Rain

ZTGameDomain (9.5 out of 10)

The night I finished “rain”, I fell asleep thinking about the story and what had transpired during the journey. Then the next morning I awoke thinking about it once more. While I didn’t have any clear ideas as to what it all meant, I was left with the undeniable feeling that I had experienced something exceptional.

XGN (9 out of 10)

Games als Flower en Journey maken ons al trots om de eigenaar van een PlayStation 3 te zijn, maar met Rain wordt weer een titel aan het lijstje toegevoegd. Het verhaal, hoe simpel en cliché het ook kan zijn, wordt op een prachtige manier verteld, waardoor je van begin tot eind aan het scherm zit gekluisterd. De ijzersterke soundtrack maakt het vervolgens helemaal af en vormt het nodige licht in de anders zo duistere wereld. Het enige wat wij ons steeds afvroegen was waarom het nou na drie uur al voorbij moet zijn. Eén ding is in ieder geval zeker: als games als Journey jou trots op je hobby maken dan kun je Rain niet laten liggen.

Inside Gaming (9 out of 10)

Through complementary presentation, pacing, and the ease of the puzzles, the game’s rain mechanic transcends gimmickry and effectively serves both the gameplay and the narrative. The bond between the boy and the girl, as well as the watercolor cutscenes that frame the story, are reasons enough to check out Rain. With Bioshock Infinite, Brothers, and The Last of Us in mind, Rain is helping make 2013 “The Year of The Companion,” signifying how the escort mission has come a long way.

USgamer (4.5 out of 5)

If Tokyo Jungle didn't make you believe in C.A.M.P, Rain certainly will. With all of the doom and gloom about how Japan can't compete with Western megahits, it's definitely refreshing to see these smaller projects feel so tightly designed and well-realized. In a world where Ico was the hit it should have been, we would have been seeing games like Rain a lot sooner than 2013.

videogamer.com (9 out of 10)

It may not have the hype of this winter's blockbusters, but it'll stay with you a lot longer than many of those games will.

Vandal Online (8.8 out of 10)

A su vez, es un juego breve –dura unas cuatro horas, que podemos duplicar rejugándolo para encontrar secretos y conocer la historia completa– y que se empeña tanto en evitar que nos quedemos mínimamente atascados que apenas nos deja pensar. Como decimos, no querríamos haber visto una complejidad excesiva, pero nos parece totalmente innecesaria –y puntualmente, contraproducente– esa necesidad incomprensible de decirnos qué es lo próximo que tenemos que hacer. De todos modos, probablemente, desde el primer tráiler ya sabías si rain era para ti o no. Si te enamoraste a primera vista de lo que Japan Studio iba a ofrecer, su sencillez y la falta de desafío jugable no serán un problema para disfrutar de este cuento único.

Digital Chumps (8.8 out of 10)

It's immersive enough and progresses smoothly enough you could complete this in one sitting. It's been a joy to play rain.

Multiplayer.it (8.8 out of 10)

Nonostante sia molto più "gioco" rispetto a titoli come To The Moon e Dear Esther, l'esperienza di Rain cambia in maniera simile a seconda della propria sensibilità nei confronti di certe tematiche. Se non ci si lascia catturare dall'atmosfera malinconica e dalla storia dei due protagonisti, quel che resta è un'avventura sufficientemente breve da non annoiare, ma comunque lineare e incapace di offrire enigmi davvero interessanti. Ma dopotutto è lo stesso discorso che facemmo all'uscita di perle del calibro di Journey e The Unfinished Swan, e sebbene sia indubbio che Ikeda e compagni avrebbero potuto spingere un po' di più sulla profondità dei puzzle, è pur vero che Rain rappresenta uno degli ultimi e riusciti tentativi di portare su PSN titoli originali, emozionanti e fuori dagli schemi.

