The one thing that really strikes me as strange about Heavy Rain from watching videos of it is the jerky, unrealistic animation of the characters, reminiscent of Quantic Dream's first game, Omikron : The Nomad Soul.
Something about the animation just looks and feels wrong, especially in contrast to the detailed character visuals.
I think having such high-res, realistic characters so jerkily animated really kills the 'movie-like' effect for me that a game like this needs to thrive on, though I haven't actually sat down and played the game first-hand yet, admittedly.
What makes it especially strange is that Quantic Dream pride themselves on their motion-capture technology and used to harp on back in the days of Omikron about how they had their own MoCap studio and how good it was, etc.
It suggests to me that either their animation techniques are flawed or that they haven't hit the nail on the head when it comes to applying MoCap animation to IK-animated characters in a game.
On the other hand, it could've just been slow QTE responses from whoever was playing in the videos I saw, it's difficult to judge it fairly without playing it for myself.
Originally Posted by Cool_CR You dont like QTE but you liked ME2 where quick time was the main thing it had over ME1, Bayonetta got a stella review and it does love its bash B now for something to happen bash X so you dont die. So its not a bad feature just they shouldnt be over used. I might have played Heavy Rain but i will need to get a PS3 it does look a bit different. Talking of looks is this the best looking game out for the PS3 at the moment as the screen shots look quite detailed.
Quicktimes in ME2? Hardly. There was only the heroic choice thing, which doesn't really count. It stays there for ages and nothing happens if you press any other button. 'sides, the sequel had loads more above the first game.
But I digress. Point is, there are exceptions to every rule - QTEs are done poorly far more than they are done right. Also, I didn't review (or like) Bayonetta. Emily did.
HUH? I am playing Me 2 right now, I have encounterd close to a dozen QTE events already, and I might be half way through.
QTE in god of War 3 is great, its not always a bad thing, if done properly.
Originally Posted by CardJoe Ok, where are these QTEs in Mass Effect 2?
Click mouse to do Paragon/Renegade action during conversations.
Like I said then, just the heroic choices. To me those hardly count. It's just one button press, not a sequence of buttons that require quick pressing or hammering. It's just a left or right mouse click and, if you don't press it, you'll see that they nearly always hang around for at least a whole minute so that you have time to think it through. Even then, if you ignore it then it never kills or hurts you or changes the plot hardly. It's little more than a dialog or action choice IMHO.
Originally Posted by Jenny_Y8S QTE for cleaning teeth? I'm so glad I don't own a PS3.
In 12 months time, who will remember this tripe?
Its a great game, and im pretty sure you can skip brushing your teeth. And im pretty sure quite a few people will remember this amazing game, just like everyone remembers Myst and Sam & Max.
Originally Posted by Article Some more stuff (which we don’t want to spoil but which isn’t ultimately important) happens, then it’s the end of that sequence.
Sounds a lot like Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy ;)
Originally Posted by CardJoe Like I said then, just the heroic choices. To me those hardly count. It's just one button press, not a sequence of buttons that require quick pressing or hammering. It's just a left or right mouse click and, if you don't press it, you'll see that they nearly always hang around for at least a whole minute so that you have time to think it through. Even then, if you ignore it then it never kills or hurts you or changes the plot hardly. It's little more than a dialog or action choice IMHO.
Fair enough. To be honest, I quite like Fahrenheit and Heavy Rain... I really can't see the fuss about shaving or showering or whatever... although I admit that the "shake controller now" thing annoys me as I hate having to shake the controller about. Lair did the Sixaxis best so far, I think... slight movements are more than enough to steer etc...
I can't stand QTE's that are "press x, y, z, a, b, c, y, z, b, a, c to not die" but when it's just one button it's hardly a chore. :) Still, a QTE is a QTE in the end.
Right now I can't decide whether this game will become "a classic" or not - Fahrenheit didn't, but then it was a bit of a niche game that never really seemed to be well publicised. Time will tell.
Originally Posted by smc8788 Wat. You mean the same game that was universally panned by critics for its terrible controls?
Over the years, I've come to the conclusion that most "critics" badly need to step back from their "I know better because I'm a critic" attitudes. While Lair wasn't the most amazing game around, I picked it up on the cheap and it ended up being quite fun. :)
Originally Posted by Paradigm Shifter Over the years, I've come to the conclusion that most "critics" badly need to step back from their "I know better because I'm a critic" attitudes. While Lair wasn't the most amazing game around, I picked it up on the cheap and it ended up being quite fun. :)
True, but you do have to bear in mind how pissed you'd be if you didn't get it cheap. PS3 games can often cost £40, so if you review it at launch (which is when most reviews are read) and have that in mind then it can sway things. I've often found panned games to be very fun a few years later on when I've picked them up cheap and gone in with low expectations - but I can still agree with low scores at launch because you have to remember that people are paying more for it at that point.
