Review: Heavy Rain

Every decision in Heavy Rain can alter the game's outcome.

It's not often that a game is released that is truly ground-breaking. Heavy Rain walks on the razor's edge between video games and motion pictures, using a unique control system and decision-based gameplay that can send the storyline in any direction. It is a well-crafted psych thriller, based around the hunt for the "Origami Killer" and you play as four different characters. Every character is very different, and all can die - whichever move you make or whatever the result of a task can drastically alter where this riveting story goes.

Rather than playing as a traditional adventure game, basic moves are made with joystick gestures, timed button-pushes and controller shakes. These moves could be for tasks as simple as getting into a car, putting your seatbelt on and turning the key in the ignition, or as complex as stringing fighting moves together to save your character from gun-wielding robbers.

It moves painfully slowly at times - something that will put off some gamers - and controls (using R2 to walk and left joystick for direction) is not terribly exact. But it does take adventure gaming to a new whole new place - like a virtual version of those "Choose Your Own Adventure" kids' books.

Verdict: This PlayStation exclusive title marks a departure from traditional gaming and bodes well for a new genre that could well expand into a lucrative area that attracts new players to the console. Entertaining, interesting, well-scripted and - for me - fairly addictive, but certainly a new and exciting chapter for gaming.

4/5

Reviewed on PS3, R18