COGConnected / Canadian Online Gamers Network (88 out of 100)

Rain isn’t the longest game I’ve ever played, nor is it the most frantic or thrilling, but it is definitely an incredibly enjoyable and engaging tale of two children lost in the cold, dark of night. In the end if you are a platform enthusiast like me looking to dive into the latest and greatest or you are simply looking for a good way to spend some time before the onslaught of winter games hits store shelves, Rain hits the mark. After playing this game, which I didn’t even give a second look to prior to reviewing it, one thing is for certain; Sony has given us a great reason to bundle up inside and stay out of the seasonal wet weather.

VentureBeat / Gamesbeat (87 out of 100)

Rain is a wonderful, atmospheric game that’s too short but well worth the experience. It takes turns that I never expected it to. I only wonder if another chapter or so could have given it the resolution it needed or if the developers simply built their story too complex to peel apart.

NZGamer (8.5 out of 10)

Rain is a moving yet quiescent exploration of a very real emotion. It manages an unsettling but tranquil tale that wants you to confront your own fears of being alone. It does so with story and gameplay in unison, though it could have told us a lot more by saying a little less. The narrative is the gameplay's only raison d'etre, which is something I'd like to see more regularly in games (think BioShock Infinite.) The gameplay nevertheless achieves some unique and interesting elements itself. It may not be very difficult, but that again doesn't seem to be the point. In the same vein as Journey, Flower, and Shadow of the Colossus, it seeks to deliver something more heartfelt. By story's end, it will have done exactly that.

Gaming Nexus (8.5 out of 10)

With an emotional story and great sense of style, Rain should be one of this year's best games. Unfortunately it's marred by a story that ends far too soon and puzzles that are never challenging. Even with those problems, fans of ICO and stealth action will find a lot to like about Rain. At least for the three hours it lasts.

Meristation (8.5 out of 10)

Pero sea como fuere, una cosa está muy clara. Y es la sensibilidad, la belleza, la delicadeza y la experiencia, hermosa como pocas, de jugar RAIN aceptando sus bases y su propuesta, al igual que el también logrado Brothers de Xbox Live, algo solamente recomendado a quienes busquen esas experiencias distintas, mesuradas, con su propio tempo y reglas, y lejos de la acción exacerbada de climax constante que suele imperar, sin olvidar la marca de originalidad 100% SCE Japan Studio que sigue sin decepcionarnos. Citando al poeta griego Kavafis en su Viaje hacia Ítaca con una frase que define RAIN a la perfección: “Lo importante es el viaje, no el destino".

Polygon (8.5 out of 10)

I appreciated Rain all the more because of its briefness, its ethereal nature. The mechanics are engaging enough, but it didn't challenge me or force me to learn complex controls. It wasn't about those things. Rain is an anxious emotion — something that pulled me in with a setting so charming that I wanted to spend time there even when I was on edge.

4Players.de (85 out of 100)

Glückwunsch an Sony Japan! Das ist ein sehr stimmungsvolles, auf das Wesentliche reduziertes Abenteuer, das mitunter an ICO erinnert. Zwar muss man sich zunächst daran gewöhnen, dass man seine eigene Figur nicht sieht, aber mit etwas Übung experimentiert man kreativ mit der Umgebung, schleicht auf leisen Sohlen um oder flieht panisch vor den Monstern in Sicherheit. Der in Japan recht bekannte Yugo Kanno hat wunderbar komponiert: Die außergewöhnliche Musik sorgt für eine eindringliche Atmosphäre zwischen Traurigkeit, Melancholie und Gefahr. Zwar wiederholen sich einige Flucht- und Rätselelemente mit der Zeit und man vermisst mitunter mehr Anspruch sowie Erkundungsfreiheiten. Trotzdem gibt es genug zauberhafte, spannende und vor allem emotionale Momente. Rain ist ein modernes Märchen, das mich für knapp vier Stunden sehr gut unterhalten hat.

