Video Game of the Day is a daily show available on Amazon Alexa devices and here on this website. Each day, we briefly discuss the history of a single game, randomly chosen. If you would like to listen on your daily flash briefing, you can enable Video Game of the Day here: https://amzn.to/2CNx2NJ.
Transcript:
Hello and welcome! My name is Katosepe and I’ll be your host for today’s Video Game of the Day.
Quantic Dream is a company well known for making big promises. Their recent games, Heavy Rain, Beyond: Two Souls, and the controversial Detroit: Become Human have all come with massive weight attached. Before these three really launched the name Quantic Dream into the mainstream, they released two other, lesser known games. The first, we’ll get to on another day. Today’s game is Fahrenheit, developed by Quantic Dream and released on the Playstation 2, Xbox and PC in 2005.
Fahrenheit, known as Indigo Prophecy in Canada and the United States, played similarly to the follow-up Heavy Rain. Players can walk around small environments and interact with items. As they do this, they are often given choices to make. These choices then affect the story going forward in various ways.
Many actions and cutscenes involve the use of Quick-Time Events, quick button presses or movements that alter the course of the scene. For example, as someone is running down an alley, a person may walk into the character’s path. Pressing a button prompt on screen may allow them to get around the person but missing it may result in the character hitting them, causing them to lose speed and time.
The story follows protagonist Lucas Kane, a man who stabbed another man to death in a diner restroom but has no understanding of why he did what he did. Lucas attempts to find the reason behind his own mysterious actions, delving into a strange world of AI’s, Mayan prophecies, and superpowers.
Fahrenheit received positive reviews from critics and fans, with many calling it a step forward for adventure games, a genre very much in flux back in 2005. The cinematic storytelling was praised as was the story itself. It’s worth remembering that quick-time events were still relatively new back in 2005 so there were few criticisms for that gameplay style at the time.
Fahrenheit received a remastered version in 2015, bringing the game to Mac, Linux, Playstation 4, and mobile platforms.
Thank you so much for listening and thank you to Geoff for recommending today’s episode! If you want to request a game for a Video Game of the Day episode, send me a message @vg_oftheday on Twitter. Archives and transcripts for each episode are available on videogameoftheday.com. Don’t forget to check back here tomorrow for another Video Game of the Day!
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