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Grab the popcorn, it's "In a world, where nothing's as it seems..."

Drenched in a love of cinema, Fahrenheit cribs from the biggest sci-fi blockbusters and darkest serial killer flicks to tell a twisted tale of mysticism and murder. Unashamedly aimed at adults, all the usual shockers like sex, gore and sailor talk are here, alongside more mature themes like faith, loe and zombification. Billed as an 'Interactive Drama Experience', it plays like a dancemat game with a plot. Oddly, this is not a bad thing.

In this dual narrative tale, you'll control not only Lucas Kane, a possessed murderer trying to clear his name, but also the two homicide detectives trying to nail him for the crime. Kane's fugitive adventures tend to be the most action-packed, while the police procedural sections are all about CSI-style fibre hunting and putting clues together. Sleuthing has never been this well done before, and it's a thrill as you slowly tighten the noose around your own neck. Later on, things take a turn for the bizarre as New York begins to freeze and Lucas starts to develop mysterious powers...

In addition to traditional adventuring pursuits, like walking around and picking things up, Fahrenheit's heavily punctuated by Hollywood-scale set-pieces, the outcomes of which are decided by your ability to quickly match on-screen prompts with the thumbsticks. Succeed, and you'll be able to dodge bullets, outrun helicopters and fight like a Muay Thai warrior. Fail, and you'll feel like killing yourself (we're not joiking either; see Depress-o-meter, below). It's not just button-bashing, though. When you're playing at a detective, slower-paced rhythm action sections enable your characters to make deductive leaps while talking to people and examining clues. It's immersive stuff.

Interacting with people and the environment is easy and intelligent. You feel like you're constantly making major decisions, and it's only during a second play through that you realise how cleverly you're manipulated into making those choices. It means there's less replay value than you'd imagine, and as Fahrenheit's a streamlined experience - with only nine or ten hours' play required to take you to the tale's epic conclusion - you're not getting a lot of game for your cash.

At times it feels like an interactive movie, where the emphasis is on the 'movie' rather than the 'interactive', but that said, it is ten solid hours of unrelenting storytelling, featuring fantastic production values... and some interesting hexagonal breasts.

Graphics 80%
Glassy-eyed characters, great environments.

Sound 90%
Fantastic surround sound and score.

Gameplay 80%
Smart adventuring, great blockbuster action.

Lifespan 50%
Like Danny De Vito, it's short but weighty.

Overall 80%
Fahrenheit's ambition is let down slightly by its brevity, but you know something's good when you're left wanting more.