Probably not the best game for a preschool teacher in Portland, OR to be playing at this time of year—but I have to say this is the first game I have encountered to engage me on such a direct emotional level. I highly recommend this for gamers who can perceive "mature" as something other than tits ass and blood.

It's difficult to comprehend how good this game is. Heavy Rain allows you to take on a completely new style of play so in depth and it is backed up with a strong plot to boot. Game of the Year by a mile for me because although not as immediately entertaining as say Mass Effect ,Call of Duty or God of War, those who stick with Heavy Rain will realise for a 10 hour game, it is 10 hours they have spent well on an experience like no other in gaming history since... well ever. Ultimately it is the way it grasps you from when your son is kidnapped at the start of the game that drifts away from 'just a game' to film-noire, and it is so excellently well done. It is very important that you play this game, because in 5 or 10 years time, game developers will attempt to copy Heavy Rain and most will most likely not hold a candle to it. Heavy Rain is the most innovative game of the 21st century so far and is going to be the prototype for the next step in gaming.… Expand

If I wanted an interactive experience where my actions and choices were reflected in the story, a chose your own adventure book would have done the job far better than this game. Graphics aren't everything and all the game achieves is to be a semi interactive movie that has mind numbingly dumb plots.

I don't think I've ever been this split on a game. I enjoyed the story half the time, and loathed it the other half. It's the strangest combination of terrible and fantastic dialogue and plot twists. I think I had the most issues with Madison because her character was inconsistent and was the source of the dumber parts of the story (psychopath ex-surgeon drug dealer anyone?). The controls were either fine or terrible, especially in some of Ethan's segments. Due to a control glitch (I think) Jayden got killed. Right before the end too. As far as vocal performances go, I'm not even sure what to say. Each character had great acting, but at some part of the game, each one of them had terrible deliveries. I'm kind of split on this one. I can't recommend buying it, but it's worth a rental I guess.… Expand

Amazing! Absolutely Amazing. This is the second best game I have ever Played! (second only to Uncharted 2: Among Thieves). Every aspect of Heavy Rain is perfect, the story was engaging and thoroughly interesting, with the Origami killer's identity a must-know after about 3 hours of gameplay. The campaign itself will take about 8-10 hours to complete, and every minute is amazing. The only criticism would fall on the slow start, but, once the main plot focus begins, you will have to fight yourself away from the game, because its a true gaming revolution. Sure the interactive play isn't as interactive as you might want, but who cares. This game is as close to perfect as you can currently get (not forgetting Uncharted 2). Buy it! BUY IT NOW! It's money well spent! Can't wait for Heavy Rain 2 (and Uncharted 3)!… Expand

Awful. Just pure and simple. I can't seem to find any reason to justify this games existance. It's pretty er... pretty... But thats it. Okay, imagine playing one long ass cutscene, and being able to kind-of-sort-of direct what a character does. Not that fufilling. Now alot of people are gonna call me an Xbot ebcause I don't like paying $60 for a shit movie. But I don't own an Xbox and I don't care to spend $250 to get another few game options. I've played this game twice to the ending and I still haven't enjoyed it. Okay, let's compare it to other, better games. In terms of CSI type gameplay. Phoenix Wright has better writing and cases. When it comes to what you may call "gameplay" just play the knife scene from resident evil 4 4-5 times. This game was just not good. Bad game, bad movie, just bad.… Expand

A superb title. QuanticDream succeeds in creating an intense and bleak atmosphere. Where a tiny bit of the acting can sometimes fall a little short(only for some of the characters, a lot of them were mostly well-done), this is one of the few games I can think of in recent history that makes you genuinely care if the characters live or die. A few of the characters weren't completely fleshed out as much as QuanticDream would have liked(a lot wasn't persay discussed about Madison or Norman, but they were still cool characters), but most characters seemed mostly developed. There are some critics that for some reason think the story is lackluster(such as Destructoid's own big fat guy, Jim Sterling), but obviously these kinds of critics come off as pretentious, as the story itself is mostly well-written. There are a few plot-holes, but that doesn't make the story bad in anyway, it just makes it not perfect. I personally thought the gameplay was really intriguing, as most of it is either walking around investigating the area or a series of action-packed quick-time-events...which I suppose wouldn't appeal to the "I LOVE CALL OF DUTY" twitch shooter guys, but that's OK because this game isn't for everyone. BUT, I can honestly say that this is a game like no other. Never before does a game pull you into the characters like this game does, nor can I think of too many games in recent history that give you the same kind of adrenaline rush that this game does. The game can be depressing, but in a very beautiful and artistic way. The game also LOOKS fantastic. One of the best looking console games so far. It has a few minor flaws, but for the most part it looks excellent. I've rambled on long enough. Anyone that is willing to look at games in a different light and aren't expecting a typical shooter or typical game really... should go and give this a try. I feel this is a game that should be played and discussed. At the very least, rent it. But if you want to support unique games that rely on more than what most games typically provide, I suggest you go out and buy a copy of Heavy Rain. How far would you go to save someone you love?… Expand

A hollow game that only has its graphics going for it. The story is generic, the characters are unmemorable and the twist ill-conceived. As someone who was looking forward to the game for the better part of the year, I knew to expect passive gameplay and tedious tasks but didn't expect to be left with such a poorly written story and unmoving experience. Being teased with the promise of choice only to discover that most of the scenes will end with the same conclusion was perhaps the most upsetting aspect of the game. The unimaginative, average-at-best story was a close second.… Expand

If you talk away the "interactive" aspect of the game, all you'll get is an interesting story with even more uninteresting characters. Oh and here's something else to make you not buy the game. In one scene that lasts about, say, five minutes, you don't have to touch the controller... AT ALL. You could fail at every QTE, get stabbed and you still won't die, I've tried. However, the scenes completely pointless anyhow because if you DO fail, it was a dream anyhow. Haaaaaaaa, I hate humanity.… Expand

Wow, what a disappointment. Pretty, but not much else. The gameplay leaves much to be desired, as it involves just watching a movie with a few correlating button presses as indicated on-screen. Is this what gaming has come to? This isn't art, this is a failed attempt at trying to be different, and ultimately ending up with nothing more than a shiny frisby disc for your dog.

I am honestly surprised at how high the metascore is for this game. I can only believe that all of the reviewers out there gave their rating before completing the game. Heavy Rain is an okay game, but that's about the best I can say for it. The character animations are ridiculous in places. The game has lots of glitches and clipping errors. It locked up my PS3 at one point, and at at the end of the game my character was stuck in one spot for the better part of 10 minutes. What's worse, is that this "game" is an interactive movie that should revolve around a well-designed plot. If the plot, script and acting were decent... it would be an amazing experience. The plot is full of holes, however, with many of the attempts at shock-and-awe coming off as just cheesy. So many events happen in the game with little or no plausible explanation. Things just happen and you are left to either accept the fallible event at face value, or quit playing. The game is not without it's good points... and may well be worth the first playthrough. I was moderately pleased that the ending did surprise me somewhat, but there is little shock in that when the game was full of so many plot holes that it would be impossible to make heads or tales of it. So in the end... it was moderately enjoyable for a first playthrough, but it also has many many issues. I fully expect the gaming communities opinions on this title to change in the month(s) to come post-release.… Expand

Awesome awesome game, one that will revolutionize the gaming industry for sure. I'm a filmaker and I love a good movie and a good plot. If you love suspense...get the game...of you can appreciate superb graphics and realism in a game...then this is a game for you. iF you are a hardcore gamer who only play games like God of WAr and other action oriented intense button smashing games...stay away. THis is something new and it will take some getting ajusywd to the mechanics. I called out from work and picked this game up and I am beyond satisfied. The story is compelling and the replay value gets high points from me as I cannot wait to replay it over and over again and have different outcomes.there really isn't much of anything negative to say here other than again if you're open minded and don't have an attention deficit disorder then you will love this game. Most users on here who score it low, in my opinion scored it low on there minds before they ever played it and when they did the mechanics confused the he'll out of them. I will be eagarly anticipating future updates and a sequel.… Expand

Wow. I don't think i've been so stunned at how incredibly dull a game is. Heavy Rain is one of those silly critics favourite games that only attains critical acclaim because it 'juxtaposes the intricacies of suburban life with the...' blah blah blah. Dull for hours and hours, poor controls, the movement is woeful and the characters are awful, not to mention to voice acting which makes Arnie and JCVD look class. The father character is one of the worst videogame characters ive ever come across, i ended up trying to kill myself in the game he was such a tool. Heavy Rain has shown me a distrubing direction for gaming and i hope this is avoided, its an even poorer videogame version of the Saw films. Admittedly it has an addictive value and is tempting to continue playing but with depressing storylines and blandness throughout i'd strongly advise just a rental, purely in order to say wow this is atrocious.… Expand

