Title: F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin
Genre: FPS (first-person shooter)
Developer : Monolith
Platform: Xbox 360
Rating: M (mature)
Product Link: http://www.amazon.com/F.E.A.R.-2-Project-Origin-Xbox 360/dp/B00163LW7A/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1234731783&sr=1-2
Website: http://www.whatisF.E.A.R..com/
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The original F.E.A.R. put gamers in the role of a paranormal agent battling the psychic powers of an evil little girl named Alma—who happens to have an entire army of mind-controlled super soldiers at her disposal. F.E.A.R. 2 follows the events from the first game shortly after its conclusion from a whole new perspective adding depth and urgency to the crisis facing Auburn city. Interspersed with elements of horror, F.E.A.R. 2 presents itself as a different breed from most shooters in the genre. These elements have evolved from simply being visual manifesting themselves as physical threats to the player as enemies—something alluded to at the end of the first F.E.A.R. game. With Alma unleashed, all paranormal activity surrounding you has the potential to drain health in addition to making you feel jumpy.
The story is griping and well orchestrated throughout the single-player campaign. In-game events blend seamlessly with story arcs that you discover in documents scattered among the charred debris of the world. Although the story at times is convoluted, it is still a thrill in itself to try and dissect the mystery as you fall deeper into corporate secrecy and crimes against humanity. The content of the story is bizarre and wildly outlandish yet it is delivered as realistically as possible as if these events could actually happen in real life. This kind of storytelling is gritty, menacing and deeply compelling.
The look of the game is slightly improved over the first F.E.A.R. with the same collection of animations that make character movements appear more realistic; soldiers move in serpentine strafes and flip over tables for cover. Special effects vary in their ability to impress. Gunfire, explosions and water effects look phenomenal while the napalm gun, broken glass and floating debris are underwhelming. Alma as a child still resembles other monster children from such movies as “The Ring” and “The Grudge.” This aspect may take some gamers out of the experience momentarily. Alma as an adult remains as one of the most disturbing images in recent game history. Her depiction is so vile and unnatural that it can’t help but be terrifying.
Sound design is key whenever a developer is attempting to create a believable environment and tone especially in a horror setting. In F.E.A.R. 2’s case, the result is almost flawless. The music is subtle, delivering a more action-oriented punch only when the action on screen warrants it. The sounds of gun battles both indoors and outdoors burst with detail as walls crumble and soldiers call for backup. Voices are well acted overall but some of the dialogue is cringe inducing in its attempt to be jocular at times.
The game play is primarily where F.E.A.R. 2 falters. The new controls are too hasty to switch out weapons accidentally when attempting to pick up more ammunition for the weapon you want to use. The result often leads to running around in slow motion trying to re-equip whatever gun you had initially. The interface can be cumbersome when trying to switch weapons in a firefight and again leads to running around being shot at while you wrestle with your own equipment.
Much like the special effects, the weapons are a mixed bag. Most guns are fun to use but weapons like the napalm shooter feel flimsy while enemies sound more annoyed than writhing in pain when killed. The implementation of being able to move cover is something gamers have wanted to do since the original F.E.A.R., but this too feels flimsy and ends up causing more deaths than preventing damage. The multiplayer is nothing special except for the interesting load system where each player has a certain amount of points used to buy equipment loads for their avatars. Players can purchase the best armor, but they might have to sacrifice the amount of grenades they can carry. The whole system is like a balancing act with bullets.
If you are a fan of the original F.E.A.R. or just a fan of shooters, F.E.A.R. 2 does just enough to create an enjoyable experience. The presentation is thoughtful and carefully weaved into the game play. The real issues reside in the controls which will confuse more gamers than the plot and ultimately prevent F.E.A.R. 2 from being a great shooter.
Overall Rating: * * * ½ / 5
M. Michael Chwedyk "The Gamekok" -MuzikReviews.com Video Game Reviewer
February 18, 2009
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