IMPRESSIONS: Fahrenheit

May 04, 2009

I've been playing Fahrenheit. Not Indigo Prophecy, because that version's for Americans and has its boobs chopped off. I've been playing solidly from 1pm until now, so not quite sure where in the story I am - but I'm guessing it's ambling towards the stage where it gets a little bit silly. I hope it can hold out for a bit longer. So far, it's a fascinating game.

Because, really, it's a film. Only it's a film that branches, depending on your actions. Only your actions are never really tangible, because it's mainly just QTEs. Which, incredibly, aren't horrible! It's a Choose Your Own Adventure book, rendered in full 3D.

It's incredibly self-conscious about this. But it knows the route it wants to take. The main menu is a DVD menu asking if you want to 'Play the film'. The script regularly hits you with jokes about the foibles of videogames and videogame culture. I can't decide if it doesn't believe in itself enough, or it believes in itself too much. Or just the right amount.

The camera and controls are preposterously awful, and are the Enormous Flaw so far. If they stay as the biggest problem, I'll be happy - though from what I've heard, the clich�-ridden second half could be the biggest hurdle I've to overcome. So far: I'm not sure it's the route I'd like games to go down, but as an experiment, and as a snapshot of an alternate form of the meduim, it's dead valuable and I'm glad I bought it.

More to follow, undoubtedly.

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Feedback

EmP - May 04, 2009 (09:05 AM)
Sounds like you're around the point where you're about to become very dissapointed very quick.

Which version did you go for?

Suskie - May 04, 2009 (09:13 AM)
Yeah, I thought the concept of a firefighter sim sounded pretty silly as we-- oh.

Lewis - May 04, 2009 (09:18 AM)
Got it on the PS2.

I'm just doing the HORRIBLE STEALTH FLASHBACK LEVEL. God knows who thought that would be a good idea.

EmP - May 04, 2009 (09:33 AM)
Yup, all downhill from here. On greased axles and no brakes.

Lewis - May 04, 2009 (09:39 AM)
Damn.

Were I to review it for some unnamed publication now, I'd be in the 6-7 out of 10 region. But one of those really fascinating, eye-opening, intriguing 6-7 out of 10s. Am interested to see how it pans out. Will continue, no doubt, tomorrow.

darketernal - May 04, 2009 (11:54 AM)
Honestly, that game is one of the worst disappointments ever. It was a pure 8, or even 9, but the last third of the game made it go downhill to a 4 at best. Awful, awful, scorn worthy game.

zippdementia - May 04, 2009 (12:49 PM)
Up to around the kickboxing level, it was a 10 for me. Then it stayed at a steady 7 or 8 until the museum. After the museum it quickly plummeted to a 4.

I've been meaning to go back and play it, if only to finally write a review on it.

By the by, the only real difference between Farenheight and Indigo is a couple unneccesary sex scenes they took out, including one with the black guy and his wife, and one between the two main characters. They're ultra silly QT events and don't add anything to the story.

EmP - May 04, 2009 (01:56 PM)
Lew -- don't read this yet.

The first example you use isn't in the game; it's an unlockable extra. The non-interactive cut scene near endgame is very poorly done and cringeworthy, more for how it makes the coupling act than the deed. But the first sexual act I thought was pulled off great; it wasn't about sex, it was about Marcus finding one single moment of sanity and hapiness that he isn't even guaranteed to get. It's no so much about sex as it is reconnecting with someone he thought forever lost at the very peak of his depression -- when he needed it the very most.

Lewis - May 05, 2009 (10:08 AM)
The sex scenes are totally key to the characters, Zipp. Whatchootalkinabout?

zippdementia - May 05, 2009 (12:18 PM)
I'm not a prude or anything, but they really aren't. I was expecting them to be, but I found that Indigo Prophecy got the point across fine without the awkward Machima-Erotica. The fact that they HAVE sex is important. That we watch it isn't so important.

With the possible exception of the one EmP mentioned, the sex scenes are pretty pointless.

Lewis - May 05, 2009 (01:40 PM)
The fact that they HAVE sex is important. That we watch it isn't so important.

Oh, well that's just cinematism. Which I'd say is pretty integral in itself to what the game's trying to achieve. It's totally an interactive movie. Movies do it, therefore the game does too.

Feedback
	EmP - May 04, 2009 (09:05 AM) Sounds like you're around the point where you're about to become very dissapointed very quick. Which version did you go for?
	Suskie - May 04, 2009 (09:13 AM) Yeah, I thought the concept of a firefighter sim sounded pretty silly as we-- oh.
	Lewis - May 04, 2009 (09:18 AM) Got it on the PS2. I'm just doing the HORRIBLE STEALTH FLASHBACK LEVEL. God knows who thought that would be a good idea.
	EmP - May 04, 2009 (09:33 AM) Yup, all downhill from here. On greased axles and no brakes.
	Lewis - May 04, 2009 (09:39 AM) Damn. Were I to review it for some unnamed publication now, I'd be in the 6-7 out of 10 region. But one of those really fascinating, eye-opening, intriguing 6-7 out of 10s. Am interested to see how it pans out. Will continue, no doubt, tomorrow.
	darketernal - May 04, 2009 (11:54 AM) Honestly, that game is one of the worst disappointments ever. It was a pure 8, or even 9, but the last third of the game made it go downhill to a 4 at best. Awful, awful, scorn worthy game.
	zippdementia - May 04, 2009 (12:49 PM) Up to around the kickboxing level, it was a 10 for me. Then it stayed at a steady 7 or 8 until the museum. After the museum it quickly plummeted to a 4. I've been meaning to go back and play it, if only to finally write a review on it. By the by, the only real difference between Farenheight and Indigo is a couple unneccesary sex scenes they took out, including one with the black guy and his wife, and one between the two main characters. They're ultra silly QT events and don't add anything to the story.
	EmP - May 04, 2009 (01:56 PM) Lew -- don't read this yet. The first example you use isn't in the game; it's an unlockable extra. The non-interactive cut scene near endgame is very poorly done and cringeworthy, more for how it makes the coupling act than the deed. But the first sexual act I thought was pulled off great; it wasn't about sex, it was about Marcus finding one single moment of sanity and hapiness that he isn't even guaranteed to get. It's no so much about sex as it is reconnecting with someone he thought forever lost at the very peak of his depression -- when he needed it the very most.
	Lewis - May 05, 2009 (10:08 AM) The sex scenes are totally key to the characters, Zipp. Whatchootalkinabout?
	zippdementia - May 05, 2009 (12:18 PM) I'm not a prude or anything, but they really aren't. I was expecting them to be, but I found that Indigo Prophecy got the point across fine without the awkward Machima-Erotica. The fact that they HAVE sex is important. That we watch it isn't so important. With the possible exception of the one EmP mentioned, the sex scenes are pretty pointless.
	Lewis - May 05, 2009 (01:40 PM) The fact that they HAVE sex is important. That we watch it isn't so important. Oh, well that's just cinematism. Which I'd say is pretty integral in itself to what the game's trying to achieve. It's totally an interactive movie. Movies do it, therefore the game does too.

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