Heavy Rain can continue after the main character dies

by Alan Tsang { Sep 10th 2008 at 6:45PM }

David Cage, director of Heavy Rain, disclosed an interesting tidbit of info back at LGC: the main character of the game, as seen above, can be killed and the player will still be able to continue the game. "I can't really tell you too much about what the story's about or how it's going to work with the characters, all I can tell you that your character -- the main character -- can die, and the story will continue," Cage told VG247. "You can continue to play, without this character, of course."

He was asked to elaborate on whether the player will continue on in a side-story instead. "No, no. It's one big story." We knew Heavy Rain was going to be innovative, but this is something we've yet to see in a big-budget title. We can't wait to see how this exotic mechanic will be utilized when the game comes out next year.

Tags: david-cage, heavy-rain, quantic-dream

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

massive_98 @ Sep 10th 2008 6:56PM

This is one of those details I didn't want to know about. Now I'm expecting my main character to die and I no longer get the surprise of still playing.

I'm shocked that the Sony PR people aren't all over this developer. Usually they're the ones dictating when devolopers can talk about certain features or not.

kevin @ Sep 10th 2008 7:11PM

you have the choice to kill the main character or keep it alive. READD

Fiddlesworth @ Sep 10th 2008 7:30PM

Did you actually read the story above? It's not a story spoiler, it's up to you if and when she dies.

David @ Sep 10th 2008 7:34PM

This is old "news" actually. Although I think it's very cool. I don't think they are spoiling anything about the game. From what I understand you can finish the game with the main character alive but if you mess up somewhere in the game he or she will die and you won't get a game over screen. That's an awesome idea and something I've been wanting to be implemented for a long time.

Take for example Resident Evil 4. In that game you had to save the president's daughter but you also had to escape a village infested by monsters. Still if she died you would get a game over screen with Leon kneeling down lamenting the death of that girl...why?? Doesn't he wants to escape the frickin village? He's been attack too...I would've love to be able to finish the game even though the president's daughter had died (or even if Leon died). So kudos to Quantum Dream for implementing common sense into their new game.

pat1202003 @ Sep 10th 2008 6:59PM

So... if "you can continue to play, without this character" then what's the point of having that character?

Jerses @ Sep 10th 2008 7:08PM

maybe it will happen like dragon ball...goku dies, the other fighters are lame but they are waiting for the second coming of goku. So this game is about the other lame characters.

Hyams @ Sep 10th 2008 9:23PM

It's a story driven game. The purpose of the characters doesn't extend beyond their purpose within the context of the story, and evidently the main character, whilst important, isn't absolutely fundamental to what happens.

That is to say: the main character doesn't progress the story alone, other factors - such as other characters - come into play.

Andy @ Sep 10th 2008 10:21PM

This makes it sound to me that this is a sort of "choose your own adventure" adapted to a video game. Just because it has a main character doesn't mean you directly control that character. (As you do with most games) Your actions and decision may affect what that character does and if that character dies, while also affecting the outcomes of other characters in the story. While the main character's story is important, there are other aspects to the story that are important as well, so the game doesn't end if the main character dies.

Jose El Maton @ Sep 10th 2008 7:01PM

Whoa... innovation. And replayability.

tom @ Sep 10th 2008 9:28PM

The story continuing without the main character is something I've thought about recently. I can't wait to see how this plays out.

kevin @ Sep 10th 2008 7:12PM

lol his/her fat is showing.

iamkid @ Sep 10th 2008 9:18PM

uhhh....thats a shirt smartness

Eddie @ Sep 10th 2008 7:23PM

what and ugly belly...

RossGough @ Sep 10th 2008 7:27PM

surely it's possible to see that that's her jumper? :P

bkalasin @ Sep 11th 2008 1:13AM

So, you're...um...checking out women in video games? May be time to get off the computer and go outside for a while brother.

RossGough @ Sep 10th 2008 7:26PM

i thought i read in a different article on here that the woman up there wasn't the main character, but was a character for some side mission?

or maybe the game is made up of loads of different stories that are linked somehow? i thought these points were already mentioned somewhere..

ryuk @ Sep 10th 2008 9:36PM

it didn't say the woman in the picture was the main character

NukeAssault @ Sep 10th 2008 7:44PM

Good, i don't like her anyways.

Mephistopheles @ Sep 10th 2008 7:49PM

Actually, this isn't entirely new for the company, they did it with Omikron: The Nomad Soul. If your character dies, your soul often went and inhabited a new character. ('You' would survive in most situations if you died, though not always)

urdaddy247 @ Sep 10th 2008 7:57PM

this is one interesting news.. hmmm =]

MBO @ Sep 10th 2008 8:39PM

i thought the top pic was a real person til i read the article. lol.

farfisa @ Sep 11th 2008 9:57AM

Ha! Yes, it's David Cage!

Metal_Gear @ Sep 10th 2008 8:45PM

I hope other game developers are listening.
THIS is open ended gameplay, not something like GTA when there is one strict story but you can do the missions when you choose... not having choices that change nothing or them being right at the end of the game so you cant see what you choice is going to do.

I do hope this catches on, at least with games that include a party as the main characters. Imagine a Final Fantasy with no Pheonix Downs or Life spells :P

doc j @ Sep 11th 2008 1:16AM

"Imagine a Final Fantasy with no Pheonix Downs or Life spells :P"

Blasphemy!! ^_^

ComicShaman @ Sep 11th 2008 12:23PM

Hey, imagine playing Pac-Man and continuing the game after the main character dies. You could take over one of the ghosts.

Inky: "Well, now what do we do?"
Blinky: "God, I'm so bored."

Hmm. Maybe it wouldn't work for some games.

iamkid @ Sep 10th 2008 9:18PM

must have this game....right now. cant wait!

DrunkRaba @ Sep 10th 2008 10:27PM

this game is looking and sounding sweet

pcktlnt @ Sep 11th 2008 2:34AM

The developers are tempting me more and more. With the concept that the main character is not an integral part of the story and just shares the experience with others in the game, is it a possibility to continuously allow side characters to die? Or will there be a limit and then game over?