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Fahrenheit (PS2)
by simon020187
== FAHRENHEIT ==
Fahrenheit is one of my all time favourite games mainly because it offers gamers something different. The game is a cinematic adventure video game that was developed by Quantic Dream and published by Atari. Fahrenheit has the best opening to a game, it features some of the best gameplay and it has one of the most ... thrilling and intense storylines. Almost everything about the game had me addicted when I was playing it and at first when the game came out it didn't really appeal to me. The game was released back in 2005 for the original Xbox, PC and of course the PS2. Fahrenheit isn't just an adventure game and at first most of the game is normal but later on it turns extremely weird. I was quite surprised that a follow up game wasn't made after the game won several awards. However there is a similar game on the PS3 entitled Heavy Rain.
=== STORY ===
Fahrenheit is a thriller adventure game and the main thing the game has to offer is its seriously intense story that revolves around Lucas Kane (your character). The game is set in January 2009 and starts in a small diner. Lucas is in a possessed state inside the toilets of the diner, he stabs a guy to death with a knife. He then comes back from the possessed state and panics because hes lying over a dead body with a knife in his hands and blood all over him. Lucas remembers that there is a cop inside the diner and panics even more. Now you must race against time to either try and get rid of all evidence pointing to you or you must flee the scene. The next morning Lucas wakes up at his apartment and realizes its not a dream and he has in fact killed a man. Now Lucas must search for clues on what has happened and why he cant remember anything after taking his seat in that diner. Lucas knows the murder wasn't his fault but now with the police slowly tracking him, can he uncover the truth behind the mystery?
=== GAMEPLAY ===
In Fahrenheit the game is split into scenes and the main reason for this is because you actually control three different characters even though you are Lucas Kane for the main plot. You also control two detectives called Tyler and Carla in which both fit well into the game. So basically with Lucas Kane you play the weird, thriller and intense scenes whereas with the other two characters you play the detective scenes. Its a little confusing because whilst you have to hide all evidence leading to you with Lucas, you actually also have to try and solve the case with Carla and Tyler so its like you're hunting yourself down.
With Lucas some of the things you can do include moving the body in the diner restroom into the cubicle. You also hide the knife that was used but you actually don't see where he puts it because of the next scene you play with Carla and Tyler. Back in your apartment a cop starts ramming on your door so you must do things to hide suspicion such as wash the blood off your hands, hide the bloody clothes you had on the previous night, bandage your wrists up and a few other bits. As Carla and Tyler you can swap between the two by pressing a button. Each character must find certain bits. Sometimes the game changes as well which is good because for example I have found the murder weapon with Carla and Tyler on different playthroughs and sometimes you can even find it with a certain character.
Most of the scenes have you racing against time and trying to not get caught. Getting caught means you must load the saved game where you last saved it. Something I love about this game is in some of the scenes there are also large action set pieces in which are completely scripted to turn out the same way most of the time but do require you to have very good and quick reflexes to complete and if you don't you will lose a life. Lives are gained from doing certain things right or you can find them in certain objects like cupboards. When you're out of lives its game over. Also during these scenes there are two circles with colored segments that appear on screen and you must react quickly to move the corresponding analog stick or sticks to match the combo that appears on screen. each one of the circles indicate each analog stick. there is also segments of the game that require you to quickly press the L1 and R1 buttons in between each other but these usually appear when you have to do things such as swimming or running.
Your character has a mental health meter which changes every time something happens whether its good or bad. It doesn't really effect your characters too much but it can lead to a different ending. There are a total of three different endings so you have to play through the game on more than one occasion. Overall the game has a lot to offer and will definitely keep you on your feet. I like almost everything about the game and the fact you can interact with characters and almost every item on the game is brilliant. There are many places the game takes you too which include things like work because Lucas tries to carry on with his everyday life after what has happened, to the past for flashbacks, diners, police station, rooftops and more. The game does have a few disappoint things which include the short game time overall.
