Heavy Rain: The Screenshots

Did anyone else buy a PS3 last year in hopes that is was actually going to come out in February as originally planned... or was I the only one that was that optimistic?

@Mancomb Seepgood:

amusing.

Those two guys sure like to point their guns at each other a lot.

lolomfgisuck

@Chaosrayne: I thought this game was about a woman crying?

hobob

"now featuring little to no gameplay" Going to suck, like IP did, all show and no go. Pass.

Thrillkiller

But was it ordinary rain... or was it CHUBBY RAIN?

Vintastic

Wesker, is that you?

Vjeszczi

Well since Indigo Prophecy is still one of my most favorite Adventure Type games this is a definite pick up for me.

The Adventure game genre isn't dead. It just needs to flow with the times.

Like Heavy Rain or Psychonauts

Drogmir

Rowdy @raffleking: Rowdy Roddy Piper = badassery

Those shades look ridiculous.

osiris83

If heavy Rain is anything like Fahrenheit/Indigo Prophecy, we're golden.
And if it's like Fahrenheit without everything goin' all supernatural-crazy in the final act, we're... platinum. Or something.

I can see why it would be hard for someone who hasn't played (or didn't like) Fahrenheit to be excited by the Heavy Rain media that was released today: it's not particularly flashy and only shows a couple of scenes.

For me, it's about promise. What I see there is the promise of an intensely story-driven game with a strong atmosphere, which isn't striving for universal appeal but could blow away the minds of those who do find it appealing.

If people just realised that Heavy Rain was purposefully intended to develop its own conventions, there would be less complaining. It somewhat reminds me of all the complaining about the Wii: completely off-target.

Fahrenheit didn't follow classic gameplay (or narrative, for that matter) patterns. And yet, many consider it to be one of last generation's gems. Good games can be polarising - I'd even argue that they usually are.

David Cage has stated time and time again that he wasn't interested in developing an objective-based game built around its gameplay. He tried to bend the gameplay to the story, to find a way to make it more inobtrusive and organic, so that the gamer is as little as possible aware that they're playing a game. Cage is, first and foremost, interested in using the interactivity of video games for one thing: to tell a story.

To me, that approach is every bit as respectable as that of a developer who crafts a finely-balanced and complex control scheme, a web of abilities and vulnerabilities that require effort and dedication for the gamer to master.

It's a given that many people won't like Quantic's approach, since that's simply not what they're looking for in video games.
It doesn't mean that the studio have "failed", or that Heavy Rain will be shit. It just won't be up your alley, and there's nothing wrong with that. But neither is there anything wrong with being excited.

I hate the "if you love Heavy Rain, just go watch a movie, you casual QTE-fornicator" mentality just as much as I hate the "if you don't love Heavy Rain, go play Gears Of War, you lowly philistine" one.

The guys at Quantic Dream set out to do something specific, and they're doing exactly that. You don't see me bitching because Mario doesn't have a story to speak of. "And what's up with all the stupid jumping anyway? Man, that gets ooooold!"

(Damn, sorry for the rant. Just wrote a ridiculously long email to a friend, I'm afraid I'm still in rambling mode.)

@dd528: Yeah - basically cheap and tacky b-movies during daytime.

Kibblez

@Mike Newlad: Not so much, since you know the deal here from the outset. It'd be like criticizing a DS game's poly count.

tobz1000

Probably the worst looking game I've ever seen.

Although I couldn't reallty see anything because it was so dark and because it would seem that everyone at Quantic Dream gets a major chubby over soft filters.

@Kai200X: I think those that critisized MGS4 for too much of a movie are going to have a field day with this.

Mike Newlad

@Chaosrayne: vs very selective still images.

Mike Newlad

@Xcite79: Such a graphics whore. :)

---

This seems more like one really long interactive cutscene rather than a game. I think it looks amazing but I doubt the game play will be enough to make me last out the story.

I would love a game with this level of graphics and story combined with some crackdown style gameplay.Or even Splinter Cell type gameplay.

