9.1 C
London
Friday, March 29, 2024

Rain Review

It doesn’t always take something flashy to make us feel something and in today’s world of gargantuan cities, epic set pieces and glossy visuals, in some ways Rain feels like a return to old. That isn’t to say that it isn’t a pretty game but as the short story progresses it becomes evident that emotion is at the core of the experience. Like Journey and Braid, Rain sets out not to impress the eyes but to grab the heart. It aims directly for the both the child and the adult within us at the same time and it works beautifully.

The majority of the game takes place with an AI companion and tactics are required to outwit the often terrifying monsters.
The majority of the game takes place with an AI companion adding a much needed sense of companionship in a dark and lonely world.

The latest in a long line of indie exclusives to release on the PlayStation platform, Rain follows the story of a young boy plunged in a blackened netherworld plagued with constant and never ending rain. When walking alone in the rain one night, the boy sees a little girl being pursued through the darkness by a strange creature and so his adventure begins.

The characters are never named and they don’t need to be in order to make you feel an overbearing urge to protect him. As a purgatorial entity, the boy has no visible human form and instead his silhouette is created by the falling rain. The same applies to the girl and the enemy creatures ; in doing so it makes for some of the most original stealth seen in years. Enemies will only see the defenseless children when their form is created by mud or water and taking shelter will create a mask of invisibility which is just as well considering the very real sense of terror that the game creates.

The monsters themselves are never fully explained but most vaguely resemble dinosaurs and their well being seems dependent upon the darkness. Some of the later creatures are passive whilst others will go to extraordinary lengths to destroy you;  one in particular invokes painful memories of Pyramid Head. Like in Amnesia, combat is not an option so the only option is to run like hell for the nearest door or dampened covered shop front.

If 2013 will be remembered for any game development trend then it’s the emergence of the female AI companion and the girl’s place alongside the Elizabeth’s and Eliie’s of this world is safe as she proves to be an extremely indispensable ally. Enemy attention will be diverted and obstacles will be moved to help you on your way. But more than that, the girl provides a sense of friendship in a world which for no understandable reason seems to have  been torn apart.

The static camera and isometric viewpoints work wonderfully with the modern Parisian backdrop.
The static camera and isometric viewpoints work wonderfully with the modern Parisian backdrop.

Rain’s visuals are secondary to the experience but are nonetheless inspiring. The game takes place in a noir vision of Paris and some terrific water/ physics engines and translucent effects blend wonderfully with the creatively positioned text and attention to detail. The sound, however, is on a whole other level entirely. Made up of mostly arrangements of French classical pieces (some with unique vocal tracks recorded especially for the game) Rain’s soundtrack is easily my favourite of any game since Skyrim and easily has the potential to succeed just as a collection of music in it’s own right.

The violent howls of the monsters clash with the splash of puddles and patter of the never ending rain that grows heavier as the enemies become increasingly sinister. I could write pages on this but suffice to say this is a game that you will want to play with the sound and ideally through a decent surround setup or pair of headphones.

As a game though Rain isn’t without it’s problems. The static camera harks back to the early days of Resident Evil but even with such a simplistic system, there are occasional moments where the player can become lost or paths are far from obvious. The campaign can easily be finished in a single session but these moments damage the flow slightly and ruin what is otherwise a brilliantly crafted experience.

Rain’s magic is it’s ability to touch and succeed in areas where very few games dare to tread. I’m not someone who cries easily but I actually found myself welling up towards the end and was left feeling as though I had witnessed something truly special. Conversations are likely to go on for a long time as to the game’s real message but it remains that  Japan Studio have created people out of pixels to an extent that usually feels out of reach. Rain is a true diamond in the rough that reminded me of the often forgotten power of our medium and it is a game that will likely stay with me for a long time.

Sai Mealing
Sai Mealinghttps://www.geek-pride.co.uk
A proud member of the Geek Pride video games editing team, Sai can currently be found trying to get through his Christmas games backlog (and failing miserably at it).

Related Articles

28,144FansLike
2,755FollowersFollow
3,270SubscribersSubscribe

Latest Articles