F.E.A.R - 9/10
When you first pick up FEAR in a store, flip over the cover and read the contents on the back, you will probably just think "pfffft oh yeah, just another FPS, who cares, Halo 3 & Killzone 2 are coming" This could be one of the worst things you could do, because deep down, behind the cover art, is more than just an ordinary every day FPS. Sure, FEAR isnt entirely original, but if you dont care about a game being original, then this wont pose as a problem for you. Approach FEAR for what it is, not what you think it will be.
So what does it do differently to distinguish itself from todays current crop of FPS games? Well to be entirely truthful, apart from the odd scare & disturbing flashbacks * A creepy giggling girl anyone?*, not alot, but who honestly cares when the action is as brutal as this, and when i say brutal, boy do i mean it.
Arms, legs & other limbs torn off enemy soldiers, blood spraying like graffiti cans, and bodies doing a limp mary jig with a disturbingly realistic rag doll effect from the constant hail of bullets that you fire into their soon-to-be holy bodies, it all seems very sick and gruesome, and well it is, but that wont stop the big grin you will have on your face as you go trigger happy on every enemy you come across, just wait until you use the Type 7 particle weapon, which literally cooks your enemy in one zap leaving nothing left but a charred skeleton, and the best part about all this blood letting, shell emptying, flesh penetrating gun blazing action? You can do it all in slow motion, which really makes this game so damn awesome to play. The gore doesnt stop at the action too, environments like run down warehouses, office buildings and docking depots are awash with blood daubed walls and pile up after pile up of gory corpses, trust me, this is not a game for grandma or your 5 year old cousin.
Its also important to point out that audio plays a big part of FEAR's experience, although you will probably find yourself turning the volume down to a minimum when you start hearing the eerie chuckles of a child or the screams of a distorted flashback.
Graphics: This is where the game fails, this game is pretty average to look at, it looks jagged, dull and rather bland, and should have been much sharper. Dont buy this game hoping that the visuals are good, because they are not, they are not absolutely horrible, but they are not Resistance or Killzone 2 quality either, they are descent at best. What does shine in the visual department however is the lighting effects, whether its shadows or dim lit flickering lights, FEAR does a great job with lighting, particle effects also deserve mention, shooting walls can result in plaster and chunks of cement shattering to bits, shoot controls or consoles and sparks will flicker about. A great job was done for the particle effects in this game.
Sound: Whack on that surround sound system asap and blast the volume to near maximum, this games audio is fantastic, nothing else can be said. Top class audio, your ears simply deserve the audio this game produces.
Gameplay: This is a FPS, get other FPS games out of your mind and enjoy what this offers, and thats gore-tastic action in almost non stop extremes. Enemy AI also makes gameplay the more enjoyable, These guys are far from dumb, in fact i dont think i've seen better AI then this, enemy soldiers search for you in groups, roll out from behind cover, dive through windows and slide/crawl under areas to get a better shot at you, they are programmed to be pros, and frig do they act like it. Finally, add the scare factor to this experience, and you have one hell of a game,you will be constantly pausing the screen to question yourself what that shadow was that just ran past you was, and just wait until you see that creepy girl in the red dress, i swear, her eerie sick appearance will make you jump more than once. If the Japanese horror movie "The Grudge" was a video game, this would be it.
Lifespan: If you rely heavily on a games lifespan then you may want to keep this one as just a renter, because after you complete the main story, there is not an entire lot on offer apart from the odd blast on multiplayer, which doesnt come close to the addictive thrills of the multiplayer and online action in Resistance Fall of Man. If you dont care about lifespan, then this wont even be a factor, this will probably be a keeper, i know i wont be getting rid of my copy.
Overall, FEAR is a belter of a game, it seriously is, look past the so-so visuals and lack of lifespan & originality and what you are left with is a more then quality title. Dont expect a Halo, a Killzone or a Resistance, take what FEAR delivers and leave it at that, and that is a solid as cement FPS that will make your inner trigger happy demon more than pleased.
Submitted by callan5
14/07/2007
13
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