A really dreadful "game." And I'm being pretty charitable calling this a game in the first place. It's really more of an interactive cgi film. I thought at first to call it a "choose your own adventure" novel, but it's not even that interesting. The narrative chugs along more-or-less regardless of what "choices" you make or how you "play." At some point, it becomes clear that if you choose to simply watch and not mash buttons and the game encourages you to do, it will more or less roll along and accomplish what it wants. It's a game for people who'd really rather see a movie, and frankly, it's not even a very good movie. Easily the dreariest most depressing story I've ever been subjected to--luckily, you can finish it in a weekend.… Expand

The controls are rubbish. When I say bad, this does not do it justice. The controls are HORRIBLE. Almost not playable bad. Than we have the glitches that get you totally out of the story. People floating in the air when you talk to them... really floating... And the low resolution textures look absolutely last gen. This game is more like a bad B movie. You think you will at least have SOME fun but you will not. You will be frustrated and bring the game back to the store.… Expand

Bad acting, weird facial animation, absurd and cliche story. How are we supposed to feel concern about what's happening on screen. I finally understand how overestimated it was, when I had this reflex to skip the cut-scene. But well, I couldn't, because the whole game is a bad cut-scene.

Came in knowing very little about the game and wish I had stayed completely oblivious. I just beat my first play through and whole heartedly recommend that this game be skipped. where to begin, controls that won't move your character where you want him to, embarrassingly horrible voice "acting", plot holes, just...it doesn't work. I don't biuy into these characters, they move, talk and react like robots almost toa point where it's laughable. No one is supposed to laugh when a kid gets hit by a car but you'll get that only here. Don't know what to say about gameplay. The QTE tricks you into thinking you're part of the action but let's not fool ourselves.… Expand

i was really excited about this game when i first started reading about it . i heard so many comparisons to shenmue (which i loved) i couldnt wait to try it . i remember seeing the videos and just being blown away by the look of the game . every thing was so detailed and amazing looking . after playing the game im not that thrilled . first ill start with the story because this game is driven on it and its not bad but not great eather . it is nice that you actions will dictate how the story unfolds but the story is very slow to take off and go any where for abit. this games gameplay is best summed up as Dragons lair if you remember that game its basicaly all QTE which im not a big fan of and thats just about all of what heavy rain is outside the fact you can move your charicter around so he or she can get to the next QTE event . with the addition of PS Move the game may be abit more fun to play i dont know i dont own one. the voice acting is very well done and the animations are great looking. you are also stuck on a path and have no say on where you wana go. i was really hoping like shenmue you could decide where you wanted to go and was open world . if they copied more of the shenmue model i would have loved this game but as is its just ok mainly because i do like the fact its trying to be abit innovative and the story is more adult orrrianted.… Expand

Heavy Rain is the pinnacle of interactive storytelling, realism, and true cinematic substance in gaming at the moment. The amount of new ground it breaks for the medium is stunning, in terms of choices that range from banal to immoral and human facial animations that border on reality, to name a few. The gameplay isn't so much fun as it is deeply affecting and for this reason alone allows it a top spot in my heart as one of the most important gaming experiences around to date.… Expand

I really enjoyed this game although I know many of my friends will completely miss the point and write it off but for those of you who yearn for something different with a bit of depth I can't recommend this game enough!

The beauty of Heavy Rain is that it is one of the few games where you can truly FEEL the emotions of the characters, which range from agony, to desperation, to complete and utter fear. The moments are extremely tense; success is extremely rewarding, while failure leaves you breathless and emotionally drained. And no game will let you feel the true consequences of your actions. It's a great reprieve from the traditional video game; the first-person shooter where you kill solider after solider without a second thought. If you're willing to submit yourself to the characters' emotions in these tense situations, you'll be pausing the game often - for example, to take time to decide whether you'll kill a villain or negotiate with them - to make sure your actions don't come back to haunt you. You'll care so much for your characters, that any wrong move can be emotionally devastating. This is not an interactive movie with quick-time-events, as some people would suggest. It's not perfect, but it is different than any game you've ever played before. It is definitely less interactive than most games - but the impact of your choices will be felt like no game you've ever played before.… Expand

This is one of my favorite games of all time. The story, themes and realistic tone are something we rarely see in video games. Those people who think that this game is linear haven't played through the whole. The first half is engaging but slow and fairly linear - it does have a bunch of scenes that can't really be "lost" because the game is getting the player used to the controls, but in the second half of the game is incredibly intense and everything counts. I have played through the second half three times now and had things play out in wildly different ways each time. On my first playthrough two of the main characters died - one of them fairly early on. Heavy Rain isn't for people with an itchy trigger finger, but it is one of the great games of this console generation. And anyone who says bad things about the graphics must be high. The game looks stunning.… Expand

What a great game! I am a large proponent of entertainment software as a legitimate art form -- just like literature, drama and films, so this game is a step in the right direction. It is also a gripping, entertaining and emotionally moving experience. There are, however, some serious flaws with this game. The most jarring to me as an American is that this game was clearly made by foreigners who don't really understand the way things work over here. Someone from Europe or Asia might not pick this up, but if you're going to release a game in a market set in that market's culture -- GET IT RIGHT! The voice acting was not "bad" at all, but, as many pointed out, it is clear that many of the actors were foreigners trying with varying degrees of success to emulate an American accent. The private eye, Ethan, and Madison all have believable (or close enough) American accents but many of the other actors have jarringly affected accents (no Hugh Laurie's here). The second thing that stands out -- (and this is admittedly trifling, I suppose) is the U.S. Citizen ID Card. Such a thing is not only non-existent, but it sends shivers up my spine even contemplating the idea of such a thing! There are other little things that show lack of polish in getting the setting right -- I won't go into them. But, hey Quantic Dream, if you set a game in the States, make sure to hire a consultant expert in American culture so you get it right. I will mention that a legal expert might have been nice too -- the whole scene with the cop, fbi agent, and psychologist show a profound lack of understanding of the American legal system. (I don't think even a Cop like Blake would be THAT blatant in his disregard of the law especially with an educated citizen who could do something about it). I am totally willing to forgive these flaws because the overall theme, "How far would you go to save someone you love?" does not fail because of these flaws. They do make suspension of disbelief a tad more difficult for Americans, particularly educated ones. I'd imagine a Euro or Japan audience wouldn't even notice though. Finally, with Fahrenheit/Indigo Prophecy and Heavy Rain, has demonstrated the concept of the interactive drama as a medium of expression. My sincere hope is that rather than focusing on new engine's, better graphics for these type games, Quantic Dream and imitators will focus on maturing the NARRATIVE -- make more like this but don't expend so much effort on graphics, etc. Focus on maturing the narrative both the plot and technique. Don't let the technology tail wag the narrative dog. Because it's an incredible, rather unique and emotional experience that can pave the way for the maturation of entertainment software, the game deserves a 9.… Expand

Fantastic, all the way through, fantastic. Now if your basing the option whether to buy this game or not on these reviews: DON'T. Mostly action junkies post reviews on this site. In my opinion, this is definetely one of the BEST games on PS3. Don't let the beginning put you off, get a bit into it and you'll see why!

This is one of the BEST games I played so far this year. I understand many reviewers may not like it because of many reasons (I bet the paycheck from Microsoft is one of them). But I quote this from X-Play Morgan Webb "This game is not a game for everybody, but everybody should play". I think people should give it a try and see for themselves. I cannot promise that all of you will like it. But I bet most of you out there will. Just set your mind straight before you play it, this is not a GAME. You will be watching a movie that your decision mean something in it.… Expand

Storytelling at a new level, Heavy Rain puts the videogame as a medium to a new level. Poor people see only QTE's instead of the story mechanics and pissed off xbox fanboys will give it a 1/10 too.

