Gaming Forums => General Gaming => Topic started by: broodwars on February 15, 2010, 03:13:54 AM
Title: Heavy Rain
Post by: broodwars on February 15, 2010, 03:13:54 AM
I have to admit, I was extremely skeptical of Heavy Rain ever since it was announced. I have heard some rather unkind things about Quantic Dream's previous game, Indigo Prophesy, and many of the interviews I had read on this game made it seem incredibly pretentious and full of Peter Molyneux-esque promises that wouldn't likely be upheld. However, the trailers looked interesting and when the demo came out last week, I gave it a shot and really liked it. The voice acting and character models seem really spotty in places; some of the button pressing events are a little obnoxious (I particularly don't care for the twister-esque sequences where you hold down strings of buttons at once); and the movement controls are abysmal in close quarters, but I found the story very interesting and the emphasis on your choices intriguing. Of course, I'm also a big fan of P&C Adventure games, and this game is very much a modern incarnation of that genre.
So, is anyone else looking forward to the release of Heavy Rain next week (2/23/2010) on the PS3? I was going to wait until the game dropped in price a little (as is kind of inevitable given how niche-y this game is), but I found I needed a game to fill in the gap between Bioshock 2 and Final Fantasy XIII in March. Besides, it has been a long time since I've seen a really good detective murder movie (not since...geez..."Copycat"?). I also really like that the pre-order bonus is actual additional gameplay in the form of a code for the first "episode" of the DLC adventures (which feature the Heavy Rain characters before and after the events of the main game), and Amazon has it for sale for $55.
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: GoldenPhoenix on February 15, 2010, 03:39:10 AM
I am broke so no game buying for me for quite awhile, but I am definitely interested in this.
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: Plugabugz on February 15, 2010, 06:50:54 AM
I played this at that expo last year and went through a several-minute actiony sequence. I was sold then.
However, the launch price seems to be around £38. I will just wait.
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: NWR_Neal on February 15, 2010, 10:40:33 AM
I played the demo the other day and it was enjoyable. I don't know if I'll get it at launch, but I definitely want to play this game sometime soon.
I need more time to play all these games...
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: ShyGuy on February 15, 2010, 11:47:08 AM
Yeah, I tried the demo too, and in spite of the controls I enjoyed it. I'm always in favor of more adventure games.
But who thought these controls were a good idea? They were cleary designed for motion control (the developers have said as much in an interview) but even then, they just seem random and disconnected from what's happening on screen. It truly feels like they designed the game then went back to figure out where they could make it interactive.
I liked finding the clues and the conversation weren't bad, but I could see the quick time events driving me crazy.
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: ThePerm on February 15, 2010, 05:01:14 PM
heavy rain sounds like the rebirth of the adventure genre
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: GearBoxClock on February 15, 2010, 05:14:03 PM
As long as the game doesn't have the sudden change of plot that Indigo Prophecy did, this could be good.
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: Stogi on February 15, 2010, 06:06:37 PM
I played the demo and it is SOOOOOOOOOOOO SLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW.
Sorry to do that, but it really was. It's not even slow in like a "Mist" game type fashion, it's just slow because it wants to be a movie more than a game.
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: broodwars on February 15, 2010, 06:13:43 PM
I played the demo and it is SOOOOOOOOOOOO SLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW.
Sorry to do that, but it really was. It's not even slow in like a "Mist" game type fashion, it's just slow because it wants to be a movie more than a game.
Considering the developers have said they're going for a very cinematic-style presentation, that's fair enough. To also be fair, though, the Adventure genre has traditionally been incredibly slow so this is nothing new.
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on February 15, 2010, 06:41:10 PM
I watched a video of the 1st 9 minutes so that I even knew what this game was. It was 9 minutes of waking up and getting dressed in the morning. He sat up in bed, looked at a picture, took a shower and brushed his teeth. Now I'm hoping that is just the introduction to the game for controls and interface and not something you have to do all the time.
