Released on 26/02/2010

• Heavy Rain Preview

  What IS Heavy Rain?

  Heavy rain isn't your typical gaming release. With no power-ups to grab, enemies to shoot, character stats to upgrade or collectables to pore over, it's clear that Heavy Rain's way of doing things might confuse the Call of Duty generation.

  What Heavy Rain IS, is a really evocative adventure that's quite considered and charming in places, and incredibly tense and gripping in others. In anyone's book, that should make for a really great story-led interactive experience.

  Four play

  You see, Heavy Rain features four main characters, and tells its story through scenes which alternate between them. In these, you'll be piecing together the mystery behind the case of the child-drowning Origami Killer, making choices which affect the way in the tale flows, and might just find yourself completely entranced by some rather moving, subtle subtexts which don't often surface in our ever-maturing, but still relatively young hobby.

  A really evocative adventure that's quite considered and charming in places, and incredibly tense and gripping in others.

  We've played Heavy Rain – reportedly a 10-12 hour adventure – for around two hours, taking the time to wander around and examine about handful of the game's 60 scenes, familiarising ourselves with the controls and getting to know a bit about the characters who play the starring roles.

  Take Ethan Mars; a manically depressive grieving parent who takes his son Shaun to the park, only to black out and find him missing when he wakes – a scene you interact with, choosing whether to play with Shaun, talk or buy him treats; each of which elicits a different response.

  The fate of Ethan and his son will criss-cross with those of drug-addicted FBI agent Norman Jayden, who scours crime scenes for evidence with his hi-tech VR glasses; wheezy asthmatic private detective Scott Shelby and insomniac photojournalist Madison Page. Between their four stories, as Heavy Rain draws to a close you'll be hot on the trail of the Origami Killer – and possibly to saving Shaun.

  Cinteractive fiction

  So that's the characters and storytelling qualities which should make Heavy Rain a memorable piece of cinteractive fiction. Not sure about a really good 'game', though... not in the traditional sense, anyway. The R2 button is used effectively to accelerate your character, with the L1 button changing pre-set Resi-style camera angles, and flicks of the right stick interacting with the gameworld. Sometimes it all gets a bit disjointed though and you end up spinning on the spot, missing your interaction point. It takes some getting used to, and can make the exploration feel a bit fiddly.

  An experience unlike any other, a bonafide watershed for its genre, and one of the year's most important releases.

  The action meanwhile is typical cinematic QTE (timed button presses as events happen on screen), like a more evolved, in-depth form of Quantic Dream's last game, Fahrenheit – which won't do much to convince the 'gameplay comes first' crowd, but for my money gives it enough drama to hang an interactive experience upon. Especially when you're aware that failing could, at any one time, cause your character's death; altering the progression of the story to a degree previously unseen in the medium.

  At one point I experienced this first hand. Finding my character attacked in their apartment, a lengthy sequence ensued requiring well-timed stick flicks, button presses and even some track and field style button bashing – all of which seemed to be for nothing when a knife slowly pressed across their throat… having invested so much in getting away, you can imagine my sigh of relief when it turned out the whole thing was just a dream!

  The little touches

  But the thing that stands out most about Heavy Rain are the little touches – playing on the seesaw with your son, hearing him giggle as an ethereal, slightly melancholy piano riff lingers in the background. It's a game that uses it's considerable graphical clout to capture the sadness of bereavement, the pain of a missing child and the pathos of it's its four fatally flawed key characters with such deft accomplishment that you're sucked right in. It's an experience unlike any other, then, and a bonafide watershed for its genre that will rank as one of the year's most important releases.

  And THAT is what Heavy Rain is really all about. How well it does will depend on consumers accepting it for that, and not condemning it for what it isn't.

  Preview by: Mark 'Sighs With Relief' Scott
  Preview Published: 10.02.10

  Published: 10/02/2010

• David Cage teases new videogame project

  David Cage may not be quite as famous as Shigeru Miyamoto or Cliffy B, but when the creator of Heavy Rain talks about his next games, it's probably a good idea to listen to what he has to say.

  According to Eurogamer, Cage is rightly proud of how the PS3 exclusive, which featured a stunning cast of characters and a moody and sinister psychological plot, was received, and adds that he has no desire to "play it safe" with his next title.

