once a major release has been completed and propelled to the top of the sales charts, the critical discussion surrounding it typically evaporates just as the next big thing appears on the horizon. but heavy rain -- whether you like it, love it or loathe it -- has been kept afloat in popular opinion, with critics still debating its controversial design and embarrassing themselves as they attempt to shoehorn water puns like ''''''afloat'''''' and ''''''evaporates'''''' into ham-fisted introductory paragraphs.

we drew heavy rain's director and writer, the soft-spoken, passionate and occasionally enigmatic david cage, into the ongoing discussion and asked him to elaborate upon the game's story, its technology and its critical reception. oh, and the nature of the origami killer, which means ...

spoiler warning: the following interview contains massive, big-huge spoilers for heavy rain. if you have not completed quantic dream's cinematic adventure, do not proceed beyond the break -- and don't even think about reading the comments. just turn around and slowly r2 away.