I've always fancied myself as an amateur psychologist, using the intellect of the human mind to decipher the problems that people face. However, unless I get a degree in Psychology or am holed up with some madman who just wants to be listened to, there isn't much out in the world of gaming that allows me to experience this. Then Overclocked: A History of Violence comes along and attempts to add a mature element to the adventure genre by placing you in control of psychiatrist David McNamara, world-renowned for his skills but in the middle of a life altering crisis.

Set under the grim skies of a stormy New York, you have travelled from Washington to help uncover the mysterious truth hidden behind five patients currently under the guard of the local loony ward. All five patients seem to be suffering from a kind of amnesia/post traumatic stress disorder that has led to them being found in the middle of a crazy daze, shouting, screaming and often shooting bullets randomly into the air, as shown from the beginning when you see a young woman visibly shaken, experiencing some kind of mental breakdown as the rain falls down on her in a busy street.

Overclocked is a point and click psychological adventure game, where you can see your character at all times in a third person viewpoint. The camera angles are particularly cinematic most of the time, although there are moments when the camera does follow behind you, usually when you find something of interest. You could argue that the game is quite similar to Bladerunner, not only in terms of setting but also ambience. The subject matter is adult-orientated (if you hadn't already guessed after reading the title), so be aware before putting any of your children through this disturbing but involving game.

McNamara is not the only playable character to be featured in the game; you get the chance to discover what happened to the patients by actually reliving past events. Using McNamara to hypnotise them, you play out what is in their heads, which breaks the game up and eliminates any sense of déjà vu or repetitiveness that could set in. Very rarely can you replay the flashback elements of a game, but in Overclocked it works really well, as you begin to fully comprehend the "hows" and "whys" of the storyline. Of course, the patients' lives are not much better than the doctor's, which adds to the general distorted view that Overclocked takes on life. The majority of the puzzle solving occurs when the patients are hypnotised. Luckily, the puzzles make real world sense - i.e. use the bar to open the grate etc. Often they don't feel like puzzles because you realise straight away that you need to open a certain door or reach a certain area, all of which is possible by using the tools already in your possession. You don't have to think too hard to complete them, but they don't grate either, which is definitely a plus point for this game.

The controls are highly intuitive considering that you only use the mouse; a number of options appear after left clicking an object, and they make sense so you'll know what to do with an object. Like any adventure game worth its salt, there is an inventory system present, and just like the controls it is easy to use because the icons are large and you never carry too many items. They are fairly easy to manipulate - clicking on some items opens them up, whilst you can use other items to progress through the game. Your personal PDA is a clever little device too, recording not only your progress but also patient conversations, which help you at a later date. Also, items that look like they could be used are pointed out in an intuitive manner, whether it is through the use of icons or McNamara's voice.

McNamara himself is a likeable character, which is strange considering the circumstances; he has a dry wit that is delivered with great aplomb. Due to the subject matter and the general intense feeling of dread generated in Overclocked, McNamara works well throughout the game, which is helped by the fact that you see that his own life is also in turmoil at the minute. The interaction between the characters - especially his wife and the asylum doctor - makes the story more believable, whilst also ensuring that you will want to finish this game, not only to find out what is behind all the madness but also what will happen to McNamara. There's one particular moment when one of the patients attacks you and McNamara's comeback is quite funny. Most of the dialogue is of a decent standard with, only the odd line falling flat or sounding unnatural. The voice work throughout is very good; characters sound as you expect them to sound, which again is helped by dialogue that eliminates any kind of meandering, something that tends to be prevalent within the adventure genre.

The setting is suitably dark; it's always raining and McNamara hates getting wet. The sense of foreboding and impending threat is always there, especially when you're walking the streets or left alone in the asylum. The clever use of a split screen adds to the ambience of the game, as you overhear vital clues or another twist in the story. The lighting effects are efficiently presented, whilst the sea brushing up against the dock looks very appealing. However, the character models are a tad blocky and the textures in some cases are quite bland. Sometimes the emotions don't fit facial features on show, as demonstrated by McNamara when he throws the telephone against the mirror; it looks like he's quite happy when he's doing it, when he should have had a very serious or angry expression. The buildings you visit look natural and reflect what I think for example an asylum would look like - dirty exterior, poor lighting, claustrophobic corridors and so on.

The sound is excellent throughout Overclocked, with an engagingly spine-chilling main tune backed up by atmospheric weather effects. The fifth patient is especially disturbing, with scary deep breathing that will make you want to turn the sound down! The music and sound effects are a major highlight, enticing you to delve into the main story further, all the while immersing you into its tense, uneasy atmosphere. Like most games of this ilk, the replayability is not high though; once you've completed it there really isn't a lot to go back to, unless you want to discover every little subtle clue.

Overclocked: A History of Violence is an excellent game - if you're looking for a mature adventure that will get your heart pounding then this is definitely for you. Is McNamara as good as he says he is? Was it the best idea to let your best mate look after your wife? Where will the doctor and his nurse go after the patients have been cured? Will they ever be cured? These are only a handful of the many questions that need to be answered, and you'll be looking forward to discovering those answers, no matter how chilling they may turn out to be!

Reviewed by Christopher McNally for AceGamez (All Rights Reserved).