FEAR 3
Fright or flight?
Review If you've not followed developments in the FEAR franchise of late then you might be left somewhat puzzled by FEAR 3's initial goings-on – the game plunging the player into a set-up which is never particularly embellished or explained. Waking in a prison, series protagonist 'Point Man' must not only put up with his rather mundane moniker, but also once more set out in pursuit of his apparitional mother Alma – she being the root of all evil, cause for the end of days and so forth.
Hang in there
Luckily – though perhaps unluckily might be a better description – Point Man also has the malevolent spirit of his dearly departed psychotic brother, Paxton Fettel, in tow. Fettel, like Point Man, is also apparently on a preordained path to meet their mother, but as a raving lunatic, has a rather different view of the end of the world. Despite their differences (Point Man did after all fire the shot that killed his corporeal body) the two set off in begrudging tandem on their way to the inevitable showdown with mummy dearest.
Players will initially begin in Point Man's shoes, he being of the standard FPS mould. Expect him to soak up damage before magically regenerating, be able to instantly wield any and all weapons, sprint in short bursts and mêlée at close range.
Blood curdling?
He's also able to take advantage of his super-fast reflexes to see the world in slow motion (albeit in short bursts) which helps when taking out groups of hostiles. What's more, clearing any stage will unlock the ability to play through the same section as Fettel, adding a little longevity to proceedings.
Next page: Sequel you say?
COMMENTS
oh well
I knew this game was going to suck, FEAR was a masterpiece, the AI was cunning and the supernatural was used sparingly and to good effect, Alma was both an omnipresent terror and someone that on some level you developed a certain degree of empathy for (much like Sadako if you'd seen Ring 0 and gained more of her and her mothers back story.) The enemy in in FEAR was much more the people that had done what they did to Alma you reserved your hatred for them, dealing with Alma was a tragic necessity that you didn't relish in.
The second game, though developing the story some more also broke with the first games sense of pace and narrative, it became a bit more pop action with only a few memorable moments the AI had become a bit of a joke and the game became more of a "shoot at these waves of enemies for no particularly good reason whilst hiding behind cover." Learning more about Alma was really the only reason I finished the game.
When I got whiff of the third game and its co-op theme I knew the series was good and buried, not that I had much hope for a resurrection anyway. As it is I'll wait till it costs a fiver on steam as I want to see how they ruin the promising story set up in the original.
First Duke now this
Reviewed on the XBOX 360? Why?
Looking at things objectively the PC is leagues ahead when it comes to playing FPS games. The mouse and keyboard combo hasn't been bettered to date and the graphics are always going to be so much better.
If you are going to review games on here why not view them in their best light?
No mention of online pass
Second hand copies will not be able to do online as is.
review format
i think they said that they reviewed what they were given.
whats intresting is why they gave out a console game for review to a largely PC website. My only guess is that either A, they couldnt give a damn about PC, or B the PC version was crap....
indeed
Unfortunately due to the money and companies involved the main stream games industry is exactly like the holywood industry, games developed by committee and marketing teams based on "market research", the last "big thing", or a "recognised brand." Unfortunately after awhile all you have is a never ending stream of so so action flicks and a few rom coms and sit coms with the occasional piece of goreography.
Remember when horror films were fun? Or scary? There was a lot to be said for the tongue in cheek teen slasher era of films (from Halloween to I know what you did last summer and across to Freddie) Not anymore, they're either shot with a handycam or are full of people being vivisected. Most films have gone the same way being railroaded into insignificance. You can almost have a check sheet next to you and tick off the required events "martial arts style fight where they stand in a circle for no reason", "car chase with predictable crashes and whitty banter", "scene in a ware house", etc, etc, etc.
Then all the "re-imagining" of titles.
le sigh.
