Why Heavy Rain will revolutionize gaming.

As some readers may know, I am a fan of Heavy Rain.  Yes, a full blown ‘fan’ of a game that has not yet been released and may  turn out to be nothing more than another hype fest that fails to deliver.

What’s the reason for this insanity? Well, currently, I am a fan, not of the final product, but of what it represents.  I am certain that Heavy Rain is going to change gaming irrevocably, and those of you that have read my article, ‘2010: The Death of Real Gaming‘, will know that, as far as I’m concerned, it couldn’t come at a more important time.

And what’s triggered me to externalize my feelings on Heavy Rain and what it represents? Watch this:

Today, I caught this astounding piece of footage from G4TV as it meandered its way down the front page on N4G. At first, I was merely interested, having not seen much footage of the game, however, as the scene unfolded my jaw literally dropped open. Never have I seen such attention to detail, such poise, such thought, and such relatable characterisation in a videogame.  Even the loadscreen (No puns please-ed) shown in the video knocks the socks of anything I’ve seen before. The way Madison’s eyes dart and flicker, how the skin around the eyes pinches realistically when she blinks. These are subtle details that take real care and respect to create in a medium so often as clumsy and blunt as video games.  And let me remind you, this is only the loading screen.

Moreover, the graphics, though incredible, are not the reason that Heavy Rain will, in my view, revolutionize gaming, and raise the bar.

The secret lies in a simple truth.

Think back to the games that you have played recently. Who did you play as?  A super soldier or a fantasy creature?  A trained killer or a famous soccer player?  An insanely gifted racing driver? All these, and many more, are probably roles that you have slipped in to, like a comfortable pair of old slippers, time and time again over the years.  Did you ever once play as someone like you? I doubt it, and, if you did, then you ought to be off saving the world right now instead of reading this article.

The CEO and founder of Quantic Dream, the developers of Heavy Rain, David Cage, had this to say in an exclusive interview in Dutch Magazine Chief early on in Heavy Rain’s development:

“Heavy Rain is about normal people who have landed in extraordinary situations. I wanted a much more personal story. The first thing that came to my mind, as a father of two little boys, was that the main theme should simply be a father’s love for his son. This is not a game about saving the princess or the world. Its [sic] purely about a father’s love. The main story will revolve around four different characters, and we’re putting the spotlight on their perceptions. The question ‘what is good and what is evil’ is the key here, that will be just a matter of viewpoint…I believe heavily in moral choices, I’m going to use them A LOT. They’re not about being good or bad, but about finding the right balance.” ( From kotaku )

So we’ve established that Heavy Rain is going to be about normal, everyday people like you and me.  This goes against the grain of gaming in general and I think it is a brave move that will indeed spark the revolution in gaming I eluded to earlier.  Imagine being able to truly relate to a character, as a representation of a human being, instead of empathising with a heroic architype, when Nathan Drake gets pissed off at being captured again, or understanding how getting blown up must suck for Master Chief.

I think that this is the way forward in gaming.  True immersion is to be found, not in increasingly advanced motion control systems (Natal, I’m looking at you), but in storytelling innovation.  In my opinion, Heavy Rain is going to become the stick against which all others will come to be measured.  Players will no longer be satisfied with superficial tales of war and adventure.

I for one, have been craving a game that really sets me in the place of the protagonist, really lets me relate and feel.

I want to be stimulated beyond my adrenal gland.

Heavy Rain is forcast to fall on February 26^th.