Fahrenheit (Xbox)

You are effectively playing an interactive movie. The game consists mainly of 'simon says' type games where you have to match movements on the analogue sticks to create reactions on screen and responses to questions from a list within a small time limit. The upshot of this is that you never have any direct control over a character during action sequences as this is sacrificed in favour of cinematic visual displays during the game.

This game is also very adult in nature. That's not to say that this is used as a cheap gimmick to get adolescents to buy the game as the content is a part of the story but profanity and adult themes are in there. This is not really an issue as I suspect that this game only really appeals to the more mature gamer. There isn't enough here to even remotely accommodate the graphics and action obsessed youth.

This may sound like a negative review but its not. I really enjoyed this game. It was like picking up a good book where you had to persevere to the end to see what was going on. Your actions can have repercussions and you may need to replay some chapters in order to see a different outcome at the end (which by the way you will see in about 6-7 hrs)

This is a novel and refreshing change to games found on a console and I would recommend to anyone who enjoys the adventure genre and is willing to put in the time to uncover the mystery but don't have any expectations of it - experience it. Try a demo if you aren't sure.

But I want to introduce a note of caution: this game is not for everyone. There is a very good chance that long before the end you will give up through boredom or frustration. It's that sort of game. You can appreciate it's quality and strengths but that doesn't mean you will enjoy it.

The story, the strongest part of the game, starts brilliantly but tails off about halfway through and ends up quite daft. The interactive/action elements (so called gameplay) at first seem engagingly different but, like the story, slowly you realise they've deteriorated to become tediously frequent, often unnecessary punctuation. It actually inteferes with your enjoyment of the story.

But the main problem is that the hype would have you believe this is that almost mythical thing: a true interactive story which branches as you progress, dependent on the choices you make. It isn't. It is much more linear than most reviews would have you believe. Very little of what you do actually makes a significant difference to the way the story pans out.

What you're left with is a decent, if familiar, refreshingly mature, well presented and involving story, FOR A GAME. The characters are well defined and well acted, FOR A GAME. But is that enough for many gamers?

Look at it and compare it to any well made investigative/detective police series on TV - you see this sort of material, and better, week in week out. The point is that it can just about hold it's own in this company - that is what really makes it a unique game.

But then you have to consider the interactive/action elements which help define this as a game rather than just a story. Are they relevant, interesting, or even well done? Answer: often not.

Somebody else described Fanrenheit as "a murder mystery married to a dance game". I would refine that and call it a flawed murder mystery in an uncomfortable menage-a-tois with a dance game and sports game.

If that sounds like the sort of thing you may like, give it a go. But please do not expect Fahrenheit to be the best gaming experience you've ever had.