Tardy to the Party Review: F.E.A.R.

[Note: This review focuses solely on the single-player component of the original FEAR. The multiplayer and two expansion packs are not addressed here.]

"It is the way of men to make monsters. It is the nature of monsters to destroy their makers."

Something a little out of the ordinary is in order for today. Instead of a newer game, I'll be reviewing one that is nearly five years old: FEAR. Having been released in a value package with its two expansion packs, Perseus Mandate and Extraction Point, on Steam in May 2010, I was finally convinced to take the plunge. Having heard so much about the game and the series, I thought I knew what to expect, but what I got was something of a surprise. And that's not a bad thing.

F.E.A.R.
Developer: Monolith Productions
Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive
Release: 10/17/05 for the PC (version reviewed), also available on PS3 and Xbox 360

FEAR drops players into the boots of a nameless protagonist generally referred to as the FEAR Point Man. You are the newest recruit into FEAR (First Encounter Assault Recon), a special forces unit that specializes in dealing with paranormal threats. For your first mission, you and your FEAR allies are sent in to neutralize Paxton Fettel, a dangerous psychic who has taken control of an army of cloned soldiers called Replicas. However, it quickly becomes apparent that this will be no ordinary task. The Point Man soon starts having some strange experiences: Ghosts appear and mutter sinister warnings before dissolving into ash. Hallucinations of a bloody hospital hallway that leads to a room containing a mysterious, ghastly experiment. And sometimes-threatening visions of a dark-haired little girl in a red dress.

The story is laid out almost entirely in-game with very little in the way of cutscenes. Plot points are gradually revealed through answering machine messages and information downloaded from laptops. Who or what is Fettel, how did he come to control the Replica army, and what does he want? What is the corrupt defense contractor company Armacham hiding in its massive "Vault," and why do they want it destroyed so desperately? And who is that ghostly girl in the red dress who seems to be stalking you? All of these things are revealed piece by piece, but only to players willing to explore each area carefully. It should be noted that, despite its premise (and somewhat goofy title), FEAR is not a pure horror game like, say, Resident Evil or Silent Hill. It has its share of eerie moments, but it's mostly just enough to keep you tense and unnerved when you aren't shooting things.

For all its horror game pretense, FEAR is, at its core, an action FPS, and it's a very solid one. Players are armed with an assortment of standard shooter weapons such as a shotgun, assault rifle, and SMG, and a few more unique weapons (like a laser gun that can reduce human enemies to a smoking skeleton, and a nailgun that can pin enemy corpses to walls), as well as a Reflex ability that can temporarily slow down time enough to give players an edge. Combat has a different feel in FEAR compared to many other FPSs, with shootouts in small, confined environments and an emphasis on close-quarters and melee fighting (using a melee attack while moving can result in stylish moves like sliding kicks and even a flying bicycle kick).

The sound design, which also goes a long way in creating the game's creepy atmosphere, helps makes the guns feel so powerful. Every shot sounds loud, fierce, and satisfying. While the graphics aren't the best (it's a five year old game, after all), the enemy animations are surprisingly impressive. Enemies react convincingly to being shot, with arms jerking, bodies twisting, and legs being blown out from under bodies. Watching a Replica soldier twitch spasmodically and collapse in a cloud of red mist is immensely satisfying in its own gruesome way. All of these elements--the Reflex ability, the close-quarters combat, the sounds and animation--all come together to make every gunfight a sudden, violent display of bullet ballet with a stylized, John Woo movie feel.

I would be remiss in describing FEAR's combat if I did not address the stellar AI. In too many FPS games even now, AI means "run forward and shoot, occasionally throwing a grenade or hiding behind cover." Not so with FEAR. Enemies are well aware of their surroundings, and will use them to their advantage just like you. They will split up to flank you with surprising effectiveness, duck behind cover when they realize they are under fire, flip over tables and desks to create makeshift cover, and target explosive barrels near you. They will even realize if you are trying to get around them, and announce it to their comrades ("He's trying to flank!"). FEAR's impressively dynamic enemy AI is yet another element that raises it's action above most other shooters.

My issues with the game are relatively few. The graphics are fine for an older game, but environments are largely pretty bland and repetitive. The difficulty can be challenging, which is fine on its own, but sometimes it just becomes frustrating. And while I admire the fact that the story doesn't rely on cutscenes, it's easy to accidentally pass by a laptop containing a major plot point.

TL;DR: Going into FEAR, I was expecting a solid but ultimately forgettable horror shooter. What I got was one of the most impressive action FPS games I've played in a long time. It's not as scary as a Silent Hill or Dead Space (though it does have its moments), but it is far more intense and action-packed than either. If you find yourself with an itch for an excellent (and dirt cheap) action game, look no further.

Fully Loaded:
-Stylish, addictive gunplay
-Genuinely smart enemy AI
-Creepy atmosphere
-Story doesn't use cutscenes as a crutch

Haunted:
-Drab environments
-Too easy to miss important plot information
-Harsh difficulty spikes and enemies that are more annoying than smart
-Maybe not as scary as you might think.

Final Score: 9/10 (Excellent)
9's stand out above the crowd as all-around excellent experiences. Some minor flaws hold are holding the game back from timeless status, but nonetheless they are more than worth your time and money.