Cage: Multiple playthroughs of Heavy Rain could 'kill the magic of it'
by Xav de Matos 
{ Aug 31st 2009 at 4:00PM }
"The right way to enjoy Heavy Rain is really to make one thing because it's going to be your story. It's going to be unique to you. It's really the story you decided to write." While Cage is fine with players going back to experience the title multiple times, we have a sneaking suspicion that Quantic is working on an Inspector Gadget style self-destruction feature for Heavy Rain's retail release.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
CzAr @ Aug 31st 2009 4:09PM
As long as it carries a price tag of $49.99.
If I can only play it once, it better be a long game or have a memorable story.
Bill$ @ Aug 31st 2009 5:02PM
memorable story? how could you not have atleast play the GOW demo? & it will be $40 .. its more than worth it
Bill$ @ Aug 31st 2009 5:06PM
OOOOOOPS comment fail.. downvote me.. damn you multiple tabs in ps3 browser.. sorry man
Rocketboy @ Sep 1st 2009 7:35AM
Well, in Cage's defense, a second playthrough of Indigo Prophecy would have "Killed the magic" for me.
Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Aug 31st 2009 4:10PM
"This Game Will Self Destruct in 30 seconds"
Solace @ Aug 31st 2009 4:10PM
I better get that Platinum Trophy in one play through then =P
Courtney @ Aug 31st 2009 4:15PM
Good point. It would make a great question for Cage, asking how they are approaching trophies if they think the best way to play it is just once through.
carterk88 @ Aug 31st 2009 4:37PM
Agreed!! Don't make me "kill the magic" for it.
pauLstaszkiw @ Aug 31st 2009 4:42PM
The whole point of this game is to play it for the story. Not for trophies and unlockables and honing your skills and topping a leader board.
P @ Aug 31st 2009 5:55PM
you can do it in multiple play-throughs, they're not saying you shouldnt do that, they're intention is to try and ask people to play the game honestly and in a way it was intended to be, where you accept the outcome of decisions and carry on, theres no retakes in real life and they want you to follow that in the game. They have to allow saving, but they dont want people to abuse it by quitting the game and going back to a point before you made a story defining decision, and looking what could have been.
I dont see the harm in replaying the story, they just hope that people will play the game in the spirit it was intended, no do-overs, accept and move forward.
Mr. Joe @ Sep 1st 2009 11:37AM
i hope the platinum trophy is called "Killed the Magic."
arrness (PSN: chsowls) @ Aug 31st 2009 4:12PM
what you want me to rent it???
if you say so....
Longhorn Slim @ Aug 31st 2009 4:19PM
i thought the same
Zemus101 @ Aug 31st 2009 6:56PM
Yeah, just what I was going to write in the comments too. I was very excited for this game, now ....not so much. I'll pick it up when it's sold for $29.99 maybe.
Traceur_Ryuk (PSN: Ryuk_shinigami) @ Aug 31st 2009 7:11PM
That doesn't even make sense! He said absolutely nothing that makes the game any worse.
Omg... I don't understand people.
devilsei @ Aug 31st 2009 7:41PM
Tracer, he said multiple playthroughs would ruin the game for people, and should be handled like real life, no resets. Which means, play it only once, so why buy the game?
I was about to say the same thing as Arn too. Its confirmed, he wants us to only rent his game, which means no Best Buy or Gamestop releases! This'll be the greatest $5-10 ever, har har!
BP fan @ Aug 31st 2009 8:05PM
No doubt. An 8 hour game that I'm supposed to play through once or "I'll kill the magic of it".
I was always on the fence about buying HR, but this has cemented my decision.
Traceur_Ryuk (PSN: Ryuk_shinigami) @ Aug 31st 2009 8:53PM
Oh my god.
Ok... Say you have a choose your own adventure book. You go through it multiple times, it ruins the whole experience because you know all the endings and that first ending isn't unique to YOU anymore. Get it? It doesn't make it any worse or better. The experience stays the same. I mean, did you really need him to tell you that? I thought it was common sense.
johnnynumber5 @ Aug 31st 2009 4:21PM
I'm stoked regardless. Cage would probably know best since this game is his baby but it won't stop me from getting every segment of story from each branch of gameplay. This is the most hyped I have been for a game in a LOOOOONG time.
Michael @ Aug 31st 2009 4:29PM
Read "you will notice that plaing the game 3 times will not actualy change that much - you might be pissed unless you are a Fanboy"
Jerses @ Aug 31st 2009 5:37PM
lol yeah, its like... play dragons layer but dont play it again to get the other cutscenes because you will get the same crappy ending :P
I hope im wrong.
Watcher @ Aug 31st 2009 4:49PM
Games that have replay value weighs heavily into my decision on whether I purchase a title or not.
I've heard and read a lot about this game and it’s on my list, but if I keep hearing stuff like this I could change my mind. I don't want to pay 60 bucks for a controllable movie. I want a game that I can enjoy for some time after I finish it.
Se7enwolf @ Aug 31st 2009 5:08PM
if I cant go back through and pick different choices then I did the first time through and get ever possible play through from it, then im passing up on this game. I dont want my money to be limited to what I can do with what I buy.