Cheat Code Central (4.2 out of 5)

If you are looking for a game that’s a non-stop thrill ride, you should look somewhere else. But if you want to connect with a game in a way that you aren’t used to, want to feel something, or just love buckets of precipitation–rain is the game for you. At $15, there isn’t really anything else like it.

Anime News Network (B+)

But there is a sweetness to the struggle to overcome these obstacles; a bitter sweetness to the challenges to connect and to protect, and to receive protection in return. Like its persistent downfall, which is a shower, not a storm, Rain is not aggressive, and it is certainly not intrusive, the TV screen like a window onto a rain-swept street, something we observe, but only barely interact with. In that way we can't fault it for its lack of mechanical density, because that wasn't really the point in the first place.

PSX Extreme (8.3 out of 10)

rain isn’t a monolith of technical superiority, nor is it devoid of shortcomings. The story loses us every now and then, the control isn’t always spot-on, and there were missed design and gameplay opportunities. But the result is what matters. What matters is that we feel as if we’re part of something attractively surreal, an interactive endeavor with intrigue and a bit of philosophy, a distinct style and ambiance that is simple yet memorable. Once we accept that an interactive experience involves more than merely pressing buttons, we realize that video games like rain are extraordinarily important in more ways than one.

Impulse Gamer ( )

In the end, Rain is a beautifully crafted game on the PlayStation 3 which proves that sometimes less is more. It is well narrated and features some sturdy gameplay that I could happily recommend to all gamers who want something a little different. Given that, Rain is also an emotional experience that successfully draws the player into this dream like world of rain.

Gameplanet (8 out of 10)

Rain won't tax players the way other puzzle-platformers might, but what it lacks in challenge it more makes up for in atmosphere and story. An aching, moody title, it will nonetheless charm those who brave its inclement climes.

Destructoid (8 out of 10)

Rain is not quite the model of refinement that some of its PlayStation Network peers have been, but it's an overwhelmingly amiable, effectively cultivated little adventure. Calming and scary, amusing and sorrowful, Rain is a game that jogs calmly through a gamut of emotions, rather than sprints headlong into mood whiplash, and it's incredibly difficult to ever dislike it, even during its twitchier moments. Rain is, above all, a most balmy experience.

PlaySense / PSX-Sense (8 out of 10)

Als je eens een originele game wilt spelen die anders is dan anderen, dan is Rain zeker een aanrader. Je krijgt een bijzondere manier van spelen voor de kiezen die geslaagd genoemd mag worden en dat in een rustige sfeervolle wereld waar je helemaal in wegdroomt, maar let wel op dat je niet te ver weg zakt, want zo nu en dan krijg je te maken met vijanden die je het leven zuur willen maken. Rain zal voor €12.99 in de PlayStation Store verschijnen en voor dat geld mag je dit zeer fijne en ontspannende avontuur niet laten liggen.

Darkstation ( )

It’s an ideal balance for the tone-poem vibe Rain goes all-in on, and that harmony of design makes it memorable long past the afternoon it takes to complete. To anything more would defeat the purpose. If you have a PS3 and can roll with the kind of plaintive adventure Rain revels in, it’s one of the year’s most interesting peculiarities.

TheSixthAxis (8 out of 10)

Rain is a simply beautiful experience, and a perfect example of the kinds of games which Sony have tried to foster on their platforms over the last few years. A few minor shortcomings hold it back, but at the same time it’s a game which I feel is on the cusp of joining the lists of games you must play on PS3.

LevelUp (8 out of 10)

La premisa de rain es el deseo: siempre cerca, pero perpetuamente inalcanzable; el niño intentará por todos los medios alcanzar a la misteriosa niña y recuperar su forma anterior. La idea también funciona para resumir lo que ocurre con el juego: a pesar de que tiene mucho potencial, se queda a un paso de ser entrañable. Hay sueños que dejan una impresión duradera después del alba; rain es un sueño que se pierde al despertar.

