off, but you will have choices in how you approach most situations.

If you want clever ways of killing your character, go play Sims.

[menage]

That's really stupid thing to say, what's the point of any game when you can just reload as many times you need to beat the part where you are dying.

And if you didn't notice by now, this is an adventure game. I don't remember ever reading you will have freedom to do EVERYTHING you think off, but you will have choices in how you approach most situations.

If you want clever ways of killing your character, go play Sims.

First off, chill out, did I bite you in the ass or what.

If it doesn't really matter what you do when a scene plays out it's seems pointless to do it, or am I missing something.

And the whole point about consequence in a game (which they flaunted like a mf for months) is not reloading to see what happens next, if that's predetermined no matter what you do it's useless and a fraud.

I just asked if this was true, I didn;t imply it was, read. befoire you throw a fanboy fit.

[SonofSeth]

I shall throw my fanboy fits as I see fit ;) but if you say stupid things be ready to be treated like an idiot.


P.S. I always forget how serious everything "sounds" when all you have to go on is text

[OldJadedGamer]

Played the demo and liked the game way more than I thought I would. The QTE are nicely done and the character facial animations are really good. Loved the music too. I ran into a bug where I fell out of the world though and couldn't continue. Was climbing up the hill and at the top of the hill fell through :(

[menage]

I shall throw my fanboy fits as I see fit ;) but if you say stupid things be ready to be treated as an idiot.

I didn't say stupid things, I was responding to the post above me, and the main part was about the Destructoid comment which related to "it doesn't matter what you do, the story's going to follow this line regardless" vibe I got from it.

Maybe I used the word kill innapropiately, but that's because another poster used in relation to Shelby not giving his inhaler. My point wasn't to imply that I could kill him, but seems to me that it doesn't really matter if you give him his damned inhaler or not, which would make the exercise of doing it at all pointless.

I would be intersted more if it would create a different scene, but doing shit just to press some buttons while watching a linear movie isn't really adding anything for me. And to come back to the whole point, Is that really the case with this game?

[SonofSeth]

No it isn't. Main story arc is more or less predetermined for the game to be able to play out, but where the magic happens is in the little things and those smaller set pieces determine the way you get to the end, not what end you get to.

[menage]

Cool, that's all I wanted to know:)

Kinda weird they would say that then. They sounded like it didn't matter one bit.

[Karak]

I didn't say stupid things, I was responding to the post above me, and the main part was about the Destructoid comment which related to "it doesn't matter what you do, the story's going to follow this line regardless" vibe I got from it.

Maybe I used the word kill innapropiately, but that's because another poster used in relation to Shelby not giving his inhaler. My point wasn't to imply that I could kill him, but seems to me that it doesn't really matter if you give him his damned inhaler or not, which would make the exercise of doing it at all pointless.

I would be intersted more if it would create a different scene, but doing shit just to press some buttons while watching a linear movie isn't really adding anything for me. And to come back to the whole point, Is that really the case with this game?
:)
Your post was fine. And has been asked by many others as well. And yes it it does at times make no sense when and where someone can be killed. But the game is very fun 1 time through. It should be played at least rented, just to give a good look at a movie/game. Its really a nice difference.

[mister slim]

Is this actually true? Like the trying to kill Shelby thing by not giving his inhaler but it didn't work? Kinda weird to create a sense of danger only for it to be a facade. If nothing really matters what's the point of it being a game.

I think it depends on whether you care about the characters or not. If you want to watch Shelby get his ass kicked in the demo you can just do nothing and the scene ends with Lauren chasing the thug off by threatening to call the cops. The goal of the scene, to get on Lauren's good side, is accomplished either way. It comes down to whether what happens to the character matters to you. I would prefer Shelby not be badly hurt so I was invested in his victory. If someone doesn't care about Shelby, the branching in the scene doesn't matter.

[menage]

:)
Your post was fine. And has been asked by many others as well. And yes it it does at times make no sense when and where someone can be killed. But the game is very fun 1 time through. It should be played at least rented, just to give a good look at a movie/game. Its really a nice difference.

I will, at one point, there's no rentals here in Holland (stupid shit), so I wil pick it up when it hits 20 or so. It's a Sony game, so it might take a while probably.

