Review: Strange Rain - As Unique As Can Be
by Staff Writer
February 5, 2011
When it rains we usually duck for cover, but there is a strange sense of calm when accepting the rain to fall down upon your face. There’s a saying that we do the best thinking in the shower with water pelting us in the face. So there is an odd occurrence with the app Strange Rain ($1.99, Universal) which is unlike anything else in the App Store or anywhere.
When launching the app you’re presented with a cloudy sky, and rain falling on the inside of your iPad screen. You can look down upon the rain for the unusual or lift your iOS device above your head, and have it fall down like it should. The app can act as a relaxing ambient sound app with the visuals and audio of a soothing rain storm, but that’s just one of the modes.
Strange Rain has a lot of interaction options beginning with tapping the screen which plays one note in a waltz melody that feels like it’s out of the Twilight Zone or Outer Limits. Then the rain fall focuses on your finger touching the screen, and you can make a column of water drops by using two fingers. You can also tilt to shift the perspective in the sky just a bit which becomes a bit odd when layers start to form, more on that later.
Strange Rain makes its name the longer you’re in it, and the more you interact with it. As you tap you continue the melody note by note, and if you hold your finger adjusting the pattern of the rain drops, layers start to form in the sky. A 3D layered effect begins to form as you seem to delve deeper into your thoughts, and you’re actually traveling through space, plus the sky changes color at random.
This entire theme is highlighted in the story mode which is strange in it upon itself of having a story mode in a seemingly ambient mood app. It’s a new story form, and this particular one is a short story called the convertible which is based on someone in a car accident, and you hear the thoughts of a relative thinking all about it. Every tap initiates a new thought pattern, and if you hold your finger, and drag the screen the thought pattern is developed.
There are tons upon tons of thoughts with certain paths opening up new avenues, and again you go through the layered effect. Each train of thought is so succinct with the situation, and so thought provoking for anyone. Every thought will appeal to a user in a different way as our brains all work differently and connections are so varied.
One thing is guaranteed though is that you will definitely start your own stream of consciousness sparked by the thoughts within the story. You truly can get lost in the app losing track of time, but thinking so much that no other app can come close to claiming. There are multiple endings for the story depending on what thoughts you go through, and how you connect them. You’ll want to reach the ultimate ending where the character comes to terms with the situation in the best light especially when you’re not sure what that is.
Maybe the best aspect is that you’re not quite sure what to expect, and the unknown is always so intriguing. It slowly reels you in, until you don’t even remember how you got so deep into the app. The app has a wonderful design that could simply act as a great ambient app if you refuse to test its deep thought provoking story mode.
It’s an experience unlike any other that should be tried by every iOS user. Strange Rain is completely unique out there, and perfectly embodies strange, and is so good because of it. It’s time to Get Lost!
When launching the app you’re presented with a cloudy sky, and rain falling on the inside of your iPad screen. You can look down upon the rain for the unusual or lift your iOS device above your head, and have it fall down like it should. The app can act as a relaxing ambient sound app with the visuals and audio of a soothing rain storm, but that’s just one of the modes.
Strange Rain has a lot of interaction options beginning with tapping the screen which plays one note in a waltz melody that feels like it’s out of the Twilight Zone or Outer Limits. Then the rain fall focuses on your finger touching the screen, and you can make a column of water drops by using two fingers. You can also tilt to shift the perspective in the sky just a bit which becomes a bit odd when layers start to form, more on that later.
Strange Rain makes its name the longer you’re in it, and the more you interact with it. As you tap you continue the melody note by note, and if you hold your finger adjusting the pattern of the rain drops, layers start to form in the sky. A 3D layered effect begins to form as you seem to delve deeper into your thoughts, and you’re actually traveling through space, plus the sky changes color at random.
This entire theme is highlighted in the story mode which is strange in it upon itself of having a story mode in a seemingly ambient mood app. It’s a new story form, and this particular one is a short story called the convertible which is based on someone in a car accident, and you hear the thoughts of a relative thinking all about it. Every tap initiates a new thought pattern, and if you hold your finger, and drag the screen the thought pattern is developed.
There are tons upon tons of thoughts with certain paths opening up new avenues, and again you go through the layered effect. Each train of thought is so succinct with the situation, and so thought provoking for anyone. Every thought will appeal to a user in a different way as our brains all work differently and connections are so varied.
One thing is guaranteed though is that you will definitely start your own stream of consciousness sparked by the thoughts within the story. You truly can get lost in the app losing track of time, but thinking so much that no other app can come close to claiming. There are multiple endings for the story depending on what thoughts you go through, and how you connect them. You’ll want to reach the ultimate ending where the character comes to terms with the situation in the best light especially when you’re not sure what that is.
Maybe the best aspect is that you’re not quite sure what to expect, and the unknown is always so intriguing. It slowly reels you in, until you don’t even remember how you got so deep into the app. The app has a wonderful design that could simply act as a great ambient app if you refuse to test its deep thought provoking story mode.
It’s an experience unlike any other that should be tried by every iOS user. Strange Rain is completely unique out there, and perfectly embodies strange, and is so good because of it. It’s time to Get Lost!