  "I remain interested in drama, dark themes and characters' feelings and psychology, but now I would like to explore very different types of universes and tell different types of stories," he said during an interview with Examiner.

  "We currently work on two very different projects. After the success of Heavy Rain, we continue to explore how we can go further with interactive drama, working on emotion and interactive storytelling for a mature audience, but with a very different story and a different approach."

  "People who enjoyed Heavy Rain will be surprised by what we prepare," he added. Just tell us what it is already, okay?

• Assassin's Creed Brotherhood heads BAFTA list

  It's more good news for Assassin's Creed fans after yesterday's revelation of a May announcement of the next game in the popular franchise. BAFTA has released its list of nominations for this year's videogame awards, and Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood has received the most nods of any game, featuring in a total of seven categories.

  
  It seems the members of the BAFTA panel were big fans of Ezio's latest adventure, as it scooped nominations for Action, Artistic Achievement, Gameplay, Multiplayer, Technical Innovation, Use of Audio, and the biggie: Best Game.

  
  In the latter category, Ubisoft's game faces some stiff competition from FIFA 11, Heavy Rain, LIMBO, Mass Effect 2 and Super Mario Galaxy 2. Call of Duty: Black Ops missed out in that category, but was nominated in six others. Mass Effect 2 also had six nods in total, with Sony's gritty thriller Heavy Rain picking up five, while Super Mario Galaxy 2 and indie darling LIMBO both got four. Surprisingly, Halo: Reach only featured in two categories: Multiplayer and Technical Innovation.

  
  Meanwhile, the mass-market success of Microsoft's Kinect ensured a strong showing in the the Family category, with nods for Dance Central, Kinect Adventures, Kinect Sports and Kinectimals. Flying the flag for more traditional control are LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 and the terrific Toy Story 3.

  
  The winners will be announced at a ceremony on March 16, which will be streamed live on the BAFTA website.

• Heavy Rain movie on the way?

  Heavy Rain movie on the way?

  Heavy Rain might be about to make the transition from interactive movie to just good old-fashioned movie, if rumours regarding a Hollywood deal are true.

  According to Eurogamer, the movie website Deadline is reporting that there's a bidding war underway for the film rights to the PS3 psychological thriller, and a company called Unique Features is currently in the lead.

  Unique is a new company formed by Bob Shaye and Michael Lynne. While they're hardly household names, they're a big deal in Hollywood, where they were heads of New Line Productions and the men responsible for greelighting The Lord of the Rings films. They didn't turn out so badly.

  Eurogamer is saying that Shaye and Lynne used their own money to bid for the rights to Heavy Rain, as they were so certain the project was going to be a hit that they didn't want to wait for studio approval. It looks like the deal will be sealed shortly.

  If you want to see what all the fuss is about, Heavy Rain is currently available for the PlayStation 3. The story of a serial killer terrorising a big city, it follows multiple characters and features astonishing animation.

• Heavy Rain follow-up set for E3 reveal?

  In an interview with CVG, Heavy Rain creator David Cage suggested that his next game could well be revealed at this year E3.

  Developer Quantic Dream currently has two projects in development for Sony, as part of an exclusive agreement with the platform-holder. Asked about the possibility of an announcement at the expo in June, Cage said his is in discussion right now with Sony.

  "I can't really answer anything on release dates," he continued. "We are in production right now, so nothing will be coming out this year for sure."

  Cage has suggested that the two games he working on will both be very different from Heavy Rain, though sharing "concepts of narrative, storytelling and emotions"

  He was a little cooler, however, on the subject of using motion-based controls in future, despite retooling Heavy Rain for Sony Move controller. "We need some time to think about it and see how we can create even more exciting experiences," Cage explained. "Maybe there will be more devices in the near future in the same direction but which work slightly differently that will open new ground. I don't know if Kinect or Move are the ultimate answer. It's up to console manufacturers to bring [a new device].

  With rumours emerging today that the official name and price of Sony's forthcoming Next Generation Portable will also be revealed at E3, it seems June is set to be a big month for the PlayStation brand.

• Games With Girls

  

  Games. Girls. Historically they've not really been words you put together, at least not in a positive way. Time was girls barely played games, and when it came to female characters in games, they were rarely more than damsels in distress.

