Wow. Every now and then a game comes along that you know you'll remember for a very long time, a game that offers something so different and engrossing that it has the potential to change the way developers think about games and their possibilities. Games that have left a lasting impression on me in the past include Jet Set Willy, Another World, Final Fantasy VII, Metal Gear Solid, Shenmue 1 & 2, Ico and now Fahrenheit. This is one game that definitely needs to be played by any self-respecting gamer. I just hope and pray it sells as well as it should, as only that way will it get the opportunity to make a difference. It would be a crime if Fahrenheit went the same way as Ico or Beyond Good & Evil; both were amazing games but unfortunately nobody bought them.

So what's it all about then? You initially play the part of a character call Lucas Kane, taking control of him just after he's gone into a trance and stabbed a guy three times in a diner toilet. There's a policeman drinking coffee and it's only a matter of time before he needs to siphon the python, so you need to get your thinking cap on. You move Kane with the left thumbstick and as you move towards objects, you interact with them by pushing the relevant direction on the right thumbstick. So what do you do now? Quickly run out of the back door? Hide the body, mop up the blood and stash the evidence? Go back to your table and carry on with your food as if nothing happened? It's up to you.

Throughout the game you constantly have to make decisions that affect the mood of your character and the outcome of various situations. Even something as mundane as making yourself a cup of coffee can lighten your character's mood; they start off neutral, then get tense, then stressed, then depressed, then they're a wreck. They'll probably get sectioned or commit suicide if you don't keep their spirits up.

Once the diner scene is over, you are introduced to another two playable characters, Carla and Tyler, the cops on the case of hunting the killer. This may seem like a conflict of interest but it works really well, as you don't just get to see the other side of the story in the form of cut scenes, you actually have to play it, where you are yet again faced with an abundance of choices.

The overall presentation of Farenheit is excellent; the graphics are well drawn and animated, while the settings are varied and large in scale. There're some really nice touches as well; the use of split screen is first class - it's like watching 24. It works out as a really clever way to show where you're meant to be going without having to bring up a map, or shows you how close you are to being sprung, spotted or in trouble. The number of locations is large and varied, each one successfully sporting its own unique look or feel. Kane's apartment for example is sparse and cold; he still has stuff lying around in boxes, whilst Tylers' is suitably groovy and you can even play his Motown LP's! The snow beats down relentlessly in all the outdoor locations, yet each one still manages to look unique and give the impression of being a lot bigger than they actually are; you have to walk some way before the character tells you to turn back.

The sound is great; the voice acting is the best I've heard in a video game and rarely gets repetitive or strained. The soundtrack is also excellent, more akin to a film than a game. But that's the whole point; this game has been created as an interactive movie and they've managed to make it work.

Cut scenes are never a drawn out affair, as you have to progress the action using carefully timed directional taps of the analogue pad. The only complaint with this is that you're so busy concentrating that you might actually miss what you're acting out. Thankfully, the developers have had the foresight to include an option to replay these sections from the main menu once they've been completed, so you can sit back and enjoy them. In addition to this, whenever your character has to do anything strenuous, you have to either hammer the left and right triggers as quickly as possible, or at a specific rhythm depending on the action. Some of the sequences are great when you watch them back, with plenty of action, well directed and at times suitably Matrix-esque. That can often be a bad thing, but here there's just the right amount of cheese for it to work perfectly. There are also a couple of stealth sections in the form of flashbacks to Kane's childhood, which work quite well and again have some nice graphical touches; the edge of the screen is blurred and hazy, giving it a dream like feel.

The storyline is the game's main driving force and it's excellent; you want to know what happens and you care about the characters. I'll not go into the plot specifics however, I'll leave you to find out for yourself. There are a couple of little niggles, but nothing major. David Cage (the game's creator) is no doubt in hiding from the stereotype police, as every time Tyler (the black character) comes on screen, he's accompanied by a funky soundtrack and walks like a pimp. Carla's gay next door neighbour is also a bit embarrassing, but it doesn't detract from the game too much.

It might have been interesting to be able to play this game with a friend maybe linking you together online, one of you controlling Kane and the other taking control of the police; after all, it's easy to look for clues when you know where exactly where you hid stuff. Perhaps Cage is saving something like that for next time.

There's only one major problem with Farenheit and that's how quickly you'll get through it; I finished it after a day's solid play. I want to play though it again though and take my time this time around. I think I'll take the tube at the beginning instead of getting a cab, radically change some life choices I made for Tyler and examine all of the locations a lot more thoroughly. This is unusual for me - I have rarely felt like playing a game through again once I've completed it.

In my opinion this is one of the most fresh, exiting and original games to come out for a long time; it's well presented, sounds great and offers something completely new. There are even a few sex scenes! You're unlikely to want to pause them for any reason (unless you're a little odd) but at least it's trying to do something different. Please go buy this game, you'll really enjoy it and if it sells enough copies you will be doing your bit for the evolution of videogames.

Reviewed by Mark Hayhurst for AceGamez (All Rights Reserved).