Creating a consistent death/life/damage cycle in game has almost never been pulled of very well. You can take hundreds of hits in a level only to be killed by some punch in a cutscene in a lot of games. But this game at least should aim for an accurate potrayal, seeing as how storybased and realistic it really is.

I think it depends on whether you care about the characters or not. If you want to watch Shelby get his ass kicked in the demo you can just do nothing and the scene ends with Lauren chasing the thug off by threatening to call the cops. The goal of the scene, to get on Lauren's good side, is accomplished either way. It comes down to whether what happens to the character matters to you. I would prefer Shelby not be badly hurt so I was invested in his victory. If someone doesn't care about Shelby, the branching in the scene doesn't matter.

See, I don't know if that will be enough for me to really be interested in it. The scene conclusion plays out the same, even if you win or lose. Doesn't seem really involving in the long run, and certainly not for a second playthrough. There isn't much room for actually influencing the story that way, which is the part why I would play this over a another adventure with a universe that appeals to me some more. Especially after all the claims about how charaters could die and the story would go on having vast repercussions later on, this seems a bit weak.

[Spigot]

I watched the mall scene last night and that sealed the deal for me. As a father who has had his kid wander away in the mall like that, it was very hard to watch that scene without revisiting that sinking pit of fear that you feel when your child vanishes like that. The dramatic finale held nothing on the search through the crowd.

[Widgetcraft]

I just played the demo, and I have to say that while I was initially skeptical during the tutorial, it won me over in the hotel scene. It seems like an excellent evolution of the adventure genre, and I'm totally into it!

[danhoo]

I found the demo...interesting. *** demo spoilers? *** The Shelby sequence was nicely done (it was very weird, however, to "recognize" the virtual actress from the old 'audition' demo Quantic did long ago). The crime scene sequence, however, initially seemed kinda short and pointless -- I just stumbled around for a while, looked at the body and left. I figured that couldn't have been it, and then realized that the default gamma settings are really dark on my TV, so I cranked it up, and tried again. When I could actually see, I was able to tell there was more to the area behind the train tracks and was able to do a bit more sleuthing. Almost, but not quite, a little bit of an "ah-ha!" moment.

I'm still not entirely sure this is going to be my kind of game, but I do want to support developers trying something other than the usual fare, so I'll probably pick this up.

[Widgetcraft]

Yeah, I had gamma issues too. That is a common problem with PS3 games and my TV, for whatever reason.

[Orca]

I wish someone would come up with a solution for games with fixed camera angles, so the angle switching wouldn't leave you suddenly walking back the way you came...creating another angle switch so you turn back around. It's disappointing to be prowling through the environment and getting into the game's atmosphere, then suddenly it turns into a Benny Hill skit where your character is walking in a circle.

[TheEpicOfTyler]

I wish someone would come up with a solution for games with fixed camera angles, so the angle switching wouldn't leave you suddenly walking back the way you came...creating another angle switch so you turn back around. It's disappointing to be prowling through the environment and getting into the game's atmosphere, then suddenly it turns into a Benny Hill skit where your character is walking in a circle.

...?

Heavy Rain has this solution. The only way you're walking in circles is if you're doing it. That was one of the main issues they tackled with this control scheme if I remember correctly.

[Orca]

...?

Heavy Rain has this solution. The only way you're walking in circles is if you're doing it. That was one of the main issues they tackled with this control scheme if I remember correctly.

There have been a couple times in the game where I've had it switch camera angles and suddenly he's walking the opposite direction I want him to go. I don't know if there were any in the demo, but there definitely are in the full game.

[johnperkins21]

...?

Heavy Rain has this solution. The only way you're walking in circles is if you're doing it. That was one of the main issues they tackled with this control scheme if I remember correctly.

Only if you release the joystick once you pick a direction. I found it easier to hold the joystick in the direction I wanted to go, and smoothly move it in a circle to change directions, as pointing in a specific direction never really worked properly.

[Dukefrukem]

holy fuck.. the demo is spec-fuckin-tacular.

