Heavy Rain's BIG plot-holes ( Spoilers )

Gamesradar " Heavy Rain was supposed to change things. It was supposed to elevate video game story-telling above the badly-written, poorly-acted dirges we currently put up with, and give us a groundbreakingly mature, gritty, intelligent and cleverly constructed, branching storyline. It absolutely didn't. In fact sweep aside the surface gloss of stunning looks and moving score and Heavy Rain's plot is a shambles. "

[Doletskaya]

Although I enjoy Heavy Rain very much,the depth of the stroy and these plot-holes make it far from a mature game David Cage claimed to be.I agree with all the points made in the article because I notice almost all of the plot-holes mentioned in the article during my playthroughs,despite the fact that I try not to think about them too much.

[exnihilonihilfit]

WARNING!!! SPOILERS!!!

Not sure if this is against the posting rules, so if you have to delete it, please don't ban me mods.

Here's why this article is wrong for the most part. Feel free to repost this to Games Radar, since I'm not gonna create an account to post it there. Clearly, I've been waiting for a chance to break down these rampant plot hole claims.

1. Not really a plot hole, not hard to make the leap that she must have known who he was in some other way. Also, since the old lady is whispering, who know how she said it to Madison to get that reaction from her. Clearly a scene was cut involving their meeting. Not difficult to resolve on your own.

2. Presumably these pieces of evidence were located after the victims were already found dead, and the parents had given up and didn't want to be involved with it any more. In fact, that's pretty much what both the parents say.

3. Don't know the content of the conversation, since I never got caught. What the writer fails to realize is that Jayden works for the FBI meaning he has higher authority than the police, so it would make sense for him to be able to get away with most things. They don't have he authority to remove him from the case.

4. Obviously more evidence would need to be gathered in order to take the man to trial, but it's not at all surprising that the police would launch a major manhunt especially given their desperation in needing to finger someone with the crime and Ethan's extremely suspicious behavior. That he has eluded capture or has escaped (depending on how you played it) only makes that worse. The very fact that he has run pretty much does him in though, and this happens in reality all the time. Run from the police on a traffic stop and they'll hunt you down.

5. Legitimate. Thats the one I can't wrap my head around. I can think of only a few possible explanations. A. Ethan had become obsessed with the Origami Killer even before his son was abducted. B. It is true that the killer had been following him. He clearly followed all of the father's of his victims (as those were his true intended victims). He also very deliberately chose Ethan. After following Ethan around long enough to realize that he has black outs and wanders the street, maybe he thought to take advantage of that. C. To be honest, when I first saw it happen, I thought the blackouts were actually the result of being drugged, which would actually tie things together nicely because then the killer exercised control over when they happened. It's never explained in game, and desperately needs to be. Even I'll admit that the explanation that I provide, though feasible, is a real stretch. This is the least forgivable of your examples, and I agree, it is indeed a plot hole.

6. A. There's something to be said about hunches. B. Jayden had to first identify the region that the suspect lived in, and then cross referenced that with a list of all known officers. It's really not surprising that they would have the list of addresses for retirees, but the game already assumes that Jayden has access to very vast and complete databases on pretty much anything. Is it really so hard to believe the guy has a list of retired cop's addresses and properties when you can accept that he has VR glasses that can turn a drab office into the surface of mars?

7. This was, if anything, a charming reference to the most recent Indiana Jones movie. In all truth, she didn't get in the fridge to keep from suffocating, she got in the fridge to survive the blast. Unlike Indiana Jones, I'm inclined to believe that a fridge could save you from a propane tank explosion, but highly doubt that strategy would work in a nuclear blast. In any event, a scientifically infeasible event does not constitute a plot hole, just a poor design decision. It has no actual impact on the plot.

8. There's really no telling how long Jayden's been addicted or how addictive the substance is. Since it's some crazy future drug, for all we know it's untestable. Since Jayden works alone most of the time, he's clearly not under much direct observation, and when he is, he probably makes sure to satisfy his urge before he goes in to see his superiors. Suffice it to say, our government agencies are sometimes so incompetent that in reality it wouldn't be surprising to find that a healthy percentage of all law enforcement agents are addicted to some drug.

9. People who aren't killers do hesitate to shoot people, why, because they don't want to kill anyone. The two scenes in which people are held at gunpoint for an extended period and not shot involve people who clearly don't want to kill the person, they just want to intimidate them. The cops don't want to shoot Ethan because if he is the Origami killer, then they won't be able to find the boy if they kill him, and they believe that since he's surrounded he won't be able to escape. In the heat of the moment, the origami killer may simply not have thought about the gun or wanted to shoot her. Sure he could have just shot, but he's a crazed psychopath, and may like to do some things with his hands, moreover, to physically chase someone who runs from you is a more instinctual response, and when you're going insane, you do things on instinct. There are about a billion ways to explain his motivation in that scene, and this doesn't constitute a plot hole as the plot has already been resolved at this point. But really, how many things in how many countless (and sometimes rather good) movies could have been more easily resolved if they'd have just shot the guy? But then, where's the story, and where's the suspense?