Lair priced at £40 and at launch, after hype = 6/10
Lair priced at £15 with latest updates and a pessimistic audience = 8/10
Originally Posted by CardJoe True, but you do have to bear in mind how pissed you'd be if you didn't get it cheap. PS3 games can often cost £40, so if you review it at launch (which is when most reviews are read) and have that in mind then it can sway things. I've often found panned games to be very fun a few years later on when I've picked them up cheap and gone in with low expectations - but I can still agree with low scores at launch because you have to remember that people are paying more for it at that point.
Lair priced at £40 and at launch, after hype = 6/10
Lair priced at £15 with latest updates and a pessimistic audience = 8/10
Perhaps. I get pissed when games are too hard for stupid reasons, or I complete them too fast. Lair didn't have either of those issues for me. I suspect a lot of the hate for Lair's control system was simply that aside from the Wii, no one really "got" motion sensitive controllers. Developers and gamers alike. The Wii suffers from it's own motion-controller related issues at times - I've not had a great deal of time with a Wii (don't own one) but I found the motion controller aspect quite difficult to get to grips with at the time as I was used to being able to wave the controller around without it affecting what I was doing in the game.
I didn't know Lair had been panned by critics, I'd never read a review of it. :) I bought it simply because it was cheap and I was bored and wanted something new to play. As it was cheap and looked kinda cool (always been a sucker for dragons) it was the option. I always seem to enjoy impulse purchases more than planned buys. :) I didn't know how much it was disliked until talking about it a few days later with a friend, who had the attitude, "Wait, you bought that? You liked it? But reviews hated it!"
Reviews are a mixed blessing at the best of times, to be honest. I've not yet found a reviewer anywhere that I agree with often enough to trust what they say fully when it comes to games... in the end, its very much a personal thing. ;)
...
Anyway, Heavy Rain... I quite like it (honestly I think I prefer Fahrenheit as far as story goes) although I've stopped playing it for the time being due to FFXIII... :D
Originally Posted by Jenny_Y8S QTE for cleaning teeth? I'm so glad I don't own a PS3.
In 12 months time, who will remember this tripe?
Tripe? Your glad you dont own a PS3 because of one game you have never even played? hate to break it to you, the Ps3 has had the betetr exclusives for over 2 years now, and has been outselling the 360 for quite sometime worldwide. I have a 360, PS3 and hiogh end gaming rig, the PS3 is IMo the best console, and it is also a killer media server, built in bluray and wireless.
This game is all about the overall mood, experience, great characters, stopry, and, there is a lot of replay value, based on youer actions NPC's, live, die, different endings, story changes quite a bit.
Amazing how people are so ignorant and just dismiss anything when its different. games has gotten critical and commercial success for a reason.
I am glad sony invests in more uique ideas then MS and their Pc wannabe console.
You have to realize that the console side of the hobby is getting undeniably awesome, critically acclaimed titles (GoW 3, Alan Wake, Heavy Rain) that look and play better than anything oon the PC to date, while the PC side is getting hand me down console games, and games with a constant internet connection! They see the disparity there and resent it! They wonder why their $500 DX11 cards can't *er* aren't producing the same thing?!! So that brings on the haters. What PC gamers and PC game reviewers don't realize is that "creativity" makes a game, and the creative minds are on the consoles. Thats why you here in reviews and responses that the game is "technically" inferior in this or that, not realizing that there is no such thing. To some, if it can't be benchmarked, it can't be good. I'm no artist, so giving me all the fancy inks, paper, and programs will mean little. Give a true artist a pencil and he'll draw you a portrait! Heavy Rain is a different kind of game that will create it's own niche and fan base. I've been gaming for decades and with recent releases like this and upcoming titles, it's as good a time to be a gamer as any...EVER! Too bad many people on this site still judge a game not for what it is, but for what it's on!
Originally Posted by Jenny_Y8S QTE for cleaning teeth? I'm so glad I don't own a PS3.
In 12 months time, who will remember this tripe?
Tripe? Your glad you dont own a PS3 because of one game you have never even played? hate to break it to you, the Ps3 has had the betetr exclusives for over 2 years now, and has been outselling the 360 for quite sometime worldwide. I have a 360, PS3 and hiogh end gaming rig, the PS3 is IMo the best console, and it is also a killer media server, built in bluray and wireless.
This game is all about the overall mood, experience, great characters, stopry, and, there is a lot of replay value, based on youer actions NPC's, live, die, different endings, story changes quite a bit.