What is this game even about? I caught my girl looking up PS3 on an Ebay auction and my birthday is this next week. so I might be looking for PS3 games pretty soon.
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: Stogi on February 15, 2010, 06:43:41 PM
Since when is the adventure genre this slow though? It's mind-numbingly boring.
For example, the OPENING SCENE of a demo mind you...a DEMO, usually demo's are filled with a hook, but I'm getting off topic. The opening scene of the demo has you "Open the car. You can open the car slow if you'd like. Take your time, no rush here. Oh, so you finally made it out the car. Well I invite you to walk down this alley in a incredibly slow fashion. Seems pretty easy, right? I bet you can't do it with a REVERSE ANGLE!......alright, I lied. That's pretty easy as well. But wait! Now you have to slide yourself between the dumpster and the wall. This could be kinda tricky so take it real slow. Nicely done. Now continue to walk down this alley for another 5 minutes for the **** of it."
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: broodwars on February 15, 2010, 06:46:45 PM
I watched a video of the 1st 9 minutes so that I even knew what this game was. It was 9 minutes of waking up and getting dressed in the morning. He sat up in bed, looked at a picture, took a shower and brushed his teeth. Now I'm hoping that is just the introduction to the game for controls and interface and not something you have to do all the time.
What is this game even about?
From what I've heard, Heavy Rain has one hell of a slow opening with mundane tasks like you saw dedicated to teaching you how the game plays and introducing you to the characters, but that that is by far the worst part of the game. Thankfully, the game allegedly picks up not too long after that.
As for what the game is about, well...I'll let this this trailer (http://www.gametrailers.com/video/to-catch-heavy-rain/61300) do most of the talking but suffice to say it's a murder mystery with 4 separate people trying to track down a serial killer known as the the Origami Killer, their stories intertwining in places.
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: Caliban on February 15, 2010, 08:04:47 PM
Since when is the adventure genre this slow though? It's mind-numbingly boring.
I would say it has the right pace. You played a game that is in essence an evolution of the point and click adventure genre, which was an evolution of the text based adventure games. They all have a similar pacing.
It's hard to do a demo for such a kind of game, but for the type of game it is, I think it was well made.
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: ShyGuy on February 15, 2010, 08:45:22 PM
Guided First Person shooters and Interactive Heavy Rain movies. I can't wait to see how next gen further cripples game interaction.
I look forward to Gears of War 4:Books on Tape!
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: Caliban on February 15, 2010, 09:03:00 PM
Guided First Person shooters and Interactive Heavy Rain movies. I can't wait to see how next gen further cripples game interaction.
I look forward to Gears of War 4:Books on Tape!
Whatever. If this were a Wii game, I'm sure the usual suspects would be all over this. I'm actually surprised you mock the game's interaction as "crippling" considering the game constantly asks you to make choices and then replicate actions on-screen using button commands and control stick gestures that are often reasonable reproductions of real-life interactions. Wait, what does that remind me of...oh yes, something like Zack & Wiki, a much-lauded Wii Adventure game that was especially praised for its interactivity. In fact, I'm kind of surprised that Quanticdream is releasing this before Arc comes out, because they could have easily held this game back to incorporate Sony's new motion controller and the game seemingly wouldn't be all that different.
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: NWR_insanolord on February 15, 2010, 09:17:17 PM
I wouldn't be interested in this regardless of what platform it were on. Then again, I wasn't interested in Zack & Wiki, either.
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: broodwars on February 15, 2010, 09:20:33 PM
I wouldn't be interested in this regardless of what platform it were on. Then again, I wasn't interested in Zack & Wiki, either.
That's fair enough. This is a niche game that will appeal to some people and alienate many, which makes me wonder just how well Sony really thinks this will sell. My point is that you can dislike this game for many legitimate things (I listed but a few problems in my original post, and several others have stated others), but anyone who complains that this game is lacking in interaction ("cripppling", even) obviously has no idea what they're talking about (and are probably just assuming it's a modern-day version of something like Dragon's Lair).
