What's the big deal about Heavy Rain?

[migo]

So Heavy Rain gets talked up a lot, and plenty of people evidently enjoy it, but I read this review

http://www.gamearena.com.au/ps3/games/title/heavy-rain/reviews.php?id=5062444

And it reminded me of the old point and click adventure games that absolutely suck (and the new ones that suck just as much) due to the pixel bitching - I thought we'd evolved beyond that.

So do people actually enjoy pixel bitching when the cursor has been replaced with the main character, or is there something phenomenal about the game that lets people get past what appears to be a really mediocre gameplay mechanic?

 

[Skoldpadda]

Err what's "pixel bitching"?

Also, I've played Fahrenheit and it taught me to stay well clear of heavy rain.

To each his own, but I hate that kind of QTE-diseased gameplay. To me, an adventure consists of using your head to solve problems. Not pressing triangle-square-triangle to put on your underpants.

 

[Googenstien]

Its a game that caters or feeds a different area.. its not a FPS shootemup and that seems to turn off most people lately. But if your sick of FPS games and the same old same old thing.. Heavy Rain is a quality different gaming experience.

 

[DeaconSawyer]

Err what's "pixel bitching"?

Also, I've played Fahrenheit and it taught me to stay well clear of heavy rain.

To each his own, but I hate that kind of QTE-diseased gameplay. To me, an adventure consists of using your head to solve problems. Not pressing triangle-square-triangle to put on your underpants.

Ditto

 

[number2301]

Its a game that caters or feeds a different area.. its not a FPS shootemup and that seems to turn off most people lately. But if your sick of FPS games and the same old same old thing.. Heavy Rain is a quality different gaming experience.

Pretty much this. I haven't played Heavy Rain yet but despite the bonkers storyline and ropey 'gameplay', Farhenheit gave a completely different experience to pretty much any other game out there.

That's why it gets talked uo.

 

[Shale_Dirk]

The same reason that Shadow of the Colossus was heralded as something worth playing: it was just simply different than most, if not all other games on the market.

Some of the save caching issues in that game were effing horrible, let me tell you. Trying to get the "every ending" achievement took me an hour and a half of reloading the last scene to hope that it would load the videos.

Worth a play if you are interested in something that isn't your typical gaming experience, but it certainly didn't change the world of gaming forever.

 

[Cherry Cola]

[sub]Oh god damn it, this kind of thread again....[/sub]

You read one single negative review of a game it appears you haven't played and decide to make a thread asking why some people like that game. That's not a good reason for a thread.

As I always answer on these threads: It's about personal preference. Some people don't mind or even enjoy some gameplay aspects, some don't. This is something so obvious that a thread is completely unnecessary.

Me personally loved Heavy Rain, and I had no problems with the controls.

 

[Shale_Dirk]

Personally I always wished little big planet had been the killer app... all the copies in our bargain bins at work make me sad.

Little Big Planet is the killer app. They're in the bargain bin in preparation for LBP2.

 

[Scout Tactical]

Err what's "pixel bitching"?

I haven't played or seen much of the game at all, but since he alluded to point and click adventures, I would presume he's referring to the tendency of point-and-click games to need you to find some random object, usually 4-5 pixels large, in one of the rooms of the game. You usually dig out a guide, give up, or spend two hours at this point.

 

[Woodsey]

I haven't played it.

What annoys me is that pompous prick David Cage banging on about how shit stories are in games, yet I've seen enough articles about the plot-holes in Heavy Rain to sink a ship.

 

[Bullfrog1983]

I'm hoping Heavy Rain comes out on the Xbox so I can play it. I'm not the biggest fan of point and click adventures, but there have been enough in my time that I've really enjoyed that i'd like to give this one a try.

 

[migo]

[sub]Oh god damn it, this kind of thread again....[/sub]

You read one single negative review of a game

No, I read several, but this one pointed out some rather horrible gameplay issues that I'm surprised never get mentioned otherwise.

 

[MisterShine]

If 'gameplay' can be set aside for a good and exciting story, then I say Heavy Rain is for you. Yes, after you're finished with the game some of the plot holes and odd coincidences will make you scratch your head, or in my case, go on an hour long rant to my friends about how it pissed me off, but at least it evoked an emotional response from me, and I enjoyed it while I played it.

Also, if you have a child (or younger sibling, something like that), this game will fuck you up.

edit: On the controls and first hour of the game- Yes they're awkward at first and hard to get used to, and the first half hour-hour of the story is pretty dull, but you get used to the controls pretty fast and the beginning part is both necessary and touching to anyone with a soul.

Spoiler: Heavy Rain spoilers, sorta

YOUR LITTLE BOY NEEDS YOU MAN, YOU CRAWL THROUGH THAT PITCH BLACK TUNNEL FILLED WITH BROKEN GLASS!! HE'S COUNTING ON YOU ************

 

[RollingDigits]

It's "gritty".

 

[migo]

ps3 lacks a killer app and over zealous fanboys are looking for one.

Personally I always wished little big planet had been the killer app... all the copies in our bargain bins at work make me sad.

Gears of War just hit sub $20 this month, the price doesn't necessarily mean it isn't a killer app. LBP also got a greatest hits version which already significantly brings the price down, and if there's any stock of the original one left it'd have to be lower because it's not GOTY.