F.E.A.R. 2 is the sequel to the 2005 hit F.E.A.R. F.E.A.R. was a rare FPS, as it included mystery, twists and downright scary moments. Does F.E.A.R. 2 have the same ‘fear' factor as the original? Gameplay: F.E.A.R. 2 starts just before the end of the first game. In F.E.A.R. 2 you play the role of Sgt Michael Becket who'd part of a Delta squad that was sent into a city that's become a war zone. This all came about due to the experimental cloned soldiers that were created by the Armacham Technology Corporation going bad and the black ops troops trying to get rid of everything and covering their stuff up. As in the first game there is the psychic image of Alma, the creepy little girl at the centre of the experiment, who creates her own type of carnage. The story starts with you trying to snatch the key Armcham exec before ATC can get to her, but when half the city is nuked in the explosion that ended the first game, you're knocked unconscious. Things only get worse when you wake up in a deserted and blood-spattered hospital. The full story is revealed as you collect the media discs which are located throughout the game. Playing F.E.A.R. 2 is an absolute pleasure. It is one of the more engaging FPS's out. In the time I have had with the game I simply can't put it down. While F.E.A.R. 2 looks and plays like a traditional FPS, it's the extra things that are included in the game that make it different and sets it apart from the rest. An ability you have that helps greatly when there are stacks of enemies to deal with is "slow-mo". Just a press of a button and for a short period everything slows down so that you can better handle the large amounts of enemies easier. New to F.E.A.R. are the down-sight aim and the ability to pilot mechs. When I heard you could pilot mechs in F.E.A.R. 2 I was somewhat sceptical as I wasn't sure how well that would fit into a FPS. I also have never liked games that involved piloting mechs before. To my surprise controlling a mech in F.E.A.R. 2 is a great experience and adds variety to the game. The mechs are easy to handle and the extra power in the guns you control while piloting the mech helps you deal with the hordes of enemies coming at you in those sequences. The A.I. in F.E.A.R. 2 is good as enemies take full advantage of the environments by taking cover behind pillars and knocking down tables. While playing F.E.A.R. 2 is essentially a FPS experience, just when you have finished dealing with lots of enemies and you think great I will walk to the next part of the level, Alma pops up and scares you to death with the psychic images that flash before your eyes. You also get scared when you are walking around the often poorly lit areas and you hear screaming and then see decimated bodies and even furniture flying out of nowhere. All this adds to the excitement of playing F.E.A.R. 2. Graphics: The graphics in F.E.A.R. 2 are some of the best seen in a FPS. Sure they are not quite up to Call of Duty standards but they are not far off. It looks great for what the game is trying to achieve as often there is a lot of dark areas where you can't see the great detail that has been put into the game, but the graphics suit the atmosphere of the game perfectly. It is great when you see slow-mo bullets carving out tracer paths through the air, debris kicking up and grenades creating a warping effect when they explode. Couple that with great lighting and shadowing effects and F.E.A.R. 2 looks like a fireworks extravaganza with all the stuff that is blowing up around you. Sound: The sound effects in F.E.A.R. 2 are of a high standard. The guns sound meaty and powerful that make you feel like you are firing something that's going to do some damage. The music sets the scary mood of the game well and suits the atmosphere of the game. Multiplayer: F.E.A.R. 2 has numerous options in multiplayer mode. There is Team Deathmatch, Capture-and-hold which is a capture the flag variant, and so on. Similar to games like COD4, you can choose a loadout of weapons and items by allocating a set amount of points, which creates a kind of character class without actually having one. A unique multiplayer mode is called "Armoured Front". This mode involves custom maps built around the three-story armoured EPA mech walkers. F.E.A.R. 2's online mode is very smooth as even when I played with people overseas, although there was some bullet lag, I didn't find myself transporting to different parts of the map like in some other shooters. This enabled me to at least play with overseas people effectively and without feeling like I was majorly disadvantaged. Although F.E.A.R. 2's multiplayer mode is good and has enough variations to keep most people happy, it doesn't have the depth and the stat tracking of games like COD4 and Halo 3. Overall: With an excellent single player campaign, a fairly good multiplayer mode great graphics and atmospheric sound, F.E.A.R.2 is one of the better shooters around. With a "FEAR" factor not present in traditional FPS's, F.E.A.R. 2 is a worthy addition to those looking for a scare as well as a high quality shooter. Gameplay: 9.1 F.E.A.R. 2 is an excellent FPS at its core and with the addition of piloting mechs you have one enjoyable experience. Graphics: 8.9 While not being as good looking as Gears 2 or COD: WAW, F.E.A.R. 2 does a great job of creating a scary atmosphere and great looking gun fights and explosions. Sound: 9.0 F.E.A.R. 2's sound helps create a great scary atmosphere. Turn off the lights and turn up the sound and be prepared to be frightened. Muliplayer: 8.2 While not as deep as other shooters, F.E.A.R. 2 provides enough multiplayer options to keep you busy for a decent length of time. Overall: 8.8 F.E.A.R. 2 is a worthy sequel and a great addition to the shooting genre. A must have for those who liked the original, like FPS's or those who want a fright. Review by Craig Cirillo
F.E.A.R. 2 360 REVIEW
