David Cage Comments On Importance Of Heavy Rain Scores

It's always interesting to hear how a creator responds to the responses. So what did Quantic Dream boss David Cage think about the reviews for Heavy Rain ?

Well, you should read his lengthy blog post in regards to the game's launch; the previews, critical response, and how the game rolled out in Europe. Given the "non-consensus nature" of the game in question, Cage had been expecting a wide range of scores, but as we know by now, most all of the major sources really loved the experience. Said Cage:

"The scores are closer together than I expected. I was expecting a wide range of scores, given the "non-consensus" nature of Heavy Rain, but overall they turn out to be very good, like the first reviews. The articles vary in their content and are more or less interesting in their analyses, more or less superficial, but overall, they all say the same thing: Heavy Rain has met its target. The story holds together, the emotion is there, the interface is surprising but fits the format pretty well. Relief."

He went on to say he's received "an enormous amount of flack" over the past years and that if Heavy Rain didn't live up to expectations, he'd never be able to live it down. He makes an excellent point of adding that when you try to make something that's either "ambitious" or "atypical," credibility is absolutely crucial. But the critics really rewarded his efforts and when all is said and done, "the unpleasant articles can be counted on the fingers of one hand." Cage isn't about to ignore the reviews that did voice legitimate complaints but at the same time, he appreciates those of us who saw his game for what it was: a change.

"Of course there were also a few negative articles with reasoned arguments that defended a point of view in a coherent fashion, as there were positive articles without any real analysis, but overall, Heavy Rain enabled us to see where the last outposts of stubborn conservativism lie, the ones where they think that the last thing video games should do is try to change, just stay where they've been for the last twenty years while improving a little (though not too much). In the end of the day, this resistance is extremely marginal, much more so than I expected. The vast majority of the international press is avid for change."

Yeah, he waited on those first review scores "with a certain degree of nervousness," and that the very survival of Quantic Dream depended on those scores. He said that; not us. This wasn't a sequel in an established franchise; this was a brand new IP featuring a concept that may or may not resonate with the majority of gamers. If the average scores had been 5s and 6s, Cage's studio could very well have folded. He said those scores "are the best guarantee of my artistic freedom for my next project, the level of confidence I can demand, my legitimacy." Well, Mr. Cage, I suppose I could talk for a while about how Heavy Rain delivered in every sense of the word, but for brevity's sake, I'll just say this-

You did it.

Related Game(s): Heavy Rain