How Far Would You Go To Save The One You Love?
That is the question asked of you before you enter the world of Heavy Rain. Think about it for a moment.. Really, how far would you go? It is an interesting thought and a thrilling concept for a game.
To divulge the plot further, the game follows four characters on a quest to uncover the identity of the infamous serial killer of whom goes by the name 'The Origami Killer'. This task will take them on a journey that will show them just how far they are willing to go to save the one they love.
'The Origami Killer' has gripped the East Coast of America with a fear and paranoia after kidnapping and murdering several victims. The only leads the authorities have to go on is that all victims are found drowned with an origami figure hidden somewhere on their bodies. It is the presense of the killer that brings four unlikely people together in search of one common goal.
While Ethan Mars is the only character with a personal connection with 'The Origami Killer' after his son is kidnapped, other characters Madison Paige and Norman Jayden are on a quest to save themselves. This adds another level of meaning to the games opening question as the one you love does not need to be anyone other than yourself. The fourth character Scott Shelby is just along for the ride as a private investigator hired by families of other 'Origami Killer' victims.
This compelling mix of characters, personalities and traits allows for a wide range of emotions to be evoked by the central story.
Gameplay
The game plays out through real time actions and quick time events to leave the player the most engaging and interactive experience possible. All the actions you can do are context sensitive and are mapped to the controller in a way that make sense. For example you open a door. When next to the door a bubble will pop up in the game space asking you to rotate the analogue stick. Once the character has opened the door you may then be prompted to push the analogue stick up to push the door open. It is this level of immersive detail that allows you to truly feel like you are the character.
This also lends itself to speech. While in a mode of speech topics of coversation with swirl around the characters head all assigned a face button (X, Square, Circle or Triangle). The speed and disorientation of the topics swirling depend on the stress of the character. If you are being held at gun point the topics may be moving so fast even you, the player may be under stress to read and pick the right one in time. It is this that truly puts you in the game, and when every moment counts you cannot afford to make a mistake.
Characters
Ethan Mars Madison Paige
Norman Jayden Scott Shelby
Character Profiles
Ethan Mars is a young Architect. His life fell apart 2 years ago when his eldest son was hit by a car and left in a coma. Once happy, depression sunk in and his marriage fell apart leaving him to look after his youngest son Shaun. Ethans life is yet again thrown into chaos when Shaun vanishes leaving him with the paranoia and fear that his son may just be the next victim of 'The Origami Killer'.
Madison Paige is a young Photographer living all alone in the city. She suffers from severe insomnia and nightmares that just don't seem to go away unless she checks into a motel for the night. Madison has no apparent connection to 'The Origami Killer' though through actions of her own she finds herself drawn into the investigation.
Norman Jayden is a dedicated FBI profiler sent to investigate 'The Origami Killer'. He utilises a special piece of experimental technology called ARI (Added Reality Interface) that allows him to get even more detailed information from a crime scene. Norman while dedicated has problems of his own, he is battling drug addiction which does come between his focus as an FBI profiler.
Scott Shelby is a former Police officer turned Private Detective who occasionally suffers from being too tough and cynical. He gets called in by families of victims to find out who 'The Origami Killer' is. It is this that will show Scott a side to himself he never thought he had.
To Conclude
So there we have it. A somewhat brief but detailed introduction to Heavy Rain for those that haven't kept up to date with the game, or have just become confused by what this game is.
I hope to make 'Game in Profile:" a weekly or bi-weekly addition to my blog though, it does all depend on what games are on the way and if they have enough information to really fill out a page. I hope this teaches you something new about the game and for those that knew nothing, maybe I will have converted another sale for Sony haha..
This game is made by 'Quantic Dream' exclusively for Sony PlayStation 3. It releases on 'February 23rd 2010' in North America and 'February 26th 2010' in the UK.
Adam (Daweii)
