From the developers of Gravity Rush and Tokyo Jungle, another creative PlayStation 3 title from SCE Japan Studio comes in the form of Rain, a title that introduces a bevy of imaginative ideas never seen before in gaming.
Rain, whether you agree with it or not, will predominately be referred to as a game of art. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean it delivers the same enthralling experience such as how fellow PS3 exclusive Journey did, largely due to the fact that it falls of fulfilling its full potential.
The game sees you play as a young boy who is on a mission to assist a girl that is being pursued by a mysterious monster, the unknown. The characters, meanwhile, can only be portrayed via silhouettes that can be seen via the rain. It is indeed an intriguing concept that is nothing short of impressive in terms of its execution.
Rain manages to utilize its core gameplay mechanic into delivering simple platforming and segments of stealth-based puzzles. As the player progresses through the story, which is around 4 hours long, Rain will open up the various possibilities of being silhouettes through the rain such as hiding from the game’s creatures by taking cover and subsequently disappearing from sight.
Although the game may be a Japanese title, a European environment is portrayed, while the music itself manages to perfectly reflect the mood of the gameplay such as instilling a sense of delight and independence.
The European city Rain is set in is showcased via graphics that aren’t groundbreaking but still manages to instill an environment that sets the perfect tone and setting to the story. While it may be going too far by saying Rain’s streets are enjoyable to move through due to the tone of the game, it can’t be dismissed that the title’s eerie environments is one factor that enhances the experience for the player. It’s a shame then that some may overlook that due to the less-than-stellar gameplay such as the average platforming and puzzles that can largely be solved by only trial and error.
Another factor that players may also overlook the positives of Rain is the narration, which is a constant presence that is intruding; it litters background text that doesn’t emphasize much on the story and at the same time destroys exploration elements by regularly directing you on where to proceed to.
Rain is a title that is undoubtedly creative in terms of its graphical fidelity and gameplay elements, but the latter fails to fully live up to its potential and premise. Still, the invisibility aspect of the game is commendable and the environment instills the right mood in the game to deliver a memorable atmosphere.