Let's start by saying this, Heavy Rain looks absolutely stunning. Once you get past the sheer beauty of the graphics, you'll realize that there are a few things that set Heavy Rain apart from everything you've played before. At a recent Sony Holiday Preview Event, I was able to get hands on with Quantic Dream's latest game.

Heavy Rain, for those who don't know, is a story driven adventure game focused on 4 different characters and their interwoven stories in relation to "The Origami Killer". The founder of Quantic Dream, and the game's director, David Cage has said that "Heavy Rain is about normal people that have landed in extraordinary situations." Overall, "the real message [of the game]  is about how far you're willing to go to save someone you love." With a heavy emphasis on story, and dramatic elements, Heavy Rain has been described as "a very dark film noir with mature themes." 

The game controls very differently. As opposed to using the left analog stick for walking, you actually use the R2 button. You can view your characters thoughts with L2, orient yourself with the Left Stick, and interact with objects and events using the Right Stick. Obviously, the controls take some time getting used to, but once you do they are quite rewarding. Using the Right Stick to perform actions actually feels (mildly) like it would to perform these events in real life.

Hassan's Shop: The robbery is taking place, and shown from a few different angles.The game's actions are primarily composed of quicktime events. However, unlike other games, if you miss one part of the QTE, you don't start over. Instead you continue, and depending on how things happen, the entire story could change. For instance, if you miss a vital QTE and your character dies, then that character is gone for good. If all 4 characters die, the game is truly over, and you will not be able to find out what happens unless you restart the game. In Heavy Rain there are 4 playable characters; Ethan Mars, Scott Shelby, Madison Paige and Norman Jayden. In the demo, both Ethan Mars and Scott Shelby were playable.

In "Hassan's Shop" you play as Scott Shelby, a man investigating a series of serial murders performed by "The Origami Killer". You start off by watching a cutscene (looking as brilliant as ever), and during it, are asked to make choices on the fly. Even these smallest choices can make a world of difference. After trying to get some information out of Hassan, the store clerk, Scott decides he needs some asthma medication so he goes to the back of the store. Just then another man comes in, and tries to rob the store. Hassan refuses, and (because of my actions) ends up getting shot. Had I not waited at the back of the store, and tried to walk to the front, perhaps I could have saved him, or maybe even have gotten shot myself. In fact, the guy who played the demo right after me had a completely different experience. After the robber flees the scene of the crime, Scott walks to the front of the store and sees Hassan die. He then opens a box under the counter, only to find a small origami swan inside (the Origami Killer's "signature")* and your time as Scott Shelby ends.

Ethan Mars, looking very depressed and of course, walking in heavy rain.The second part of Heavy Rain that was playable was called "Father and Son". You play as Ethan Mars, who has just picked up his young son from school. After taking him home you can choose whether or not he should do his homework, if the two of you should talk, or even if you want to go to the bathroom (however, there are a variety of things to do) -- pretty much your standard run-of-the-mill household actions. Compared to "Hassan's Shop", "Father and Son" is not as exciting. I understand that the game lets you choose the paths you want to go down, but there are too many points where it is just unclear as to what you have to do next. You could inspect your fridge as many times as you'd like, or shoot some hoops, and still not know exactly what you need to do. It was less of an issue in "Hassan's Shop", but it still existed. 

Since the game flows seamlessly between cutscenes and QTEs, it can be hard to distinguish when you are in control and actually have to do something. After Hassan had been shot I spent 2 minutes standing around unsure of what to do. Maybe this was because I wasn't used to the controls, or the fact that I was thrown right into the game, but I'd hope that in the final product Quantic Dream will provide players with at least a mild sense of direction or purpose. 

Playing each demo takes about 10 or 15 minutes, in which you spend most of the time watching cutscenes or orienting yourself with the controls. Heavy Rain feels like a game where you need to play the full game to grasp the full experience. These smaller more mundane tasks might feel boring out of context, but with more emotional attachment to the character's you might find yourself more intrigued.

This is Madison Paige, another of the playable characters.Heavy Rain was and still is, one of the games I am most excited for, and although I only had a brief, and interesting time with it, I can't wait to see how the story of the "Origami Killer", and the four playable characters (Ethan, Scott, Madison and Norman) pans out.

Heavy Rain is set to launch on the PS3 in February of 2010. Keep your eyes peeled for more of our coverage.

*Please note that Hassan's son was actually killed by the Origami Killer, and that is why he had the swan. Hassan himself was not a target of the Origami Killer.