Fear Effect

"O.o - Expect something else."

-Visuals 10/10-

This game does have the visuals to make it for just that reason. The fact that the game is drawn like Resident Evil, and plays just like it, doesn't deter you from the fact that the visuals are all their own. Based in a rendered world {Aren't they all?} your character must sneak through several areas, and not get killed in the process.

The places that you travel through, are drawn nicely, and match the dark mood of the game. From skyscrapers to apartments, to trains, you'll see bery little of the same thing twice, which is a good thing. The characters of the game, are agents or mercenaries, and have that 'street' look to them, distiguishable from one another, and the way that they move.

Right down to the weapon selections, nothing in terms of detail was spared in the game, even bursts of steam look real enough to burn if you were to touch them. Such realism as that, makes the visual score what it is, a perfect 10. To find something to the visual effects, is hard enough to do these days, in the age of cinematics, but Fear Effect manages to do so.

-Sound 5/10-

The sound is so-so, but enough to keep you listening to it. Actually, you have no choice but to listen to the games music, because certain tones and music, along with the heart beat of your character, need to be heard, to tell you of danger that is close by.

Outside of that, there is very very little that says anything for the sound in this game. When playing, you may find yourself wondering why there was music put in at all, it doesn't seem to match some of the times, and some of the sound effects don't come off sounding right, even with a stereo system.

-Control 5/10-

Ick. That sums it up. Having to scroll through a mass of menus to use a certain weapon, you need to take a momnet to make sure that you're using the right one. Also, you have the option to holster your weapon, or have it drawn. This right there, makes the game harder to play, when going to shoot or stab someone, and you holster your weapon instead of firing or stabbing. Talk about annoyance.

As far as control configuration, there are a couple of options, but that just mucks up the buttons worse than they already are. Controlling your character through the game, is tough, very tough. You have to crouch, and hold the button to walk crouch..then you have to hold down a button to run...then another to draw a weapon, another to move...

Too many button presses.

The auto aiming is a nice touch, but when you've got two targets, and they're moving, it's hard to get a shot off at the one you want to hit. This, is another example of the sloppy, sluggish, horribly set controls.

-Gameplay 5/10-

This is a puzzle game set in an action setting. There are times where you have to be sneaky, and then other places to have a firefight..that's all go and fine, but come on! Sometimes you don't have a choice..and the computer is smater than you are...even if you stab someone with a knife, you alert another guard close by..where as if you shoot them, they don't come running.

Then you have the Fear Meter. Let me tell you something about this little indicator. Even if you've made it through and not been hit, if that thing starts jumping, then it's a good chance that the first thing to hit you, is going to kill you. The Fear Meter measures your fear level, if you're in a dangerous situation, your heart races, and your aiming goes all to hell. Then, if you get nailed, that's it, game over, and you have to start from the last place saved.

This makes for some very very interesting situations, especially if you get nailed and don't realize it...the situation being, that controller of yours, is going right through the television screen. I'm a fan of tough games...it's the challenge that drives me forward..but when I come across something like this, it doesn't make we want to play, it makes me want something else.

The puzzles are maddeningly difficult, as you swtich through your team at certain points in the game. There are times where you have to do a three part puzzle, and need to control all of teh characters in your team. This doesn't sound too hard? Try doing it, and having no idea what to do..again, more annoyance.

You need infinate patience with this game, and that's a fact.

-Overall 6/10-

While I am a fan of tough games, this one is way tough. No rookie gamer will be able to get this the first 20 times they play, and even vetern games will have a hard time understanding, controlling, and getting through the first couple of discs in the game. Thelength alone is extensive, but that's not the problem...it's the gameplay itself.

Sometimes you have to do puzzles that you wouldn't think of, and then you do them, only after backtracking half way across the game cause you missed out on something so simple. That's enough to make you scream. This game has teh visuals, yes it does..and they look great, but you can't base an entire game on just that alone.

This game is a rental only. Don't buy into the hype, and get yourself into a game that you won't like, if you rent it, and you like it, then by all means, go for it, and buy it...it really is a good game, if you can figure it out, and don't mind the insane difficulty.

Reviewer's Score: 6/10, Originally Posted: 03/31/00, Updated 03/31/00