Heavy Rain

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Thriller about kid killer with gore and sex is not for kids.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that the emotional thriller Heavy Rain has a dark story surrounding a serial killer who murders children. With a storyline like that, you know this isn't a game for young players. You play as four characters trying to stop the murders. The game features near photorealistic graphics that show blood and violence; although the characters you control aren't usually responsible for these actions (most are in cutscenes or observed in the real-time environment). The game also has nudity (not full frontal), intimacy (kissing, groping, and rubbing), and a sex game which culminates in the act occuring offscreen. Alcohol, drugs, and smoking can be seen in the game, which is also laced with profanity. While this psychological thriller is exceptionally good as a video game -- and an experiment in interactive storytelling -- it was not made for young eyes or ears.

  • The game has you trying to stop an evil serial killer, and for the most part you're not using violence to stop him (though the P.I. is the most physical out of the bunch). Sex is very much a part of the game.
  • The game has four playable (but very different) characters. For the most part, they all seem to be good people and decent citizens: Ethan is a caring father, for example and Scott protects a prostitute from being roughed up. These protagonists, however, each have a backstory -- usually with some
    skeletons in the closet -- that come out in this adventure.  
  • This is where Heavy Rain needs a bit of work. The game's non-conventional control scheme takes some getting used to. Some might give up before getting over the learning curve because the developers didn't make it easy to control these characters and interact with the world.  
  • Scenes of violence and blood include using weapons to fight characters (the worst being watching someone impaled by a drill ), seeing corpses at crime scenes in a bathtub or under a tarp, and, while not shown "on camera," one of the character who must cut off his finger using a saw (and players will hear screams of agony). The latter is particularly disturbing because the character does it to save his son, and the game lingers on his dread of doing the act.
  • The game includes some scenes of nudity (bare breasts and buttocks for both male and female characters), including a forced female striptease at gunpoint. There is also some sensual interaction between characters such as fondling and kissing, played out like a game as players must press the correct buttons on the controller in a timely manner to progress through the act (long kisses, undoing a bra, sensual groping, and so on). The act of sexual intercourse is not seen -- but it's implied -- as a topless woman in seen lying on top of a shadowy figure (what appears to be a man) and she has a look of pleasure on her face. Also, early on in the game, the P.I. character enters a seedy hotel room used for prostitution (the mother of one of the victims) and is asked to leave money on the table before the "act," which they do not commit.
  • Course language can be heard throughout the game, including intense words such as "f--k," motherf--ker," "s--t," and "assh--e." It's not excessive but this dialogue-heavy mature game does contain foul language peppered throughout the adventure.
  • Not applicable.
  • There are some scenes of drinking alcohol, characters addicted to a fictional drug (in vials), white powder that implies cocaine use, and some cigarette smoking. The four characters you control do not partake in any of this -- other than being able to pull a beer out of your fridge (as Ethan) to drink it -- but these actions are witnessed by the player.

What's it about?

If you've ever doubted if a video game can evoke emotion, such as pathos and anxiety, boot up Quantic Dream's HEAVY RAIN, a Sony PlayStation 3 exclusive that delivers a dark and disturbing adventure for mature players. This cinematic tale focuses on a mysterious serial killer who preys on young children, and the four main protagonists, all of whom you control, who work to stop the murderer in his tracks. At various points in the game you'll play as Ethan, a distraught father who blames himself for the accidental death of his son outside of a shopping mall; Norman, a FBI profiler who uses high-tech "augmented reality" glasses to analyze evidence at crime scenes; Scott, a weathered middle-aged cop turned private eye; and Madison, a photographer who suffers from insomnia. Everyone's connection to the Origami Killer, who leaves a folded paper swan in his victim's hands, is revealed after a few hours of play.


Is it any good?

 

Heavy Rain is an extraordinary adventure. Featuring graphics that borders on photorealism, not only is this interactive game extremely well-written, but all of your decisions can alter the story. It could be as subtle as Ethan's son getting in trouble at school because you didn't make him do his homework the night before to one of the four protagonists dying as a result of your actions (and you must carry on with the game without that character's input). This is a neat concept that plays out well. The controls, which takes some getting used to, are all contextual, meaning you'll need to press buttons or move the analog sticks in a given direction based on onscreen cues. These cues will have an effect based on what's happening at that moment. This method of playing is quite unique. Some sequences, such as fighting scenes, are timed, so players will have to press the button combinations correctly and in a timely manner. If you don't mind a slower-paced adventure and enjoy a deep and dark narrative tale, mature players will find themselves emotionally drawn and intrigued by Heavy Rain.


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What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about how these game developers took a chance to create something different. This is an adventure game, which are not very popular these days, with a slower-paced story with deep characters and plenty of dialogue. It delivers a rich, immersive experience where your actions can alter the story.

  • Families can discuss the impact of controls on how you react to a video game. Here, the controls, while a bit tricky, let the player interact with the world by pressing a button that matches an onscreen cue, which is different than how most games play out. Did this control system work for you?

  • With near photorealistic graphics, does this game's violence seem more realistic?


This review was written by Marc Saltzman
Kid, 13 years old
May 8, 2011
 
The man is trying to save his son. There is some onscreen nudity.