[Hawkzombie]

The Demo killed my PS3 (http://www.colonyofgamers.com/cogforums/showthread.php?t=15612) :p

[divinechaos]

This, to me, is one of those games that will be better if I play it once and never worry about it again. The first play through the demo was awesome, the second... Not so much because I was trying to see how much freedom I actually had and how the story would change if I said different things; But it didn't change much.

Not letting Shelby use the inhaler did not lead to anything, I tried to NOT help the girl but that couldn't be done. With the FBI guy, I tried to not be as thorough with the clues but I could not leave the scene of the crime because "there were still things that I needed to check out."

I know that it's impossible for a game to let me do anything I want but for some reason I thought this game was SUPPOSED to be like that. Oh, well, the graphics weren't that impressive so I won't miss playing it.

[Dukefrukem]

the graphics weren't that impressive so I won't miss playing it.

ummm wut? did yo see how accurate th faces were in the dialog?? Better than Mass Effect 2 by far!

[divinechaos]

ummm wut? did yo see how accurate th faces were in the dialog?? Better than Mass Effect 2 by far!

I beg to differ. In Heavy Rain the characters rarely move their eyes around, always are blankly staring into nothing and when the girl from the hotel stopped speaking she would leave her mouth open, which I guess makes sense since she was a hooker. It might have been a demo thing, but often characters did NOT cast shadows when they were clearly standing in front of a light source.

I was more impressed by Uncharted's graphics than Heavy Rain.

Ed: I'm judging the game by the demo because I refuse to pay $60 for a game that requires me to hold down R2 to walk and wants to throw a QTE at me for going up a hill, open a door, put on glasses and use an inhaler.

[menage]

ummm wut? did yo see how accurate th faces were in the dialog?? Better than Mass Effect 2 by far!

So were comparing a dynamic shooter/ RPG where you even have the possibility to alter ones face with a static adventure now. Sure it looks better in the facial dep. cause they could use the power there, they didn't have to use it in other departments, like team ai and such.

Heavy Rain looks great, but it's apples and oranges. My preference is ME2 for art direction alone btw. I think it's one of the best looking games in existence, maybe not technically, but in pure eye candy and impact.

[Handmade.Mercury]

There have been a couple times in the game where I've had it switch camera angles and suddenly he's walking the opposite direction I want him to go. I don't know if there were any in the demo, but there definitely are in the full game.

Do you have an advance copy, or something? And the only way in Heavy Rain for a camera angle switch to change your direction is if you're holding the analog stick in a certain direction. They assumed that you were NOT going to do this, since all you need to do is hold R2 to walk.

[Handmade.Mercury]

Not letting Shelby use the inhaler did not lead to anything,

Yeah, that kind of sucks.

I tried to NOT help the girl but that couldn't be done.

It CAN be done. Just go down the stairs instead of knocking on the door. Simple as that.

With the FBI guy, I tried to not be as thorough with the clues but I could not leave the scene of the crime because "there were still things that I needed to check out."

I might be wrong, but I think that only happens if you look at a clue that obviously warrants more investigating. If you just kinda walk around and look at stupid clues, again, I might be wrong, you might be able to leave.

[menage]

Do you have an advance copy, or something? And the only way in Heavy Rain for a camera angle switch to change your direction is if you're holding the analog stick in a certain direction. They assumed that you were NOT going to do this, since all you need to do is hold R2 to walk.

Wasn't there a button in the demo that did this, I remember Shelby being viewed from the front and back by the push of a button or something.


It CAN be done. Just go down the stairs instead of knocking on the door. Simple as that.

Ehm, I can also switch of the console:D

[Handmade.Mercury]

Wasn't there a button in the demo that did this, I remember Shelby being viewed from the front and back by the push of a button or something.

Yeah, pressing L1 changes the camera angle, but your character shouldn't suddenly turn around and walk in circles unless you were also holding the analog stick.

[Dukefrukem]

So were comparing a dynamic shooter/ RPG where you even have the possibility to alter ones face with a static adventure now. Sure it looks better in the facial dep. cause they could use the power there, they didn't have to use it in other departments, like team ai and such.

Heavy Rain looks great, but it's apples and oranges. My preference is ME2 for art direction alone btw. I think it's one of the best looking games in existence, maybe not technically, but in pure eye candy and impact.

