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Remedy: Anybody who hasn't played Heavy Rain should do so photo

Destructoid's been talking with Alan Wake writer Mikko Rautalahti as we gear up for the game's release this week. As a big Xbox 360 exclusive, Alan Wake has obviously been dragged into the console wars with many fans pitting it against Sony's own Heavy Rain. With that in mind, how has Remedy dealt with the comparisons and is there any pressure to "beat" Quantic Dream's latest?

"I don’t think comparisons like that are motivated by what the game actually is -- it’s just because we’re an Xbox 360 exclusive title," responds the writer. "I do feel a certain degree of pressure, because it often feels like there are expectations that simply don’t have anything to do with the actual game we’re making. I mean, the games are almost completely dissimilar. The game mechanics are different, the pacing is different, the storytelling is different, the setting is different, the premise is different... I can’t believe that anyone would bother to seriously make this comparison if either one of these games was a multiplatform title."

Despite the differences of the games (and the rival exclusivity), Rautalahti most definitely recommends Heavy Rain: "But while we’re on the topic, I have to say that I loved Heavy Rain. It's a great experience, and I think anybody who hasn’t played it should play it, if only because it does things in its own way without compromises or excuses, and that's always a welcome change of pace in this industry."

While I'm not known for my love of Heavy Rain, I certainly think it's cool that Alan Wake's writer has such a vocal respect for Sony's last big exclusive. It's much better to see developers tip their hats rather than sling mud, wouldn't you agree?








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Jim Sterling serves as reviews editor for Destructoid.com, head of the Podtoid podcast, and produces a number of news stories, original features, one-of-a-kind videos. With his passionate argumentative style, controversial opinions, harsh delivery, and dedication to brutal honesty Sterling is a name that you can't help but recognize. Likes PS2, iPod Touch, Silent Hill 2, Metal Gear Solid, Dynasty Warriors 3 Meet the rest of the team



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59 comments | showing # 1 to 50
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RenegadePanda's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/17/2010 13:22
RenegadePanda
Jason?
Rockefellow's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/17/2010 13:24
Rockefellow
Your last paragraph is certainly true.
UltorOscariot's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/17/2010 13:24
UltorOscariot
Heavy Rain was an interesting experience, and to that extent, it probably is worth a play through to the average gamer, or at least the average PS3 owner. Just don't come expecting a coherent story, or a consistent sense of shared agency.
janoDX's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/17/2010 13:25
janoDX
ALAN?
Theoforx's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/17/2010 13:28
Theoforx
Jeepers, finally someone in interview with the maturity of an adult!
Stephen Beirne's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/17/2010 13:32
Stephen Beirne
That's really cool of him. Respect++

I much rather to see developers voice admiration for their peers than stirring up shit, like that dirty Cave Story chap did not long ago.
HEL105's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/17/2010 13:33
HEL105
Some in the industry with a positive comment about the competiton? How quaint.
munkee's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/17/2010 13:35
munkee
i would agree. yes.
Jackson Starburst's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/17/2010 13:36
Jackson Starburst
I'm surprised a writer recommends it. I enjoyed the game but the writing was the worst part of Heavy Rain.
Snaileb 's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/17/2010 13:39
Snaileb
Pretty humble and honest I suppose.
Sherwood513's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/17/2010 13:43
Sherwood513
The real test is when devs give a tip of the hat to titles that they're competing with.
AlphaJC's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/17/2010 13:44
AlphaJC
sorry I dont feel like playing a bad interactive movie that is Quote on Quote innovative because they say so. Heavy rain is so overated jsut like God of War and Halo.
Occams electric toothbrush's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/17/2010 13:48
Occams electric toothbrush
I beat Heavy Rain for the first time over the weekend and have to say I was really impressed with game overall. Granted the shaky indicator buttons when you were stressed became rather aggravating and the camera would switch positions and completely disorient me but definitely not a bad game. It seems like Quantic Dream is improving with each new game and I look forward to the next one. Also, plan on renting and enjoying Alan Wake tomorrow.
HEL105's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/17/2010 13:48
HEL105
@AlphaJC
Apology accepted.
Genebeef's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/17/2010 13:49
Genebeef
that's awfully nice from remedy, even though i won't take that advice seeing how HR can be "played" on youtube and the main crux of the story makes a twist so awful with plot holes and cardboard characters with a superfluous sex scene only described as "ken and barbie" stiffness.
Xzyliac's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/17/2010 13:51
Xzyliac
@AlphaJC
Quote on Quote?
Nortonantivirus's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/17/2010 13:55
Nortonantivirus
@AlphaJC
Innovation and rating are two different things. Katamari Damacy only has a 86 Metacritic score, but is innovative. And 86 is a fail in the eyes of fanboys!

