F.E.A.R. Extraction Point

"Just as fun as FEAR and just as confusing"

Fear: Extraction Point is the expansion to the rather freaky game FEAR. Fear is actually an acronym for First Encounter Assault Recon. This game, being only an expansion, is really just a short add-on to the story. There are a few other features…but the main reason to get this game is if you want to find out what happens after the ending of the main game.

Graphics
As expected, the graphics are the same. However, they are not as resource efficient as the main game. I could play the main game on my old ATI 9800PRO at 1024x768 without any problems. In this game, however, I had to town it down to an embarrassing 800x600 in order to get constant playable frame rates. This did not stop me from enjoying the game though.

Sound
Sound is the same, just a creepy as the first. In fact, they are probably a little freakier as Alma seems to talk to you a lot more. I also really like the realistic noise you make as you walk around. That really adds to the atmosphere.

Controls
Controls are a carbon copy of the original game. Your basic WSAD type controls.

Game-play
The game plays exactly the same as the original FEAR. However, there are a few additional features. You have a few more weapons, alone with a few more enemies. First, there is a laser gun and a chain gun. Both are in the heavy weapon category and are very helpful in taking down those heavy armored guys. Second, with those new weapons come new enemies that use them against you. There is a heavily armored guy with a Riot Shield that usually welds the chain gun, and every now and then one of the regular grunts comes out with a laser gun.

The other new enemy is one that is similar to the Assassins in the first game. You know those “monkey-like” creatures that sneak up on you and give you a quick jab that does more damage than you would think? Yeah them; well they are back in this game, and they have some friends. There is a completely invisible version of them. All you see are 2 read eyes coming at you, and of course, they usually attack in groups.

The other new thing is the remote turret. You can drop it like a mine, except that it shoots at your enemies. This provides to be a great help, not really because of the damage it does, but it distracts your enemies. When you are about to get ambushed, if you have a few of these…it evens the odds immensely when you break them out.

Story
If you thought the main game was confusing…you haven't seen anything yet. Without giving much away, Fettle is back and seems to be the one who revives the Clone solders. How Fettle is still alive remains a mystery. Things are a weird as ever when all your buddies die of something killing them, yet that “thing” does not seem to touch you at all. You keep hearing the troopers talk about something big that will happen, but you never investigate and that big event never happens. Alma at times appears to help you, but at other times does not, and really the list just goes on.

There are quite a few flashbacks that seem to explain a little more about Alma, but everything is open to interpretation. There isn't really anything concrete. The point of the game is to tell show you what happened right after the ending of the main game. Your chopper crashes and you just have get to the Extraction Point where another one will pick you up. But another rather confusing ending happens again.

One would suppose that all of this will be explained in Fear 2…if there is one. This game just leaves you with more questions than it does answers. Although, I must say, it was about 5 or so more hours of FEAR…if that's worth the price tag of an expansion pack, then I say you should probably get this game. All of your favorite elements of the main game are here, including the cool implementation of bullet time. Just don't expect to have your questions answered.

Reviewer's Score: 6/10, Originally Posted: 05/25/07