I thoroughly enjoyed the demo. I played it through in its entirety before repeating the Scott Shelby chapter twice more to flesh out the different choices available. My findings were similar to those of Fab. But I don't come to the same conclusion that said differences are irrelevant, at least not at this point. The choices made could amount to different paths later down the road, or perhaps they lead no where different at all, and are simply there to provide the player with their own way of doing things. If it was only the latter, I'd be a little disappointed, yet still appreciative of the choice. But isn't that life. There are about three thousand different ways of doing certain things, yet all for the same out come. How you get there is not always as important (the choice of kicking the door in or banging on it until bad boy opens up) as crossing the finish line (don't intervene to save the "working girl" and maybe she never confides in you, or she ends up six feet under). It's more about whether you get through the door to actually do something than it is how you get through the door, and how you do that something. But don't discount the how just yet. Perhaps letting Shelby get a little too beat up will have a negative effect on his condition which would affect short term playing, ie; not have the reserves to fight off his next encounter and miss out on a major lead as a result, and maybe his overall health which could impact hugely on long term playing, ie; suffer an asthma attack (or a heart attack - he is a middle-aged overweight man in a stressful environment) and drop dead, thus ending his involvement in the game.
I was looking at pre-order prices online today and there ain't a better deal going (that I've found) than £37.73 via Amazon. HMV have a special edition for £42.99 but I've never ordered from HMV and would rather try to stumble upon a £34.99 or less purchase, even if it is only the standard edition. The special edition offers an exlcusive embossed slipcase sleeve, and an in-pack voucher to redeem against the Heavy Rain dynamic theme, the Heavy Rain soundtrack, and a DLC episode titled "The Taxidermist".