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: Ymeegod on February 15, 2010, 09:23:22 PM
I'll back up Brood :) .
I loved Indigo Prophecy myself and you really should try it IMO. Yeah if you're looking for fast action look than look else where's because most of the action came from button-sequences. But it was the story telling that was king :0.
Heavy Rain amps it up because YOU are the story. Your actions effects the story in so many ways it's almost unthinkable. How many games lets the story continue if your main character dies?
As for the rest you can just reviews--it's getting 9/10. The game is similar to the Shenmue series where the charm is what you make out of the world not by the fights.
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: broodwars on February 15, 2010, 09:28:20 PM
I've actually been interested in Indigo Prophesy since Jonny had that long discussion of it back on the RFN "Adventure Game" episode. However, although a copy is relatively easy to obtain, it's incompatible with my 80 GB PS3. Maybe Sony will eventually put it up on the PSN and I'll get a chance to try it.
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: NWR_insanolord on February 15, 2010, 09:30:32 PM
I wouldn't be interested in this regardless of what platform it were on. Then again, I wasn't interested in Zack & Wiki, either.
That's fair enough. This is a niche game that will appeal to some people and alienate many, which makes me wonder just how well Sony really thinks this will sell. My point is that you can dislike this game for many legitimate things (I listed but a few problems in my original post, and several others have stated others), but anyone who complains that this game is lacking in interaction ("cripppling", even) obviously has no idea what they're talking about (and are probably just assuming it's a modern-day version of something like Dragon's Lair).
From the sound of it, it's not lacking in interaction. It's got too much interaction if it makes you do actions for all those little things.
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on February 15, 2010, 09:32:31 PM
Guided First Person shooters and Interactive Heavy Rain movies. I can't wait to see how next gen further cripples game interaction.
I look forward to Gears of War 4:Books on Tape!
Whatever. If this were a Wii game, I'm sure the usual suspects would be all over this. I'm actually surprised you mock the game's interaction as "crippling" considering the game constantly asks you to make choices and then replicate actions on-screen using button commands and control stick gestures that are often reasonable reproductions of real-life interactions. Wait, what does that remind me of...oh yes, something like Zack & Wiki, a much-lauded Wii Adventure game that was especially praised for its interactivity. In fact, I'm kind of surprised that Quanticdream is releasing this before Arc comes out, because they could have easily held this game back to incorporate Sony's new motion controller and the game seemingly wouldn't be all that different.
They can always patch it later or release the Arc Edition and maybe get people to double dip or at the very least breathe some new awareness back into the title.
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: broodwars on February 15, 2010, 09:38:18 PM
From the sound of it, it's not lacking in interaction. It's got too much interaction if it makes you do actions for all those little things.
Yeah, that's one of my beefs with it. I really don't find the idea of spending the opening minutes of the game waving my Dualshock 3 around to simulate my character "shaving" all that fascinating, among other tedious tasks. The game's ambitious, I'll give them that. For its faults in over-reaching on the interaction, though, I did feel when it worked that I was really drawn into the moment. Hell, that's the same philosophy I've had to adopt with Wii games, come to think of it.
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: NWR_insanolord on February 15, 2010, 09:44:49 PM
Being ambitious isn't enough, though. Just look at Scribblenauts.
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on February 15, 2010, 09:46:14 PM
It would be a perfect Arc showcase title.
hold the wand up to your own face and shave/brush your teeth. I'm sure it will be one of the first games patched for compatibility.
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: Ymeegod on February 15, 2010, 10:07:28 PM
What was wrong with Scribblenauts? Sure it's flawed but it's doing something nobody else is doing?
Just because this isn't your type of game doesn't mean the developers are doing something wrong. For example, I dislike games like Animal Crossing and the Sims but others find the games extremly enjoyable.