Mike Newlad

So the black dude looks fine, but the white dude looks dead inside.

@Kibblez: I'm in the UK and I have no idea what you're talking about. Is that a TV channel or something?

dd528

@raffleking: See if Rowdy Roddy Piper had a gun, it would have been way easier to get Keith David to put on the damn glasses.

@GardnerEumelus: Fahrenheit/Indigo Prophecy had more gameplay variation that that. As Rovient says, a lot of the gameplay is adventure game style puzzle solving. Although the puzzles tend to be less rubber-chicken-pulley and more realistic.

dd528

@edhe (xbl): You can't argue that Heavy Rain is trying to be a cinematic movie-like experience. Indigo was the same way

Kibblez

@lbmanuel1: You check ebay? I got my copy for £4 about a year ago and there were plenty on sale. That might just be in the UK though.

dd528

@SaanZ: It def went a little batshit insane but I still thoroughly enjoyed it.

href="#c13010375">lbmanuel1: I know the original xbox version is available at amazon for cheap, the pc and ps2 versions are still pretty high priced though.

Am I the only one whose first thought when the fight started was "Hooo boy, Yahtzee's going to have a ball with this one?"

Hmm, will there be a interactive sex scene like Indigo Prophecy?...Between these two characters? (shudder)

It's been in dev since the launch of the PS3...lets hope it's not another DNF....oh wait... Duke Nukem ForNever

James2432

@Ackers: It's time to misquote and chew bubble gum. And he's all outta gum.

SSUK

@Komrade Kayce: That's the way I see it too, and I for one quite frankly cannot wait!

I think I'm more intrigued by the multiple branching paths gameplay element. I would like to see how the game continues (and inevitably ends) when/if the main character(s)/protagonist(s) die.

a black person that doesnt say Motherf$cker when he got caught??
how realistic...

wulfsaga2

@VonDante:

I wish i could find Indigo Prophecy. It looks really interesting especially after hearing about Heavy Rain, which is my second most anticipated game right now, just behind TRICO.

lbmanuel1

@Combine: You think the game will be "a steaming pile of shit" for no reason other than it has QTEs? Brilliant.

@ara:

Its just the knuckles are very prominent.
It does look odd, i only guessed gloves because he is picking up evidence, but in a world of magic HUD glasses maybe it is a bionic hand who knows.

@Accordion: because they have a lot more to them then that. You can simplify all games to pressing a button (and waggle) at the right time.
But others have a lot more to it then that. Simply, this game won't be for a lot of peoples tastes. Mine for one.
Personally I think this game would be a steaming pile of shit, because I just don't like this sort of thing. For me thats all it would be and as a result I wouldn't buy it.
For others, they'll eat it up and love it. So good on em.
To each their own.

@Accordion: A, that makes sense. Damn bad texturing job on the back of the hand if that's the case though.

:)

@Kibblez: Why care about movies?

Games are games, movies are movies. You don't compare movies to albums do you?

Anyway, game looks good, but my jaw remains in place.

Everyone hating QTEs failing to see that most games are just long QTE sequences.

From the obvious Guitar Hero to every racing game and platformer, at some level every game is nothing more than pressing the correct button at the correct time.
If Heavy Rain has multiple outcomes then how i s really different?

@VonDante:

Same here... though honestly... I gave up on Indigo prophecy when it got... well batshit crazy in a bad way.

SaanZ

@ara:

could just be a glove

Wow, it is coming along very nicely. They may actually hit the uncanny valley and roll right through it. It still seems video gamey, but looks better than anything else out.

Lokicharms

I thought everyone said this was confirmed for this year?

The more i see, the more I'm impressed actually... just had a proper look at the stuff on gametrailers and I have to say the bit with the woman in the club looks fantastic, really amazing lighting/immersion...

@Komrade Kayce: haha yeah, agreed... people might bitch about there being too much QTE... but then again they'll know that going in and should just stay away from it if they find that annoying. I think i'll be able to stomach it...especially when you dont get a "GAME OVER!" the second you miss a button.

indyit just wants exams to end.

