Heavy Rain reinvented the way gamers interacted with video games. Developer quanticdreams married the quicktime event with a cinematic story that left most gamers speechless as they explored the dark, gritty world of the Origami Killer. Not only did we feel attached to the characters, but it felt like we were living inside a world unfamiliar to our own.
When Heavy Rain was first announced, quanticdreams promised a special series of add-ons (the Heavy Rain Chronicles) that would extend the actual game. The Taxidermist is the result of this promise, but it feels more like a short diversion than an actual extension to the story.
As reporter Madison, you find yourself investigating Leland White (a retired Taxidermist) two years before the events in Heavy Rain. The investigation, while brief, has you looking through dresser drawers, inside rooms, and avoiding clumsy scenarios from occurring (like knocking something off a counter and breaking it).
The real excitement begins once Leland returns home and discovers that he has a guest, but this happens based on how your investigation went beforehand. Something simple like an opened cupboard door can alert Leland to your presence. Once this happens, it becomes a game of survival.
Not only will you be hiding under beds and behind doors, but you will be engaging him in combat for your life. Leland is no push-over, so be prepared. The biggest disappointment is how everything is confined to Leland’s residence. While the quicktime events are plentiful during the chase scenes, and the choices given offer some variation, there is very little content in contrast to the vast variety of choices available to the player in Heavy Rain. It’s understandable that an add-on like The Taxidermist would offer far less than the flagship title, but something this limited – bearing the name ‘Chronicles’ – should actually offer a lengthier experience to grow the backstory behind the main protagonists of Heavy Rain.
The idea behind The Taxidermist add-on has incredible potential. Unfortunately, the add-on only offers about 5-10 minutes of actual gameplay with five possible endings. While it offers an entertaining, but short, look into the world of reporter Madison, it ends up feeling a bit shallow. Hopefully developer quanticdreams will release future add-ons with this in mind, and offer more robust story arcs that offer more meat and less bone.
The Taxidermist is $4.99 and available on the PSN.
( You can read our review of Heavy Rain by clicking the following– link )
Score 6 out of 10
Mike ‘STGuy1040’ Pittaro
Platform: Playstation 3
Developer: quanticdreams
DLC via PSN