This game is giving you an "real" world experience and this time around it does effect the game. Besides the intro anyhow, you're not required to do alot of those mundane things. Don't want to play with your kid or feed him? Great he'll just hate you but the story will continue--it's great IMO.
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: NWR_insanolord on February 15, 2010, 10:17:27 PM
I'd rather see something that's been done before done well than see something that's never been done before done in a flawed way. Ambition isn't a substitute for quality. I'm not saying you can't have both, but based on what I've read of Indigo Prophecy and what I'm hearing of this demo, they're not inspiring confidence.
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: broodwars on February 15, 2010, 10:20:59 PM
What was wrong with Scribblenauts? Sure it's flawed but it's doing something nobody else is doing?
I don't think anyone's knocking the ambition of the Scribblenauts developers, just that they promised an awful lot of things before the game's release and weren't really able to follow-through on them. What's worse, in focusing on making that massive word bank of fairly interchangeable words, they tended to ignore basic level and interface design (the stylus just is not a good input device for 2D platformers).
I think that's what Insano there is getting at: that by focusing on all these interactions with all those quick-time events and whatnot, the developers might have made the same mistakes as the Scribblenauts developers and overlooked making sure those interactions are meaningful and entertaining. It's a fair question, and one we'll just have to play the game to see for sure.
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: ShyGuy on February 15, 2010, 11:37:42 PM
I dislike the hold down three button tasks. Moving the character is stiff and then it feels like there is a pause when it asks you to do a movement. It interrupts the flow and makes you more aware of the controls. If they had a more uniform camera system and the waggle movements were standardized I think it would help.
Zack and Wiki benefited from being a cartoon puzzle game. The level of abstraction helped jumped the uncanny valley of gameplay.
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: ThePerm on February 16, 2010, 12:53:55 AM
anyone ever play D? From the description(i haven't watched a vdieo of this game since like 2005) it sounds like the modern version of that game, which was a fun game at the time, but hasn't aged well. I assume, this game would have little replay value, but because of the different characters and the choices, this might have some replay value.
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: broodwars on February 16, 2010, 12:57:46 AM
anyone ever play D? From the description(i haven't watched a vdieo of this game since like 2005) it sounds like the modern version of that game, which was a fun game at the time, but hasn't aged well. I assume, this game would have little replay value, but because of the different characters and the choices, this might have some replay value.
Supposedly, there are something like 20 different endings, depending on various choices you make throughout the game and whether certain characters are living or dead. I'd say there's a lot of replay value there, though Quanticdream's odd insistence that players should only play the game once so their choices "matter more" does seem to run counter to that.
I vaguely remember "D" mentioned in an old EGM. Wasn't it some strange survival horror game set in Alaska or something?
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: Halbred on February 16, 2010, 02:58:50 PM
You're thinking about D2, a Dreamcast game. Your character is wandering the winter wilderness in a land called Can-AH-da. From what I recall, reviewers said it was atmospheric and disturbing but the controls were frustrating and ultimately kind of boring.
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: ThePerm on February 16, 2010, 03:13:57 PM
no im thinking about D, a sega saturn and playstation game, D2 is the sequel..i never played D2
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D_%28video_game%29
i rented it for Saturn when it was new, but after a few years of obscurity i could never find the copy. Then one day a PlayStation copy turned up so i bought it up.
D was one of those early horror games everyone told you not to play in the dark. It kinda reminds me of Eternal Darkness, despite it not having aged well Im pretty sure its a big influence on todays games. It was well received back in the day.
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: Halbred on February 16, 2010, 04:56:50 PM
Gotcha. I'm aware of D, but when you said it took place in Alaska, I thought you meant D2.
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: broodwars on February 22, 2010, 11:54:20 AM
Just a notice to people who pre-ordered (in case you've missed this): while you should receive your pre-order code for the Taxidermist DLC with the game at launch, the DLC itself will not be available until sometime next week (March 4th is the current estimate from Quantic Dreams) so hold onto those codes.