10. One Character, Mad Jack, does not constitute a universe "disproportionately populated" by such individuals. Also, one dead body doesn't indicate that Mr. Jack has been slaying all known officers to walk onto his premises. Who knows how recently this guy was visited or by whom exactly. In any event, this isn't much of a plot hole as it has little to do with the plot.

11. Not impossible at all, start at one end, and make sure you leave the trail of broken glass behind you as you move toward the exit. Have you never solved a maze on a piece of paper before without retracing the lines? You'd be surprised what kind of cramped spaces a determined psychopath can fit into.

12. An accomplice, That's immediately what I thought. Also, the camera could have just been for show really, you could have the response triggered by a number of different factors, like Ethan's exclamation of pain or the presence of blood on the table. Really it's less believable that the killer was sitting there manning these camera's at all times. He'd have no way of knowing when Ethan would show up, especially since he was running around doing so much other stuff the whole time. From Ethan's perspective, anything could have been possible. From a viewers perspective, the whole scene exists to exonerate the man, so it's not really plot hole as much as it's a hole in the characters logic, then again, the character wasn't supposed to be thinking logically.

13. That sequence took place just hours before the whole plot unfolded. What's more, Kramer would have had to call the cops, and he very clearly explained why he doesn't want the cops investigating anything that has to do with him or his son. He'd have to explain that an ex-cop was investigating his son because indeed his son is a criminal, something he'd been trying to avoid to the extent of nearly killing Shelby. You really think he's going to dial 911?

14. Mutual Funds??? Pension??? Subprime Loans??? The man has clearly had no life, and has saved every penny that ever entered his wallet solely for the execution of this plan. It's actually not that hard to believe, and as much as you might want to suggest that cops don't get paid well, many detectives do. My uncle is a detective and he's loaded.

15. I thought it was the old man who had picked up the phone and started to dial, which is why Scott went straight for the kill. As you put it, it was an editing trick, and hardly a plot hole.

[sack_boi]

Very well writting article.

[Chaos69]

The author's just nit picking.

[fox02]

Off course, someone say something slightly negative about a PS3 game and you assume he's a fanboy on a crusade agaisn't Sony. *sigh*

[sack_boi]

You might want to read the article before talking out of your azz.

[Chaos69]

I read the whole thing (or should I say "the whole crap") and it sounded like nit picking to me.
I assure you, if this game didn't have the "only on PS3" tag on it, Botradar would be all over it, saying it's the most innovative game ever made.

[gaffyh]

Most of these are true, but still the game has one of the best stories ever written. David Cage did mention that a lot of content had to be cut, that could explain these plot holes. Personally, gotta be honest, I didn't even notice any of them through my play through.

I just looked at the story as a whole, maybe they though that plot hole number 1 could serve as a sense of dramatic irony.

Oh btw, MAJOR spoilers in the article.

[JoeReno]

I did notice some of the things talked about in the article, that gamers and game "journalist" have become way to critical and look for very minor thing to complain about. although plot holes were there did it spoil my enjoyment of the game? hell now. I play for fun not pick at a few minor weak points in the story. I thought it was a great game and looking forward to my next play thru.

[van-essa]

100% accurate.

[van-essa]

Still awesome.

[GayStation3]

sh!tty movie

[redsquad]

MASS EFFECT 2 = $hitty movie.

See? We can all say the exact opposite of what the VAST MAJORITY of high & maximum scoring reviews say just to sound like the 'cool kiddie', can't we?

[van-essa]

100% accurate.

EDIT: Double post. sorry

[fox02]

I just beat the game. I agree with everything the author wrote.

[Chaos69]

the 360 fanboyz are mad cue they just got owned by the recent GOW trailer.

[GayStation3]

Flop

[redsquad]

Only in that bizarre parallel universe you occupy.

Busy little bee today, aren't you?

[leila01]

Very good read.

[GayStation3]

This game sucks. PS3 is doomed

[redsquad]

So you say, yet YOU must have been hooked on it to have played and completed HEAVY RAIN by now.

Oh, wait: You DIDN'T play it, you just listened to reviews?

Oh, wait: You DIDN'T listen to the amazing reviews, you just made crap up to sound like an idiot. Well, that bit worked.

[Jeppe]

I really love the color on your console. Where did you get it?

[Grodd]

Much of the article is flat out incorrect or missing the explanation that was provided in the game. Some are just dumb assumptions. Although number 5 might have some weight. The game goes into much more detail and explains many of these. Go back and replay the game fool!