F.E.A.R. Extraction Point

"Is it an expansion or a demo?"

F.E.A.R.: Extraction Point is a FPS developed by Monolith and TimeGate and is the expansion of F.E.A.R.. Being a successful game there was no reason for Monolith Productions not to make an expansion for it. The main problems of the original game where a badly executed plot and a linear\repetitive gameplay. These problems unfortunately remain here and the extra stuff aren't enough to save the game.

Story: 2/10

After the large explosion in the facility where the adult body of Alma was, you escape in a helicopter along with your bodies and then… Alma appears in a very creepy way giving you one last scare. The expansion starts from the moment you came out of your crushed aircraft with the reason why that happened unexplained, (crushing helicopters is a tradition in F.E.A.R. along with dying hostages or comrades). Your mission is to get to the extraction point where another helicopter will be waiting for you. Of course along your quest you'll meet some more info about various secret Projects and some stuff about our sweet little girl Alma. Get ready for even more confusion that the first game though. Alma appears in her adult and child form behaving differently each time, Fettel comes to life, I don't know how and brings the Replica Army back to life and finally the few details you'll find along your quest are not enough in order to find out what's happening or at least create a mystery, its as if the developers had made a storyline full of holes only to support all the gun play in the game. Bad, bad, bad… bad!

Graphics: 9/10

The graphics are pretty much of the same quality something that of course isn't bad, but the problems of the first game are still here. Although we have some more areas in the game, in the end everything looks the same like in the first game and you'll soon get bored of the same environment over and over. We have some more enemies in the game that aren't something special but have good design nonetheless. Another bad thing though is the fact that the expansion needs a bit more CPU\GPU power something that is reasonable to say the truth since you'll often fight against much larger groups of enemies than you would in the original game. Also there are some more scary parts more bizarre than the first game but most of these scenes are close to the end of the game.

Sound: 8/10

The sound remains of the same quality again, something that means very good for the most part but with the same problems, (weak weapon sounds). Also our friendly Alma tends to whisper to you a bit more creating an even creepier mood.

Gameplay: 4/10

So we have an expansion on our hands, what do we expect? Extra stuff!!! What do we have? Unfortunately there are only a few. Some more enemies like a riot guard, a gargantuan robot, a new creature similar to the assassins of the first game since they are almost invisible and hit n' run in groups. We also have a few more weapons like a gatling gun and a lazer, both usable by enemies too. Finally we have the remote turret grenade type, which is used like a mine that shoots your enemies.

The game is even more linear from the original. You get from point A to point B and kill stuff or feel a chill at your spine once in a while. The main difference is that Extraction Point tends to have more and more challenging fights from F.E.A.R. that due to the reason that you'll now have to fight against more Replica Soldiers at the same time or larger groups of advanced enemies. The game gets very boring even battles are much more fun than before and the fault goes to the linear and repetitive gameplay and the duration of the game. Usually all expansions have that last problem but nothing in my years as a gamer can be compared to that game which is an insult to those people who have bought it. Extraction Point is small… REEEALLY small!!! 5 hours maximum and that's it… no more! A bad expansion at best which has zero replay value and doesn't worth its money…

Positives:
-More battles with harder enemies that attack you in larger groups
-Still a very atmospheric and creepy game

Negatives:
-The plot was confusing… but now it's bad!
-Needs more CPU\GPU power
-Very linear and extremely small

Also Play:
Doom 3 (PC)
Half-Life 1-2 (PC)
System Shock 1-2 (PC)

Overall: 5.7/10

A typically rushed product, Extraction Point was meant to make a few more bucks but I hope it doesn't make any. The only reason to play it is to complete your collection of F.E.A.R. games, (the reason why idiots like me have it), and the battles that even better than in the first game.

Reviewer's Score: 6/10, Originally Posted: 01/14/08

Game Release: F.E.A.R. Extraction Point (EU, 10/27/06)