I was talking about the sync of the lips. Not the polygons of the face.

[Orca]

Do you have an advance copy, or something? And the only way in Heavy Rain for a camera angle switch to change your direction is if you're holding the analog stick in a certain direction. They assumed that you were NOT going to do this, since all you need to do is hold R2 to walk.

Yeah. The problem I had was in areas like apartments or alleys where I'd be walking around guiding him to try and find prompts. Angle switches will almost always cause a pirouette when you're doing that.

You rarely just walk in a straight line. You're almost always moving around to see various things.

[civil]

Man. Played the private detective part of the demo, loved the atmosphere and it feels like the story would be intriguing. But I'm hesitant to shell out money for this (I have $65 in Amazon credit) as I can easily see it being very linear with some variations and also incredibly short; an 8 hour game just doesn't seem like it's worth $60 anymore. It might have gone from "Day One" to "Rent" based on the demo.

[mightbe]

Am I the only one that watched the trailers and wished for a more interesting setting?

Make a Law & Order or Leverage game like this and I'm so fucking down. But random folks I can't seem to care about just make me go "meh".

[Spigot]

Well, that's the job of the game, to get you to care about them.

[Yeti2005]

So who's actually going to buy this game vs. rent it? This game looks great, I love adventure games, but I'm definitely renting it.

[Dukefrukem]

Man. Played the private detective part of the demo, loved the atmosphere and it feels like the story would be intriguing. But I'm hesitant to shell out money for this (I have $65 in Amazon credit) as I can easily see it being very linear with some variations and also incredibly short; an 8 hour game just doesn't seem like it's worth $60 anymore. It might have gone from "Day One" to "Rent" based on the demo.

Play the section section as the FBI agent. That's what GOT me.

So who's actually going to buy this game vs. rent it? This game looks great, I love adventure games, but I'm definitely renting it.

I'm buying it. 100%

[menage]

Bargain bin

[Gorvi]

I'll buy it, but not for a while. And not before I get around to buying inFAMOUS, Assassin's Creed 2, and Bioshock 2 at the very least.

[Spigot]

I'm buying it. It's probably the game I'm most excited to play this year... yes, even moreso than FFXIII.

[DangerousDaze]

Definite buy. This will even interrupt anything else I might be playing upon release.

[Dukefrukem]

I'll buy it, but not for a while. And not before I get around to buying inFAMOUS, Assassin's Creed 2, and Bioshock 2 at the very least.

That puts you in Q1-2011 Gorvi. ;)

[Yeti2005]

I'll buy it, but not for a while. And not before I get around to buying inFAMOUS, Assassin's Creed 2, and Bioshock 2 at the very least.

That actually might be the way to go. Instead of renting it, like I was planning, I could buy it for cheap later on and still feel like I supported the devs.

[Gorvi]

That puts you in Q1-2011 Gorvi. ;)
You joke, but that's probably not too far from the truth. :p

That's the pattern I've fallen in to now, and I don't mind it: I'll buy a few games at launch that I really want then buy the other stuff that I don't have time for later on for cheap. It worked out damn well last year with Dead Space, Mirror's Edge, Prince of Persia, Assassin's Creed, The Orange Box, and I know there's others I'm forgetting.

[Spigot]

The nice thing about the game is that it seems somewhat short and bite-sized. I can play it around the other, bigger games I'm currently working on without feeling like I am dropping one big game for another.

[Blue]

I'll buy this eventually, I'm just going to wait until it's around the $20 mark. The demo was decent and left me curious but ultimately underwhelmed and I don't see much room for replay especially after seeing that your actions really don't tweak things nearly as much as what was originally hinted at.

[civil]

Play the section section as the FBI agent. That's what GOT me.
Bah. Last time I listened to you I put aside Darksiders for ME2 and was so tainted by the experience I couldn't even finish Darksiders afterward.

[Elrik Murder]

I'll be getting it. Anyone preordering from Amazon to get the bonus episode?

[civil]

I'll be getting it. Anyone preordering from Amazon to get the bonus episode?
Aw fuck! I wasn't, but now I might. :(