The game is fantastic and deserves a 9 or 10 out of 10. but it has one massive flaw: The game is broken. The game crashed and froze my PS3 at one point so I had to shut it down. Once i turned it back on, it will no longer load any of my autosaves, and I can't even load my game from an earlier chapter. A game has to be playable, and this is just not acceptable. Apart from that massive flaw, this is one of the most interesting and intense games I have played in a long time. It is a shame that I can no longer continue playing apart from starting a new save game. I hope they release a patch soon because this game deserves better.… Expand

Truly stellar. A compelling narrative that, while it may suffer from some presentational flaws, reveals something different and exciting with each subsequent playthrough. Heavy Rain is an example of cliches done right, with characters that the player truly feels for. A well done endeavor and worth the purchase, if you think the departure from normal gameplay conventions is something that you might be able to tolerate. This is certainly a love it or hate it affair but those willing to detach a bit from previous notions will be rewarded with a well crafted story.… Expand

Masterpiece. The game is absolutely incredible. From the first scene it got me totally absorved into the story and the ambience. The beginning is slow but the game gets to a point where you cant stop playing no matter what and you have to make decisions that really really matter. I felt a lot of emotion while playing most of the scenes and that has been very difficult for me this last yars. I've been really bored of videogames lately and couldnt find any that i liked really. But this game is so entertaining for me i cant even explain. Hope they continue making games as wonderfull and absorving as this one, so they will have me still interested in videogame industry for the years to come. 10 for me!! absolute masterpiece!!… Expand

Given my voted score and that this is the best game I've played in a very long time I'm disappointed with the extreme low ratings on this review. There's only one rating that I appreciated, which was the very first one that gave it a 3, by James S - at least he gave some solid reasons to rate it low, and actually made some good points. The plot hole of why Ethan has the blackouts that's never explained is admittedly one that I wish they had explained properly, as it would've given the whole story a much more rounded and intriguing memory to it, so leaving the explanation of that out was a mistake. I'll also admit there's a few othe mistakes and problems with the game, but my rating would already be so far ABOVE 10 that these few things really just bring it back down to a 12 or 13 out of 10. Rating it so low for these few things as many people here have done is a TOTAL INJUSTICE to this game. The amount of effort put into creating this is beyond imagination, it's not like throwing a few actors in front of a camera, creating it virtually, and still making it look and SOUND so movie-esque professional is a feat in its own right. The music is fantastic, deeply moving, the story is extremely engaging, and the graphics - especially the close ups of the faces are to be truly admired. I hope in time this one looks like a poor cousin to what may be to come in the future, but for now this is the most amazing game that's ever been created, and the low rating people are really having themselves on and expecting far too much in terms of technology advancement in too short a time. Excellent, amazing, truly entertaining and a fantastic experience to be remembered for a long time to come!… Expand

Heavy Rain is not just an amazing game, it is, like MGS4, such a unique game that it can justify the purchase of a PS3 only to play it. It is a book in form of a game, a relaxing and also exciting experience like with no equal in today´s gamming scene (althought Farenheit on the PS2 had a similar felling). The graphics are superb and so is the actors and music. You can play Heavy Rain dozens of times giving it a replay value with no match or rival. It is just a must have game for gamers that want more than shotting friends on the head in online multiplayer generic FPSs. 10/10.… Expand

+ One of the few games where it actually feels like the choices you make have weight, and may be the game with the most real consequences. + A genuine sense of "this character can die at any moment" when you are trying to get out of whatever situation you are in. + Maybe it is the part of me that likes B-movies but I liked the overall story. + The different characters all felt actually different even though you make all their decisions - Some of the worst walking controls I have ever used and sometimes the QTE don't respond correctly, especially the ones where you have to shake the controller. You have to hold the controller in just the right way and can't be, say, laying down. - The first 2-3 hours of the game are mind numbingly boring. - The floating text is too small, I had to struggle to read the text and could barely tell circle from square, I have an average sized wide screen and even with the screen zoomed in to the point that it was cut off on all sides I still could barely read it, which often lead to choosing the wrong text. - Some of the mundane things the game asks you to do well after the "tutorial" is over. Changing and feeding a crying virtual baby is about as fun as changing a real baby. Overall the game was enjoyable, especially at the end but the crippling controls persisted throughout and the small text was very detrimental. But the biggest flaw of the game by far is the incredibly boring opening few hours, I almost gave up on the game. I can't even remember the last time I was that bored playing a game. If they make a sequel or a game in a similar fashion, they need to redo the walking controls and they really, really need to cut down the tutorial to 15 minutes or at the very least make it optional. 3 hours in, the player should not be asking themselves "ok...when is this game going to actually start?"… Expand

In a gaming environment where CoD X is the top of the list of twitchy action entertainment and Bioshock is the extent what most gamers consider "intelligent" games, Heavy Rain doesn't stand a chance. Which is a shame, because the game narrated and plays like reading a great book; and the attention span of the Youtube generation most likely doesn't even allow for that slow a hobby.

Interactive movie. Why not... But the main problem is that Heavy Rain, is just a interactive BAD movie. With the "brownish" color palette, Heavy Rain could intrigue with the David Fincher's Zodiac look, but the Story telling is amateurish, the acting is bad. Characters have nothing to rely on emotionnaly. Heavy Rain gave the player the feeling that David Cage is too busy watching himself "creating" instead of offering the player, at least, a satisfying movie to watch. Heavy Rain is not even as interesting as a non-interactive benchmark demo. You want a interactive-cinematic experience? Get Uncharted 2. You'll have the thrill, the emotional and charismatic characters, without the pretention.… Expand

The most exciting parts in Heavy Rains are... the trailers. Heavy Rain is 30h long, if you have enough courage to get all the ending. But before watching those, you'll have to endure 20h of approximative, repetitive, useless sequences. It looks more like a unedited movie, where all the rushes have been put into the final cut. In the end, Heavy Rains lacks of substance, and emotion.

Despite minor a/v glitching, the game itself stands as an example of what gaming should be, engaging. I had to force myself to stop playing last night to get some sleep, its that good. The control scheme won't be for everyone, but if you really give it a chance it'll grow on you. I've been gaming for over 20 years, and this game is by far one of the most enertaining games I've ever seen.… Expand

Despite some noticeable flaws(terrible tank style controls for character movement, sub-par voice acting, and some questionable plot choices), Heavy Rain is still a very engaging, immersing, and unique experience. If you are primarily an FPS or action game player, there is a good chance you might find the game to be slow paced and awkward, but if you are a fan of story driven games that make a strong emotional connection then I highly recommend Heavy Rain.… Expand

Heavy rain looks nice, but it crashes the Ps3 quite badly. After rebooting, my Ps3 brings up a blue service menu letting me know that Heavy Rain has damaged my profile and the data on the disc. Following that I was taken back to the PS3 initial setup menu. I've got my Ps3 back to "working", but my DLC seems to be wiped out. Heavy Rain also won't start. It looks like I need to format the drive, and re-download things where I can.… Expand

Heavy rain is...,well perfect! i bought this expecting a different way of storytelling and what i got was so much more, this game goes above and beyond and achieves what few games have, the wolrd and its characters are are so rich that you will want to play this game for ages to come. I didnt expect to like this more then bioshock 2 and mass effect 2 but after playing through multiple times i just have too say, this is the best game i have ever played!… Expand

Heavy Rain was a surprise to me. I loved Indigo Prophecy and so I was hyped up for Heavy Rain. It completely hit my expectations and sometimes surpassed them. Heavy Rain fixed a lot of problems that its predecessor had. First of all the story doesn't just drop off half way through, it actually keeps getting better and better. There was probably one or two plot holes but nothing major. The graphics are excellent and the music is amazing. Though on a few rare occasions (happens maybe 5 times for 1 second out of 10 hours of gameplay) the sound would drop out but instantly come back. At the ending of the game, which can be completely different from another ending, I found myself standing up and didn't realize it until the credits, that was definitely a first.… Expand

Anyone who enjoyed the journey with Indigo Prophecy (also know as fahrenheit) put out by Atari on Xbox in 05 will have fun playing this next in awesome games from Quantic Dream. Glad to see we still have games from time to time that don't stick to the first person shooter cookie cutter mold! Kudo's!