InsideGamer (8 out of 10)

Rain is de volgende downloadtitel van Sony die perfect laat zien waarvoor PlayStation Netwerk-titels gemaakt worden. Korte intrigerende ervaringen waarbij de speler centraal staat. Deze mysterieuze wereld is prachtig weergegeven en creëert een mooie belevenis voor de speler. Het is dan ook jammer dat er wel erg veel tekst wordt gebruikt en dat het spel wat laat op gang komt. Maar na een uur of twee maalt niemand daar meer om en komt Rain prima tot zijn recht.

3D Juegos (8 out of 10)

Acostumbrados a crear experiencias de juego únicas y cautivadoras, el Japan Studio de Sony vuelve a sorprendernos con esta original aventura 3D, que destaca por ofrecer una emotiva y bonita historia de amor que merece la pena vivir en primera persona. Y aunque es verdad que nos hubiera encantado toparnos con una mayor variedad de situaciones de juego, y que estas fueran algo más complejas, pocas pegas más se le pueden poner a esta obra de PS3.

The Game Hoard (5 out of 7)

The game of Rain is well above plain, its novel use of precipitation in its stealth and puzzle mechanics giving the experience a good gameplay backbone even though its focus is certainly more on the mood and visuals. The monsters in the downpour are fearsome and unnerving in design, invisibility both a comforting refuge or a duplicitous veil that makes the now hidden creatures greater threats. While some moments became fairly basic to play through and the story relies more on moods than substance, the visual design and more clever puzzle moments make this game’s unending rainstorm one you will want to be caught in.

Games TM (7 out of 10)

Despite the premise and innovative rain-based mechanics, the game unfortunately falls short with its puzzle design. While the levels themselves are aesthetically pleasant, the gameplay aspects are sadly rather simple, with the whole game falling into a predictable puzzle/chase, puzzle/chase rhythm. Without the option to deviate from the game's strict path, and with mechanics repeated to the point of exhaustion, Rain certainly shows there's room for artistically vibrant properties in games, but that aesthetic shouldn't detract from gameplay.

IGN (7 out of 10)

Rain's a curious experience which, for the majority of its three-hour running time, succeeds in creating a unique atmosphere and introducing a gameplay mechanic that has genuine emotional resonance. It makes you feel lonely and lost, yet fails to really make the most of its wonderful attributes, never maturing into the rich experience it could've been.

Gameplay (Benelux) (70 out of 100)

Rain is één van de meest sfeervolle spellen van het jaar, en het is dan ook bijzonder jammer dat de gameplay niet van hetzelfde niveau is. Maar het blijft de moeite om er eens doorheen te lopen.

GameSpot (7 out of 10)

Rain pulls you in from the early moments. The abandoned city that you roam through is beautiful in its gloominess, and the quiet piano score adds subtle background texture without overwhelming the other aspects. The pieces of Rain meld wonderfully together, and as the story comes to a tense conclusion, it becomes absolutely riveting. But there are hours between the evocative opening and cathartic ending that go through the motions. There's little engagement when the puzzles fail to complement the story directly, instead offering separate tasks you must complete. Because Rain reaches some impressive high points, however, it's still a haunting tale of compassion and trust in a dark land.

Adventure Gamers ( )

It has a wonderful premise, but rain too often neglects its gameplay in this otherwise honest, heartwarming tale of childhood solitude and trust.

Slant ( )

There's nothing in Rain that isn't accomplished more deftly by other games that precede it, and in fact, the biggest mark against this title is that it doesn't even escalate or build on its own levels. The last several chapters aren't only more or less identical to one another, but scrap the majority of the earlier puzzles in favor of endless chase sequences. Moreover, while the game is easy, with objectives all-too-clearly marked (there's even a hint system for the very young), the fixed camera angles, coupled with the invisibility gimmick, can make basic maneuvers and platforming unreasonably difficult. Rain is barely functional and certainly not much fun: saying that the game is all wet would be an understatement.