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More Mysteries, Fewer C*cksuckers

By TK | Posted Under Trade News | Comments (21)

heavy-rain-20060510115319807_640w.jpg

SCE’s Heavy Rain was one of the Playstation 3’s most critically acclaimed video games last year, boasting incredible storylines and characters, a dazzling plot, and a degree of interactivity and unpredictability that is thus far pretty much unparalleled.

Or so I’m told, anyway. I haven’t played it. Regardless, it’s being adapted into a film, and David Milch, writer of the absolutely fucking amazing “Deadwood” as well as co-creator of “NYPD Blue” has been tapped to write the script. This seems like good news, especially for a game as complex and character-driven as Heavy Rain. The game is a noir-ish affair, involving the investigation of “the Origami Killer,” who uses heavy rainfalls to drown his victim. The main character, Ethan Mars, is trying to prevent his son from becoming the next victim, and there are an FBI profiler, a journalist, and a private detective also on the case.

But… I’m always cautious about video game adaptations, since we’ve been burned on virtually 99% of them so far. So I asked the other video game geek (and all-around clever sonofabitch) Drew Morton for his thoughts, and he’s not particularly optimistic.

Drew’s thoughts on this are unsurprisingly very well articulated, so instead of fumbling through paraphrasing his thoughts, I’m gonna just paste them: Basically, Drew’s concerns are twofold:

1. Interactivity: The game’s entire third-act depends on the player’s actions throughout the first two acts. There are 6-8 different endings I believe. The appeal of playing is to find out what consequences your moral decisions have. Unlike most games like say, Bioshock, Heavy Rain does not divide into an “easy” binary of a good ending vs. a bad ending. There are plenty of shades in between and small actions have major consequences. I feel compelled to play it again just to see if I can completely undermine the narrative so that the bad guy gets away with it and the game ends at it’s earliest possible moment.

2. Interface: There are multiple reasons why the interactivity of Heavy Rain carries such weight with its players. The writing is fairly strong (there are some odd gaps, specifically regarding the protagonist’s visions) and the characters are vividly defined and motivated. The atmosphere is incredibly intense and unrelenting in the best possible sense of the word—-it is like playing David Fincher’s “Se7en.” Yet, from a personal standpoint, the characteristic that brings everything together is the game’s reliance on a faux gestural based interface (Wii, Dance Dance Revolution, Rock Band). Players, via the PS3 controller or the PS Move, “control” the characters by mimicking the actions they are completing. For example, climbing up a muddy hill involves holding different buttons down in an awkward fashion, miming the sensation of the walk. In another sequence, you must hold your hand down and cut off a finger in a sacrifice for a fact that will help you track down your child’s kidnapper. The intensity of the scene not only derives from the music and the mise-en-scene, the moral stakes and the sympathy we feel for the protagonist, but we also feel a haptic connection to these people that is produced by the interface.

So, there you have it.

What say you, chickies? Anyone else play it? Have any thoughts? Should I play it after I’m done with Mass Effect 2 and Dead Space 2?

Here’s the trailer for the game.









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Comments

I really need to branch out to games other than the new Super Mario Brothers. I am sick and tired of trying to get all those damned star coins.

Posted by: Julie at January 31, 2011 9:06 AM

I LOVED Heavy Rain, but I'm not sure it would translate well into a movie. Though, I guess it also depends on what ending they choose to use as the base of the narrative.

Posted by: Aaron at January 31, 2011 9:15 AM

I'm in. After Deadwood I'll follow Milch to the ends of the earth.

I wish I had time to play video games but I'm pretty busy these days. After work I like to alternate between going to pubs with my friends and laughing at stories we retell of other times we were out drinking or staying home lying on my couch cracking my shoulder blades and staring at the wall while a show I like plays on my open laptop in my periphery. If either of those things falls through then I may be tempted to try out this game.

Posted by: becks at January 31, 2011 9:25 AM

I watched a friend play through some of Heavy Rain and played through one sequence myself. It was awesome. It was a really different and intense experience playing it.

Mass Effect 2 was my game of the year last year, so I think we have pretty similar tastes, TK, so I'd go for it.

I am finally getting around to playing Red Dead Redemption myself. It's part of my Winter Western Fest 2011. The part of it, which is also on topic, is finally watching Deadwood. I've had the entire two season series in a boxset DVD for almost a year, if not more. Finally cracked it open and watched the first two episodes last night. So awesome.

Posted by: Forbiddendonut at January 31, 2011 9:28 AM

Forbiddendonut, they finally got around to putting out Mass Effect 2 for the PS3. Loving it. It's amazing how much game is in this game.

I have enjoyed Heavy Rain very much, although my favorite level was probably "Irresponsible Divorced Father in Crap Apartment."

Press X to make shitty TV dinner.

Posted by: twig at January 31, 2011 9:39 AM

I'm loving Mass Effect 2, even if I'm bummed that I can't play the first one. But I have to say, I'm getting fucking sick of planet mining. If I hear the phrase "probe launched" one more time I'm gonna smash someone in the mouth with my controller.