Absolutely Amazing. Truly never played anything like it. It isn't right to even call it simply a game, because it truly is so much more. It is an interactive masterpiece. A type of visual storytelling never seen before. It is an experience that defines why gaming should be accepted as a form of art. Brilliant. Do not listen to any of the Xbots who are jealous of this games success. Pathetic Fanboys like that are not even real gamers. Real Games are open to ALL games on ALL systems without any Bias. Fake Gamers (Fanboys) purposely limit themselves because of a juvenile and pathetic bias towards the competition. They willingly refuse to experience games, not because they aren't good, but because of some blind loyalty. How is it fair to call both of these groups "Gamers" when only one is willing to experience games to the fullest? Fanboys have no business playing games.… Expand

Let me begin by saying that this game is a welcome addition to the video game industry. In an industry getting drowned by endless shooters and whackers, H.R. (Heavy Rain) is such a soothing relief. The gameplay alone is very different as a mere button press will result in different angles and plot in the game. And such actions are reflections of your decision making. Either you let the game control you or you control the game yourself. I let myself dictate the story with my decisions and actions and I failed miserably. After the game, I was so sucked into the outcome that it made me think what could be the possible bad decisions I made that reflected the outcome of my first playthrough. Like I said, I failed the first time. I have never felt so sorry for my actions in a video game (or shall I say, a mini-movie) until this one. Not even Bioshock 1 and 2 can come close to it. Sadly, it could be a showing of my real-life subconscious that dictated me throughout the whole game. And it failed me. Honestly, it made me think about my own life as well. Could I be already doing something that may fail me in the future? I hope I am not. But then, I am just human. In terms of mechanics, it takes a while getting used to it and it may not be easy as you think it is (well, I played the hardest level though) as you should think on your feet when playing this game. There are no turning back when making decisions. You press a button in a big scene, it's locked in. Like in real life. When something's done, it is done. And judging by the number of trophies I got (I got only about 20 my first playthrough), I know there is more to this game. And the very ending was so disturbing. Made me jump out of my seat (I didn't know it has a horror part lol). I'll definitely replay this game over and over again. Graphics-wise, H.R. will not take the crown this year. Yes, it looks good over-all but screen tearing and framerate lags are just unbearable. Yes, my TV can only output to 1080i but I also tried running the game at strictly 720p and it didn't do anything at all. Hope Sony/Quantic will do something about it. There were also some nagging issues at the beginning of the game wherein the screen just goes black and the sound of the rainfall becomes so loud and glitchy. This happened specifically where the FBI agent (don't want to name names...spoils it...) met with the local cop and also the scene where Dr. Mmmm met with patient Mmmm in a psyche session. I had to re-start the game but luckily it didn't brick my PS3 (whew!). Sound is great and pairs well with my surround sound (again, with the exception of the above mentioned glitch/bug). Worth the money, worth the hype and definitely worth trying for MATURE people out there. I say mature as this game isn't for kids at all. Again, I don't wanna spoil it but just take my word for it.… Expand

I don't normally vote, but I am truly wondering if any of the people who are trashing this game have actually played it for any length of time. I'm about 60% of the way through the game, and I have been on the edge of my seat the entire time. Without giving any spoilers, the story is fantastic, and you are often forced to make split-second decisions that have lasting repercussions throughout the remainder of the game. This game is action-packed, albeit interactively, so there is no Halo-style shooting or God of War-esque button-mashing. The action contained in these scenes, though is frantic and fast-paced, and the story will continue on if you fail and your character dies. Lastly, the voice acting (which seems to be a major complaint) does sound a little strange, but you have to consider the fact that these are not American actors. Overall, a fantastic game with a thrilling and tense story. Well worth the price of admission.… Expand

Best story for a video game ever!!!!!!!! I can easily see how some people won't like it but as I think OPM UK said 'This is an unmissable experience, YOU HAVE TO PLAY IT!' and I agree with that in every single way! Sure the controls are a little bit stupid but overall... AMAZING! It really is unmissable, YOU HAVE TO PLAY IT! And its a shame that fanboys are polluting this comment page! I know it is a love it or hate it but I would say it is a 85% love 15% hate and it has been patched so it doesn't screw your PS3 up! And if they rated it 0 then why the hell did they play to the end? FANBOY SPAM!!!!! This is a story telling experience that can't be missed! And although it would be brilliant as a movie it just wouldn't work out! I would highly reccommend this game! HIGHLY!!!!!! But unless you are really interested then just rent it and see all endings like me :( I regret renting it instead of buying it! I thought this game would be a useless game about pressing buttons! WRONG!… Expand

It is a very correct statement to say that this game is NOT for everyone. This is certainly for a more mature gamer, someone that doesn't need to be killing someone or something every 5 minutes or less. It is interactive storytelling at its finest and has many innovative qualities including stellar graphics. The gameplay itself boils down to a combination of quicktime events, precise analog controller movements and clue investigation all of which comes together very nicely. If you need a game your girlfriend can get into, this could be the one. If you only play Space Commando or Football games, this is a rental for sure. I love this game. I'm halfway through my second play and am already thinking about what I will do the 3rd time through.… Expand

Heavy Rain is very much like fine art. Either you like it, or you hate it. It is a very polarizing "game." I say "game" because it is not a typical game. I must agree with the developer in calling it an Interactive Drama. There is no leveling system. There are no points.There is no "princess" to save in a far-away kingdom. There is the story and how you help mold it. The experience is the reward. Like a good book, suspend your disbelief while engaged with it. The characters lives, cares, worries, fears, accomplishments and joy become yours. The more seriously you take the experience, the more you get out of it. Heavy Rain is an extrapolation of the classic adventure games of bygone years. Story, art and music command a greater focus in the "gameplay" (for lack of a better word) than the mad smashing of buttons. Unlike most adventure games, both action and inaction cause change in the world. Also, unlike adventure games, the game doesn't necessarily wait for you. Time is always passing, things are always moving forward. The first "act" starts off slowly in order to get you accustomed to the interface. While this undoubtedly has turned some people off for being "slow" or "boring" it is necessary to build an emotional bond with the on-screen character. Like a fine wine, or piece of exquisite art, Heavy Rain is more suited to a more sophisticated palate.… Expand

This is the game (or maybe it isn't even a game) that I have been looking for all my life. If you are an action junkie this isn't for you. Voice acting is tremendous for everyone. Can't wait for the secoond in the trilogy. Doesn't have a cliffhanger ending but great ending(s).

This game is one of the best experiences ever and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Sure, it's not really a game, it's more of a player-directer story. Sure, it has issues - I didn't really dig the way you move the characters around. And sure, there are some (very) minor inconsistencies in the story. But overall, it's an awesome experience. Me and my two roommates were practically glued to my PS3 until the minute I finished the game. It's a thrill ride from start to finish. The characters are great, they feel like humans and you feel sympathy for ALL of them. The graphics are mindblowing, the music is fantastic... the voice acting has some issues, but that doesn't make Heavy Rain a bad game. It's a great game. I bought a PS3 + HR bundle and I don't regret doing it.… Expand

Look, let me just say right off the bat that i'm a 360 fanboy.My cousin left town for a weekend and lent me her ps3, she had just gotton heavy rain. THE GAME IS AMAZING, this game alone made me want to get a ps3, i mean dude, this is one of, if not the best games of 2010, and i mean the entire year, unless the holy savior of games comes withen now and the end of the year, looks like ps3 will have the best game of the year title again.… Expand

Pretty graphics with a few glitches, very poor story with a few high points, this game is doomed to be divisive as all get out. It definietly could have used more pollish, better actors, and some more effort put into actually letting you effect the story. Average to Mediocre overall, but worth a rental.

First, I play quite a few games and feel that I'm very objective when it comes to critiquing and reviewing a game. Being completely honest... I don't see how so many critics (and users) are giving this game 9 and 10 scores. I'll start with the good points. The graphics are pretty good, although I don't think they're as good as people proclaim. The gameplay is obviously what this game is built around, and is its strongest point. It does exactly what they intended, and makes for very fun action sequences. For the most part it does play like a movie and flows fairly well, although very poor movement controls can make it feel cumbersome in some areas. I think they should have done without the quick-time events in the slow scenes that aren't time-sensitive. Now for the bad points. I don't understand how anyone can overlook how terrible some of the animation, facial expression, voice acting, etc is. Also, the story is fairly entertaining and not too predictable, but is full of massive holes and is overall not that great. Uncharted 2 is cinematic and has a very very good story. That's what Heavy Rain needed to get a good score. If your game is centered around the movie-like story and gameplay, those should be your strong points. But alas, Heavy Rain isn't much more than a bad movie. I completely agree with other reviewers who say the characters look, act, and sound like robots, due to poor animation and voice acting. With all this taken into consideration, my only thought is that people must be falling for the hype machine, and rating this game high based off of a few intense / thrilling action sequences, rather than objectively looking at the quality of the different aspects of the game (compared to other titles with similar scores). For the people rating this a 10... Go play Uncharted 2, and then ask yourself if you really think Heavy Rain is as good (or even close). Uncharted 2 = close to perfection = 96% Heavy Rain = many flaws = ~65%… Expand

One of the best games I've ever played and definitely one of the most intense. The graphics are uneven in some parts, but as a whole it's a amazing looking game. It is a bit slow going at first, though once it picks up I really couldn't stop playing. Only complaints would be the walking controls are a bit clunky, and some of the voice acting could be better. Other than that, It's one of the best experiences I've ever had playing a game.… Expand