@psxman: Low-rez streaming video encode.

@Ackers: I'm here to chew ass and kick bubblegum, and I'm all out of ass.

Wet's a different game.

This is clearly Batman: Matrix Revolutions.

@raffleking: OBEY.

In some of those shots the detective guy has cyber hand, in others he doesn't? Wut?

@undefined:
You're not wrong, because that's what it is.

And since when was that a bad thing?

I'm looking forward to this because it's challenging the concept of what it means to be a game. As long as I'm being entertained, s'all good with me.

Then again I can also be entertained by setting small animals and children on fire. Might want to look into that as a cheaper alternative to game-buying.

I can see that this game will be storyline over gameplay, which is what I love. Much like MGS4, one of my favorite PS3 game. Some might say it's just like watching movie without much of the gameplay but I beg to differ.

The game seems interesting. The graphics look good except for the white guy's hands... they look like Skeletor's. Voice acting seems par for the course...The only thing that's really turning me off from the game is the quick time events.... i hate them!

@Muramasa: More Max Payne

So Max Payne became a profiler...

The screenshots are much more impressive than the video. Perhaps we need to see the HD version. Eitherway, gameplay seemed underhwhelming.

Impressive graphic. I love that tie and that suit.

shadow_judge

The footage definitely has me hyped. I think too many people discount the impact that this sort of "Choose Your Own Adventure" style can have when powered by modern gaming hardware.

It's also a nice compliment to the point-and-click renaissance happening on the DS.

Doesn't look a thing like the gameplay footage I've just witnessed...
This looks FAAAAR shinier.

What gives?

I think one thing we all can agree on is that the voice acting from this preview was terrible.

RiotControl

This game looks OK but nothing like I thought it would. The dialogue and script in that video was really kinda poor. I thought this was going to be the game that I can show to people and say "this is how close games are getting to good movies" but it just seems something off of Zone Thriller (you'll know what I mean if you're in the UK).

Kibblez

@GardnerEumelus: Think of it more like monkey island or other adventure games surely.

Anyone else think that Rain is just going to be a real-time-rendered FMV game? Don't get me wrong, I've played and enjoyed a number of those in my time, but I don't really appreciate all the hyperbole surrounding this title.

GardnerEumelus

@$#$ yeah, this game gonna rock.

@raffleking: I have come here to chew bubble gum and kick ass... and im all out of bubblegum

I can't wait for this game. Seems like a modern day 'I can actually see what buttons I'm going to press doing what' version of Dragons Lair. Or Choose Your Own Adventure.

Very, very excited.

This looks incredible, cannot wait for this to be released :)

I'm getting a strong Mulder/Neo/Smith vibe from the guy with the glasses, by the way.

I think it looks good, I enjoyed the in game footage too. Big fan of Indigo Prophecy, and this is actually one of the few games that has me wanting to get a Ps3 down the road.

It looks amazing.

I can't wait for this game :)

Seems like it could be a very immersive game. It's interesting to say the least.. I'm skeptical as to how well that minimalist approach to controls, as it seems, will carry over into our hands.

wet.

kitsuneconundrum

i...cannot believe you just made a "they live" reference.

raffleking

I LOVED LOVED LOVED Indigo Prophecy. This is the game that is gonna finally make me buy a PS3.

Indigo Prophecy was terrific until one mind-numbingly stupid design decision that made me uninstall it the moment I encountered it; namely, the sequence where in order to progress the story you have to FAIL the quick time minigame, with absolutely no hint or shadow of a clue to tell you this before hand, and every single other example in the game up to that point made you succeed or die.

Also, all I can think of when I hear "Heavy Rain" is Bowfinger's "Chubby Rain".

marlowespade

@Kibblez: Go play MGS4, it's better than movies, and is worth at least 5 of them.