Yes, I know that sounds dirty.

As for Heavy Rain, I'm usually not keen on games that are too narrative heavy (or gunfire heavy, for that matter), but I might give it a whirl some day. After Dead Space 2. And Red Dead Redemption. And...

Shit.

Posted by: TK at January 31, 2011 9:44 AM

Heavy Rain is a terrible, terrible game. The first hour or so is pretty impressive and then the gaping plot holes, unbelievably bad voice acting and sexist aspects begin to appear. Some spoilers below, by the way, but not many.

The character of Madison? Her entire reason for being in the game is to fall in love with Ethan for no apparent reason and then have sex with him in the middle of a race to save his child. It makes no sense. It's embarrassing.

The branching endings are just as bad, considering you can allow major characters to be killed off and STILL get the happy ending. The idea of who the serial killer turns out to be is actually a sort of interesting idea, until you realize that you've witnessed events that make it physically impossible for it to be him. Also cute things like, a character has asthma and it's a major problem in one scene and then when he's sprinting for twenty minutes later on it never shows up.

That and a major problem of Ethan's that was dropped halfway through production.

It's one serious mess of a game and critic masturbating over it makes my skin crawl. I might have excused it, but read an interview with David Cage. Whenever anyone asks him about the plot inconsistencies his answer is more or less "You just didn't get it." Brilliant.

This is a major waste of talent. They should let this stupid game fade quietly into obscurity.

Posted by: Madeleine at January 31, 2011 10:05 AM

I played the demo for Heavy Rain and it's definitely unique. Haven't gotten the full title yet but will when it gets cheap enough just because there is nothing else like it.

TK: For planet mining don't hold the button down to scan. Press it repeatedly while moving the sensor. Go in gridlines across the face of the planet, then rotate the planet to have a new side facing you. It goes much faster that way and you have to mine most of the planets to fully upgrade your ship or you can't survive the ending. Unless you really need the minerals, don't bother with any planets that are any lower than "Good".

I would actually just sit down sometimes and do nothing but mine. Once you get into a groove it goes fast and makes the game much easier when can get new weapons and upgrades.

Posted by: TylerDFC at January 31, 2011 10:26 AM

Played it; loved it, despite a few plot holes.

Definitely one of the best - certainly most worthy of attention, anyway - games of the last few generations.

But a stressful game. And I don't mean 'I can't get this fucking jump right' (ala Tomb Raider) kinda stress; I mean 'Jesus fucking Christ why am I still playing this?!' kinda stress. The kind of stress where I found myself sitting bolt upright, clenching the controller in my hand like a vice, but at the same time trying to be relaxed, in a state of cat/Tobias-like readiness. Also the sweating.

But despite the fact that the game proved so damn engaging in an emotionally negative way quite a few times, it still proved bloody amazing fun.

But, like you lot've said; a lot of that depended on the interactivity, so I remain skeptical about a film adaptation. Although the way you guys praise Deadwood through the roof (I ain't seen it) it may turn out to be something worth a watch.

Posted by: zeke the pig at January 31, 2011 10:26 AM

TylerDFC, that's basically what I'm doing. But it's still dull as shit, especially since I'm rarely able to play for extended sessions, meaning I end up feeling like I'm wasting my time. Although at this point, I've amassed a ridiculous amount of elements, so I've stopped wasting time on any of the Poor or Good planets.

Posted by: TK at January 31, 2011 10:30 AM

I played through Dead Space 2 on my TV while a friend played through Heavy Rain on my monitor. Do everything at once. It's the best way.

But to address the question at hand, it's worth playing through once, but I thought the ending ruined everything prior to it. (we got the one with everyone alive, don't know what changes in the other endings) That means that it's good news that David Milch is writing this, as he never gets to finish anything! The movie should end right before the crushing disappointment of the game's finale. And everyone should curse fervently.

Posted by: MikeyLikesIt at January 31, 2011 11:04 AM

"Heavy Rain"? That's...that's the worst name I ever heard. All it makes me think of is "Chubby Rain" from Bowfinger.

Posted by: Figgy at January 31, 2011 11:09 AM

Hey, at least in Mass Effect 2 you don't have to land, drive your space humvee around impossibly rocky terrain, find the minerals scattered across the planet, and maybe get attacked by a Thresher Maw or a Geth ambush. As dull as mining can be in ME2, it's light years ahead of ME1 (plus, it matters!). Still, you want a sure-fire way to enjoy it, get into a rhythm? I recommend herbal remedies...

As for Heavy Rain, Milch is a good pick; he can at least improve some of that dialogue. The interactivity does make it especially hard to adapt, though, because every player will have a somewhat different experience. You could argue that's true of books/movies, anyway, but the basic facts of the story remain constant. In Heavy Rain, my choices will ensure my game is different from yours, and not just the ending. The best adaptation, probably, would be to analyze all the branching options in the game and then pick the ones that work best dramatically. Don't try to please everyone, just tell the best story with what's available.

