Just don’t expect any Fluffy. Eared. Argente. Rabbits.
Format: PS3 (version played), Xbox 360, PC Dev: Monolith Pub: Warner Bros.
Out: 13/02/09 Players: 1, 2-16 online
F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin is the sequel to F.E.A.R. (First Encounter Assault Recon), developed by Monolith Productions. Similar format to the first game, F.E.A.R. 2 is a first-person shooter coupled with an additional survival horror element. You guessed it, Alma is back. The paranormal antagonist continues to impose her presence upon you as you proceed through the game. Perhaps you should consider leaving the lights on for this one.
F.E.A.R. 2 is a continuation of the narrative from the first instalment. You are dropped in around five minutes before the reactor explosion – which occurs at the end of F.E.A.R. You play the role of Michael Becket, a Delta Force operator who is part of a squad that is sent in to locate Genevieve Aristide and take her into protective custody. This may sound like a run of the mill objective from any old first-person shooter, but it isn’t. The objectives takes a backseat somewhat as you find yourself immersed in a world of darkness spliced between unpredictable and horrifying hallucinations. Coming in and out of the visions can be very disorientating, which is excellent as it reinforces your own ‘fear’ and the fact that you are not in control – you have no idea what to expect next.
Personally, I was inclined within the first session on this game to declare it as the most terrifying game I have ever played and I stand by that. “What about Resident Evil?” I anticipate you asking. Well, this makes Resident Evil feel more like Super Mario Bros. By that, I mean that you can embrace the horror element of a Resident Evil game without feeling genuinely anxious about what could happen next, in the case of F.E.A.R. 2 I found myself to be physically tensed up with concentrative creases engraved upon my forehead. I put this down to the first-person perspective. It without a doubt adds to the realism of the game. It’s as if these events are happening to you rather than an over chiselled third-person rendering of Chris Redfield et al.
What the game has achieved stylistically would have been futile if it didn’t handle well. Thankfully, it has a very smooth feel to it and the controls are relatively simple and easy to pick up. Spooks and spectres are not the only adversaries Becket has to battle through. You also have to contend with black-ops mercenaries and ‘replica’ soldiers in copious quantities, for which the slow-motion combat function can come in real handy. A simple press of the triangle button will temporarily slow down time to allow you to take out a wave of mercenaries before they even get a shot off at you. Ace! Another feature I found to be a really innovative, and something I have not seen in other games, is the ability to interact with certain items in the environment and use them for cover. There is a decent range of weaponry at your disposal in F.E.A.R. 2 including an SMG and assault rifle. There is also a shotgun and napalm canon, not to mention the opportunities to jump on board a mech and cause some real chaos. Something which I am sure had fans of Shogo reminiscing.
So, considering you don’t have to stop playing this game to go for therapy you might be tempted to take it online. This is where the game resembles a more conventional first-person shooter with recognisable game modes, such as team deathmatch, free-for-all and capture the flag. Some game modes feature the mech robots which is good fun. The only downside to the multiplayer is after completing an online match you automatically get kicked right back to the game’s main menu, which can be a pain. It has to be said that playing F.E.A.R. 2 online is not as much fun as the campaign due to the lack of unexpected frighteners and hallucinations, but after fourteen chapters of this, standard solider skirmishes may provide a welcome respite. On the whole, a refreshingly terrifying title, that is not for the faint hearted.
Andy King
[Originally published on Friday, 13 March 2009]
Tags: fear, shooter, warner bros
