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PC Game Reviews: F.E.A.R.
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Posted by: Aramatheus on Nov 22, 2005
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F.E.A.R.I've been playing the game for a while now, and I must say that I'm almost embarassed about its effect on me. Once it startled me so much, that I almost jumped off my chair and I even yelled a bit. Scared the heck out of my mother and sister...
-Computer babble-
The atmosphere is unbelievable. But so are the computer requirements, in my humble opinion. Ofcourse new games need new hardware all the time, and the development of computer hardware continues with a speed greater than the speed of light. But still, be warned, this game is a resource-hog. I have a decent 2300Ghz computer with over 500 of ram, and a Nvidia GeForceFX 3dCard with over 500mb of memory, and STILL I have to use the lighter graphical settings. Oh well, maybe I've just been left behind...
-Graphics-
The graphics are really good, even at the lowest settings, so if you have a powerful enough computer, you'll probably be astonished by the graphical layout of the game. Blood is extremely realistic and looks good (a thing which you can't take for granted, just look at few standard FPS-games), and especially drips very nicely. To tell the truth, I had a hard time thinking that it was a game I was playing... Muzzle flash, reflections, good textures, F.E.A.R. has the works. Also the weapons look quite nice, although there could have been some minor changes/improvements to the weapon layout.. Perhaps that's just 'cause I'm not using the best settings. You should try out yourself.
-Sound-
And as for sound? Oh my... The audio environment of the game is astonishing. If there is blood dripping from the ceiling or from a body hanging loose from a rail, you can actually hear it. It's usually a lot more scary to hear the sound of dripping blood than actually seeing the source of it, even though that's scary too. Weapon sounds are good also even though I would have liked some more *punch* in them. Shotgun sounds nice. Voice acting is superb, and even the radio communcations heard in the game sound authentic, or atleast authentic enough to a non-military guys ears. Needless to say the game contais a fair amount of screaming, wailing and whispering, which is all done very professionally, sometimes scaring you so that you'll have to search for your mouse behind your computer desk.
-Atmosphere-
Ok, so as I said before, the atmosphere is created with the clever and devious use of several materials, including intense graphics, frightening audio and a claustrophobic feeling of über paranoia. If this game won't make you paranoid after playing it at midnight, in the dark and with your headphones on and turned to a loud enough setting...well, then you must be the Devil himself. Or just a very experienced horror-addict. I'd say that there are many parts in the game, in which the startling effect relies on the element of surprise, and the basic nature of the human being: What you do not know or understand, you fear or hate. Darkness, electrival devices falling down even though you haven't even touched them (yeah, go ahead, laugh... just wait until the first radio starts bullying you!), bodies found in strange places and in even stranger circumstances... Unexplainable interferance with your radio communication devices, voices coming from everywhere and nowhere, the constant sound of your footsteps..no wait..did that come from you? Don't turn back, you might just be scared out of your briefs...
-Something bothering me-
One thing that currently strikes me a bit odd in the game, is the way you are alone all the time. Ofcourse, in a game like this it's a good thing. It adds to the claustrophobical mood and makes things sometimes even scaryer. But I think they've made a mistake in this one.
[SPOILER/ALERT] There was one mission in which you flew to the contact point in a chopper with two squad members with you. As soon as you arrive on the scene, before you even get out of the chopper, the poor guys are shot down and their corpses fall down from the chopper. Then there was an earlier mission in which your friends also died almost immediately, in a more mysterious way... [SPOILER/ALERT]
I just can't help but gettings this weird feeling, that while making the game they sort of overdid the idea of killing all your friends in the game, or maybe there were some problems with the friendly AI and so they suddenly decided ( a day before releasing the game ) to always kill them.
-Gameplay-
I won't go to all of the micro-details, since I've always thought that too revealing reviews are a bit...discouraging. The weapons handle well, all of them having their own fire-rates,damage- and penetrationvalues. Despite some of the sluggish events due to computer power the interface works in a really good way. Turning around doesn't feel sticky, your crosshair is exactly where you need it (unless you're not so good at aiming, ofcourse ;>) and throwing grenades is done by the press of a button. Also the thing that was a really nice surprise was that F.E.A.R. has a set of melee attacks, and they work! You can subdue a basic enemy soldier with one well-aimed melee attack. Jumpkick, bash them in the face with your weapon or do a slide-kick to send your enemy into the place where all baddies go.. It's easy, fast and well done. Climbing ladders is a bit unnerving, as you can't hold your weapons out while climbing. In a game like this, in which you're really jumpy and on your toes almost all the time, this can cause you to panic sometimes. Despite that, it's more realistic than those games in which you can climb and shoot at the same time. (I guess the other gamecharacters are so muscular they can do that...)
Well, I haven't finished the game yet, so let's see how things develop. All in all, this is a release I recommend, (IF you have the needed punch in your hardware specs, you'll enjoy it even more). Great gameplay, unbelievable atmosphere, professional audio, a top-of-the-notch experience indeed.
Nice day to you, more games for me.
(Click on images to view fullsize) 
 
 
For more info on F.E.A.R. go to What Is Fear (F.E.A.R. official website) The views expressed on GameSlander.com are in no way associated with the creator of F.E.A.R., its publisher or any of its subsidiaries.
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