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: Halbred on February 22, 2010, 02:12:32 PM
I wonder if this game is actually about aliens who fall to Earth in raindrops to take over the government?
*if anyone gets that reference, they WIN*
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: D_Average on February 22, 2010, 02:56:25 PM
I tried the demo and was very interested. I'm going to rent it first though on Tues. Doesn't come across as a title I'll play over and over.
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: iDraTion on February 23, 2010, 06:48:06 AM
bowfinger?
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: NWR_Neal on February 23, 2010, 12:00:37 PM
I would totally play a Chubby Rain video game.
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: broodwars on February 23, 2010, 12:11:34 PM
My copy of the game just arrived via UPS. Just so you guys have fair warning, before you can even install the game you have to download a 226 MB patch. Not a huge deal on my end since I have some (well...all of them, actually. I only ever watched the pilot DVD) Caprica episodes to catch up on, and I have a nice little Origami figure to fold together once I can actually install the game. Still, you guys should know what you're in for.
Oh, and I also highly suggest avoiding the internet until you've finished the game. Apparently, the internet griefers have found their new Harry Potter to spoil, and they're going rampant spoiling the identity of the Origami Killer.
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: D_Average on February 23, 2010, 03:27:40 PM
Thanks for the warning. Looking to rent this tonight but I highly doubt Blockbuster will have it yet. If they don't I'll probably nab Brutal Legend instead. It's only 20 at Best abut this week if your in their Gamer Zone club.
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: Halbred on February 23, 2010, 04:00:01 PM
Brutal Legend: the game I haven't beat (or even gotten that into), yet am constantly on the fence about selling or not.
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: broodwars on February 23, 2010, 04:24:20 PM
This game is awesome. I'm early in the game (I'm controlling Shelby for the 3rd time in the game) and aside from one really huge, monumentally cheap "shock" section early in the game with Madison (somewhat counterbalanced by the surprising boldness of having full frontal female nudity that doesn't feel as cheap and exploitative as I was expecting by the ESRB content descriptors, as well as some excellent QTE action) I really don't have any major complaints. Well...there is one really irritating thing, but I expected it after seeing the demo: these characters go beyond living in the Uncanny Valley, and randomly throughout the game seem to be digging a rather large hole in it. ::)
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: Halbred on February 23, 2010, 04:45:09 PM
My fear is that Heavy Rain is:
1) Just as QTE-heavy as Indigo Prophecy (I mean the action sequence crap); and
2) Is a one-trick pony
I am otherwise intruiged. I may have to nab the demo later. Do you think the demo is a fair representation of the full game?
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: broodwars on February 23, 2010, 05:06:10 PM
I am otherwise intruiged. I may have to nab the demo later. Do you think the demo is a fair representation of the full game?
Yes, it definitely is. It's quite a good demo for giving you a fair idea what the game's like.
EDIT: In the defense of this game's QTEs, I think they're handled very well. One of the big complaints I heard about Indigo Prophesy is that the action sequences were one long Simon Says-style button sequence, and because of that you could never really watch a sequence because you always had to keep an eye on the button prompts. These QTE prompts are pretty well-handled, though, and I don't think they detract from the experience at all...with one caveat: at times, it can be really hard to tell the difference between the types of button prompts. There really isn't a strong visual difference between "hold this button" and "press this button", or sometimes "press this button" and "mash this button". It hasn't given me major problems so far, but it can be a little annoying sometimes having to guess in context which type of button prompt it is.
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: Shaymin on February 23, 2010, 11:26:01 PM
My copy of the game just arrived via UPS. Just so you guys have fair warning, before you can even install the game you have to download a 226 MB patch.
Am I the only person who gets ticked off when they have to patch in stuff day 1?
PC gaming isn't dead, we just have dedicated PCs that get hooked to big TVs now.
