Developer Quantic Dream is now returning to the PlayStation 4 for the second time, although still not with their new IP.Detroit: Become Human“, but with another remastered gem from the PlayStation 3 – the interactive drama “Heavy Rain”.
What kind of discussions were there at its release in 2010, with people arguing about how much of a film or a game "Heavy Rain" actually was, and whether it could even be considered the latter? Fortunately, there's much more acceptance for this genre now, as there are players who are entertained purely by a story and don't just want to keep their finger on the trigger. So we set out once again to hunt down the origami killer and found that "Heavy Rain" certainly doesn't look dated on PlayStation 4.
Shared fates…
A killer is on the loose, targeting young boys and leaving an origami figure on their bodies as his trademark. Both the FBI and private investigators have been trying to track him down for years. The story of "Heavy Rain" itself, however, only begins after architect Ethan Mars' son disappears. Ethan has already suffered greatly in his life and is now put to the test once more, forced to prove his love for his son. The killer challenges him to see how far a father would go to save his child's life, sending the player on a nerve-wracking chase across the entire city.
What makes "Heavy Rain" special is that the story is presented from different perspectives, allowing the viewer to step into the roles of four main characters – Ethan Mars himself, private detective Scott Shelby, FBI investigator Norman Jayden, and the intrepid journalist Madison Paige, all of whom are pursuing their own and different leads on the Origami Killer.
The second core element of the game is that "Heavy Rain" is based on choices and their consequences, which determine when you finish the game, with whom, whether you can save Ethan Mars' son, or whether you manage to apprehend the killer. This isn't solely based on moral or verbal decisions, but can also depend heavily on gameplay skill. Unlike typical adventure games, the main characters can die irrevocably along the way, yet the story continues. Even if, for example, Ethan Mars dies, the other characters can still bring the case to a close. However, there's also the possibility that all the main characters die, ending the game after just a few hours, or that the case concludes with a wrongly accused killer.
In total, there are over 20 different endings, some of which differ dramatically from one another. Even if you think you know the game from back then, this fact doesn't make it any less exciting, and it still surprises with things you might not have seen before. The only downside is probably that many already know who the killer really is, which might change your perspective on the story. However, you can still consciously choose to explore the different endings and discover the alternatives.
Not aged a bit…
Quantic Dream had already made a name for itself on PlayStation 3 by visually stunning games that truly wowed players. "Heavy Rain" was particularly praised for its strikingly realistic faces, especially prominent in the loading screens. This realism is now evident in the remaster, which looks as fresh as ever. Unlike "Beyond: Two Souls," "Heavy Rain" was a pure PS3 title, which meant the PS4 version required more development time, explaining its later release. When compared to other games of this generation, "Heavy Rain" holds its own. The textures, in particular, have been lovingly revamped and, thanks to 1080p resolution and increased detail, are more atmospheric than ever. Since Sony hasn't yet provided details on the specific improvements in the PS4 version, there were initial concerns that the higher resolution might reveal unsightly or blurry details. These concerns proved entirely unfounded, as became clear after just a few minutes of gameplay. Admittedly, some supporting characters and animations do still look reminiscent of the PS3 era and appear somewhat stiff; fingers might occasionally be a bit angular. However, given the overall visual style and the new lighting, this is a negligible issue that hardly detracts from the game's impact.
Rather, one could still find fault with the game's controls, which are almost a direct copy of the PlayStation 3 version. The fact that you still have to hold down the R2 button to move forward is completely unnecessary and poorly designed, as there's absolutely no reason for it. Whether the string of quick-time events should be considered the biggest gameplay flaw, as it was back then, is still up to the player, since the rather simple mechanics shouldn't distract too much from the core gameplay – the story. It's neither better nor worse on PlayStation 4.
The sound design remains unchanged, although I enjoyed the game in English this time. As usual, the debate about which voice acting is better is unavoidable, and personally, I prefer the original English version, finding it more authentic. The German dub sometimes feels out of place, exaggerated, and inappropriate, and occasionally the audio mix isn't optimal, resulting in voices that are sometimes too quiet and difficult to understand. However, the game offers a full range of language options, subtitles, and volume settings, so there's definitely a good compromise for everyone. The soundtrack itself is still excellent and evokes wonderful memories of one of the most exceptional games of the previous generation.
The game does not include support for the PlayStation Move Controller, nor the DLC 'Heavy Rain: Chronicles: Episode 1 – The Taxidermist'.
Developer: Quantic Dream
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Release: March 02, 2016
Official homepage: www.quanticdream.com
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