You can say a game had great concepts, but it sucked. I hated Psi-Ops, but I thought the Telekinesis was cool.
SayWord's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/17/2010 13:55
SayWord
Props to remedy! I hope I enjoy alan wake as much as I did with heavy rain. I never been so emotionally attached to a game before as I did with heavy rain.
Maniac's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/17/2010 13:58
Maniac
Played it, got bored of it, never finished it.

I work in a bookstore so playing an interactive novel crammed full of quick-time events don't interest me at all.
Kismet's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/17/2010 14:01
Kismet
I want to know when more DLC will be available for Heavy Rain. The Taxidermist was more thrilling then the entire game itself! Looking forward to picking up Alan Wake tonight (along with Red Dead).
D-Nez's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/17/2010 14:01
D-Nez
I think rivalries are interesting if they keep it fun. Like DICE taking humorous pot shots at MW. They do it in a light hearted manner. But when developers take cheap shots then it's another story
D-Nez's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/17/2010 14:01
D-Nez
I think rivalries are interesting if they keep it fun. Like DICE taking humorous pot shots at MW. They do it in a light hearted manner. But when developers take cheap shots then it's another story
Ganjookie's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/17/2010 14:10
Ganjookie
I think I'll pass on both games....
Aurain's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/17/2010 14:11
Aurain
Heavy Rain is a quite cool game.
It's not worth getting a PS3 for.

Unless you want a really highly detailed JAAAAAAAAASON simulator.
youngskeletor's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/17/2010 14:17
youngskeletor
Heavy rain felt like a necessary experiment. It's played it's part and opened a few eyes to what narrative can accomplish however trite the climax.

It's a stepping stone. Looking at it as "the be all end all" will obviously leave much to be desired, but the implications of what will grow from this seed is captivating to say the least.
all great games have a fart button's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/17/2010 14:32
all great games have a fart button
Now I don't read every single game site out there (but I do read a handful) or hang in forums (and I'm not in the industry) so maybe it's out there being said and I missed it...but every once in a while it seems like comparisons and controversies that come up...or in this individual situation throwing out the idea of some comparison between Heavy Rain and Alan Wake...I haven't read anyone making that comparison till just now.
Every so often I tend to see the Destructoid writers themselves throw out this stuff to create debates and views that weren't an issue...until they get casually thrown out there as if it's what everyone is talking about, when nine times out of ten it's been created by the writer and then the thread makes it a self fullfilled prophesy because NOW they are talking about it.

Whatever, just an observation. It's like when there's articles declaring a game a failure when it isn't number one...yet came out three days before the month ends so it's not actually a months worth of sales it's based on.
Technically true, but a bit cheap.
Things like that, hey, you have the right to your opinions and observations. Just sometimes, not often, but sometimes, it feels a little too obvious like Destructoid is reaching a little desperately to create hits.
I know I won't stop it, but still...you guys are so good so often, goes back to something I said in a thread a ways back...I know Destructoid is better than that. I can only hope they one day realize it about themselves.

