LogFAQs > #941749253

LinkMarioSamus posted...

Honestly the game just feels like an excuse to string together a series of setpieces.

Granted, you could say the same about most games, even more plot-driven ones like Metal Gear Solid, but for something sold as an interactive movie...

I've heard that Naughty Dog admit the Uncharted games are exactly that, but I think (not having played them much) that they at least have fewer plot holes than Heavy Rain.

Gall posted...

So here is part 1 of my final thoughts on Mass Effect 2. This part covers all the negative aspects of the game, which is a lot of stuff. I promise part 2 will be more positive.

For what it's worth, I think you did a good job summarizing the main problems with the game, and we agree on several, including the monotony of the shooting, how the "social boss fights" are undermined by the highlighted paragon/renegade options, and the small hubworlds. I didn't really touch on the lack of broader consequences for player choices in this thread, so I'm glad you brought it up.

BetrayedTangy posted...

Tbh Mass Effect kinda feels it's the skeleton of a Fallout game. It's a really cool universe with interesting characters, but your very limited in your exploration and interactions with characters.

The old Fallout games are miles ahead of Mass Effect in terms of RPG mechanics, sidequest structure, and individual areas, that's for sure. The more modern Fallout games do share the problem with ME's charm/intimidate unfortunately, since you can always pick the options with visible speech requirements.

ctesjbuvf posted...

I'm very positive that you got the best ending of Heavy Rain.

I quickly looked it up and I think you're right. Apparently Ethan can spare Scott if he arrives to the final confrontation alone, but that results in Ethan himself getting killed by the police.

Final Analysis: Heavy Rain

What I Thought of Heavy Rain: Funny, when it isn't merely boring
Would I play Heavy Rain again? Sure. I'm curious to play it in French, too.
Did it deserve to lose round 1? Absolutely.

It's easy to talk about how much Heavy Rain's reputation has tanked over the years. It seems like no one is prepared to defend it as a serious story any more. At the same time, its release began the rise of the "interactive drama" genre (for lack of a better term.) There are a few more games in the contest which could cite it as an influence, including The Walking Dead, Life is Strange, and possibly Night in the Woods, which I don't know much about but am looking forward to playing. That being said, all three of those examples easily surpass it by most accounts, and I would even argue that Cage's own Detroit, while utterly ridiculous in terms of plot and world-building, is significantly improved upon Heavy Rain.

Video game narrative doesn't meet a high standard of average quality, I have to admit, but I've played few games with more unbelievable character actions, poorly considered plot twists, and hilariously brute storytelling than Heavy Rain. This game maintains its own suspense by frequently contradicting itself, and for the sake of its divergent story paths a lot of scenes are just absurd. If Ethan or Scott fails to avoid police pursuit under the player's control, they will escape through insanely silly methods afterward. This doesn't just undermine the logic of the story, it also removes the impact of the different outcomes. Neither of the aforementioned things change the narrative - they just add extra scenes to get the plot back to its predetermined path.

What sets Detroit apart from this game is the dynamic between Connor and his partner Frank, which at its best is legitimately compelling and made me care about those two characters. Heavy Rain's characterization is about as shallow as it comes. Detroit at least had the decency to tell the player that Frank likes Jazz, but we learn nothing about the interests or dreams of Heavy Rain's Ethan. That character just spends the whole story getting the shit kicked out of him. His son Shaun is even worse - he's little more than an object designed to motivate the main character, which is all the kids in David Cage's stories ever really are.

I'd say it's best experienced with a friend, and best regarded as a source of unintentional comedy. The raw mechanics often conflict with the serious tone and thriller plot, because the player can willingly transform any of its characters into awkward, stumbling losers at any given time, and the resultant laughter is often more rewarding than taking the game seriously.

I found myself wishing for more substantial game mechanics. Much of the experience of Heavy Rain involves bumbling around waiting for enough time to pass that the game finally relents to progress, including such inane tasks as taking a shower, opening and closing the fridge, or going to the bathroom. Realistic perhaps, but the point of art is to remove the unnecessary and the uninteresting.

That isn't to say it has no good ideas. It directly involves the player in tasks like talking down a man with a gun, a situation where a player character is forced to mutilate himself, and an ethical dilemma about whether to kill a man to save a child. In those moments, Heavy Rain justifies itself as a video game, and gives some insight into how it became influential.

---

I'm playing every game from GotD 2020! Games Completed: 5/129
Currently Playing: Pokemon HeartGold Version