In a city on the east coast of the United States for many years disappear in the fall children. These are 3 to 5 days later drowned found in rainwater with always demgleichen ritual. An orchid on the chest and an origami figure in the hand. The police groping in the dark, there is no evidence as to the identity or the motive of the so-called Origami Killer. The player assumes alternately the roles of the four main characters. Ethan Mars is a successful career, leading a good life with his wife and children in a posh architect-designed house. His life runs perfectly until it comes to a tragic family accident. Two years later there is a new family drama, where his son was likely kidnapped by the Origami Killer. In the role of Ethan Mars It is now up to the player to save his son. Furthermore, is a private investigator who employs exploring on your own, trying to catch the Origami Killer. The third playable person is a drug addict Fed. It supports the investigation by the local police and has access to various high-tech examination equipment. The fourth person is a young reporter whose motive until almost the end of the game is secret.
Impressive in Heavy Rain is the freedom with which it gets to do the players. Every action has an impact on the further progress of the story. Time, only a dialogue or even change a chapter to an end sooner or later. In the worst case even die one or more persons throughout the innings. And even then continues the game and does not end with a "Game over" - screen! Although it is partially but mandatory when which people can die, even though that person is currently in a very dangerous situation, but this then frees itself auomatisch. However, you do not notice this in the 1st round and is thus driven but knowing when a person can die. Each person can sometimes more, sometimes less take risk in the search for the missing child. This results in an enormous replay value, because the game has 18 different endings and can be changed in almost all chapters. Basically one moves his character with the left analog stick, with R2 you go slow or fast. The right analog stick is probably the most important input method. With it, one leads to the movements on the screen as they are displayed. These actions depend on the situation. Otherwise, you can still choose between two camera angles. In battle passages which consist of Quick Time Events, it also happens that the Sixaxis function must be used. Unlike Quick Time Events from other games, there is no winning or losing, but the game keeps running and therefore takes a different course. It is also not always disastrous, if you take missed a command. Unlike Fahrenheit you have the QTE not approach again what the frustration level holds very far down. By pressing the L2 button, it is also possible at any time to know the thoughts of the person, which is useful, because that you always know what to do next. This function also helps immensely in order to identify with the character, because as we learn more about the emotions of each character.
The graph suffers occasionally tearing, confident but with detailed environments and mostly sharp textures, as well as the most impressive human persons who has been offered a video game. Each figure was simulated by actors and motion capture recordings. The result are very real animation, facial expressions and gestures, which were displayed on the PS3 so far in any game so real. In particular, the four main characters impress with a magnificent mimicry, so that these people act absolutely human. But even minor characters boast an excellent facial expressions and gestures. Furthermore, the titular rain gets a major role graphically. Raindrops on cars and faces look phenomenally realistic. The soundtrack was recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London and is always fit for players, support the risk or calm a situation and is just terrific, because it increases the drama considerably. This is further supported by a very good German synchronization, which is almost always lip-sync. The game also runs in DTS 5.1. Unfortunately, there is gelegentich short tone error at the beginning of a chapter. For this reason, two patches were released, which should prevent this from happening. Unfortunately, this is not always the case, but they do not occur on a regular basis, which is why it does not harm the atmosphere. Commendable also is the chapter selection. This one can "jump in" in a chapter after 1 innings to try there, "What if?". Here you can choose whether you want to save the game, to continue automatically the next time at this location without saving wants to play the scene.
Heavy Rain builds by these factors on an extremely dense atmosphere, as they existed in any game so far. The people do not act unreal, but are human, so you can identify very well with them. This results in so far that the player thinks automatically, would be or suffers with, if the person is in danger. Especially in the role of the father who gives everything to save his son, Heavy Rain is very serious and is playing with the emotions of the player. It's a roller coaster ride of emotions, because the people are as mentioned above, very real and very human act. It even happens that the player may at times have stressed from the action, because the game calls in tricky situations the player and usually never stays long time to think, because it can be a matter of life and death. Apart from the different ends and action methods motivate trophies and unlocking concept images and making-of videos.
Conclusion: Quantic Dream is actually managed with Heavy Rain to provide a cinematic, interactive drama on its feet, which maintains the player not only dazzling but also stimulates thought and the player raises the question of how far you would go to someone save the one you love. This answer to this question can only know yourself. And that's something that Heavy Rain makes the most unique game in 2010 and for the courage to such a game gets Quantic Dream my utmost respect. A fantastic gaming experience that there are so very rarely.
Other comments: HDD Installation size: 4 GB, HD-resolution 720p