X-Box | Fahrenheit

David Cage claims in a recent interview that most games are constructed the same way that porn movies are. His game of course is very different.

Well, at least in game play, but some of the content is the most sexually risqué of any game that I’ve ever played and would rival that of GTA’s hacked scenes. A shower scene and several sex scenes would put this game in the porn category for many people.

Fortunately this 3D, highly interactive adventure game brings a fresh new breath into an almost stagnant games industry, by re-hashing the tradition text-based adventures of old and giving it the full graphic makeover.

You get to play various characters that interact with a host of others. Imaginative and intuitive game controls mean that skill as well and creative thinking are required to beat this game.

Relatively short (it’s the quickest game I’ve ever managed to complete), its lack of stamina is compensated with the (apparently) almost endless routes through the story you can take. It is possible to make it through the game without being assaulted with sex scenes, though some opponents (of video games) would argue that these scenes were put there to make (young impressionable players) you want to go back and play again to see if you can find them.

Graphically it’s great, not mid blowing, but pretty damn amazing. Control wise the camera can be a right pain in the arse at first, but once you get used to it’s habits, it’s a breeze.

One interesting thing is the emotional state of the characters – this is how you live or die in the game. Get too depressed and you commit suicide. So you have to keep your characters mental heath in check (sex makes the main character very happy!).

But there are also some ethical dilemmas. I’m at the park and see this boy drowning, I can help him, but I’m wanted by the Police. I try to help him but every time I try to save him, two Policemen patrolling the park see me and arrest me. So after 4 – 5 tries, I just walk away and ignore the boy. My in game mental health takes a hit, but so does my real mental health. I know this is only a game, but should I have spent more time trying to work out how to save the boy, rather than skipping to the next scene to see what else the game has in store?

Are games getting so complex that they are at the level where that can prick social conscience? Who knows, maybe I just need more sleep.