Before even attempting to play Heavy Rain, I had to get the memories of Dragon’s Lair and Space Ace out of my head. Interactive games began to pop up at arcades back in the day with the development of the laser disc. Fortunately for us, they also ended up the same way the laser disc did. For me, playing a game based on trial and error is annoying and should, by no means, be considered a game. So with this in mind I was very reserved about how I would view Heavy Rain.

After the first few hours of HR, I still felt the same way. The pacing was slow and tedious, and the button sequences for interacting with objects and moving them around was getting annoying. But after painstakingly getting through the introduction and completing the demo missions, Heavy Rain started to grab my attention.

The story picks up and continues at a far better pace. Although some scenes seemed a bit short towards the end, they all tie in well to the plot and make for an enjoyable experience. Each character has his or her own mannerisms and personality, which really brings them to life. This is very important in keeping the player attached to the story and it was done well. I finished the game in 3 sittings because I had to see what was going to happen next. For someone who doesn’t enjoy games like this, I was glued to it. Some scenarios were completely unexpected and they all just added to the intriguing story.

On the gameplay side of things, everything worked out well, but with flaws. The controls are spot on and responsive, but some of the button sequences are ridiculous. There was more than one occasion when I had to use my nose or tongue to press a button. Also, some scenes had too much to interact with in a small area, and I found myself performing the wrong action and or grabbing the wrong object. Just a few minor tweaks to make before the next chapter.

HR is surely not the epic interactive drama we hoped for, but it is a unique game that deserves, at the least, one playthrough. If you’re into obscure games such as Ico or Shadow of the Colossus, this is a good one to pick up, but if action is your forte, Heavy Rain is better left alone.

Heavy Rain, the first game of its kind, combines the depth of a movie with the control of a game.  HR is a psychological thriller that uses button combos to control the life-altering decisions of the player. Sounds boring, right? Surprisingly, it’s not.

You play as one of four main characters that are all intertwined in the story. As the story progresses you cycle through the characters and the story very slowly begins to unfold. Ethan, one of these main characters is left searching for his son who has been kidnapped by the illusive Origami Killer. With the help of detective Shelby, Madison the journalist, and Norman the FBI agent who uses ARI (added reality interface) glasses to search for DNA and store clues found on crime scenes throughout the game, the hunt for the Origami Killer begins. While the voice acting may not have been “movie-quality,” you start to really identify with the characters and actually feel emotion as you would in a real movie.

Graphically, Quantic Dream outdid themselves bringing realism not seen in any other game. The sound and music immersed and set the tone for this dark drama. Controls, although different from most games, became very intuitive shortly after starting. Actions and movement in HR, being controlled by different combinations of button presses, varied from simple to complex having to contort my fingers and even use my nose to press five different buttons.

HR was a unique experience, Quantic Dream set the standard in this new genre and may be a hard act to follow.  HR, while it may not be for everyone, is certainly a great experience and worth a play-through.

I really didn’t know what to think when firing up Heavy Rain, I mean, I was intrigued by the concept of an “Interactive Drama” or movie as a game, but could Quantic Dream really pull it off? Would I care about any of the characters enough to want to continue the story? And why the hell am I pushing a child on a swing in my new $64 purchase?

Luckily, after a couple of incredibly boring scenes, these questions, as well as HR’s story began to reveal themselves in a way I’ve honestly never seen before in a game. Other then Commander Shepherd from the recently released Mass Effect 2, I haven’t felt so emotionally attached to a character as I was with HR’s Ethan Mars. Without ruining any of the story, let’s just say Ethan will do anything for what he believes, and QD did a fantastic job making me want to continue his seemingly neverending quest his given by the Origami Killer. And it’s not only Ethan; all four (that’s right, four) playable characters brought something unique to HR’s story. Whether it’s the sexy journalist Madison Paige, the cool headed FBI agent Norman Jayden, or the lovable detective Scott Shelby, after a few chapters with each, it didn’t matter who I was playing; I cared about them all.

On to the gameplay: like Jason, I also wound up giving my PS3 controller “the tongue” during some button pressing segments. Not that this is a bad thing, but I really didn’t plan on licking my PS3 paddle. On a whole, controls are good and work well enough to not frustrate you, although I hated shifting the controller left and right. I can’t speak for everyone but when I watch a movie, I try to move as little as possible (especially during an interactive drama).

As for replay value, HR offers players multiple endings and story outcomes to keep you busy but that’s about it. You’ll be able to load any chapter you want, so a second playthrough isn’t needed. You can also change the outcome of any sequence by quickly exiting to the main menu and continuing your game. This can possibly be a glitch QD wanted to keep out, but I happily took advantage.

In the end, I just can’t give HR my full recommendation for $60. Do I think everyone should experience it? It’s so unique that the answer is yes - but unique in a Primal Fear or Silence of the Lambs type way. Although both are great movies, how often do you have the urge to sit down and watch them? Exactly. Give HR a rent instead, this storm passes rather quickly.