If you go into Heavy Rain thinking that this is going to be a full blown action game, you will not be impressed. If you go into it thinking you'll be engaged because of the narrative, then yes that is most certainly what Heavy Rain will give you. This is the most emotional game I've ever played and I think it is crafted so well that no other medium could possibly handle its originality. From its innovative use of quick time button presses, to the brilliant story with multiple epilogues, then this is a 10 hour movie extraveganza. This is no dumb game with a subtly driven plot. I found myself almost in tears at some of the harsher moments and with joy at the most proudest of these moments. This is a game that PS3 needs and as far as my objective opinion goes, this is the best story driven game I have ever played. Yes there are some rather dumb level design choices and the walking around sections are clunky but these issues are completely thrown when uncovering what a lovely experience it really is.… Expand

Imagine having cutscenes like these in games like uncharted2.. where u actualy have to interact with the scenes.. that would be amazing. Anyway. this game has way to many flaws. Voice acting, facial animation, some of the textures look like it came from a 1990's video game, some of the physics are covered up in smart ways which makes it even wors in my opinion, i had frame drops many times(could be my ps3 i dunno and i dont care.. its no excuse since its a exclusive), hard to see if you have to press or hold a button at times, the story is made out of failure.. i gave it a 6.4/10 as a game. and a 0/10 as a interactive movie.… Expand

I really wanted to love Heavy Rain, I really did. I liked Fahrenheit a lot, it had its flaws, but it was unique. With Heavy Rain, it could only get better now, couldn't it? Unfortunately, no. Heavy Rain sounds so good in theory, but when I played it it just didn't work. That is thanks to the lackluster voice acting, the unconvincing storyline, the lack of any dynamics in the cinematic action scenes and poor direction. This was marketed as a game for adults, but apart from the theme of the story, it isn't. It just doesn't really come together. When you focus so much on story and emotions, you better make damn sure your story is cohesive and you got the best voice actors there are. I partly blame David Cage for hyping this game so much, maybe my expectations were too high for it. Since he wrote and directed it I say most of the game's fault are his, because I was expecting an experience unlike anything else. With better writing and directing (somehow, Quentin Tarantino always comes to my mind) this could have been a milestone for gaming. Unfortunately the specks of brilliance are overshadowed by mediocrity. I won't even comment on the technical issues, as these have been convered in enough detail. All in all I am saddened by the whole affair. I really wanted it to be great.… Expand

Heavy Rain boldly goes where the vast majority of developers wouldn't dare tread, and does so with one hell of a kicker. Let's get this straight right off the bat.. This game is certainly not for everyone. FPS junkies with ADD beware, there is a ton of thought, consequence and emotion in this wonderful title so if you're looking for the a quick fix, I suggest you stay away. To those with a little patience who want to experience something totally new and insightful, you owe it to yourself to pick this title up today. It is one that will be on your mind when you're not playing it and one that will make you press pause and ponder the right decision for some time. No, it isn't perfect (my only issue being that of french actors doing the voice overs) but in a venture that took massive courage, it is pretty close. Congratulations Quantic Dream, you hit this one out of the park.… Expand

First of all, I've really liked Fahrenheit/Indigo Prophecy, Quantic Dream's earlier game in the same style. Despite its story shortcomings, Fahrenheit still stands as THE most intense gaming experience I've ever had. Unfortunately, that includes having played Heavy Rain. After Fahrenheit I thought if they just fixed the mindless, over-the-top fantasy story it'd be gold. I really like the QTE approach though, as I find it a very enjoyable way to "play" a movie. It really brings together the best of both worlds, movies and gaming. More interactivity isn't always the most entertaining, at least not for me. Now, what about Heavy Rain? While I still support its general approach to gaming and while I won't even bother to criticize the graphics, voice acting or stuff like that (let me just say, it's all at least "good enough"), the story is simply a disaster. OK, David Cage now got rid of (most of) the fantasy stuff, adhering to the Fahrenheit critics, and yet the story still stinks. It just contains a plethora of plot holes and inconsistencies, it sometimes leaps without enough explanation, and, worst of all, it's very predictable, yet trying to sell it's completely unsurprising revelation as a giant twist. Furthermore, but that is personal, I think it is also very boring, and that includes most of the uninspiring cast. In the end, I think Fahrenheit was actually the much better game. Granted, it was way too weird, but at least the story was much more thrilling, less predictable, and featured much better characters. Heavy Rain, though, is a failure. While everyone should applaud David Cage for actually inventing this type of video game, I think it's obvious by now that in terms of writing skill, he just isn't capable of taking it to the next level. Someone else please!… Expand

Not so many real choices, and one big disappointing fact imo, but I won't spoil it here. Overall the game is beautiful, the ideas are original, and most important of all, you feel emotions playing it. Fun, anxiety and suspense rise the player's levels to "very high"... If you're just not that open-minded, then walk away.

I´m playing video games for almost 18 years now. No matter if racing, shooting, horror, jump´n´run what so ever, I´ve played it all. I have never written any critics or have reviewed a game. This is the first one, ´cause I have never in my life played anything quite like Heavy Rain. I was hooked the moment it started. Of course I´ve heard all the hype and normally I don´t believe "hype". For example imo Modern Warfare (2) plain out sucks (sorry guys). So please forget the "hype argument". I do understand that not everyone loves Heavy Rain the way I do, ´cause it surely isn´t a game for everyone. But it really is something absolutly new. So even if you don´t like it for God sake at least rent it, ´cause you really have to expirience something like this game. The only reason why I am not giving it a 10 is because I wasn´t able to do all the buttoncombinations while hanging relaxed on my couch. But normally this game is so full of drama, emotions and pretty intelligent stuff that you won´t be able to relax, because you can´t let it happen to not-witness even a slpit second. After the first 30 minutes of playing I couldn´t wait to get through the game only to start all over again to see the other possible ways to get to the end. A lot of the other points like gameplay, story, innovative fighting scence and so on would get a 15 out of 10 if that would be possible... Honestly guys, check this game out - even if you don´t love it you sure as hell will never forget this game. THIS is next gen the way I think it should be. THIS is the future.… Expand

A technical marvel, and a riveting experience that is made imperfect due to a simple contradiction: The style of game is designed to bring the story to the forefront of the experience, which puts an already flawed story under even heavier scrutiny. A few patches over a plot-hole filled, mashed together endgame would have elevated Heavy Rain into the pantheon of adventure gaming. Sadly, we must be content with the game merely being "good".… Expand

Heavy Rain is literally the greatest game I have ever played. I have never been addicted to a game like I have Heavy Rain. The story was phenomenal. The characters were incredible. I can't fit my emotions towards this game in a comment. It has to be experienced hands-on. No one will fail to thoroughly enjoy this game, and if you do, you need to rethink entertainment. I was in awe and shock at the ending. You will not be let down or regret buying this game. It's worth much more than its current price.… Expand