LllusionX loves the inFamous demo!(to death)

@GardnerEumelus: it isnt hyperbole, actually. the hype surrounding it is because of it's great graphics, great animations, and most of all, for it's extremely in depth gameplay. to the untrained eye, it could appear that this is nothing more than a giant QTE, but for the more informed, it is a complex system of side options and additional endings, etc. every QTE that happens leads you on another path, depending on how you decided to play it. if you're dodging something, and you happen to miss the quick time event, and instead of the usual "Retry?" you could either be actually dead, or knocked out and/or kidnapped, or something else. you may regain yourself and have to dodge something else and you succeed, you could counter and win the fight, kinda like what happened in the vid.

LllusionX loves the inFamous demo!(to death)

@nick_gc: Gametrailers, man. Gametrailers. They also have a lot more than just what was seen in the video here.

@Mike Newlad: but those are literally impossible. especially with a game like crackdown. you wont be having meaningful converse with pretty actions, animations and graphics while jumping around a city and shooting shit.

LllusionX loves the inFamous demo!(to death)

its not for everyone, but its shaping up to be a memorable game,

Why are these screens so much better? Too small. Sorry Kotaku, this new image viewer is cool in that the pictures load fast and all, but you really need to include size options on the pictures again. If there are 1080p versions of these pictures, the current viewer isn't doing them justice at all.

@Mancomb Seepgood: You must have started gaming in the past couple years and only played like 5 games.

@Muramasa: I though Keanu Reeves.

@VonDante: Really? Wow, glad I have a PS2 version.

Also, I think this game MIGHT push me over the edge in getting a PS3.

What happened to the uncanny valley? These screens look very "current-gen," as if the trip to uncanny valley took a permanent detour to look at the world's biggest ball of yarn. Pretty pictures, yes. State-of-the-art, no more.

Pretty graphics, probably a great story line. Yet i know for a fact i wont get it. I HATE quick time events and i hate the idea of games putting story above the actual game part of the game.

rinerdar

I looked away from my computer and came back and looked at the screen and thought, "that black guy who is in every movie is in this one. (the one who played the King Pin in Dare Devil, he isn't very famous, but he's in everything).

then I realized it wasn't him.
then I realized it was a game.

this game looks awesome if it's full of multipaths

I thought I knew that dude from somewhere:

+ Watch video

To all the tards whining about graphics...

go play something else. seriously. tons and tons upon tons of games with a graphic-oriented design for you out there. if heavy rain delivers on story and immersive gameplay then the graphics can take a back seat as far as i'm concerned. the people who are interested in this in the first place most likely don't have graphics as a priority; it's not like their terrible anyway even from this alpha build.

so what is so impressing in this game?

*runs*

@dd528: can't you buy it on Xbox 360? I'm pretty sure I saw it in the Xbox Originals

@indyit just wants exams to end.: This. People will buy this game, then come online and say it sucks because they thought it was a 3rd person shooter.

MixMaster81

I seriously can't wait to see how this game turns out. I have a strong feeling that it will be a lot better and have a lot more depth than what most people think.

@MindPrints: You forgot G.

And if he hadn't escaped from that car, you could say he would have... suffered?

V1L3

I expected a lot more of this game. It looks good but JUST good. That's not a bad thing, just sounds like one when they made eeryone think it would look absolutely fantastic. At least from those screenshots and the movies i've seen about it, it's a bit underwhelming. That's the problem with overhyping.

@lbmanuel1: It's called Fahrenheit in the UK if that's any help.

@Hraesvelgr: Yes, because I absolutely loathe them. I hate QTE's in any game at any point.
Having seen the screenshots, hearing how its played etc. I do not want.
That is my opinion.
You really are retarded if you missed the whole point of what I was saying.
Let me reiterate for you.
Some people will like this, Others will not.
Personally I will not. While others, will absolutely love this.
Clear?

@Antiterra: +11

@Jonn: Also, oddly atmospheric.

I have to admit, that one with the four options making a little halo around the agent is quite creepy.

@Mit: No. But this is the single worst case of soft filter addiction I've ever seen.

Quicktime events. The bane of my existence. :(