By Matthew Scott Hunter
‘Heavy Rain’ (M)
When it rains, it pours
****1/2
Sony Computer Entertainment
PlayStation 3
There’s been a lot of chatter about how groundbreaking and innovative “Heavy Rain” is, but anyone who played writer/director David Cage’s previous game, “Indigo Prophecy,” will likely experience a bit of déjà vu. Again, you’ll explore a complicated murder mystery through the eyes of multiple characters, in a world so immersive that when you’re not looking for clues, you can perform any number of mundane activities, from shooting hoops to brushing your teeth. Tension is frequently built with the use of split-screen, showing two different aspects of the same event, and all the action is handled with context-sensitive, quick-time button prompts.
As with “Indigo Prophecy,” “Heavy Rain” has the depth and detail of a weighty novel, which is both a strength and a weakness. As your moody investigation of the Origami Killer begins, all the other games you’ve played lately will seem shallow and mechanical compared to this one. You’ll begin to judge “Heavy Rain” not as a game, but as a movie. The thing is, as games go, “Heavy Rain” is a masterpiece, but as movies go, the narrative is riddled with unforgiveable plot holes, and the story becomes ludicrous by the end. David Cage has proven once again that interactive entertainment can be every bit as artful and nuanced as cinema. Hopefully, his next game will prove that video games can be every bit as good as great cinema. CV
‘Aliens vs. Predator’ (M)
***1/2
Sega
Xbox 360
Clearly, this is a game made by sci-fi/horror fanboys for sci-fi/horror fanboys. And it’s the target audience of fanboys that will forgive the game’s technical flaws every time they hear their favorite quote from the movie franchises. You can play as an alien, a predator or a colonial marine, but the latter is the most functional. The xenomorphs move extremely fast and cling to walls and ceilings, which make them difficult to control. Predators are a bit clunky as well, but fanboys aren’t likely to notice when they’re gleefully ripping out people’s spines.
‘Endless Ocean: Blue World’ (E10+)
***1/2
Nintendo
Wii
This is a remarkable improvement over the first “Endless Ocean,” which — with its leisurely pace and objective-less open world — hardly even seemed like a game. “Blue World” still feels very laid-back, but the driving force of a treasure hunt gives your underwater explorations a sense of purpose. The occasional shark attack injects some drama into the proceedings, and a wealth of optional activities — from deep sea salvage to Cousteau-style photography — insure that there’s plenty to do while you catalogue the wildlife.
‘Star Ocean: The Last Hope (International)’ (T)
***
Square Enix
PlayStation 3
The fourth entry in the “Star Ocean” saga is actually a prequel, so you’ll be able to follow the story whether you’re a series veteran or this is your first go-round with magically-powered androgynous teenagers in space. Either way, the story is the weakest part this time, but the action-RPG combat is solid, and the graphics are as gorgeous as ever. There are few differences between the 360 version and this “International” port, but you do have the option to hear the game in Japanese, which is actually an improvement over the American voice actors.
