PLATFORMS: PS3 (REVIEWED):

Heavy Rain is the highly anticipated PS3-only title that is more like watching a movie or gritty drama series than a game.

You control four characters in the game, they consist of Ethan Mars (architect), Detective Shelby (private investigator), Norman Jayden (FBI agent) and Madison Paige (journalist), and they all intertwine and revolve around a series of murders involving a mysterious individual known as the Origami Killer.

The game play consists of great cinema like cut scenes and character interaction, The questions you ask and the decisions you make effect the way the game plays and how your character is perceived, The graphics are wonderful and the general mood is dark and gritty.

The control system is very intuitive and uses a combination of right joystick moves with timed button presses to interact with the environment, every button press or miss has consequences, in one fight scene missing a button press meant my character got stabbed, If you ever get stuck in the game pressing L2 shows questions and thoughts your character is having which often gives you a nudge in the right direction.

The game is aimed at the older gamer and requires a degree of concentration and patience but you are rewarded with great graphics and a compelling story which keeps you wanting more.

MARKS: 8/10