Amazing how people are so ignorant and just dismiss anything when its different. games has gotten critical and commercial success for a reason.
I am glad sony invests in more uique ideas then MS and their Pc wannabe console.
You have to realize that the console side of the hobby is getting undeniably awesome, critically acclaimed titles (GoW 3, Alan Wake, Heavy Rain) that look and play better than anything on the PC to date, while the PC side is getting hand me down console games, and games with a constant internet connection! They see the disparity there and resent it! They wonder why their $500 DX11 cards can't *er* aren't producing the same thing?!! So that brings on the haters. What PC gamers and PC game reviewers don't realize is that "creativity" makes a game, and the creative minds are on the consoles. Thats why you here in reviews and responses that the game is "technically" inferior in this or that, not realizing that there is no such thing. To some, if it can't be benchmarked, it can't be good. I'm no artist, so giving me all the fancy inks, paper, and programs will mean little. Give a true artist a pencil and he'll draw you a portrait! Heavy Rain is a different kind of game that will create it's own niche and fan base. I've been gaming for decades and with recent releases like this and upcoming titles, it's as good a time to be a gamer as any...EVER! Too bad many people on this site still judge a game not for what it is, but for what it's on!
I honestly don't get why people are slagging this game off without ever having played it. It really is a brilliant game. Farenheit was one of my favorite games so I had high hopes for this one and after playing through the first hour on a friends PS3 it didn't dissapoint. The way you have to go through even the most mundane parts of the main characters life really draw you into the story. It may seem daft but it really does help, and it's part of what makes the game unique.
Games like this, GoW 3, uncharted, etc really show what the PS3 is capable of. Makes me wish I'd waited for one instead of wasting £300 on the paperweight people refer to as the XBox 360!
I for one cant wait to give it a try, I love trying new things and this game is just that, somthing new. Some folks may be quick to bash it just cuz of that fact... but hey there loss.
Originally Posted by Gunsmith I picked this up lastnight, I dont listen to the opinions of console gamers as they know **** all about gaming, so I walked into it blind. I must say im very VERY impressed, just finished my first run throug and I cant wait to start my second run. my only concern is that I dont have a pair of Ari Glasses :(
Are you kidding me? So what. Does anybody actually care if this clown is "impressed"? You act like some little kid who just discovered his butt in the bath tub and keeps turning around trying to look at it!
Originally Posted by Warrior24_7 Are you kidding me? So what. Does anybody actually care if this clown is "impressed"? You act like some little kid who just discovered his butt in the bath tub and keeps turning around trying to look at it!
Wasn't that a bit unnecessary? I mean, all he said was that he was impressed.
Finally I have had the time to be able to start this, and I love it - that is, whenever I am able to pry the controller away from the missus. But to be fair, I did buy the game for mainly for her, and while it took her a little while to get used to the controller (having played games mainly on the PC) she was really taken in by the game. She didn't even mind the nudity even though she is usually the one that complains about the use of gratuitous nudity in movies/games, she felt it was appropriate as she too would want a shower in similar circumstances.
While the teeth brushing and towelling sequences add a certain level of tedium to the game, I will argue that they also add greatly to immersion. They give you a sense that these are real people, with real lives and real-life issues to sort through. And both me and the missus ended up feeling so bad for Shaun that we did our utmost to cheer him up, and while the voice acting sometimes leave a lot to be desired, this is the first and only game that has brought the missus to tears.
We both have a long way to go yet in the game, and it is certainly interesting to watch her play it and see how we react differently to different situations. Some of it may be due to reaction times and accuracy, but others again are conscious choices. We are loving this game, and we are hoping for more games like this one in the future.
So there's a DLC? Will have to keep an eye out for that one as soon as we've finished the game.
Edit: Oh, and yes - this is the first time I can, honestly, state that I did not mind the QTEs at all.
Comments 51 to 75 of 75
ReplySomething about the animation just looks and feels wrong, especially in contrast to the detailed character visuals.
I think having such high-res, realistic characters so jerkily animated really kills the 'movie-like' effect for me that a game like this needs to thrive on, though I haven't actually sat down and played the game first-hand yet, admittedly.
What makes it especially strange is that Quantic Dream pride themselves on their motion-capture technology and used to harp on back in the days of Omikron about how they had their own MoCap studio and how good it was, etc.
It suggests to me that either their animation techniques are flawed or that they haven't hit the nail on the head when it comes to applying MoCap animation to IK-animated characters in a game.
On the other hand, it could've just been slow QTE responses from whoever was playing in the videos I saw, it's difficult to judge it fairly without playing it for myself.
Ok, where are these QTEs in Mass Effect 2?
Click mouse to do Paragon/Renegade action during conversations.