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: NWR_insanolord on February 23, 2010, 11:29:33 PM
My copy of the game just arrived via UPS. Just so you guys have fair warning, before you can even install the game you have to download a 226 MB patch.
Am I the only person who gets ticked off when they have to patch in stuff day 1?
PC gaming isn't dead, we just have dedicated PCs that get hooked to big TVs now.
It's one of the few bright sides of Nintendo being so behind the times when it comes to online gaming.
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: broodwars on February 24, 2010, 03:13:03 AM
My copy of the game just arrived via UPS. Just so you guys have fair warning, before you can even install the game you have to download a 226 MB patch.
Am I the only person who gets ticked off when they have to patch in stuff day 1?
Unfortunately, it's kind of a necessary evil considering these games are finished a good 1-2 months before we ever see them due to manufacturing and marketing needs. With Sony and Microsoft making changes to their consoles via firmware much more dramatically than Nintendo does, developers have to make sure their game functions on the latest firmware when the game releases (remember the recent firmware that bricked Uncharted 1 for no apparent reason?). So while they have a couple months where the game is essentially done, developers use that window to make any last-minute minor bug fixes and compatibility tests. If the game has something like online multiplayer, they can also use that window for balance testing and server stress tests.
Yes, having to wait an additional 5-15 minutes for online patching the first time you stick the disc in is annoying, but if it means a working game with as many bugs fixed as possible I'll take it. What's unusual about Heavy Rain's patch, though, is that these patches aren't usually this huge...usually something between 5-50 MB. This is 226 MB, which makes me think they found some buggy audio files or something and had to switch them out.
Anyway, I'm currently working my way toward Ethan's 5th Trial and am currently in control of Madison at a party. Man, the action sequences in this game are really well-staged, especially Madison's. Hopefully, I'll finally actually see the reporter side of Madison and she'll start to prove her worth to the story, because she's been pretty pointless in this game so far.
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: Stogi on February 24, 2010, 03:23:31 AM
Am I the only person who gets ticked off when they have to patch in stuff day 1?
No. Just goes to show that people will do anything to release a game on time.
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: D_Average on February 24, 2010, 10:17:31 AM
Man. Just listened to the Joystiq podcast yesterday and Justin Mcelroy ripped this game apart. Mostly for the story and voice acting. I usually agree with him so his thoughts give me sme pause. Blockbuster didn't have it yesterday so I picked up Brutal Legend which is so many levels of awesome for a lapsed metal head like myself. Still going to give Heavy Rain a shot though. Maybe there will be a deal on Sun.
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: vudu on February 24, 2010, 02:06:47 PM
What are you supposed to do if you don't have your PS3 hooked up to the Internet? Is the game unplayable?
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: broodwars on February 24, 2010, 02:09:29 PM
What are you supposed to do if you don't have your PS3 hooked up to the Internet? Is the game unplayable?
I don't know, but seeing as how the game checks the internet when you start the game up I have to assume it won't know there's a patch it needs to download. From what I've heard from people who played the European version without the patch, the game is just a little buggy without the patch. You should be able to play it alright, though you should definitely get on hooking that PS3 up to the internet to get that patch.
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: vudu on February 24, 2010, 02:22:01 PM
I don't have a PS3; just curious.
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: broodwars on February 24, 2010, 09:57:59 PM
Just finished my first playthrough, seemingly managing to keep all my heroes alive to achieve a very satisfactory climax and ending. Excellent game with a very cinematic feel that (once again) won't appeal to everyone and has some mechanical problems with its gameplay, but for those that are interested in what could be the future of storytelling in games (or interaction in cinema) I highly recommend it.
Now I'm at something of a crossroads. I plan on replaying this game probably several more times, but despite my love for chasing trophies I don't know if I'm going to Platinum this game. Something tells me that something of the magic of the game will be ruined if I actually pick the game apart and try to get all 22 endings. :-\
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: mac<censored> on February 27, 2010, 09:08:06 AM
I was thinking to pick this up, only to find out it's completely much sold out at all the stores I checked around here... and they clearly had tons of copies too. Hmm, I guess maybe that's a good sign...
