"On a technical standpoint, the review build shows some major improvements in terms of framerate and tearing issues - vertical synchronization is not always top notch but it's ok most of the time. Although some might disagree, I find most of the environments look good, especially when it rains and they get gloomier and more depressing. The interiors are very rich and detailed and the lighting effects give of of them a very unique atmosphere. Character models on their part are often disturbingly realistic, which does not come as a surprise given that some of them have been modeled after the actors who did the voice over work. That being said, the faces and expressions are not always lively enough and it reminds the player that it is, after all, just a video game. Also disappointing are certain close-shots on the characters' hands where you can see that they are really poorly textured and modeled. Considering how impressive the skin textures are on the faces, it is a shame that they haven't put as much effort on the hands. Aside from that, the game does look photo-realistic and it adds a lot to the immersion. I won't be so kind with the way the animations have been handled: motion capture can look OK at times, but, more than often, it feels more like watching a very awkward robot. Controls are, for that matter, not that easy to pick up and turning around can get terribly complicated, especially when the camera angles get in the way. Again, it shows that motion capture has its limits and that even the player's skills cannot always compensate for them."
"VERDICT :
Your should expect 8 to 10 hours to complete the game, which, to me, seems pretty reasonable for the genre. Add to that the replay value of the game with the possibility to replay all the 50 chapters of the game - either to unlock new content and trophies or to simply try to discover new scenes by playing differently - and you will get an idea of how much time you will spend in the world of Heavy Rain. As far as I'm concerned, I definitely enjoyed my time playing the game, but then again, I had had my fun with Fahrenheit/Indigo Prophecy. It may not be the revolutionary game some expected, it may also be very different from all the others, but it still is a good experience overall. It obviously has flaws, like the fact that some choices could have been made even tougher and more punishing for the player, or the fact that too much time is usually given to react. It is also a shame that some answers are left unsaid at the end - should we expect them in the upcoming downloadable contents? - but, in spite of some awkward moments, the game will keep you interested until the ending credits show up. Some will probably argue that the gameplay has been too simplified to be worth a try, but after more than 8 hours, I can say I feel lucky not to have stopped at such prejudices."
Full review here:
http://gamersyde.com/news_gamersyde_review_heavy_rain-8931_en.html
