Picking up Ethan’s hand or not picking it up is one of the most pivotal choices in Heavy Rain, the 2010 interactive drama videogame developed by Quantic Dream. This choice occurs during the chapter “Kramer’s Party” when protagonist Ethan Mars is looking for his son Shaun, who was kidnapped by the Origami Killer. Let’s explore what happens in the game if Ethan does not pick up Shaun’s hand.
Why Does Ethan Have the Choice to Pick Up Shaun’s Hand?
During the party, Ethan has a blackout and experiences a vision of his son Shaun standing in front of him asking Ethan to come find him. Shaun holds out his hand during this vision. The player, controlling Ethan, can choose to grab Shaun’s hand or leave him. This is a critical choice that branches the narrative.
This scene represents Ethan’s desperate desire to find his son and the guilt he feels over Shaun’s disappearance. Grabbing Shaun’s hand symbolizes Ethan recommitting himself to the search and reaffirming his love for his son. If Ethan does not grab Shaun’s hand, it suggests Ethan is losing hope or that his blackouts are becoming worse.
What Happens If You Don’t Pick Up Ethan’s Hand?
If Ethan does not grab Shaun’s hand, the narrative branches in a few different ways:
- Ethan’s mental state deteriorates faster, causing more blackouts and erratic behavior
- Ethan misses some critical clues and story branches related to finding Shaun
- Other characters express concern or frustration with Ethan over his behavior
- Ethan comes across as less sympathetic to the player
Some specific changes include:
More Frequent Blackouts
After the party, Ethan experiences more sudden blackouts, including while driving, indicating his grip on reality is slipping. This makes his chapters more challenging for the player.
Missing Clues
By not picking up Shaun’s hand, Ethan misses some key clues and story branches later on. For example, in the chapter “On the Loose” Madison will not find Ethan’s psychiatric evaluation that provides insights into his blackouts.
Strained Relationships
Other characters grow impatient with Ethan’s behavior if he doesn’t pick up Shaun’s hand. His ex-wife Grace will yell at Ethan over the phone and Norman Jayden of the FBI will criticize Ethan’s blackouts during a confrontation.
Endings Impacted
Not picking up Shaun’s hand eliminates some story branches and can prevent Ethan from unlocking certain endings. Most significantly, it can lead to Ethan arriving too late to save Shaun from drowning if Ethan makes further mistakes.
How Does Picking Up Shaun’s Hand Affect Ethan’s Story?
Conversely, if Ethan chooses to grab Shaun’s hand during the vision, it reinforces his determination to find his son. This choice leads to several story developments:
- Ethan’s blackouts become less frequent
- Ethan finds more clues and gets increased aid in his search
- Ethan appears more sympathetic to other characters
- Ethan unlocks more story branches and potential endings
Picking up Shaun’s hand helps anchor Ethan’s mental state and opens up more possibilities to find Shaun successfully. It signifies Ethan re commits himself to saving his son no matter what.
How Does This Choice Affect the Overall Narrative?
Ethan’s choice to pick up Shaun’s hand or not has ripple effects throughout Heavy Rain’s branching narrative structure. On a small scale, it alters later scene details and character interactions. On a broader scale, it limits or expands the range of endings Ethan can achieve.
Most significantly, this choice affects Ethan’s characterization and how players perceive him. Not grabbing Shaun’s hand makes Ethan appear more distraught and unstable, evoking less sympathy. Picking up Shaun’s hand keeps Ethan focused and garners more player empathy.
This choice exemplifies how even small choices in Heavy Rain can steer the narrative in radically different directions. Ethan’s mental state and success or failure in saving Shaun come down to pivotal decisions like whether or not Ethan grabs his son’s hand when he needs him most.
Conclusion
Picking up or not picking up Ethan’s hand during the vision at Kramer’s Party is one of the most important early decisions in Heavy Rain. Not grabbing Shaun’s hand leads to Ethan’s mental state deteriorating faster, missing clues, straining relationships, and reducing possible story outcomes. Grabbing Shaun’s hand keeps Ethan focused, earns more sympathy, provides more clues, and opens up more endings. This choice dramatically affects Ethan’s characterization and the overall narrative branching based on the player’s decision.
Heavy Rain uses choices like this hand decision to make the player feel accountable for the narrative direction. Even small choices carry significant consequences. The player must decide carefully at each branchpoint which action is most true to their version of Ethan Mars and what kind of father he strives to be.