"One of the best PC shooters I've ever seen."

I hadn't bought a computer game in quite a long time. But when I first saw F.E.A.R., I decided to give it a try.A week or two before its release, I downloaded the Single-player and Multi-player Demos, both of which were amazing, and addictive. Of course, the Single-player Demo is very short -- only a fraction of the real game. And the Multi-player Demo only has two arenas. But other than that, the actual game is very similar to these free demos, so if you've played them, you probably have a pretty good idea of what the game is like... and if you liked them, you won't be disappointed when you buy it.

The first thing I noticed after buying F.E.A.R. was that the system requirements are pretty heavy. You need a VERY good computer to run the game smoothly, at full capacity. (If you don't have a fast computer, you can adjust the graphics and performance... it won't always look as pretty, but at least you'll have a functioning game... and graphics aren't all that matter, right?) The second thing I noticed, when I began to install it, is that the game has FIVE DISCS. That's right, five. The first four CDs are all for installation, which really shows how big this game is. The fifth CD is what you'll use to play... don't lose it. And don't give up on this game just because of the long installation time. Yes, it takes a while, and unless you have the special edition (which apparently has everything on one DVD), then you'll have to keep switching out install discs. But in the end, it's worth the wait.

Single-player mode... well, let me first say that the opening scene is absolutely amazing. Even the music, which I usually don't pay attention to, is especially good here. Don't expect to understand the phone call in the beginning of the game just yet, though. In fact, you might need to play through a couple times to actually understand the storyline. (The makers of the game try to make it deep and complex, but sometimes, it's just confusing... I just hope they make an expansion pack or a sequel to fill some of the some plot-holes and missing information.) All I can really say about the storyline without spoiling it is that a powerful psychic named Paxton Fettel has taken control of a few cloned soldiers... and by a few I mean a whole battalion of them. They only respond to his command, and he seems to want you dead. As the storyline unfolds, you'll learn more about Fettel, and the freaky-looking girl on the cover that looks like she was taken straight out of The Ring. Most of this storyline is revealed through dialogue, rather than cut-scenes. (Apparently a lot of people forgot to check their answering machines, because you can find dozens of them, still blinking.) Listening to phone calls, and uploading information from laptops, are your sources of storyline information. The only problem is that if you miss a laptop, or a phone, you might miss some of the plot.

The gameplay, in Single-player, is much better than the storyline. So don't flip out if you don't understand something... just have fun blowing people's heads off, and enjoy the spooky atmosphere of the game. The first time you play through the single-player mode, it really is pretty freaky. That cannibalistic nutcase, Paxton Fettel, seems more like a ghost than a man, and the little girl will basically stalk you through certain areas of the game. There are also a few flashback-type scenes, where you'll suddenly find yourself walking through a hallway, with blood up to your knees, and a girl screaming somewhere in the distance. But this is only scary the first time around... after you beat the game, you'll be bored with it if you go back to play it a second time. The only replay value comes from the combat.

There are plenty of weapons to play around with, and the enemy AI is extremely well-done. They use every aspect of the environment to hide, take cover, or corner you. They even talk to each other, and radio for help -- I'm not sure if other enemies actually respond when they do, but it's still funny to hear what they say. (Speaking of dialogue, the game's profanity is off the charts. I don't recommend buying this for a young child.) For example, when you throw a grenade, it isn't uncommon for the enemy to yell "F**K!" just before exploding into a million little pieces, or shouting "DIE MOTHERF***ER!" when they see you. And the violence... oh baby. Body parts flying everywhere. It's insane. The way the enemies' bodies move when you blast them with a shotgun is actually quite realistic. (Rag-doll physics, anyone?) And if you're lucky, you'll see an arm, a leg, or even a head fly off when you use heavy weapons. The most amusing way to kill them, however, is to blow them up completely -- sometimes they're reduced to nothing more than a huge cloud of blood or a pile of arms and legs.

The variety of weapons is pretty standard, but they're still fun to use. Explosives like fragmentation grenades, proximity mines, and remote bombs are all pretty effective, but increasingly difficult to use effectively. Anyone can throw a grenade and blow up a few thugs, but it takes some skill to place a proximity mine strategically, or actually use the remote bombs. Most of the guns consist of assault rifles, sub-machine guns, pistols, shotguns, and some more explosives like rocket launchers. But everyone's favorite weapon, the Type-7 Particle Weapon, is actually something original. Basically, it's a laser, which almost always kills in one hit, and burns all the enemy's flesh except for their bones, leaving nothing but a charred skeleton on the ground. Awesome.

The best aspect of the gameplay, however, is the reflex booster, which is much like the "combat booster" from Perfect Dark -- it basically throws the whole game into slow-motion, to give you more reaction time, and a general advantage over the enemies. (In other words, bullet-time... although you won't be going fast enough to actually dodge bullets.) Unfortunately, you can only "boost" for a short amount of time, but it really helps in tough combat situations. It can turn an impossible fight into a cake-walk... you'll feel invincible. That is, until the meter runs out and everything returns to normal speed again. So use it wisely. The reflex booster, along with the variety of weapons and ingeniously-designed maps, all make strategy an important aspect of the game. Simply running in with guns blazing won't always work out the way you want it to.

F.E.A.R.'s Multi-player mode is just as awesome. It's absolutely free to play online (given that you have the game and an internet connection), and you don't need to set up an account with anyone. Just click multi-player, find servers, pick a username and go. The most popular game type seems to be Deathmatch. (You all know what that is.) Of course, you can play free-for-all, or with teams. And if you get bored of that, there's also Capture the Flag and Elimination, and "Slow-mo" versions of each game type, where you can find reflex boosters to slow down the game, and give you the advantage. There are about 10 different maps to play on, some of them only big enough for 2-6 players, and some of them large enough for up to 16 players in one game. And when you have a full game, it can get pretty chaotic. The only problem I have is that the game doesn't seem to be compatible with microphones, so you have to type to your teammates and enemies.

So, time to wrap things up. There isn't much to say about the game's controlling, other than the fact that you'll most likely be using a keyboard and a mouse. Almost all of these controls can be changed in the menu, so you can play any way you want. The graphics are pretty impressive, if you have a fast computer. But if you turn down the performance and graphics levels, in order to run the game more smoothly, you'll most likely sacrifice a lot of resolution and detail for better frame rate. So the graphics really depend on what type of computer you have. I can say, however, that the fire and explosions are pretty realistic, in comparison to other games. The sound mostly consists of gunshots and explosions, and the music, although creepy, isn't worth mentioning, except for the opening scene. The voice acting, however, is really great. (With such high-quality voices, and so much to say, it's no wonder the game is five discs.) All in all, F.E.A.R. is an amazing game, and if you cared enough to read this whole review, you're probably going to like it.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 11/11/05