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Adult
November 26, 2010
 
I never played the game, but I watched a walkthrough
In the version I saw, the main characters had their weaknesses, but struggled through them to help others. Ethan Mars goes to extreme lengths to help his son, Madison Page sacrifices a lot to help Ethan, Norman Jayden gives up his drug addiction to help find the killer, and Scott Shelby goes out of his way to protect a prostitute and a cashier who's being robbed. It plays out very similar to a movie. there is a dramatic beginning, opening titles, rising action, a definite climax, and then a satisfactory conclusion. The plot is about an attempt to save a young boy's life and stop a serial killer, so the messages are positive. The content, however, is major red flag for some ages. Content Summary (NOTE: all the content below is taken from the walk-through that I watched; thus, there may be more or less, depending on the choices you make) Drug Content: Moderate-6/10 Norman Jayden is addicted to a fictional drug. He takes two trips, and is tempted to do so other times. We see him experiencing some negative consequences as a result, including hallucinations and blackouts. Language: Major-7/10 About 50-100 profanities in all. Some uses of f*ck(including a couple combined with "mother"), as well as sh*t, and other milder language. Sexual Content: Major-7/10: Ethan is seen nude in the shower(we see bare buttocks, but no full frontal nudity). Madison is forced to strip down to bra and panties by a thug with a gun. She is also assaulted by several rapists, who briefly paw at her torso(she's wearing panties and a tank top). She's also knocked out by a elderly doctor who then slowly runs his hands along her body(his doesn't last long). Shelby enters a prostitute's apartment, and she references sex, but this doesn't go anywhere. Violence: Extreme-9/10: Shelby, Madison, and Jayden gets into several brawls, punching and smashing opponents. Ethan also injures himself multiple times(we see violent wounds after a car accident and again later when he crawls over glass). There is one extended shootout, with at least a dozen gunmen taken down. The most disturbing violence includes a boy and a woman(separately)getting drowned. One man shoots another point-blank in the head(execution style). The most graphic moments are when a man is run over by a big truck and we see a blood puddle, as well as when a woman stabs an old man in the heart with a drill(he falls on her, adding to the disturbing quality). Also well worth noting is a scene in which a character has to cut off his finger. He grabs his little finger with pliers, and after a long build-up, slams his fist down on them, crushing and cutting his finger off(the impact is felt, but not shown). In summary, great game for mature audiences.

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Teen, 15 years old
July 8, 2010
 
-12: No 13-15: If Mature 15+: Yes
Heavy Rain is interesting in the aspect that it doesn't try to be offensive. Letting your child play this game isn't a question of age, but rather maturity. HR contains Violence, Sex, Language and Drugs, but the themes, regardless of how dark they are, serve an ultimately positive moral. Characters in the game may have a darkened past, but mostly serve as great role-models for children aspiring to grow into a righteous adult at some point in their lives.

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Teen, 15 years old
June 4, 2011
 
m means m here
WOAH! this game is hardcore and full of violence. Nudity isn't necessary and just overall an adult game. NOT FOR KIDS! Bad language is constant with a lot of drinking. Nudity is by far the worst.

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Kid, 13 years old
May 25, 2010
 
Heavy Rain
Great game But it could go with out the nudity

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Adult
March 21, 2010
 
A game like I never played.
I can safely say I have never played any other game like this. If you are a person who just plays a game for its gameplay and not its story, then this is not for you. They don't even call it a game. They call it an "interactive drama". The game tells the story of tracking down the Origami Killer from the perspective of four different people. I really shouldn't say more because I would spoil it. The gameplay consists of you pressing the buttons on screen and making the motions that the game tells you to. The story can branch off into multiple directions based on what your actions are. One or multiple characters could potentially die and they are gone from the rest of the game. The game does have a few sex scenes and one nude scene of a girl taking a shower. There is some violence in the game like people getting killed and some fist fights.

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Adult
June 4, 2010
 
Sexual content makes it very mature.
Heavy rain mixes both Violence and sex into the game. Much like God of war. But this has a lot of sexual content. Someone forced to strip at gunpoint and topless women. The more the merrier. The violence is a bit high but its no more than you'd see on an average CSI:Miami program. The language isn't too bad at all. Its not that bad, The sex isn't as bad as said but it still lingers.

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Teen, 15 years old
June 2, 2010
 
To me its more like a movie than game every choice changes the story and it fun

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Adult
May 9, 2010
 
I love this game. It stole my heart and I believe that it was made solely with me in mind. The game is great but it's not for anyone under 16. There is quite a bit of nudity, a sex scene, heavy laguage and violence, and the setting and themes are too dark for young teens. I think that this an adult only game, but I would let 16 and 17 years olds play too with a little trust.

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Adult
April 28, 2010
 
not for kids.
heavy rain is a thriller game that has a dark story line about a serial killer murdering young kids and parents with this type of storyline you know that this game is not for kids this game is only for adults and parents you need to know that heavy rain has a lot of intense violence a lot of sex and nudity shown also characters used constant strong language throughout the game and characters drink and smoke throughout game the story in this game is very disturbing what you are trying to do is trying to find out who the serial killer is that preys on young children and then kills them and you have to solve crime scenes and finding dead children laying dead in the rain trying to find any clues on who the origami killer is.

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This review was written by Marc Saltzman
Platforms:PlayStation 3
Available online?Not available online
Genre:Adventure
Developer:Sony Computer Entertainment
Release date:February 23, 2010
Price:$59.99
ESRB rating:M for Blood, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs

This review was written by Marc Saltzman

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

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