Well the game I’ve been waiting for since its tech demo nearly four years ago has finally released! The successor to Indigo Prophecy, Heavy Rain is a game that borderlines on the definition of “gaming.” I would consider this more of an interactive experience, rather than flat out call it a game, but nonetheless, it’s a damn fine piece of work.

It combines my two favorite hobbies, film and video games, into one glorious baby. You get the cinematic experience of storytelling, yet the outcomes of the events are in your hands and this is one game where the outcome can be drastically different depending on your choices. This is all done through quick time events, testing your reflex skills and how many buttons you can hold at once. Sure, it sounds a bit ridiculous, but when you’re in a fight or being chased, you start to confuse your right from left out of panic and next thing you know, you’re dead.

I just beat the game and while I wouldn’t call it a perfect game, I definitely got the Hollywood movie ending with all my characters still alive (and all of them CAN die). It was extremely satisfying to go through the game for the first time and take on the choices like there was no reset button. In comparison to a choice game like Mass Effect 2, the decisions you make affect the game in a much larger way.

But it’s really not fair to compare it to a game like Mass Effect. They are very different, especially when one is solely story-driven while the other has gameplay to take into account.

In terms of its story, this isn’t the perfect cinematic experience. There are plot holes galore and due to having to jump into the action, I felt that there wasn’t enough character development to justify some actions. And the kids in the game are frustratingly stupid. It’s a good enough story to keep you invested and willing to move forward, but there are just moments that really took me out of the game.

Overall though, it’s worth the admission price. Heavy Rain really can appeal to just about anyone if they give it a chance and go in knowing that they won’t be getting an action packed shooter. It’s a game that, like Indigo Prophecy, redefines what’s possible with the medium.