Post by Bytor on Jul 6, 2012 22:31:30 GMT -5
-Visuals- 9.4/10
The good is unreal good, and I mean unreal. So, on to the good. The vast majority of the facial expressions are wonderful. Most of the backgrounds and objects in the game show a really nice attention to detail. The body designs on the characters and the clothing shows some wonderful animation. And that is the good. Now, for the bad...Some of the backgrounds appear very static and don't seem to quite "fit in". It's not a huge deal but when sometimes it looks so good when it doesn't it's certainly noticeable. The other noticeable drop in the animation occurs when the characters are talking to each other, sometimes they will look natural, other times they will appear to be totally unaware that they are even having a conversation. This is actually a hard score to give. On the one hand this game looks better than pretty much every other PS3 game produced at the same time. On the other hand when things look as good as they do most of the time it's a glaring discrepancy when they don't. I for one, feel the good way outweighs the not so good.
-Sound- 9.0/10
I found the voice acting to be wonderful. Just enough anguish, fear, despair and hope to certainly set the mood and tug on the emotions as befitted a game of this genre. The music is dark and foreboding with just enough sweeps and dips to set the sombre mood wonderfully. There a re a few instances where accents come through a tad too strong but these are few and far enough between to not be an issue.
-Gameplay- 8.8/10
Make no mistake about it, this game is a QTE (and be prepared, some of them are mind boggling annoying, well..honestly maybe two or three of the "missions") festival. However, and this is a HUGE however, unlike most games where QTE's rule the failure to execute the QTE will not cause a game over. Instead you will find that failing certain tasks will cause you to have to try again or after failing too many the game will change and the story will progress in a different manner. Do not, however, mistake this forgiveness for the ability to drink a mocha latte while eating a danish. The action (QTE) comes at times fast and furious and often when you least expect it. This is definitely a game in which you must pay attention at all times, blink and the story will progress quickly. And the story is the real show, NOT the QTE's. This game is story driven, thus admitted your choices and ability to accomplish the QTE's matter but only so much. You can fail them all, and the story will still continue until the very end of the game. So...obviously in order to truly experience the game you will have to complete more than one ending in my opinion (I finished 3 endings and felt pretty good about everything, lol). This type of game will not be for everyone. On the one had the action can be fast paced, but on the other at times it is seriously slow an can best be described as an interactive novel, and wow, what a fun interactive novel it was.
-Story- 9.0/10
To say too much would spoil the game immensely. Basically you play as four characters involved in attempting to find a serial killer who is targeting young boys during heavy rainstorms. Each of the characters has their own story and the interwoven stories make for a nice little scenario. I have read some reviewers who complain about the story and I am forced to go huh? It's certainly not a literary classic but it is a story which will keep you on the edge of your seat and at times made me factually flinch and go wow, wtf
-Overall- 9.0/10
I honestly played this on a whim. I had watched someone else finish it and wasn't really sure I would like it. After about 2 hours I still wasn't sure I would like it. I finished it in two more set downs. yes, it hooked me and hooked me hard. It is not for everyone I admit. the action can be agonizingly slow at times and at other times so fast it will leave you gasping for breath. Once again let me be honest. I was so surprised at this game. Yes, I knew the hype and yes I had watched someone play, and finish it, but...watching and reading do not tell the whole story (pun intended). The only way to play this game is to play it and be totally immersed in this truly wonderful experience.