  But things are changing. Games have evolved. Female characters are stronger, bolder, more prominent and, most importantly, playable.

  This is our run-down of some of the best and brightest girls in gaming today. The women who solve problems, kick @$$ and actually matter.

  Lara Croft
  Tomb Raider

  Lara seems the obvious place to start really, the first real female lead in a game - not simply the character you played, but the character the game was centred upon. And she was the first to really achieve widespread media attention.

  Lara Croft and Tomb Raider took a male-dominated genre and character type and did a gender switch. Strong, feisty, independent and intelligent, Lara was everything a stereotypical female character wasn't. That said, there was always one thing (well, two things) that garnered Lara the most attention.

  Since 1996's original Tomb Raider, Lara has appeared in eight sequels to date, with a ninth due this year. Again simply titled Tomb Raider, we go back to the start of the story and find out what made her the woman she is.

  Tough, smart and sexy, there's no doubt that Lara Croft is still the benchmark.

  Jill Valentine
  Resident Evil: Revelations

  The Resident Evil series has seen many female characters, from the cunning Ada Wong to the tough Sheva Alomar. But Jill Valentine is the one that stands out.

  Debuting in the original Resident Evil and continuing throughout the series, Jill proved herself to be more than a match for those virus-ridden zombie types. Jill was designed to complement partner Chris Redfield by having different strengths and skills, thus showing that she wasn't just a female 'version' but an independent character and a genuine alternative to the male lead.

  A promotion to sole protagonist for Resident Evil 3 showed she was capable of carrying a game on her own. Although she would return to shared billing in later games, including this year's Revelations, her continued appearances throughout the series is testament to the strength and staying power of the character.

  Chun-Li
  Street Fighter X Tekken

  Where would this list be without Chun-Li? The archetypal beat 'em up girl showed she could certainly handle the male fighters and spawned a thousand* imitators.

  Introduced in Street Fighter II, Chun-Li is one of the few characters to have appeared in almost every Street Fighter game (and crossover game) since. She has a fighting style, a character and a story that is completely her own. She's as tough as they come, but at the same time, her avenging-her-father's-death motivation showed a humanity that sets her apart from the crowd.

  With a look as iconic as any you are likely to find in gaming, Chun Li has been taking on - and taking out - all comers for 20 years and shows no sign of stopping. Which is just fine - would you try to stop her?

  *not actually a thousand. This is a dramatic exaggeration!

  Lightning and Serah
  Final Fantasy XIII-2

  The Final Fantasy series is well known for blurring gender roles, with androgynous boys and tomboyish girls. Appearances aside, it has had some strong female characters, exemplified by the Farron sisters, Lightning and Serah.

  Lightning was the protagonist of FF XIII, a soldier whose gruff confidence hides a more sensitive, vulnerable edge. At once both strong and feminine, she may be one of the most mature and emotionally rounded characters in the FF franchise. Serah takes the lead in FFXIII-2, and is almost a mirror image of Lightning - seemingly vulnerable on the outside, but tough and determined, and willing to do what needs to be done.

  Lightning and Serah go beyond two-dimensional 'types' and prove we can have strong female characters that don't have to play up - or play down - their femininity.

  SPECIAL MENTION: Samus Aran
  Metroid Series

  Yes, she doesn't have a game out at the moment, but this list would be remiss without a mention of Samus Aran.

  Ten years before Lara put on her exploring shorts, Samus was the surprise lead in Metroid. Surprise in that it was only as you completed the game that she took her helmet off and you discovered she was, well, a she under all that armour.

  One could argue that hiding her true identity is doing her gender a disservice. But by removing gender from the equation, Samus was the first character that showed gamers that women could do blowing stuff up in space just as good as men, something she would continue to do in 11 more Metroid games (as well as turning up in a handful of others). And, after all this time she still keeps the armour on.

  SPECIAL MENTION: Chell
  Portal and Portal 2

  While Samus was someone I couldn't not mention, Chell is a bit more of a question mark for this list. After all, the star of Portal and its sequel is silent and largely off-screen, due to the first-person nature of the game. Plus she was only female because it was thought this best suited the scenario of Portal, rather than any desire to make a female character.