=== GRAPHICS ===
Fahrenheit is actually pretty good for graphics and one of the things that stand out the most are the cinematic scenes the game have. They are simply brilliant, they offer lots of variety, look stunning and make the game almost feel like a movie. Most of the overall graphics are great, the characters are nicely designed but I feel Lucas is a little weak looking for the main role of the game but he does actually look fantastic later in the game. Some of the places you go to also look really good especially the diner because its brilliant and a great idea. The design of the game overall is stunning, the colouring is almost perfect, objects in the game stand out really well and the movies are flawless. For a game that is a little old the graphics overall are really good.
=== SOUND EFFECTS ===
The sound effects are absolutely fantastic and one of the best features is the fact that the game has several real songs that play in certain parts of the game. Some of these include songs from Theory Of A Deadman (one of my favourite bands), Teddy Pendergrass, Society's Bag, Nina Simone, Bobby Byrd and a few others. The in game sound effects are brilliant especially when the game gets chilling because the sound effects come to full effect and it definitely puts you on edge. You can also hear the characters voices instead of reading what is said so that works well. Other sound effects to the game are really good and are definitely a plus side to the game.
=== DIFFICULTY ===
Fahrenheit isn't a very hard game overall. There are some parts of the game that might cause a couple of problems because it does feature a few problem solving puzzles or some tricky sections where you have to hide or do things in quick succession. The controls can be awkward at times especially with the constant button bashing with the L1 and R1 and also the analog sensitive controls are a bit crazy. Most of the game though is common sense stuff and pretty easy to do. Overall its not a difficult game and many gamers will find this fun and easy but its a win win situation.
=== LONGEVITY ===
Fahrenheit isn't that very long and this is by far the biggest downfall to the game. Whilst some of the scenes in the game can last a while, the game itself is incredibly poor in length. For an example if you know everything about the game and you're playing with knowing where to go and what to do then it only takes about 6-8 hours. Games shouldn't be that short for the price you pay. However if you're new to playing the game it will take you a maximum of 15 hours. Which isn't too bad but its just not enough.
=== PROS ===
*One of the most chilling, thrilling, intense and exciting storylines to a game I have ever seen.
*Some beautiful cinematic scenes and the sound effects are perfect.
*You have to cover your tracks, solve puzzles and try and survive.
*3 different endings to the game so you must play multiple times.
*The price is fantastic for this unique and different game.
=== CONS ===
*The game is ridiculously short and should at least contain something else.
*Only the one game mode which is a little poor.
*Some of the controls can be quite annoying especially later in the game when they get a little tricky.
*Some of the little mini games are poor and unnecessary.
*The fact you have lives is a little daft in my opinion.
=== FINAL THOUGHT ===
Fahrenheit really is a game that is intense and is full of surprises. Each scene has something you wouldn't ever expect and its not the type of story where its predictable. Lucas Kane and Carla have something between them and its noticeable when they meet but I wont say anymore. This game is one of the first adventure thriller games that I have played. I love the fact there is so much you can do such as hide things and try to cover your tracks. It certainly makes a change to find a game like this and its definitely worth checking out.
I would recommend the game if you still play the PS2 or what ever else its on because its an addictive game. I'd also recommend to gamers who want to try something new that has a lot to offer because this game is exactly that. If you don't like thrillers or things that can scare you then its probably best to avoid this. It is a challenging game to say the least and don't let the fact its not a massive game put you off. The game manual is fantastic and tells you everything you need to know about playing the game. Fahrenheit has an age rating of 15+ because it does contain blood, violence, strong language and nudity that's not suitable for younger gamers.
I bought the game for a fairly reasonable price and I definitely think its value for money. I bought it for £8 which included postage fees. The game is quite hard to find in most game shops but Amazon and eBay sell it for a fantastic price. Amazon have the game for roughly £3 which includes postage. That is a brilliant price for this game and its worth every penny.
Fahrenheit is one of my favourite PS2 games and there aren't many like this. Overall I would give the game a solid 9/10! Great game, fantastic price!
Review also on Ciao under the username: MrBrightside1987!