[The trailer they're showing in stores is highly effective, very dramatic (maybe more so than the game, given people's descriptions)... really pulls you in and makes you really wanna play...]
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: broodwars on March 04, 2010, 09:21:30 PM
Well, if you were hoping to finally play the Heavy Rain Chronicles: Episode 1 DLC you were promised at launch when you pre-ordered the game, you're **** out of luck because it looks like the DLC has once again been delayed for no apparent reason. Combine this with my Dante's Inferno "Dark Forest" DLC code not working and my Batman: Arkham Asylum codes not working at launch, I'm really starting to get fed up with this whole business of offering slips of paper with promises of content as special offers. The things always have problems of some sort or another.
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: broodwars on March 04, 2010, 11:08:06 PM
Looks like the PSN solved whatever issue it was having, because suddenly I'm seeing people being able to download the thing and my code works now as well. A surprisingly massive file (considering it's DLC) at 907 MB. :Q That's going to take a while to download considering the PSN's usual urgency.
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: BranDonk Kong on March 04, 2010, 11:10:12 PM
Meh.
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: broodwars on March 04, 2010, 11:11:21 PM
If Heavy Rain were to become a standard bearer of the Blue Ocean, I could be quite content. Hell, if modern games would take notes from Heavy Rain on how to do Quick-Time Events, I'd be satisfied...especially after playing Dante's Inferno with its maddening QTEs.
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: Ymeegod on March 05, 2010, 12:24:50 AM
Why some good news. It sounds like Heavy Rain is actually selling--it broke 1/2 million opening week WW (I think it was WW sales but the article didn't state).
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: broodwars on March 05, 2010, 01:20:34 AM
Why some good news. It sounds like Heavy Rain is actually selling--it broke 1/2 million opening week WW (I think it was WW sales but the article didn't state).
Source?
Incidentally, I'm glad I didn't have to pay for the Taxidermist. This was a tech demo for the game a couple years back, and it shows. There's a good variety of ways you can go about the last of the 3 scenes; 5 endings; and some very Resident Evil (or Condemned, if you prefer) levels of creepiness, but in the end each playthrough will be maybe 8-10 minutes if you're taking your time. Quantic Dreams had better have a real showing for the rest of the DLC stories if they expect even me to pay $5 and dedicate perhaps 1 GB for each one, though.
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: Rize on March 10, 2010, 06:05:19 PM
I completed the game itself a few days ago. It's definitely worth doing. Whatever may have been wrong with previous games like Indigo, I'm sure they learned from it.
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: mac<censored> on March 10, 2010, 08:27:18 PM
Completely sold out around here, and the employees have no idea when they'll get more in... :(
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: mac<censored> on March 18, 2010, 09:58:36 AM
Hm, well i finally found a copy and played it. It seems a decent and often involving game, but man, it's really buggy, and the controls are awful...
I just finished the game on what must be the worst ending ("unpunished") after all my characters died quickly in succession in horrible ways, the victim died horribly as well, the bad cops mocked goodness, and the bad guy strolled off happily into a pleasant and murderous future... :(
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: NinGurl69 *huggles on March 18, 2010, 12:07:47 PM
So it's not a game... but a next-generation Sega CD title?
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: Peachylala on March 18, 2010, 12:58:28 PM
So it's not a game... but a next-generation Sega CD title?
It's a SEGA CD title with SIX-AXIS innovation!
Considering that the game has no FMV and a great deal of interactivity, I think it's selling the game a little short to be calling it a Sega CD title.
Incidentally, is there a reason why Pro is basically allowed free reign over trolling here?
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: NinGurl69 *huggles on March 18, 2010, 01:23:29 PM
I wonder this as well.
