With so many games released for both the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360, the decision to purchase either console rests on a matter of taste and first party exclusives, the games you can't play anywhere else. Enter
Heavy Rain, a PS3 exclusive from Quantic Dream, the developer behind 2005's psychological thriller, Indigo Prophecy. It's a game that combines gorgeous graphics and an open-ended story, sort of like those popular Choose Your Own Adventure Books. We've only seen one scenario, but if it's a small taste of things to come, PS3 just became more attractive.

Party at the serial killer's crib. See you at 8!

Heavy Rain is a third person adventure in which the choices you make have a rippling effect throughout the entire game. During last week's games convention in Leipzig, the developers demoed a scene with a young, shorthaired and beautiful reporter stopping her motorcycle in front of a house sitting on an everyday suburban street. She makes note of children playing and people talking outside. Rain pitter patters off her body and impressively runs down her face. It's quite striking.

She's here to track down a serial killer and document his murderous exploits. To do this, she hopes to sneak inside of his house and snap some incriminating photos. After knocking on the door to see if anyone's home (he isn't), she walks around the side of the house and positions some large cans near a window. Giving herself a boost, she opens the window and crawls inside. For dramatic effect, the window slams shut.

It's here where Heavy Rain's unique control scheme came into play. To walk forward, the player presses R2 and tilts the character's head to look at things using the left analog stick. To interact with an object (the window or the front door), you tilt the right analog stick in the desired direction. For objects with multiple options (the door, for example), you can choose between knocking and ringing the doorbell by physically moving the DualShock 3 or SIXAXIS controller. Definitely strange, but keep in mind that this isn't your standard issue action adventure game. You're not whipping blades like Kratos in God of War II or unloading bullets as you would in Resistance: Fall of Man. Heavy Rain appears to be a slower paced and more cerebral adventure.

Inside the house, the reporter gets down to some good old fashioned snooping, when she makes a grizzly discovery. From what we can tell, the person she's after is a taxidermist that has a nasty habit of killing, stuffing and then posing his human victims. As the reporter recoils in terror, she's met with a horrible surprise; the killer comes home.

Now things get even more interesting. With the serial killer oblivious to her presence, it's up to the player to somehow escape without being detected. Succeed, and you'll present the cops with the evidence to arrest the scumbag. Make a noise, and you'll have a fat and homicidal creep on your tail. What ensues is a frantic scene in which the killer relentlessly pursues the reporter through his house attempting to stab her with a knife. To get away from him, you must complete a series of Quick Time Events where a button appears on screen and you must press it in time to avoid capture.

Party at the serial killer...hey that's my place! Is it a surprise party? I love surprises.

A few scenarios are shown. In one, the killer traps the reporter in a bathroom; she falls onto the toilet but then kicks him and runs. In another, she falls on the bed, he goes for the kill and she rolls out of the way so his knife gets nothing but mattress. If you escape, it appears that the serial killer commits suicide because he knows he's finished. Fail and you'll probably become another "trophy".

Based on what we know, this is but one of the game's scenarios and the choices you make will possibly affect the others. As for the story, neither Sony or Quantic Dream have said much and that doesn't bother us, since we'd rather play the game and experience it first hand.

Heavy Rain's graphics, however, are open to discussion. Without question, this is one of the best-looking video games on PS3, with realistic characters, environments and lifelike animation. Outside, the game shines with the aforementioned rain effects and the detail on the houses, streets and telephone poles. Inside, the developers did exquisite work on the kitchen, bathroom and the walls, which are decorated with pictures and stuffed animals.

On that note, this isn't the first time a publisher has shoved a gorgeous game in front of journalists, who in turn gave lofty praise for a product they don't fully understand. Heavy Rain is a beautiful game, no question, but it remains to be seen whether it's controls work or most importantly, if its fun to play. However, we expect Sony to shove Heavy Rain down our throats well into 2009.

Related Links

Heavy Rain Game Guide