Reviewing Rain
by ted2112, HSM team writer
Sony’s Japan Studios have a reputation of creating unique games that push both creative and technical boundaries. Loco-Roco, for example, took the idea of a side scroller and stood it on its ear both in visual terms and functionality. With Siren, the Japan Studios took the heavily-traveled Survival Horror genre and upped the ante with a darker exploration of both the supernatural and traditional Japanese lore that just about got the game banned.
Needless to say, Sony’s Japan Studios like to do things differently — and Rain is no exception.
Rain takes place on the deserted, rain-soaked streets of Paris at night, where a boy is awakened by a girl who can only been seen by her shimmering outline when the rain is falling on her. The boy follows the girl into a door to an alternate reality, where the empty streets are dark and filled with monsters. The boy and the girl find each other and have to work together to figure out what happened to them and navigate their treacherous surroundings.
Rain heavily uses the themes of light vs. dark and water. The game is literally saturated by darkness, and the faint light in the distance creates not only a goal for the characters but a feeling of a desperate quest when the world has gone mad. It is only in the light you are truly safe.
The use of water is total; the rain is constantly falling and soaks the environment with an eerie shimmering effect. When the rain falls on the characters, it gives them away to the freakish patrolling monsters, so looking for a rare dry spot becomes a must in evading the monsters and advancing the game. Everything from puddles, rivers, and fountains to the grainy rain splatters on your screen.
The themes of friendship and working together work well in Rain, I’m not the biggest fan of AI companions in video games due to how much can go wrong, but in Rain the characters stay together and you seldom wait for the other to catch up. Also, the working together aspects are inherent and well thought out. Rain also offers you hints via pressing the start button in the more difficult areas, but only if you want them.
The game physics of Rain are simple, with only the X, Triangle and Square button used. The flow of the game is about keeping the narrative moving and continuing the story arc, and avoids staying in one place too long. Also, the sparse piano score runs well under the story without overshadowing it. My favorite part of the game takes place as the world gradually transforms from a city style environment into a fantastic complex MC Escher inspired design. This change subtly changes the feel of the game, yet runs parallel to the story and brings the game into a final, deeper understanding.
The game ultimately climaxes with a showdown between the boy and and the main monster, called the Unknown, that has pursued them throughout the game. The boy and girl must choose to help each other at risk to themselves in the final battle between light and dark, and in Kingdom Hearts style open the doors to the world of light.
Rain was a delight to play, with only a few jumping glitches and camera angle issues. Other than those minor bugs, the game flowed very well. The game play is also fast, and I finished the game in only a few hours.
Rain is a Sony exclusive, available in the PlayStation Store, for $14.99.
- Wonderfully rendered game environment
- Great Musical score
- Unique and interesting game play
- Minor camera angle issues
- Sometimes confusing and dark street layouts
- Characters can be difficult to see sometimes
October 29th, 2013 by ted2112 | 3 comments
ted2112 is a writer and a Bass player that has been both inspired and takes to heart Kurt Vonnegut words...."we are here on planet Earth to fart around, and don't let anyone tell you different."
TwitterShare
| Tweet |
This is definitely on my radar, and your review only makes me hope I don’t forget about it, but I have a back-log of games from Plus to get through before reaching this. Since the latest Assassin’s Creed just hit shelves and Watchdogs is looming on the Horizon I’ve no idea when I’ll get to experience this, but I must make sure to do so. Right after I get off GTAO…
I loved rain. The loved the pace of the game and found myself doing “just one more level” everytime I finished one. It’s like Metal Gear Solid and Papa and Yo rolled up into Limbo with a touch of Resident Evil Downpour to boot.
Definitely on my to do list. Your review is very informative Ted. I was drawn to the game by the animation and music, such a surreal look to it. Great article.