Indigo Prophecy

"This is the review where an ordinary guy has an extraordinary game come to him..."

Introduction

Fahrenheit/Indigo Prophecy is the brainchild of a man named David Cage, who has created, quite simply, one of the most mind-blowing games of 2005. You are Lucas Kane, an ordinary guy who has something strange happen to him that turns his world upside down, and in the game you must control his actions and thus determine the consequences. Let's look at what makes this game what it is…

Story - 9/10

The story is crucial to a game of this nature, not least because it is the main driving force of the game, but also because we want to know more and more, to keep us playing. Fahrenheit does not fail in this department.

Lucas is forced to kill a man in the toilets of a diner, but he knows his mind was not responsible, despite him physically stabbing the victim. This leads him on a journey of torment, confusion, and despair to find out what really happened that night. Every character's emotions are brought into play – and of course, you DO care about what happens to them. Many people also find themselves ‘identifying' with a character, be it Lucas himself, or perhaps one of the detectives (Carla Valenti and Tyler Miles) – and this element increases playability.

So why the 9/10? Because the events and narrative start to get pretty pathetic at the end. Seriously. Obviously I'm not going to spoil it for you, but it seems as if the team could not be bothered to really create a satisfying ending for an otherwise brilliant story.

Graphics - 8/10

The environments are all lush, but the graphics of Fahrenheit are not on an exceptional level by any means. That said, they're appealing and healthy, and certainly not going to put you off of the game.

The characters are detailed enough, and the motion capture work is impressive, but there is something missing that prevents them from being an especially noticeable area of the game.

Sound - 9/10

Wow…The musical score is brilliant, just brilliant. From creepy themes and effects to licensed music from the likes of Theory of A Deadman, we have a wide range of songs that really enhance the playing experience.

Take one car chase while Lucas evades the police, for example. Here, as you control Lucas through the snow and oncoming cars, the music really builds up the action to create a massive amount of tension that sends a tingle down your spine. It's impressive, and quite a special and memorable scene because of such musical quality.

Finally, the voice acting. It's brilliant – very few faults, and some nice lines. Quite simply - perfect. Give those voice actors an award.

Longevity - 8/10

So perhaps Fahrenheit isn't one of the longest games ever made – most will complete it in something like 6-10 hours – but this doesn't stop it from being an immersive and powerful experience.

Replayability? Maybe you'll play through once or twice more, or come back and play it again in a few months, but the motivation isn't all there, especially as you realise that many of the events are pre-scripted, and many times your actions make no effect on the overall story (only the character's state of mind – explained in the Gameplay section).

There are some amusing bonuses as well, such as extra playable scenes, and some insightful movies into the making of the game and its characters etc. Just enough to warrant an 8.

Gameplay - 9/10

Fahrenheit is quite a manageable game – it's unlikely you'll become incredibly stuck, and most people are bound to complete it without a guide. Not too hard, but sometimes challenging.

The controls can be quite frustrating at times, especially paired with the dodgy camera. However, these are small nuisances that are easily forgotten and forgiven.

And so on to the actual play of the game – hide the evidence as Lucas (the murderer), while trying to uncover the truth, and find clues and track down Lucas as the detectives. It's compelling, yes, and further enhanced by a neat touch – the character's state of mind. From 100 to 0 points, which can be gained or lost through various actions you perform and decisions you make, your character is never happy (100 = Neutral, then descending through Tense, Stressed, Depressed etc.) in this sad game. However, it also acts as a game-over element – if your character's state of mind reaches zero, he/she will commit suicide, and you're gone. Other ways to get game-over include actually being caught by the police as Lucas, or dying through special circumstances such as drinking too much or being caught by some maniacs in an asylum. Yet the character state of mind is always present, and is an intriguing ‘health bar' of sorts that could be so easily utilized in other games.

Therefore, the Gameplay is only marred by some poor control and camera work, and perhaps the feeling that you aren't all that free to make your decisions. Otherwise, it's sheer brilliance as the growing feeling of suspense escalates with some impressive playable moments pulling through left, right, and center.

Conclusion - Overall 9/10

So, is Fahrenheit worth buying? Quite, if you've got the maturity to handle it and its impressive but sometimes depressing storyline. Also, if you like games out of the ordinary, this is one of those – never before have emotions played such an instrumental role in a game I've played, and trust me, you'll have to make some big decisions towards the end. If you like your consciousness being a part of the game, characters with a lot of depth, and brilliant moments, buy it, buy it now! Use the right analog stick to push out your hand and purchase…

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 03/06/06