Like I said then, just the heroic choices. To me those hardly count. It's just one button press, not a sequence of buttons that require quick pressing or hammering. It's just a left or right mouse click and, if you don't press it, you'll see that they nearly always hang around for at least a whole minute so that you have time to think it through. Even then, if you ignore it then it never kills or hurts you or changes the plot hardly. It's little more than a dialog or action choice IMHO.
Its a great game, and im pretty sure you can skip brushing your teeth. And im pretty sure quite a few people will remember this amazing game, just like everyone remembers Myst and Sam & Max.
Sounds a lot like Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy ;)
Fair enough. To be honest, I quite like Fahrenheit and Heavy Rain... I really can't see the fuss about shaving or showering or whatever... although I admit that the "shake controller now" thing annoys me as I hate having to shake the controller about. Lair did the Sixaxis best so far, I think... slight movements are more than enough to steer etc...
I can't stand QTE's that are "press x, y, z, a, b, c, y, z, b, a, c to not die" but when it's just one button it's hardly a chore. :) Still, a QTE is a QTE in the end.
Right now I can't decide whether this game will become "a classic" or not - Fahrenheit didn't, but then it was a bit of a niche game that never really seemed to be well publicised. Time will tell.
Ah the memories...
Wat. You mean the same game that was universally panned by critics for its terrible controls?
Over the years, I've come to the conclusion that most "critics" badly need to step back from their "I know better because I'm a critic" attitudes. While Lair wasn't the most amazing game around, I picked it up on the cheap and it ended up being quite fun. :)
True, but you do have to bear in mind how pissed you'd be if you didn't get it cheap. PS3 games can often cost £40, so if you review it at launch (which is when most reviews are read) and have that in mind then it can sway things. I've often found panned games to be very fun a few years later on when I've picked them up cheap and gone in with low expectations - but I can still agree with low scores at launch because you have to remember that people are paying more for it at that point.
Lair priced at £40 and at launch, after hype = 6/10
Lair priced at £15 with latest updates and a pessimistic audience = 8/10
Perhaps. I get pissed when games are too hard for stupid reasons, or I complete them too fast. Lair didn't have either of those issues for me. I suspect a lot of the hate for Lair's control system was simply that aside from the Wii, no one really "got" motion sensitive controllers. Developers and gamers alike. The Wii suffers from it's own motion-controller related issues at times - I've not had a great deal of time with a Wii (don't own one) but I found the motion controller aspect quite difficult to get to grips with at the time as I was used to being able to wave the controller around without it affecting what I was doing in the game.
I didn't know Lair had been panned by critics, I'd never read a review of it. :) I bought it simply because it was cheap and I was bored and wanted something new to play. As it was cheap and looked kinda cool (always been a sucker for dragons) it was the option. I always seem to enjoy impulse purchases more than planned buys. :) I didn't know how much it was disliked until talking about it a few days later with a friend, who had the attitude, "Wait, you bought that? You liked it? But reviews hated it!"
Reviews are a mixed blessing at the best of times, to be honest. I've not yet found a reviewer anywhere that I agree with often enough to trust what they say fully when it comes to games... in the end, its very much a personal thing. ;)
...
Anyway, Heavy Rain... I quite like it (honestly I think I prefer Fahrenheit as far as story goes) although I've stopped playing it for the time being due to FFXIII... :D
Games like this, GoW 3, uncharted, etc really show what the PS3 is capable of. Makes me wish I'd waited for one instead of wasting £300 on the paperweight people refer to as the XBox 360!
Are you kidding me? So what. Does anybody actually care if this clown is "impressed"? You act like some little kid who just discovered his butt in the bath tub and keeps turning around trying to look at it!
Wasn't that a bit unnecessary? I mean, all he said was that he was impressed.
Seriously, Gunsmith stop baiting, Warrior stop rising to it.
While the teeth brushing and towelling sequences add a certain level of tedium to the game, I will argue that they also add greatly to immersion. They give you a sense that these are real people, with real lives and real-life issues to sort through. And both me and the missus ended up feeling so bad for Shaun that we did our utmost to cheer him up, and while the voice acting sometimes leave a lot to be desired, this is the first and only game that has brought the missus to tears.
We both have a long way to go yet in the game, and it is certainly interesting to watch her play it and see how we react differently to different situations. Some of it may be due to reaction times and accuracy, but others again are conscious choices. We are loving this game, and we are hoping for more games like this one in the future.
So there's a DLC? Will have to keep an eye out for that one as soon as we've finished the game.
Edit: Oh, and yes - this is the first time I can, honestly, state that I did not mind the QTEs at all.
-
« Previous
-
1
-
2
-
3
-
Next »
Discuss in the forums