  But it's that "what works best" thinking that makes her an important figure in the history of female characters - she's not there to make a point. And that is a point worth making.

  So what does the future hold?

  In 2012 we'll be seeing the Buffy-esque cheerleader vs zombie fun of Lollipop Chainsaw, point-and-click piracy with Captain Morgane and the Golden Turtle, and the largely-female cast of Akai Kitana Shin making their way to UK consoles. The Dead or Alive franchise returns with Dead or Alive 5 which looks to have toned down the exaggerated sexuality of the female fighters. There continue to be rumours of sequels to Bayonetta and Heavy Rain. And some day - maybe this year, maybe next - Beyond Good and Evil 2 will finally come out and Jade will get another chance to show the world what she can do.

  Female protagonists are increasingly giving their male counterparts a run for their money. But who's your favourite? Who do you play as, and who would you add to this list? Why not leave us your comments below.
  

  Published: 09/02/2012

• The greatest game ending ever, according to Guinness World Records, is...

  Call of Duty: Black Ops has been voted the game with the best ending ever, in a poll conducted by Guinness World Records. The beefy shooter topped a chart containing fifty blockbuster games, voted on by 13,000 gamers.

  CODBLOPS beat Halo: Reach into second place. Rockstar's epic western Red Dead Redemption, Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, brain-bending puzzler Portal and arty killer thriller Heavy Rain also featured in the top ten.

  It wasn't such good news for games famous for their twists. Both Knights of the Old Republic and Bioshock, two games that have been widely praised for their last act plot twists, landed in the lower regions of the chart, at 49 and 35 respectively.

  "Everyone has an opinion on how to end a game whether it's an epic boss fight, a clever plot twist or a 90-minute movie," said Gaz Deaves, editor of the Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition. "This list recognises some of the greatest endings and hopefully will get gamers talking about what are their favourites and why."

  So how about it? What's your favourite game ending and why?

• Quantic Dream to reveal new game at E3?

  The E3 rumour machine has stepped up a gear, as reports come in from CVG that Heavy Rain developer Quantic Dream is set to show off its new mature masterpiece at this year's trade show event in Los Angeles.

  Earlier this year, the developer revealed its Kara video which was intended to show off the capabilities of the engine in their next game. Detailing the emotionally-charged humanisation of a female machine in production, it hinted at a mature sci-fi experience for Quantic's next project.

  In an interview with Eurogamer earlier this year, Quantic Dream founder David Cage gave out some suitably cagey details about the game, without going into any juicy specifics.

  "What we're trying to create is really interactive entertainment for an adult audience. We don't pretend that we're cleverer than anyone else - but there are so many games out there that provide limited entertainment, and we try to make something for a more mature audience."

  "You can reach this mass of people who don't play, or who play less through casual gaming or family gaming. What we try to do is convince them to play again by giving them some adult content, some adult experiences and saying this is for you guys. It's for people expecting something else from gaming than just fun and adrenaline."

  We'll have to wait and see what exactly Cage and company have in mind when the trade show kicks off next week.
  

• Heavy Rain's David Cage aims to challenge minds with Beyond: Two Souls

  French developer David Cage, whose studio Quantic Dream created the stunning PlayStation 3 thriller Heavy Rain, has reaffirmed his desire to keep prodding games in the direction of greater emotional depth, even if means abandoning traditional ideas of "fun".

  While talking to Edge magazine, he explained his hopes for the people who play his next game: "I don't want to challenge their thumbs, I want to challenge their minds."

  Beyond: Two Souls stars Hollywood actress Ellen Page as a young girl hunted by the military. She shares a bond with some sort of supernatural entity that makes her powerful and dangerous.

  "My goal is to surprise people," Cage continues. "To give them something they want without knowing they want it. I want to create an emotional journey, a unique experience. I am not interested in giving them 'fun', I want to give them meaning."

  One of the ways he intends to do this is to spread the events of the game over a 15 year period, rather than condensed non-stop action yarn most big titles aim for. However, he accepts that this sort of high concept narrative may not be for everyone. "Maybe this is irrelevant or just overly ambitious," he told Edge. "Maybe this is not what most people out there actually want. But this is the goal I set myself with Beyond: to create something different."

  Beyond: Two Souls is a PlayStation 3 exclusive, and will be out in 2013.

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