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The Matrix - Path of Neo (PS2)
by dirtyripper
The Matrix: Path of Neo is a third-person shooter game for the Playstation 2 developed by Atari in 2005. It is the third Matrix game that has been released, and is the first to feature the protagonist from the film - Neo - as a playable character and to follow the storyline of the films closely. It is based on all three films in the ... series - The Matrix, The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions - and features scenes from each of the films.
You begin the game as Thomas Anderson AKA Neo - programmer by day and computer hacker by night. He is seeking to learn the meaning of cryptic references to "The Matrix" that keep appearing on his computer. When a mysterious woman called Trinity tells him that she can give him the answers he seeks, this starts of a chain of events which lead to a mind-blowing discovery. The world he believes to be reality is not - it is in fact a virtual reality created by the machines which have taken over the real world. Trinity is one of a group of free agents led by Morpheus, who are able to unplug themselves from the Matrix at will, and also use their knowledge of the Matrix to bend the physically laws of the virtual world, allowing them to perform superhuman activities such as bullet dodging. Over the course of the three films, and the game, a war is raging between humans and machines and only Neo can stop it.
The previous Matrix games were disappointing. Not because they were bad games - Enter the Matrix was definitely a good game - it was just because of the lack of Neo and the memorable scenes from the films. Path of Neo solves this problem anddelivers a game which fans of the Matrix franchise will definitely love. It stays faithful to the story of the films, with some of the films scenes extended to provide more opportunity for action scenes. One of the best things about this game is the great combat sequences. You have to ability to dodge bullets, run along walls and perform all kinds of manoeuvres either using your hands and feet or firearms. in order to defeat enemies. There is such a wide variety of ways to defeat enemies, that no fight scene in the game is the same. The graphics are also very good, with a wide variety of different locations and a lot of intricate detail, and the sound quality is also excellent. The gameplay is very good also, with controls which are easy to get to grips with and fluid character movement.
Overall, The Path of Neo is a very good game, which will certainly please fans of the films and I recommend it to anyone who has not yet played it.
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Fahrenheit (PS2)
by WayneKWilkins
The list of games that genuinely scare me are slim to none, but Fahrenheit is one of them. I was immersed in this amazing storyline from the opening scenes and from there, I was immediately hooked. I saw this as arguably one of the most unique games I have ever played. I had actually played Heavy Rain beforehand and I still considered ... this a masterful game by going back a generation prior to play it. I honestly believe that other than Heavy Rain, there is no other game like this, and I actually found this to be as immersive, and even more terrifying, than Heavy Rain.
The storyline will penetrate the depths of your mind. It is somewhat supernatural, but not enough to the point where it is too farfetched, at least for the majority of the game. By the time it does get farfetched, I was too immersed in the storyline to care. The far-fetched aspect was justified by this point. The story follows a man by the name of Lucas who is suddenly possessed and forced to kill an individual at a local cafe and bar. Is Lucas going crazy or is something more sinister at work? The journey to finding out is a masterpiece.
The game is completely interactive and plays like a movie only you make the choices. You can control a number of characters, all of which have their individual likes, dislikes and linking storylines. The decisions you make alter the moods of characters and alter the events and scenarios that transpire, including the ending of the game, so basically, everything you do matters, keep that firmly in mind!
The graphics are spectacular both in-game and in cut scenes, the music is a flawless addition when it comes to setting the mood and the gameplay and storyline are all some of the best I have ever played. The only thing I disliked about this game was the fact that there are two sex scenes, one of them is interactive, the other is a cut scene. Not what I wanted to see in a game really, so this is certainly not suitable for kids.
Overall, this is a great adult game with a brilliant, supernatural and genuinely terrifying storyline. Everything about this game is pretty much perfect. I was hooked from start to finish and was left wanting more. You will love it, you will be scared at some scenes, especially when travelling through an evil, dark looking house belonging to an old woman who looks eerily similar to Sylvia Ganush from Drag me to Hell, yikes!
If you are looking for a mature themed game, look no further. This one is brilliant all round, except for two sex scenes which are complete unnecessary in my opinion.
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