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Heavy Rain is a video game experience like few others. It's so far removed from the standards of today and yet so grounded in the gaming traditions of the past that I would recommend it without hesitation to anyone who takes video games seriously. I immediately started anticipating the add-on DLC as soon as I finished the game, and thanks to a code provided by Sony I've had a chance to play through the first chapter of the Heavy Rain Chronicles. Called The Taxidermist, the plot is simple: Prior to the events of the main game, reporter Madison Page investigates a suspect in the Origami Killer. If you've finished the game you already know the killer's identity, but that doesn't affect the thrills of The Taxidermist one bit.


I won't discuss the plot much beyond that; you can get a sense of where things go in the trailer above. Let's just say that Madison is on her own and makes some grisly discoveries and leave it at that. Unlike the main game, The Taxidermist is a self-contained story, lacking the perspective shifts of the main gain. It's also quite short - ten to fifteen minutes, tops. However, as in any Heavy Rain scenario, there are multiple ways it can play out, and once you beat it you can replay it from three separate points in the story or start over at the beginning. I finished it three times, each with a different result. I intend to play it a few more times to see the other endings, which given the possibilities that remain probably won't be pretty.

The Taxidermist is tense, creepy and effective. Even though it's a prequel, there's a real sense of danger, as Madison's role in the main game doesn't guarantee she'll survive. The frequent use of split-screen really ups the urgency, as it tells you exactly where the dangers are in regards to your character - and how close they are to finding you.

While I enjoyed the new content overall, there are legitimate flaws in The Taxidermist - such as reusing Scott Shelby's voice actor as new antagonist Leland White. There are some strange logic errors. Much of the joy of Heavy Rain came from its interconnected narratives, while The Taxidermist is self-contained. Given the length, I suspect there will be a lot of debate over whether or not $5 is a fair price for this DLC. Your appreciation will likely depend on how much the main game appealed to you.