(Around 8 hours to complete, excluding the DLCs)
This is Max Payne in first person combined with an Asian horror movie. Seems like a recipe for disaster, right? Surprisingly no, because this is the crown jewel of Monolith, so it's actually pulled off perfectly. F.E.A.R. manages to combine both really intense FPS combat and horror without using cheap jumpscares.
Story
You are part of a special forces group, specialized in dealing with the paranormal, that is tasked with taking out a terrorist organization almost entirely made from mind-controlled soldiers. There is also a grander story told about corruption, cover-ups and a secret experiment. Overall, it's not a bad story, but it's not what makes F.E.A.R. so good. (Also, you are mute)
Gameplay
There are two ways to play the game. The first one is basically a John Woo movie. Using the slow-motion mechanic and blasting your way through every combat encounter. Combined with the amazing visual effect, this makes for a very entertaining show. The second way is by unbinding the slow-motion button and increasing the difficulty. This turns the game into an intense tactical shooter where wits matter more than reaction time. This is possible because of the amazing AI the enemies possess. They will constantly be trying to surround you and outsmart you. My biggest problem with the game is the level design. After going through the one hundredth office, I start to feel like even a sewer would be a welcome change of scenery. The horror aspect of the game can be scary, but it really depends on you.
Graphics and artstyle
For a game from 2005 it holds up really well. The only thing that gives away its age is the models, and that is only if you look closely. It is a sci-fi game as well, and you can see that in the weapons, but it's also realistic. The terrorists use surplus vehicles, the enemies don't have a hundred lights on their body armor. This combined with the low light environments make for an incredibly atmospheric journey.
Soundtrack
It has a soundtrack that is both well-fitting and not at all generic. It strikes a balance of both haunting and intense. However, I wouldn't say it's anything groundbreaking.
Final Thoughts
If F.E.A.R. 2 and 3 went in a different direction, this could have been an amazing franchise.
This is Max Payne in first person combined with an Asian horror movie. Seems like a recipe for disaster, right? Surprisingly no, because this is the crown jewel of Monolith, so it's actually pulled off perfectly. F.E.A.R. manages to combine both really intense FPS combat and horror without using cheap jumpscares.
Story
You are part of a special forces group, specialized in dealing with the paranormal, that is tasked with taking out a terrorist organization almost entirely made from mind-controlled soldiers. There is also a grander story told about corruption, cover-ups and a secret experiment. Overall, it's not a bad story, but it's not what makes F.E.A.R. so good. (Also, you are mute)
Gameplay
There are two ways to play the game. The first one is basically a John Woo movie. Using the slow-motion mechanic and blasting your way through every combat encounter. Combined with the amazing visual effect, this makes for a very entertaining show. The second way is by unbinding the slow-motion button and increasing the difficulty. This turns the game into an intense tactical shooter where wits matter more than reaction time. This is possible because of the amazing AI the enemies possess. They will constantly be trying to surround you and outsmart you. My biggest problem with the game is the level design. After going through the one hundredth office, I start to feel like even a sewer would be a welcome change of scenery. The horror aspect of the game can be scary, but it really depends on you.
Graphics and artstyle
For a game from 2005 it holds up really well. The only thing that gives away its age is the models, and that is only if you look closely. It is a sci-fi game as well, and you can see that in the weapons, but it's also realistic. The terrorists use surplus vehicles, the enemies don't have a hundred lights on their body armor. This combined with the low light environments make for an incredibly atmospheric journey.
Soundtrack
It has a soundtrack that is both well-fitting and not at all generic. It strikes a balance of both haunting and intense. However, I wouldn't say it's anything groundbreaking.
Final Thoughts
If F.E.A.R. 2 and 3 went in a different direction, this could have been an amazing franchise.