Fahrenheit Xbox

[PeteJ]

This is shaping up to be one of the finest adventures I've ever played, I just adore it. As a videogame it does have some obvious flaws (the controls being the biggie), but it just has a certain wieght, intelligence and beauty that I've just not seen before in a game. I do agree it is similar to Shenmue, but in my opinion it is done so much better. The script and voicework is just sublime.

The bit in the apartment with Lucas near the start was superb, the first time I missed 'something' when 'something' happened, which made me almost scream with worry when the 'someone' walked into the room. Just superb.

The split screen work is tremendous too, adds so much tension, like when you have limited time to complete certain tasks or a whole lot of **** comes your way.

My main gripe is still th QTE, which I'm really struggling with - are you meant to press the buttons as soon as they flash up, or wait until they finish and repeat? It's pretty tough on mouse+keyboard because of the two different movement types. I've yet to pass one anyway, which worrys me

Is it possible to turn on the music in apartments and walk around with it still playing?

I cannot believe just how awesome this game is, utterly sublime.

[HCE]

My main gripe is still th QTE, which I'm really struggling with - are you meant to press the buttons as soon as they flash up, or wait until they finish and repeat? It's pretty tough on mouse+keyboard because of the two different movement types. I've yet to pass one anyway, which worrys me

On the XBOX version, at least, you can just hit them as soon as they appear. You can easily tell if you're being successful by the sound; a "hit" will elicit one sound effect, a "miss" another.

Is it possible to turn on the music in apartments and walk around with it still playing?

Certainly. And when you move into another room, it fades realistically, sounding muffled. Wonderful stuff.

[Paleface]

QTEs: you hit them as soon as they appear. Waiting to repeat htem cost me dear a few times. Regarding the music, you can hear it in other rooms in the apartment, but not in the whole game-world - there's a small realism constraint there.

[Concept]

Tried the PS2 version. The frame-rate's predictably a lot slower than the Xbox version and the graphics seem more washed out and less vibrant. Using the L and R buttons (in the tutorial) did seem a lot easier though, and there's also an NTSC 60hz mode kindly placed on for those inclined. However, the graphics are quite a come down from the Xbox.

I think I'll be picking up the PC version (which I should have done to begin with). Damn... I wish I wasn't such a picky gamer.

[EvilBoris]

hehe has anyone unlocked any of the videos using the bonus points?

[sj33]

I just gave the PC demo a try to see what all the fuss was about, damn compelling stuff.

I'm trying to put a stop to my game buying for the time being, in preparation for the 360 launch, but I'm very tempted to make an exception for this title.

[Dezm0nd]

I have EvilBoris.... crazy stuff

[PeteJ]

Ok I understand the QTE's now, just done the boxing and did pretty well. The main action sequence so far came out of nowhere but was quite a rush. I'd messed up pretty much every QTE before this so I've probably missed out on an awful lot

I got 0-25% in the

->Open Spoiler<-

police station drawing Kane

I rox!

Stuck on the stealth section at the mo though.

[Concept]

I just gave the PC demo a try to see what all the fuss was about, damn compelling stuff.

I'm trying to put a stop to my game buying for the time being, in preparation for the 360 launch, but I'm very tempted to make an exception for this title.

Just got the PC version myself. Never, ever, do I want to see Bury town centre again. Walking through it half-dead is the definitive of pleasurable experiences.

Anyone else think that Farenheit's opening is up there with Silent Hill and Vagrant Story for one of the best ever?

[HCE]

I got 0-25% in the

->Open Spoiler<-

police station drawing Kane

I rox!

->Open Spoiler<-

You know, it's funny, I've sometimes wondered how I'd do in that kind of situation when it's mentioned in a movie or news report. Would I be able to recollect what a person I passed on the street was wearing? And here I was placed in such a situation, with no prior knowledge that I would be, and I thought it was a lot of fun. For the record, I got 50-75% likeness. Not too bad, I guess.

[Concept]

I got 50-75% too.

->Open Spoiler<-

Later on, at Lucas' apartment, if you switch on the television, a news report comes on stating that 'a man of this description' is wanted in connection with the restaurant murder, and Lucas thinks to himself that he's in trouble now the Police know what he looks like. I'm wondering... if you get below 50% will his reaction alter, and will he be less aware of those hunting him if the photofit doesn't provide the police with the evidence they need?

The cause and effect in Farenheit is used so superbly, thatI'm always thinking of the little moments which might alter the direction.

[PeteJ]

Yeah same here, everything that comes from the suspect\detective angle is just so clever and original. Somehow when I'm playing as Kane I want him to get away, yet when I'm the police I want to find him!

I'm already so attached to the characters.

The first hour is certainly one of the best I've ever played. Right up to the end of the work scene it's just perfection. After that it has to slow down to explain itself, which is understandable. There have been two unfun chapters so far that I think could have been cut -

->Open Spoiler<-

hide and seak and archives

, but they weren't particularly difficult.

I think the game has one of the best soundtracks ever too. So varied and so suited to the scene. Ahhh, good stuff

[EvilBoris]

If anyone has finished it and is hankering after some more detective thriller horror games, then you could try Still life. Its more the same kind of setting but is more point and click, but is still very good. there is a demo of it here

http://www.3dgamers.com/dlselect/games/stilllife/stilllifedemo_en_dci.exe.html

or if you look hard enough it came out on xbox in the UK too

[Kotatsu Neko]

Played this more this afternoon and enjoyed it. The presentation is really quite distinctive and makes the game stand out from pretty much everything else, and the soundtrack.. wow, just brilliant.

My only real gripe - I can forgive the simplistic graphics somewhat as they're cripped by having to run on a PS2, and at least they run 60fps on XB - is the camera angles. Surely in the post RE4 world we shouldn't have to put up with this kind of stuff anymore... Bit depressing. The second scene in the apartment with the cop knocking on the door is made realy quite frustrating by the combination of camera relative controls and the abysmal camera angles and movement. It's certainly not alone in being so shoddy in this department, but still, it's a shame.

[Chief H]

the trick to L and R QTEs is to ensure you have let go of one button before pressing the other.

that what ive found anywayz......

Indeed, that's the key to it that I found. I got far more success doing that with rhythm than mashing l and r as fast as I could by pressing each before releasing the other. I find it can also help to rock the Xbox controller as I do this (it's like a pumping your arms when you're running sort of motion) in order to get this rhythm of pressing one, releasing and then pressing the other. I find the Xbox triggers do an excellent job of really tiring you out, just as these sequences are designed to do. Later on when the L/R sequences get put real close to the qte sequences it turns into such a rush.

I played it through like Pete, working well for both sides as if every character was acting as I would if it were me. The actions and consequences feel great early on, but late on in the game it does feel like there is one path where your choices don't stray far away from.
Story ending spoilers -

->Open Spoiler<-

I FAR preferred the early detective work before the whole Indigo Prophecy side of the story took the front seat. I got what looks to be the good ending, which bizarrely also opens up the middle ending for free viewing. I don't feel super-compelled to go straight back to it now, but there are a few things I'd like to try like wrecking Carla or Tyler. And does Lucas have to do everything on his own if Carla gets nowhere close to catching him?