One of the most divisive games of this year's E3 could well be David Cage's Heavy Rain, the exclusive title that is likely to be one of the PS3's big hopes for 2010. Some argue that Quantic Dream's opus is little more than a series of quick-time events with a story glued haphazardly on; others, would tell you that Cage is making a hardcore with controls that everyone can jump into. Either way, we've been playing this gigantic release, and can now tell you what we experienced.

Jumping into the game, we find ourselves in the shoes of an FBI agent, investigating some fairly gruesome goings on in middle America - the grimy, detailed visuals initially reminding us of an episode of hit cop show The Wire. Cinematic camera angles combined with a highly detailed, convincing world are the order of the day in - Cage clearly trying to immerse us in this dark tale from the every angle.

The weather effects and lighting initially impress, atmosphere and tension clearly being at the heart of what some might call an 'interactive movie', This is further assisted by the thoughtful orchestral score that aims to further enhance immersion, while our FBI hero scours a scrapyard for clues. Donning a pair of presumably fictitious glasses, the agent can immediately scan the garage for evidence, picking up and analysing scraps and blood samples that lead to an acid bath.

Already, these clues (a skull comes to light, leaving us in no doubt that something underhand is afoot) hint at something of a dark mystery, and in the segment we're playing realistic dialogue combines with user input to do a good job of hooking the player into the plot unfolding. During interrogation, different lines of questioning float around the screen for the player to choose from, while other context-sensitive options appear as prompts as needed.

The menus and HUD are kept to the minimun in this fashion, Cage and his team presumably opting to remind players of the options in front of them based upon the scene under way. The controls in general seem to be aimed at focussing the player's interest, R2 used to walk, while the directional analogue stick is used to control the character's head. Detail is clearly somewhat key here.

Again, during a later combat sequence, the controls are designed to prompt specfic activities, the player taking part in an intense and elongated tussle with a suspect unveiled as being complicit in the crimes under investigation. Quick button presses are key as you battle this monstrous fellow, but your methods of defense and attack are entirely context sensitive, meaning you're not always sure what your avatar will do in relation to your inputs.

Beyond the controls, we're certainly intrigued by the plot, and the direction, Cage's team clearly having worked overtime to produce a rich, convincing and impressively bleak vision of the modern United States. The game will also make use of the Sixaxis controller for opening windows and during more complicated quick-time sequences, although whether the controls will suit everyone remains very much to be seen. Indeed, one has to wonder whether the target audience is traditional gamers at all.

A lot of choices will seemingly have a strong baring on how the plot pans out; the players actions certainly have an intimate relationship with the story - as per Cage's vision of the gaming future. The focus on characterisation and genuine empathy could also set Heavy Rain apart from the crowd, despite the fact that the controls are likely to see criticisms in some quarters. Still, if our taster left us with any lasting impression, it's that this could be one of the most grippingly cinematic video games ever conceived - whether you think games should be veering this close to the silver screen is a matter of hot debate.

By Luke Guttridge