The comparisons between Heavy Rain and Alan Wake would have stemmed further had HR included paranormal scenes.

It's interesting that they spent all the time developing those scenes, only to remove them a few months before release. There next project could perhaps do with a bit more focus from the beginning.

Anyway, I loved the game, and I always find it fascinating to see omitted content.  

I think the explaination for Madison's insomnia is good, same with Scott killing his mum - its a shame they didnt put that water scene in, i think it wouldve worked well imo.

I really like Heavy Rain, but I gotta disagree with you there.  If Heavy Rain was a movie, and it pulled a bait and switch on Ethan the way the game did, it would be savaged by the critics.  The game deliberately piles on a lot of evidence Ethan may be the killer, then simply disregards it without any explanation at all.

I personally thought this - together with Madison's character being terribly setup - were the weakest aspects to the title.  Once you got past the initial red herrings about Ethan it all started to click together nicely.  But having him black out, etc. and then simply ignore it... that's a major plot hole in a psychological thriller for sure.

EDIT: I can see why they took out the water scenes.  While visualy arresting - and I'd love to see something like that used in a game like HR - the actual reason - that Ethan and Shelby had forged a mental connection - is pants.  But... but leaving in the blackouts in the plot - and they're pretty big parts of the plot - without any viable explanation and just having them vanish later Quantic did indeed introduce a plot hole.  But hey, nobody's perfect, and HR arguably is the best interactive drame yet delivered, so I guess we can forgive them this time.  But next time around I want them to have a water tight narrative and script (if you'll pardon the pun) before they develop the game.

I have to admit though Madison's "inspiration" was very nice.

Gaping probably was strong - but I'd say it remains a significant plot hole.  For me it's what seperates the critical classics (using films as an analogy) live Seven (which clearly influenced HR a lot) to the good but with flaws.

TBH I kind of felt Ethan probably wasn't involved just becuase that would have taken some seriously clever explaining.  But they chose to take the narrative path of casting his character in doubt, and that's why I think they needed to 'close the door' on that whole element.

Agreed.  Ethan is the most relatable character, once you get past the uneven start, but I felt Jayden and Shelby were handled very nicely from introduction to ending.  I think for some reason QD seemed a bit stuck around wanting a love interest, having Ethan appear a suspect for a while and getting him/Madison connected... the whole element felt uneven.

Still, what a risk HR was in this age of MP and easy to absorb plotting.  Got to admire that.  And they did get a lot right overall.

i think some of the scenes in the final game should have been cut off, like that scene where shelby kills every guard in a mansion and that scene where Ethan and Paige suddenly decide to have sex =s

atleast its better than their first game, the first game had one hilariously bad ending.

Hmm..meh.

very interesting!! would've liked to see the whole madison paige  stuff in the game