ATTN: HEAVY RAIN - 30 MINUTES - UNVEILED. Cinematic Gaming has arrived.

[KBG29]

This sounded very interesting in writting in the previews after Lepzig, and now that I have seen it with my own two eyes I can honestly say it has lived up to the hype. I hope the finall product does not differ much from this demo setting wise. Having a game set in such an everyday enviorment is somthing I have been looking forward to for a very long time.

The way this game tells the story is something that will have to be very tested. As much as I love Bioshock the pacing just did not work for the story. Like metioned earlyer the voice diaries were poorly exicuted. I can not count how many times there was something crazy going oun and I completly missed what the story was about. It was easy to go back and relisten, but it does break up the flow. Since this game continues the story in a new direction if you die, and never makes you replay any protion, I think they will be able to avoid this problem.

Graphics wise this game is just flat out stunning. With this and Killzone 2 doubts about whether the Alferd Molina tech demo, or the Killzone 2 trailer are possible, can now be put to rest. The details in this game are what really sells it. The dishes in the sink, the pictures on the wall, tables with personal belongings, and everything else scattered about the house give it a feeling of believability. One of the best things about this game, and Killzone 2 graphics wise is how they avoid that texture on polygons look. Both games do something that gives every object on the screen a look of mass. A good example from this scene is the couch. It looks like you could take off the cushions, and pull the stuffing out of them. No other game besides K2 and HR have given me this illusion. Every other game object just look like they are set pieces. Like a childs toy were every thing is plastic.

This game looks like it could start a very nice genre of gaming. I know Sony claims it will be out next year, but if it needs more time I hope they don't rush it. This game needs to be polished just like they are doing with Killzone 2. Good enough to ship is not when I want this game. I want it to be good enough to ship, and then I want them to give it to a test audiance. After that I want them to look at all the feedback, and make sure any nagging problems are fixed. When a game has a shot at something special, giving it the time to be perfected is well worth the wait.