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: D_Average on March 18, 2010, 02:58:10 PM
When your one liners are as good as his, you can get away with anything. That line about Sega CD had me LOLing like crazy. Wish I would have thought of it. He must have a staff of writers living with him. No way he comes up with all those crazy jokes himself.
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: Halbred on March 18, 2010, 07:40:15 PM
This gives me hope for a sequel to Night Trap.
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: Peachylala on March 19, 2010, 02:26:01 PM
There will never be a sequal, but there's always the Taco-Man remake (http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/345635) from a couple years back on Newgrounds.
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: vudu on March 20, 2010, 02:27:43 PM
Incidentally, is there a reason why Pro is basically allowed free reign over trolling here?
Because I'm behind in my General Gaming threads. Feel free to use the Report to mod button next time.
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: mac<censored> on March 20, 2010, 05:50:08 PM
BTW, re: online patching -- I don't have the PS3 hooked up to the internet, so I played through it without them, so it's possible, but... it's really buggy.
In certain circumstances the games it will fade to black after a scene (like normal) -- but never actually loads the next scene; it just stops, and that's it, you need to quit and restart from the previous checkpoint.
Sometimes certain controls just stop working. E.g., in the train station, all you have to do at first is walk across the room, but when I first tried it, the movement controls had absolutely no effect; I initially thought this was some sort of clever way of showing how scared your character is, but I eventually realized that "oh, it's just a bug". Restarting and trying again fixed the problem. Another time I had completed one of the "tasks", and was sitting upside down in a burning car, and the game was prompting me with (essentially) "press X to pick up your prize" -- but the X button didn't work, no matter how often I pressed it! So eventually I just gave up and failed that task. :(
The bugs aren't "fatal" in a "you must restart the entire game and play from the beginning" way, but they can be extremely frustrating and can definitely screw up your result.
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: Peachylala on March 21, 2010, 07:24:24 PM
Sounds like they had Sonic Team make the game.
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: broodwars on March 21, 2010, 07:46:22 PM
BTW, re: online patching -- I don't have the PS3 hooked up to the internet, so I played through it without them, so it's possible, but... it's really buggy.
In certain circumstances the games it will fade to black after a scene (like normal) -- but never actually loads the next scene; it just stops, and that's it, you need to quit and restart from the previous checkpoint.
Sometimes certain controls just stop working. E.g., in the train station, all you have to do at first is walk across the room, but when I first tried it, the movement controls had absolutely no effect; I initially thought this was some sort of clever way of showing how scared your character is, but I eventually realized that "oh, it's just a bug". Restarting and trying again fixed the problem. Another time I had completed one of the "tasks", and was sitting upside down in a burning car, and the game was prompting me with (essentially) "press X to pick up your prize" -- but the X button didn't work, no matter how often I pressed it! So eventually I just gave up and failed that task. :(
Well, I've certainly run into audio bugs (where the sound just cuts out for a fraction of a second, usually after starting up a chapter from the menu), but nothing worse than that. As for your problem with the first trial, are you sure you just weren't pressing the button right? If I remember correctly, that's one of those "Hold the buttons" sequences, so if you kept just hitting the button it wouldn't work.
Title: Re: Heavy Rain
Post by: mac<censored> on March 21, 2010, 11:45:30 PM
As for your problem with the first trial, are you sure you just weren't pressing the button right? If I remember correctly, that's one of those "Hold the buttons" sequences, so if you kept just hitting the button it wouldn't work.
Yup, I'm pretty sure it was a bug and not my problem. Although it was a tense moment, there was enough time to experiment and retry quite a few times, and by then I was familiar with the controls and on-screen prompting; nothing worked, there was not even the usual on-screen feedback. Given that similar things happened others times where was incredibly obvious it was a bug (e.g., in the train station, where the movement controls completely failed to work -- until I restarted, whereupon they worked normally), it seems reasonably clear that the game is just buggy.
Note that my PS3 is not online, so Heavy Rain was running completely unpatched.