Posted by: RobP at January 31, 2011 11:23 AM

I'm sorry, but any game where the writer expressly states you should only play it once is going to be garbage. Good games and good movies should hold up to multiple viewings.

The original $60 asking price is also a slap in the face for a one-off, versus something like Red Dead Redemption or Mass Effect 2, games that can be enjoyed several times over.

God I want to go on. But it'd take up five pages just to single-space list the problems with this shit-fest of a game.

Posted by: Madeleine at January 31, 2011 11:27 AM

As another female opinion, I actually really enjoyed this game. I thought all of the characters were very well portrayed, even the women. I felt the females in the game didn't have to be strong lead protagonists, they were just human. I also chose to play multiple times to see the multiple endings as there was mention at one point of there possibly being sequels and I wanted to see how any of the storylines might dovetail should that come about. That being said, this-

"Jason! JASOOOON!!!! Jason! JAAAASOOOON!! Jason!"

-will haunt my nightmares forever.

Posted by: CinnabarriGirl at January 31, 2011 12:56 PM

My vid game of choice is PONG and I've been waiting decades for a decent movie adaptation.

I refuse to acknowledge the existence of the Bob the Tire version.

Posted by: clocker at January 31, 2011 1:09 PM

I've been meaning to play this game just haven't got to it yet. I read the reviews for Heavy Rain when it came out, and they were all positive.

Before I play this game though I have to complete Castlevania and then dismember some necromorphs in Dead Space 2. Geez then I have to start Final Fantasy XIII. By that time Uncharted 3 and Dragon Age 2 will be out. There is not enough time in the day!! Will someone just pay me to sit around and play these video games all day?

Posted by: Dingle Berry at January 31, 2011 1:18 PM

Heavy Rain seems like one of the least necessary video game-to-movie adaptations because the game was already very cinematic.

Drew was right that there are 8 basic endings; each of the four main characters can live or die, but additionally, your small choices can affect the ultimate ending, so that even if all four main characters live, each can have "happy" or "sad" endings. There are 17 character endings, with a few minor variations.

As a game, I alternately loved and hated it. It was he most stressful game I've ever played. Ethan and Madison had the most trials and were especially nerve wracking. They were the most sympathetic, but also the most frustrating because they were so unreliable as narrators. Even though, or, actually, BECAUSE this made the game more stressful, it actually made the game more interesting and fun. In the train station with Ethan, I was actually scared. In Madison's apartment, I was anxious. For some reason, I guess because it was so novel, I really liked how the game toyed with my emotions.

The interactive aspect made it feel like my choices actually mattered, which was cool and interesting, and since I knew that each of my characters could die (and I actually sympathized with all of them at first), it seemed more....important.

But the game itself was so damn bleak. I love a sad movie, and can get into a bleak movie, but the game wasn't something I could stand to sit through for hours on end, just because of how damn depressing it was. I actually stopped playing for about six months, and only picked it back up when my BF and housemates left for a week. This is the one area in which the movie will actually have an advantage. Well, the shorter running time and the much improved dialog. I'll give anything David Milch does a view.

I hope the guy who voiced Scott Shelby will play him in the movie, he looks just like him, and I thought his look was perfect for the character.

Posted by: Christina at January 31, 2011 3:11 PM

Huh, I was just thinking about buying this game.
I'm also in camp watch-anything-by-David-Milch.

Posted by: Uda at January 31, 2011 7:19 PM

@Becks--your post made me laugh. Thank you..
@RobP--The planet mining in ME2 was brain-numbingly tedious and damn near a gamebreaker IMO. I actually missed rumbling around re-skinned planets and fighting geth in samey looking compounds and mining facilities.

Posted by: stryker1121 at January 31, 2011 8:54 PM

I haven't played Heavy Rain (x-boxer) but Drew's points make sense- interactivity is integral to drawing the audience in to games like HR or even Mass Effect for that matter. While HR's the premise sounds compelling enough, unless it's the kind of game a passive spectator would happily watch someone else play, the medium jump will still need way more cinematic craftsmanship than has gone into game movies so far.

ME2: the mining was a minor irritation- less so on second playthrough when you start with a generous portion of each element- otherwise it was my game of the year. Playing through once as paragon John and renegade Jane gives a pretty decent view of how well both 1 and 2 have been written and executed. If ME3 can blend the story of 1 with the combat mechanics of 2, it will be one of the defining games of this generation, but I'm nervous. The last time I anticipated a game so highly was Goldeneye Rogue Agent which I traded in disgust within 48 hours of buying the piece of shit. Still, Bioware have been solid thus far so fingers crossed they finish it off well instead of going into a creative holding pattern as Fallout NV and Assassin's Creed Brotherhood did.

Posted by: Dave S at January 31, 2011 10:12 PM