Unlike the cinematic AAA releases of modern gaming today, Fear Effect doesn’t sacrifice what makes games fun to play in order to achieve an engrossing experience.
While recent AAA games often prioritize cinematic experiences at the expense of player agency, Fear Effect seamlessly blends cinematic elements with gameplay that demands active participation. Instead of mindlessly going through the motions with unenthusiastic side quests and simplistic action, you are constantly problem solving and thinking quickly on your feet. You don’t need to sacrifice effective gameplay to have a cinematic experience, and Fear Effect proves that.
The narrative is a winding and strange tale featuring morally gray characters and an eccentric plot that defies expectations set by disc 1. While relatively straightforward and easy to follow, it remains engaging due to how unique it is. The unexpected twists and turns, unparalleled plot devices, and impressive pacing will leave you eager to see what happens next.
This game is a technical marvel. Every single background is an FMV, similar to a sparse few scenes in Final Fantasy VII. They transition smoothly and the various surroundings are all breathing and full of life. But it’s not all looks, the FMV’s are a huge part of Fear Effect’s gameplay philosophy, as boss fights and puzzles use these often. Fear Effect is only 7 or so hours and it’s on 4 discs. It could be the shortest 4 disc game in the PS1’s library, but I’m not sure.
While Fear Effect is more simple in level design and lacks a consistent labyrinthine structure such as those found in survival horror contemporaries, it compensates in surprising ways. The intuitive combat, with its quick invincible dodge roll, stealth elements, remarkable enemy variety, and real-time ammo and weapon management is possibly the best combat found in a fixed camera-angle tank control release, only rivaled by the intense fast-paced arcade action of Dino Crisis 2. The wholly unique set-pieces that work congruently with pre-established gameplay mechanics offer ever-changing variety. Moreover, the puzzles in Fear Effect strike a perfect balance. They are challenging enough to engage players and make you rack your brain, yet avoid veering into cryptic territory. I was able to complete Fear Effect without referring to a guide. All these aspects contribute to the creation of fantastic level design. It is simpler than something like the original Resident Evil but still succeeds in keeping the player in a perpetual state of problem-solving and critical thinking.
Getting into Fear Effect can be a bit daunting, however. It’s a difficult game with swift deaths during combat and has a reliance on a trial and error design philosophy. Granted, there are sections in Fear Effect that exhibit poor design, showcasing trial and error at its most frustrating, The initial helicopter encounter and the train boss fight being prime offenders that come to mind. However, these instances, while occasionally perplexing, were seldom frustrating. They never dissuaded my pursuit of the next plot revelation, combat challenge, or mind-bending puzzle.
The trial and error design and swift deaths can be peculiar at times. Staring at the loading screen for 10 seconds isn’t fun, but the rest of this game sure is. It seamlessly blends enthralling storytelling and cinematic elements without sacrificing gameplay whatsoever. Fear Effect excels at survival horror puzzle solving and action. The level design is less complex than the contemporaries on the PS1, but it successfully blends it’s elements together to make an immersive experience that I’d recommend to survival horror fans, PS1 enthusiasts, and anyone that enjoys good video games.
9/10
While recent AAA games often prioritize cinematic experiences at the expense of player agency, Fear Effect seamlessly blends cinematic elements with gameplay that demands active participation. Instead of mindlessly going through the motions with unenthusiastic side quests and simplistic action, you are constantly problem solving and thinking quickly on your feet. You don’t need to sacrifice effective gameplay to have a cinematic experience, and Fear Effect proves that.
The narrative is a winding and strange tale featuring morally gray characters and an eccentric plot that defies expectations set by disc 1. While relatively straightforward and easy to follow, it remains engaging due to how unique it is. The unexpected twists and turns, unparalleled plot devices, and impressive pacing will leave you eager to see what happens next.
This game is a technical marvel. Every single background is an FMV, similar to a sparse few scenes in Final Fantasy VII. They transition smoothly and the various surroundings are all breathing and full of life. But it’s not all looks, the FMV’s are a huge part of Fear Effect’s gameplay philosophy, as boss fights and puzzles use these often. Fear Effect is only 7 or so hours and it’s on 4 discs. It could be the shortest 4 disc game in the PS1’s library, but I’m not sure.
While Fear Effect is more simple in level design and lacks a consistent labyrinthine structure such as those found in survival horror contemporaries, it compensates in surprising ways. The intuitive combat, with its quick invincible dodge roll, stealth elements, remarkable enemy variety, and real-time ammo and weapon management is possibly the best combat found in a fixed camera-angle tank control release, only rivaled by the intense fast-paced arcade action of Dino Crisis 2. The wholly unique set-pieces that work congruently with pre-established gameplay mechanics offer ever-changing variety. Moreover, the puzzles in Fear Effect strike a perfect balance. They are challenging enough to engage players and make you rack your brain, yet avoid veering into cryptic territory. I was able to complete Fear Effect without referring to a guide. All these aspects contribute to the creation of fantastic level design. It is simpler than something like the original Resident Evil but still succeeds in keeping the player in a perpetual state of problem-solving and critical thinking.
Getting into Fear Effect can be a bit daunting, however. It’s a difficult game with swift deaths during combat and has a reliance on a trial and error design philosophy. Granted, there are sections in Fear Effect that exhibit poor design, showcasing trial and error at its most frustrating, The initial helicopter encounter and the train boss fight being prime offenders that come to mind. However, these instances, while occasionally perplexing, were seldom frustrating. They never dissuaded my pursuit of the next plot revelation, combat challenge, or mind-bending puzzle.
The trial and error design and swift deaths can be peculiar at times. Staring at the loading screen for 10 seconds isn’t fun, but the rest of this game sure is. It seamlessly blends enthralling storytelling and cinematic elements without sacrificing gameplay whatsoever. Fear Effect excels at survival horror puzzle solving and action. The level design is less complex than the contemporaries on the PS1, but it successfully blends it’s elements together to make an immersive experience that I’d recommend to survival horror fans, PS1 enthusiasts, and anyone that enjoys good video games.
9/10