It’s rare to find a video game that is actually moving. Hell, it’s next to impossible. Even those touting “choice” and “morality“, in the end, just come up short 99% of the time. It’s not often you even find a movie that really touches you anymore.
Let me introduce you to Heavy Rain.
I had, of course, heard quite a bit about this title prior to release. Having played Indigo Prophecy/Fahrenheit, which is a previous game from Quantic Dream and a spiritual prequel, I knew that it would be different, story-driven and a bit off-kilter.
I was not prepared for what would happen in the first 30 minutes. To be fair, I have only just played the first 30 minutes. I had to stop. I had to take a break and think. I had to look the game up and learn more. I had to write this post.
I funny thing happens when you become a parent. At least, it happens to some of us. Let’s be fair – some of us have children because it is the thing to do, or is fashionable, or is simply an accident of stupidity. But some of us have children because we honestly want to care for, nurture and provide for other human beings, and hopefully make the world a little bit better than when we came into it.
And, therefore, I cry when stupid television shows or silly kids’ movies pull on my “daddy heart-strings”. When Dumbo gets his Mommy back, I weep. When Mufasa is killed, I sniffle. Hell, when Thomas the Train saves the day, I whimper a bit.
It happens.
But this game, this piece of entertainment, this interactive movie does more that that. It makes me sick to my stomach. And that’s the best compliment I can give it.
So far.