SegaPleaseMakePanzerDragoonWii! @ Aug 31st 2009 5:20PM
While I appreciate the candid honesty, I think that telling your potential consumers that your game has little to no replay value seems pretty self defeating.
I'm sure these comments went over great with both the marketing department and the higher ups at SCEA.
As a CEO during a recession you would think he'd be a little more careful about placing his foot squarely in his mouth. Especially given the growth of late fee-free online rental services in the last decade such as Gamefly.
Traceur_Ryuk (PSN: Ryuk_shinigami) @ Aug 31st 2009 6:06PM
He NEVER said it has no replay value, try again.
kentuckyfried @ Aug 31st 2009 8:40PM
I think he really means, "play it through as if you're not saving the game at every single different branch point."
I've been guilty of that in the past, trying to do stuff like the old old "stop dogmeat from taking a permanent dirt nap" in Fallout 3.
Barry32171 @ Aug 31st 2009 5:27PM
I agree with some of the sentiments about replayability, but I'm a day 1 buyer for this. I love the concept of "choose your own adventure" I grew up with those books, and have been looking for games and experiences like that ever since. Good stuff. And, yes, the Platinum trophy had better be viable to obtain in the first play through. Kind of like Linger in Shadows...
Loki_d20 @ Aug 31st 2009 5:38PM
Are we sure this wasn't taken out of context? It seems to me that he's talking more about going back to a save point to retry the story from a specific point and not about playing the whole game all the way through multiple times. At least I hope that's the context of the question.
P @ Aug 31st 2009 5:49PM
yeah, he is, its just people wanting a whine after coming to a conclusion midway through the article rather than reading it and paying attention.
I wouldnt say the story is out of context though, it just needs some understanding of what he's saying.
My interpretation of it is that he's saying people should play through each time in 1 sitting, accepting the consequences of their actions as they would in real life, rather than deciding to re-do something because after seeing where one path goes they want to see what the other one does, and then go with whichever seems better.
I see no harm in re-living the WHOLE story again, but not individual aspects because your unhappy with its outcome.
Traceur_Ryuk (PSN: Ryuk_shinigami) @ Aug 31st 2009 6:09PM
No, he is saying that it is your own unique story and to play the game multiple times would ruin that. I don't understand why it is so hard for you guys to understand.
Emblazin @ Aug 31st 2009 8:38PM
Your completely right. At first I thought he meant replaying the game, but after reading your comment and rereading what he said, it makes perfect sense. I'm sure he WANTS people to replay the game, but after they finish it, not in the middle.
This game is going to be soo fun!
Traceur_Ryuk (PSN: Ryuk_shinigami) @ Aug 31st 2009 8:46PM
/facepalm
I'm done in this article.... Jesus christ...
Traceur_Ryuk (PSN: Ryuk_shinigami) @ Aug 31st 2009 6:12PM
This makes me want the game so much more if the story will be that compelling.
mgsrocks1 @ Sep 1st 2009 2:13AM
Dude WTF? We get it, you don't like the game. Loki_d20 and P already explained it perfectly. I don't see what's so hard to understand. Gamers now a days will complain about everything. Jeez...
Traceur_Ryuk (PSN: Ryuk_shinigami) @ Sep 1st 2009 3:06AM
I can't tell if that was sarcasm or not...
jehe77 @ Aug 31st 2009 9:59PM
so tired of hearing about this game, its every other post on ps3fanboy.
Jacksons @ Aug 31st 2009 10:30PM
And the entire marketing team behind this game just slammed their fists into the walls.
j.howlett @ Aug 31st 2009 10:41PM
if the story is good i can play through multiple times making mostly the same decisions and be satisfied. i can watch repeated viewings of movies like fight club, memento, and the sixth sense and still feel surprised because the stories are well told.
Godfather @ Sep 1st 2009 11:31AM
Don't you dare to compare some crappy game with Memento...
The story in heavy rain will never be deep enough to make people understand it in different ways...
Have you actually seen the trailers??
Gervin @ Sep 1st 2009 10:50AM
So basically they're designing a "Dragon's Lair" reaction game that they want you to throw away after a single-play, and still pay over $60 for it.
Meanwhile, saying a second play through will "kill the magic" is complete crap.
It's called replayability... game designers STRIVE for it to ensure that people get their money's worth from the product, and play the game many times over. Unfortunately this is a lost art in gaming, as many games bore me to tears the 1st time through, let alone multiple replays.
I for one am completely sick of game developers relying on style over substance. Especially in that style (and great graphics) is no longer special... it's common place. Much like seeing special effects in a movie, it's no longer a reason to see the movie.
I say this as I reflect over my uncompleted runs through FEAR2, Dead Space, Killzone2, etc... and find myself going back to Civilization 3 or 4 for my 3,000'th play-through.
T @ Sep 1st 2009 2:38PM
The headline might as well be "Cage: 'Heavy Rain is a straight up rental only title.'" Seriously, you build a game that's all about choice and consequence, but then outright admit it'd be a bad thing to play it a second time?
What I get out of this is that it's basically a choose your own adventure book where everything but the right path is death, and once you know the right path it turns into a $60 movie.