[thedude]

Curio to say the least. If any of you played Farenheit on the PS2/XBOX you will know what to expect with this game, bucking the trends for what you expect from a "game" this throws you a curve ball from the moment you start. The control scheme is like nothing else around, interaction is everything, you dont just press a button for you character to do something, you have to perform the action yourself; brushing your teeth, joggle the controller up and down; lighting a match, flick the analogue stick up to open the matches, flick the controller up to light it, then shake it to put it out; cutting off one of your own fingers because the loony who has your son told you to, you have to perform the grizzly action yourself.
Levels of immersion like this would only work if the characters and the story are up to scratch, and apart from the few moments of dodgy voice-over work (odd given how much attention is given to everything else) they are. The characters seem real and emotive, you feel the pain of Ethan, you can almost feel Shelbys rank asthma in his chest. The character models are nothing short of amazing, literally amazing, played on a big HD telly the face models are so close to realism its almost unsettling. The story too, while throws a few too many obvious curve balls your way, is engaging enough, and far better than alot of "thrillers" we have to put up with these days. The only major downside is that it isnt very gamey, by that I mean you cant pick it up and have a quick blast, or even a quick go, its a game that requires thought and perseverance, not for the gung-ho GTA massive at all then. The game also manages a first, its an adult game, and by that I dont mean it has masses of violence, swearing and nudity (which incidently it has some of all three) but in the story it tells; it deals with adult themes, something a child or young adult would not have experienced yet, and it does it very well, creating a real, expansive and touching story of loss and pain.

Not one for the masses, but as an experience in the first proper adult game its hard, nay impossible, to beat.

4/5