I'm sorry to see the low user score for this game. I just finished my first play through, and I'm deeply impressed with what has been accomplished here. I think if you judge this game as a movie, or as a video game, it fails. This is what many people have done. I think it's a new thing, with nuances and new ideas, and you need a new system to judge it. Quantic Dream wants to show you something new, they take risks that don't always pay off, but if that appeals to you, don't waste your money on the Nth FPS game this year, play this game. QD and others will undoubtedly improve on this foundation, but someone has to start. You should get in and support what they're doing. I'd like to get one kind of dumb thing out of the way now. People have complained about the voice acting... this blows my mind. The voice acting is not universally good, but the leads are extremely strong. Really only the child actors sound unpolished, but Heavy Rain plays like "The Piano" compared to any of the new Star Wars movies. And who cares if some of them sound a little French-affected? I'm charmed whenever somebody is willing to learn my wacko language to get through to me. Pretend the game takes place in Paris if that helps you get past it. The first thing to discuss is the idea of plot. The game does not have a linear story, or "wow! four different endings". It's a giant branching tree enclosing a large number of stories and tones, and the sum of the whole things is what the game offers. I think you must play through more than once to get the big picture. You cannot save at some point and keep replaying a scene until you get the outcome you desire. This alone was a bold choice and drastically changes your relationship with the game, and it will certainly alienate a lot of perfectionist gamers. In fact, the extent to which you can screw something up, and the narrative just folds seemlessly around your errors like a wound closing, is a major technical accomplishment. The rest of the review contains *** MAJOR SPOILERS *** For example, I played all of the characters fairly well to a point about halfway into the game, where I see my FBI agent Jayden killed horribly in a scrapyard. At this point I sacrificed any hope of seeing him through to the end; I have no idea what his story was like, all of the time I invested with him played out to nothing. I really felt like I had let him down, I worried that other characters would have to make serious sacrifices to make up for his loss, and I was right on both counts. I had to stop playing for the night, which you know doesn't happen too often :). Quantic Dream has also given you the ability to play a character "a certain way", which may not have anything to do with the ending, but affects the way the drama unfolds. For example, many people have complained about "the big twist", being Scott Shelby as the origami killer. The point of this twist is not to startle you cheaply. The point is that it's easy to like this guy; and because you like him, you play him like he's nice, expecting the game to reward you for being nice; and you work hard to make him nice, and then the game betrays you. And it makes you mad... you want him to succeed, but all of the help you've given him turns out to be help covering his tracks as the killer, working against what you're doing with the other characters. When you play it the next time, will you make him a jerk because you know what else he does? Do you think he gets away with it *because* he's nice? The truth is, it's easy to see it coming, but they don't point big fingers at it. Shelby talks down strong leads provided by Lauren. The question of who hired Shelby, and how long it goes unanswered, should have been burning in everyone's mind by the time the killer's identity is revealed. And the ease and directness with which he murders more than a dozen security guards gave me some serious pause when it happened. Similarly, you can play Ethan as a kind man or as a jerk. Do you overpower your kids playing with them in the backyard? Do you sit on your ass while your wife cleans the kitchen? Do you regard Madison with suspicion, take her help but keep her out or your life? Ethan is innocent, but maybe he's a jerk anyway. I intend to play the game through again this way, just to see how it affects the narrative. I suspect many people will not explore your ability to control the game's tone through character judgment, but it's a huge part of the game's offering and your experience is weaker if you don't take advantage of it. Frequently you have to make hard choices, and sometimes the outcome is not what you expect. Sometimes you're rewarded for chickening out. Sometimes you think you're making a sacrifice but you aren't. Late in the game, you have to really think about what you're doing, and because I couldn't reliably predict what the outcome of my actions would be, I'd instead think "what would Ethan do?" And even if I thought it was a dumb thing to do, or it conflicted with information that other characters had (but ethan didn't), I'd go ahead and do it, for Ethan, and feel some kind of satisfaction for helping this character do what he had to do. Even if I thought it would take me further from the best ending. That is a new thing for me in a video game, or really any kind of media or art. So I feel real gratitude for having this game now; that's a new thing too.… Expand

I was very open minded about this game as being something different and fresh in the world of games that has become so filled with shooters and sandbox titles and looked very much forward to playing it. But it is awful. I think the first thing that the developers should have gotten right in a game they describe as an "interactive" drama, would be the story. The story in this game, while initially interesting, has more holes in it that a swiss cheese. Characters who don't know each other at all suddenly have one another's phone numbers to contact in emergencies and some plot threads lead absolutely nowhere. The case does have a definitive ending but it is hammed up in garish Hollywood finale style that leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. Truly awful storytelling. The game's mechanics of QTEs and dodgy motion controls, coupled with a ludicrous movement system that requires holding R2 to move forward as the camera shifts about changing your control direction is so shabby it defies reason that it was kept after playtesting. Some of the game's visuals are marvellous while others are PS2 quality. Some of the characters work, some don't. The inconsistency kills this title dead and it is a shame as it had potential. Avoid at all costs.… Expand

Well I started off enjoying this game for the forst couple of 'scenes' but as the hours bore on it bacame clear that there is actually very little control , and decision making largley depends on if you can get to grips with some very random and sometimes utterly confusing controls. There are moments of brilliance here but I really felt let down in terms of gamplay and value for money. my advice is to rent this or buy it when it's about 1/4 of the price. As for my score of 5/10 , at times i utterly hated this game and would have given it 1/10 , at it's best i felt it was worth 8/10 so i've been generous and settled for 5.… Expand

I want to start off by saying that I proudly support PS3 exclusives, so my opinion would, if anything, be biased in favour of the game. Everything about this game screams atmosphere and for that I give it credit. The graphics are quite beautiful and the music/sound effects are superb. The story isn't necessarily predictable, but it feels familiar. That said, I found this game to be extremely buggy and awkward. There were times when I needed to reboot the game because the character wouldn't register my prompts. As well, the characters would get caught up on pieces of furniture and would bring me to frustration. This game is more of an interactive movie than a game, as I'm sure you've read/heard. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but you should be aware of that heading into it. This game requires at least a rental; however, buyers beware: this game isn't worth the $60-70 price tag! 6/10.… Expand

If there was a game I really wanted to give a perfect 10.0 on, Heavy Rain was it. Unfortunately, there was enough sloppiness in execution that I had to pull it down to a decent, yet disappointing, 8.0 The Good: I found Heavy Rain to be a very original, engaging, and mostly enjoyable gaming experience. It was very cool to have a player’s choices over a game define and focus his characters and build out their story. In any sensible narrative, actors move forward by making certain choices at the cost of others to reach a meaningful resolution or ending. This was a welcome change from most games which either allow players the freedom to experience and achieve everything or apply cosmetic meanings / impacts to their choices (i.e. good/evil alignment maps to slightly different dialog menus, appearances, or the price of goods at stores). Heavy Rain really delivered something new and great on this dimension. [Starting score: 10.0] The Bad: 1. The UI / controller scheme was odd and pretty clumsy. Most of the game play mechanics involves the player reacting to event prompts from the screen to tap, shake, or press something on his controller. For example, an event in the game may cue you to hit the X button at one moment followed by holding down the right trigger followed by shaking the controller up and down. The issue here was that there was no natural intuition as to why certain button/thumbstick/trigger combinations were called for. This often made game play a finger fumbling experience in trying to hit the right button and the right time. I felt this reduced many game interactions to a “Monkey See – Monkey Do” exercise. To be clear, this wasn’t a critical problem… just an unwelcome distraction. [Penalty: -0.5] 2. I found character motion and the camera views during game play to be awkward at times. For example, as you walked through a level, sometimes the game would suddenly change your camera perspective and this would mess up your movement. Or you would get stuck going back-and-forth trying to line up your character with an event prompt. The game did allow you to change perspectives manually, but many times it wasn’t really that helpful. Again, this wasn’t a killer issue, but it sure was annoying. [Penalty: -0.5] 3. Overall the voice acting was a notable determinant to the game. Some character voices were okay (Scott Shelby was my favorite), however, some of them just sucked. The poorly concealed French accents made a number of scenes incongruous and laughable. Perhaps the non-US localizations went better, but I was pretty shocked that Quantic Dream did such an inconsistent job on the American English version of this game. [Penalty: -1.0] Final Score: 10.0 – 0.5 – 0.5 – 1.0 = 8.0 Am I being too harsh with the penalties? I don’t think so. At times, my Heavy Rain “Experience” suffered from these distractions to the point where I lost immersion. I believe that is a legitimate reason to dock the review score of an amazing, bold game.… Expand

This game was a very interesting experiment in interactive storytelling. I hope to see future attempts at this type of experience with good controls, meaningful interactivity, and original, well told stories. Heavy Rain itself lacks all of these. Despite my appreciation of what it was attempting, I was frustrated by the possibilities it flushed down the drain in a deluge of meaningless choices, bad controls, and a derivative mess of a story. In spite of all that, it could be exciting at times, and overall it felt new and fascinating, and I was left thinking this type of game has serious potential. If the player approaches Heavy Rain as an experiment, not as anything even remotely approaching a masterpiece of design or storytelling, then it can be appreciated as a precursor for hopefully better games to come. Worth a rent only, as the replay value you might expect from a story changing because of your choices is simply not achieved here.… Expand

I just beat the game a couple of minutes ago, and although I didn't like who they set up as the origami killer, I loved the game! It was gripping and the story kept me hooked all the way through! This game started off really slow, but once the action started, I couldn't wait to see what happened in the next chapter... and then the next, and then the next! I can understand why this is a love/hate game for a lot of people- but if you love great characters, an interesting mystery plot, and adrenaline pumping action, you should give this game a try. It truly was a great game and it was unlike anything I've ever played before!… Expand

In all reality i want to give this game an 8, but since i see that most ppl are hating on it for little or stupid reason ill just go with a 10. very different from most game out there, but more importantly, they do it well. the quick time events are actually involving. what i mean by that is when you swipe to the left to block, you actually feel like your swiping to the left. at time (not many to be fair, but there is a good amount of them) i just guessed at what the input should be and got it right, it was that inutitive. i love my gow, my ninja gaiden, even dynasty warriors, but in a way this is the best action game ive ever played. but heres the thing, you cant take it as an action game. this is not gona be everyones taste so try the demo first. if you like it get the game, just remember that its a very slow start, seriously, one of the slowest starts ive ever experienced, but get threw that and its fun.… Expand