Mikko Rautalahti is raut...um, right...on the money about how the comparison makes little sense anyway. All that he said are completely different is accurate. I've played through Heavy Rain and seen enough of Alan Wake to know they aren't the same style of gameplay or presentation.
It's like comparing Madden to Halo.
waypoetic's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/17/2010 14:37
waypoetic
I've been seeing gameplay videos, watched a review or two and heard you guys on Podtoid talk about it (even the "spoiler" episode) and i'm all meh for this game. How the killer came to be the killer is kinda loose...
adamkirby1's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/17/2010 14:55
adamkirby1
Heavy Rain was a really interesting experience. Even if the plot doesn't make sense and it has no replay value, it's definitely worth renting once. Alan Wake is probably a really good game too. It's good to see developers come out and say that the fanboys are comparing apples to oranges, and you're allowed to like the taste of both.
seventhevening's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/17/2010 14:58
seventhevening
I like to hear writers and developers show some respect to their fellow developers. The trash talking from companies like Bioware really puts a bad taste in my mouth.
Artemus's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/17/2010 15:27
Artemus
I appreciated and enjoyed Heavy Rain. The game's graphics, music and story were thoroughly an enthralling experience. Only, the experience was a short lived. I beat the game, enjoyed the journey and destination and that was that. The game really had no replay value for me and I was not very interested in the DLC chapters whatsoever. Still, much like parachuting out of a plane or bungee jumping, most people should, at the very least, try it once. Just don't expect wanting to do it again.
Gestault's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/17/2010 15:35
Gestault
@seventhevening

I'm not at ALL criticizing you, but I think its funny how hard it is to legitimately criticize a studio/company/developer for trash talking without it sounding like you're trash-talking yourself
Johnny Justice's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/17/2010 15:59
Johnny Justice
As trite as Heavy Rain's story was, I do like to see more respectful and mature comments between rivals (for lack of a better word).

Does Rautalahti have anything to say regarding Deadly Premonition?
Kyle MacGregor's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/17/2010 15:59
Kyle MacGregor
Maybe I should play Heavy Rain...maybe. Maybe not.
SentinelLyons's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/17/2010 16:59
SentinelLyons
Very true, and I also think that two game developers having respect for one another rather than competition makes everything less hostile, and helps the fanboys lay off for a while.
Los255's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/17/2010 17:02
Los255
Well, considering I spoiled the twist to myself like an all-powerful dumbass, I can't. It won't feel the same.
Jonathan Holmes's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/17/2010 17:42
Jonathan Holmes
Still can't get interested in Heavy Rain. The game seems to make an effort to reject everything that got in me into videogames in the first place.

I'm curious about it, but not enough to actually play money to play it.
Tarvu's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/17/2010 17:45
Tarvu
I would rent or borrow the JASON game if I had a PS3.
Fearzone's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/17/2010 17:45
Fearzone
Don't you agree, Zach?
D Chap's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/17/2010 17:55
D Chap
Generally game developers have an enormous amount of respect for eachother and eachothers art. Have you ever been to a GDC? Its all about game designers coming together and sharing knowledge and ideas and its not about competition or anything.

The mudslinging is typically left to the publishers and marketers.
Kalmah's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/17/2010 18:01
Kalmah
Stay classy, Remedy.
Stanley Yu's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/17/2010 18:11
Stanley Yu
Just not long ago, they trash talked HR now they're singing their song after playing it.
KingSigy's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/17/2010 18:14
KingSigy
You do make a good point, Jim. If this were a Sony developer, they'd claim how Alan Wake could only work on PS3 and blah blah about Blu-ray. It's refreshing to see a 360 exclusive developer make claims about people actually trying the rival companies software.
lewness's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/17/2010 18:20
lewness
JASON GROUP HUG
Neroisonfire's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/17/2010 18:36
Neroisonfire
Are people trying to compare 360 vs. PS3 yet?

Anyways, I want to play heavy rain still. Seems like a good game and if this guy, who has nothing to gain but respect from faceless bloggers, says it's worth my time then that's good enough for me.

People should welcome new games more openly rather than just sticking to their halo and god of wars.
pl0x kthanxbai's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/17/2010 18:41
pl0x kthanxbai
nicely played remedy

very classy, this kind of things leads me to believe the real "TEH CONSOLEZ WARZ" only exist in the minds of the most irrational fanboys
pl0x kthanxbai's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/17/2010 18:43
pl0x kthanxbai
@Jonathan Holmes

you cannot expect the video game industry to be the same for 20 years
Lipscomba's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/17/2010 19:04
Lipscomba
Agreed!
pl0x kthanxbai's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/17/2010 19:11
pl0x kthanxbai
@KingSigy

how about insomniac

they urged people to try gear of war 2, not that they needed any more incentive
gunstar's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/17/2010 21:23
gunstar
I AGREE, JIM. Great article!
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