I was worried about gameplay mechanics and I was excited about story and characters. Unfortunately - gameplay is quite good, but story and characters are crazy. Main heroes are acting like stupid kids, theyre not believeable at all. I was dissapointed about whole "drama", which make no sense. Somone says to me "don't play it, feel it". But I don't like to feel stupid. Sorry Quantic Dreams, after passable Omikron and horrible Fahrenheit - this is nice try, by try to force Cage to quit, get a real script editor, use Google to get knowledge, how things REALLY works and try it again. Maybe your next game will be good. And please send me $60 back, this 8 hours of B movie is not worth it.… Expand

If a 10/10 is supposed to represent a pefect title, you should do yourself a favor and ignore any reviews over 90 for this one. As one person points out, it is an experiment that has both failed and succeeded. The truth about Heavy Rain is that it plays better than it's spirital ancestor Indigo Prophecy but suffers from the same problems. Poor writing, poor voice acting, poor pacing, and in trying to hide "character development" and control tutorials underneath hours of tedious unentertaining things, we still have to sit through said hours of boring content. To say this game is beautiful and boasts really good ideas but give it a high review despite horrible voice acting and wild twists that feel unsatisfying is to review this game out of despair. They don't want to acknowledge that, after several delays, Heavy Rain isn't ushering in the platinum age of interactive drama on a good note. It's sad to know that its 88 is really born from fear of betraying the hivemind of videogame journalism. I have played the demo and enough of the full game to know that it is undeserving of its metacritic rating.… Expand

Heavy Rain is incredibly dull. The story is slow & dull, the gameplay is just a bunch of quick time events & overall the only good thing about this game is the graphics. But graphics don't make a good game! And I know Sony fanboys are going to say that I'm a 360 fanboy & this game rules & that I'm just some moron who can't appreciate a game with a good story & deep meanings. But I don't care. Because I'm not a 360 fanboy & the story is just plain out slow & dull! So as a game Heavy Rain fails & as a movie critics would tear it apart because of its slow & dull story! So in the end the only thing Heavy Rain succeeds at is having great graphics. But like I already said, graphics don't make a good game! So I suggest that you avoid Heavy Rain, unless your one of those graphics whores who doesn't care about story or gameplay or stuff that makes a game GOOD!… Expand

You've already heard everything about Heavy Rain. It's the best thing since sliced bread. Its graphics blow Uncharted 2 out of the water. Its interactive storytelling is a revolution. Bullshit. Heavy Rain is a souped up spiritual and technical sequel to Fahrenheit. It presents the same qualities (an intriguing yet repetitive gameplay which tries too much to copycat Shenmue without ever being able to equal it or even understand it) and the very same flaws. Technically, it's not stunning. Character graphics are nicely done, but the whole affair is largely inferior to other mocap achievements like Uncharted or Heavenly Sword. The game is littered with glitches -- I personally didn't encounter any serious showstopper, but apparently many people have suffered from aggravating bugs and even profile corruption. The most serious flaw of Fahrenheit was its downright mediocre ending. Just imagine David Lynch concluding his Twin Peaks series with an over-the-top air fight obviously inspired by Matrix 3 (complete with conspiracies about artificial intelligences and Mayan prophecies). Yeah, I bet you didn't see that coming either. Heavy Rain unfortunately goes the same way with an impossible Deux Ex Machina final twist, and once again proves that the failed moviemaker David De Grutolla (aka David Cage in English-speaking countries) is a decent director but an awful and amateur scriptwriter. Is Heavy Rain the "revolution" of videogaming? Heck no. Not even close. In five years, it will be remembered the same way as the FMV games from the mid-1990s. A strange yet futile gameplay experiment, with an appaling narrative by a wannabe David Fincher. David Cage is really turning into the Uwe Boll of videogames.… Expand

hey , I know user reviews of exclusives are full of hilarious butt hurt fan boys illiterately stating that system x is better than system y.....I am not one of those. I just HATED this game, the most disappointed I have ever been by a game. IMO this game is appalling. so boring i was yawning with tears rolling down my face. the story is FULL of plot holes. OH I can't even be bothered to go into detail I just HATE it . utter utter ****… Expand

An original gaming experience, nothing really like it. Cinematic and an interesting game. Strong engagement of the lead four characters really mean you feel something as the game moves on. Ground breaking.

This game is an absolute disaster. Much of it is horridly tedious and boring. Yay, a teeth brushing simulator...just what my collection was missing! There are maybe 5-6 scenes in the entire game that are actually exciting in the slightest. However, we're told to overlook all of this because this game is more like a movie than a game. I can guarantee that if anyone had seen this "game" in a theater, they would've walked out half way upset. The "acting" is ridiculous, often bordering on comical, especially with the terrible voice acting. The story has so many plot holes, inconsistencies and is just downright not well set up or delivered. As for the ending, I'm sorry, it may have just been the stupidest attempt at a plot twist I've ever seen. I won't go into details lest I "spoil" this "game" for anyone, but any self respecting person knows exactly what I'm talking about. The controls are abysmal and often are unresponsive or confusing about what exactly it expects you to do, leading to frustration. This game is truly a disaster in every way, which is a shame considering the developer's former work was actually fairly good. I am amazed at all the positive reviews both by critics and by users here. This is without a single doubt in my mind the worst game I've ever played. I see no redeeming qualities other than some claim that it's "new" and "different" and "like a movie". New ideas are great, and are always welcome, but they have to be done well, and this game is not. Anyone comparing this to a movie, as it was intended, will be left extremely disappointed. I am not, however, going to suggest you steer clear. Rent this game, don't buy it because I guarantee you'll be sick of it after one short play through, and test it out. Just remember to view it based on what it does itself, not what it does differently.… Expand

This is the greatest game ever made. There really isn't many games out there that could give a gripping story with so many twists and endings and do it an believable way. It really is a melding of game and cinema and if you play it - you will thank me and you will also never forget the experience.

Wow, this game had bad acting, no gameplay and a stupid story. It was kind of innovative but just plain boring. Ethan when he talks he sounds like a retard who is dumb and he keeps losing his kids, he's a bum and he isn't interesting at all. The only character that had some talent in voice acting was the oragami killer. Even the name of the killer is lame. What next? are they going to make Heavy rain 2 where the killer leaves a cucumber in the victims pocket and they will call him the cucumber killer?… Expand

Best game I've ever played in my 28 years of gaming. Amazing, emotional, heart pounding, engaging. I think people who rated this low don't understand that everything you do changes the outcome of the entire game as you go along. There are thousands and thousands of combinations of outcomes, and it all depends on your own actions. Deep game. Never heard anyone (who knew what they were doing) say any different.… Expand

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I loved this game. It was like playing a movie, that was how real it felt. I was so attached to my players that I got really upset when I thought Ethan died in the power plant level. What was cool was that you never had to go back and repeat what you did. The music was nice, the controls intuitive, and the graphics splendid. I'm really happy I bought this game. My only possible complaint would be that the beginning is slow, but I didn't find that annoying at all. All I can say is get this game!… Expand

The most amazing gaming experience I have had in the last 5, maybe even 10 years. (Owned every console and I play all the blockbuster hits).This really pushes gaming in a whole new direction. For the most part it's a moral dilemma that involves mystery and some puzzle aspects. Its very cinematic in its styling the story is fantastic! The plot gets better and better as you go along. It became very addicting for both my brother and I.You become completely absorbed in the story of these characters and you really feel for them. You feel as if you ARE the characters themselves. Many games stake the claim that the story developments hinge upon the choices you make in the game. For many games it doesn't completely flesh out that way. For this game it's absolutely true! Decisions you make drastically change to direction of the story. There are substantial rewards and consequences for you decisions, different cinematics, play sequences and endings. Much of the game pushes you to make difficult decisions that make you really dig deep into your own value system and deeply held convictions. It is NOT an action game, though it does have action elements. Many people get frustrated because they seem to be expecting something different, and they are disappointed that its not like other games on the market. This is not Call of Duty or Batman. Take it for exactly what it is and you will be happy. At least four of my friends have played HR and everyone loved it. We all played through more than once. Graphics are top notch (especially given that it is slightly dated). In no way should it be rated anything close to a 6.8! I give it a solid 10; a rating I give VERY sparingly. This game is revolutionary and impactful to the future of gaming. At the discount you can get it for these days it SHOULD NOT BE MISSED.… Expand

Not even a video game , it's like a semi interactive movie if you like watching a movie pausing doing something else then returning to your movie you will like this. If you like playing video games you will hate this. Its so boring take it from someone with 55000+ gamerscore & level 12 trophy level I DO NOT recommend you buy rent or ever touch this game in your lifetime

Er werd aan dit spel toch heel wat ruchtbaarheid gegeven en Sony zelf beweert dat dit hun beste spel ooit is. Eerlijk gezegd kan ik dit slechts tot op een bepaald hoogte volgen. Grafisch en game-technisch gesproken is dit inderdaad een game van de bovenste plank en boeit de story line tot op de laatste seconde. Bovendien wordt er toch op de emoties van de gamer gespeeld. Ik heb zelf het spel 2 keer gespeeld om even te testen of de intelligente story line ook werkt en inderdaad de tweede keer lag de uitkomst van het verhaal toch helemaal anders. Naargelang je keuzes speel je ook meer of minder verschillende scènes. Los van dit alles zijn er toch een aantal minpunten die het vermelden waard zijn. De game komt in het begin nogal verwarrend over, het verhaal op zich is niet helemaal duidelijk en het helpt dus zeker niet dat je met 4 totaal onafhankelijke personages speelt. Verder duurt de overgang van één speldeel naar een ander (lees van één spelkarakter naar een ander) toch wel soms tot 1 à 2 minuten wat een beetje de atmosfeer breekt. Ook werd er reeds bij andere gamers vastgesteld dat het spel crasht, iets wat toch niet zou mogen bij dit soort hoogstandjes. Persoonlijk heb ik dit een 4-tal keer voorgehad, niet zo leuk dus als je net midden in een spannende scène zit. Ook de manier hoe de controller gebruikt moet worden in deze game, bracht hier en daar wel wat ergernis. De manier hoe je je personages moet laten lopen is verre van handig. Ook het feit dat je hele toetsencombinaties moet gaan gebruiken (al dan niet vasthoudend) om je personage bepaalde activiteiten te laten uitvoeren maken deze game niet erg gebruiksvriendelijk. Als laatste punt toch ook even aanhalen dat indien je een paar foute beslissingen maakt of één van je personages sterft, tja dan heb je echt wel pech want dan speel je dit speel op een regenachtige namiddag in één ruk uit. Je kan er natuurlijk voor opteren om het spel opnieuw te spelen en proberen beter te doen of andere beslissingen te nemen, maar dan nog speel je het spel in een mum van tijd uit. Ik had toch verwacht dat dit spel langer zou meegaan, zeker voor het prijskaartje wat er aan vasthangt. Besluit: al bij al zeker geen slechte game als je van adventures houdt, maar toch nog heel wat ruimte voor verbetering.… Expand

So it's different - something we're not quite used to. Obvious flaws are what others have said...being really nothing more than a collection of clips with a few control points and heavily driven by quick time events...but interesting enough to play through the first time however playing a second, third, etc. time will only start to bore you as you're forced to watch 95% of the same thing over and over again. Sadly not worth the asking price - this should have come in at a lower price point since it's not really much of a game than it is a slightly interactive movie (your choices don't really affect that much).… Expand

This is a love it or hate it game. It is so far outside what most (video) gamers consider "gaming" that for some it is impossible to understand. There is a genre of video game that strives to become interactive television. Some JRPGs have pushed these boundaries (Final Fantasy), but Heavy Rain brings you much closer to that experience. While QTEs feel out of place in most games (Resident Evil), or simply artificial in others (Arkham Asylum), they are perfect in/for this slow paced thriller. If in the proper mindset, this game grabs you an puts in in the story more than any other video game EVER.… Expand

The best story driven game ever made. Any review by anyone claiming different just doesnt enjoy story as much as the point and shoot games EVERYWHERE. With an industry full of just shoot em in the head games I cant be the only one sick of just shooting things. any reviews below a 7 are made by people who just want another shooter to blast through and move on and dont understand a need for story and meaning. This game is better then all the God of Wars, Call of Duty's, and Assassins Creeds put together and I have payed them all.… Expand

I'm only going on what I played in the demo but my family and I had alot of fun playing through the demo and each getting different experiences. Can't understand the teletext review though.

Just received my special edition copy and played the first two scences. Amazing. The game really requires you to get emotionally involved. I'm enjoying it immensly. Havent figured out how to access the special edition content yet and the background visual style made me think there's something wrong with my TV.

One of the most compelling story lines in any game ever, mixed with a unique, fresh twist on gameplay and storytelling makes this the best game of 2010 so far and will take some beating. With infinite replay value based on every single decision you make, this game will go down as one of the greats.

Although this game is not for everyone it should be reviewed according to the style of game that it represents. This is not a FPS, not a mass multiplayer, not a sports game, etc... I think the game is great and deserves 8/10. The voice acting could have been improved and many items in the game arent as appealing to the eye as others. This is a STORY more so than anything else where you the player determine the outcome, so rate it as such.… Expand

Im giving a 10 to balance out all the prepubescent teens who are giving it terrible scores. Honestly what did you guys expect, another shooter? Get over yourselves. This game deserves a 10 because it is a HUGE step forward for the industry. It helps to cement the "videogames are art" theory, pushes the Mature rating better than any game Ive seen before it, and forms a bond with the gamers on an emotional level. Idk about you, but whens the last time you actually had to make a TOGUH decision in a game? There are tons in Heavy Rain. ITs sad to see it getting such poor user reviews, and even a couple poor media reviews. My advice is: if you are mature enough to handle the title, and you go in knowing its not the next Call of Duty or Uncharted.... you will have an experience like you never have in gaming.… Expand

Heavy Rain is a breath of fresh air in a market polluted with over the top shooters and hack and slashers. In the world of innovation Heavy Rain is a breath of fresh air which other than maybe Uncharted has done more to advance storytelling in video games than anything else. It's so nice to finally play a game where your choices affect the outcome and that choice is more than just blowing away a couple hundred baddies who come pouring in through some adjacent hallway. I think just for innovation alone in the gaming medium, Heavy Rain is an unquestioned 10, not to mention the unbelievable story it boasts that by the time the credits roll leaves you as if you've just outlasted a real rainstorm, leaving behind a sweet smell to ponder all your memories and think about the choices you just made and how they could have played out differently if you'd just waited one more second instead of pulling the trigger or pushed yourself just a little bit further instead of walking away a bruised and beaten coward... In the end Heavy Rain is an easy 10 and I hope to see more companies use this form of media as a basis for this type of storytelling in the future.… Expand

Not without its flaws notably the movement controls and sometimes audio, Heavy Rain is still a very powerful emotional experience that's unlike anything I have ever played before. I look forward to replaying the game to try different scenarios and also to the upcoming DLC. Quantum Dream deserves acclaim for this title and I eagerly look forward to new "Interactive Drama" both from Quantum Dream and from other developers as well. Truly a remarkable adult experience.… Expand

A true experience of a game. Storyline is a bit transparent, but that's okay given it's NOT like other games. Anybody not understanding the importance of this type of game in the landscape has forgotten that video games are supposed to be on the forefront of telling stories. They go where movies will never be able to. First game in awhile that actually had me thinking, massive props for that.… Expand

this game is amazing. i finished it in 2 days because i couldn't put it down. it has an amazing plot and it's a very unique game. i recommend it to people who have been waiting for a video game that isn't a cheap, unreal, video game type of game... it has very mature content. there's little repetition. the graphics are stunning. the low reviews are ridiculous. this game deserves many awards. there was a lot of effort put into this game. please, ignore the low reviews. they come from video game reviewers who are closed minded and are ignorant about games that don't appeal to their tastes. trust me, this game is amazing!… Expand

If the walking controls were a little better, I'd have given this game a perfect 10. It is incredibly progressive, beautiful to look at, deeply engrossing, and overall a very impressive and enjoyable (near addicting) experience. HIGHLY recommended.

This game is "THE" most memorable, entertaining nail biting experience I've ever had in a video game. You really second guess your choices, they have weight to them and you feel genuine remorse. Once I loaded the game and started playing I couldn't stop until the credits roled... (about 11-12 hours later) "No matter what the consequence to my choices I continued playing." I eagerly enjoyed every bit of it and want more, oh sooo much more. I'm going to play through it again ASAP anxious to see what different results I get in certain situations!!! The reason for the 9 and not 10, -1 for walking around it can be frustrating at times but not too big of a deal. There was one scene shortly after you begin where you watch Shaun and I didn't do everything on the list and kind of got stuck watching the clock (in real time). I just reset that one and only scene the whole game in order to do what was on the list and move forward faster. Oh and I have to admit the shower scene with Madison (Perfect Pixels... Wow how graphics have improved over time!!!) I played it an extra time because I pushed a button too fast and didn't get to see the full scene haha. I had to absolutely play that one over again. ;) ***Simply Amazing, Beautiful, Exciting and Completely Original Game!!! Much Luv, one of those games you just can't wait to show off to friends!!!… Expand