F.E.A.R.

"Nothing to fear but F.E.A.R. itself."

One of the things the X-Box 360 has an abundance of is first person shooters. I see why this is because the controller lends itself towards giving FPS games a comfortable control scheme. Having put plenty of time in with other FPS games on the 360 I was initially hesitant to pick this game up. I honestly didn't want to play another FPS unless it was going to give me a unique experience.

After reading about the game extensively and talking with people who played the PC version and loved it I finally decided to give the game a chance. I'm honestly glad I did because it is not only a great FPS but also one of the best games out there for the X-Box 360. This is also one of the scariest games I've ever played.

Graphics: 9.5 / 10

Some of the best graphics so far on the X-Box 360.The guns and characters all have a great amount of detail and work and move fluidly. When you shoot an enemy they react to where you shot them and when you use certain weapons they will explode in a realistic fashion.

Also the game has some of the best lighting that I've seen so far. The lighting adds greatly to how the game scares you. Many elements of the horror involve things in the dark and it really keeps you alert anytime you have to enter the dark. Another thing about the lighting I liked is that in dark areas the game has detailed obstacles. Many games the only thing you'll run into in dark areas is walls. In certain situations you also can use these obstacles for cover.

The only reason I didn't give this a perfect score is many of the environments in the game look the same. Most of the game takes place in buildings and most of the locations look alike with the same kind of fixtures and furniture. I'm not going to hold it against the game too much though because everything else looks beautiful.

Controls: 9.5 / 10

I have to say that the game has one of my personal favorite control schemes for a FPS. The initial control scheme for the game takes getting used to but once you get a feel for where everything is mapped out it works very well. One of the difficulties with many PC games that are ported over to a console is that the controls feel off. In this game that isn't a problem.

Everything is mapped out well and goes according to many other FPS games out there. The only thing I really have a problem with is how you use the command to lean. It's mapped to the control pad and during a firefight if you want to use this feature you have to take you fingers away from the thumbstick that controls your movement. I wish they had found a better way to implement this because I like using it and it can be an asset during firefights.

Sound: 9.5 / 10

The sound in the game is great and adds to the experience. Each of the weapons sound realistic and give off appropriate noise for how you use them. The environments will make the appropriate sounds depending on how you interact with them. You can knock items off shelves and walk over debris and the game makes an appropriate sound.

The best part about the sound though is hearing enemy squads. You'll hear their transmissions every time you're about to enter a firefight with them. During battles you'll also hear all of their commands and it helps you get a good gauge on where they're located and also to know if they've called in reinforcements.

It also adds to the horror aspects of the game. You'll often hear someone whispering off in the distance or you'll hear the laughter of the little girl who follows you throughout the game. Also stuff will fly off shelves or fly through the air and you'll hear every single bit of it.

Gameplay: 9.5 / 10

In what would typically be a bland and average shooter is saved by one of the best implementations of slow motion used in any game so far. Slow motion has been a popular device used in games for a while. Many games it feels like a gimmick and it isn't much fun to use.

In F.E.A.R. they made it an essential tool for survival. You can get through the first few hours with minimal use but eventually it becomes necessary for every fight. The game makes it feel authentic and it's a good thing too because the game has some of the most intelligent enemy AI I've ever seen.

Your opponents move and act like a real squad. They take cover, try to flank you, and generally do everything they can to take you out while keeping themselves safe. It keeps you on your toes and when you're in a firefight you never feel safe until every last enemy is dead.

Story: 7.75 / 10

I'd say that this is the weakest aspect of the game. It's not that the game has a bad story, it's just how the implemented it throughout the game. Instead of having cutscenes the game opts to keep most of the story within actual play. What this means is if you want to know more about what's happening you have to stop and get information off various computers and telephones scattered throughout the game.

There are also a few points in the game where the horror elements take over and the environment changes to a more disturbing setting. I won't ruin them for you but I will say many of them are unsettling and at times I had to take a break afterwards.

I have a feeling that many people who play the game will never really understand what's going on because they didn't stop and get the information. I wish they would have had more of the story happen within out of game segments or something along the line of when the environment changes for the horror segments. The story is good though and at least worth paying attention to the first time through.

Length: 8.25 / 10

On lower difficulties it'll take about 10 - 14 hours to complete depending on your skill with FPS games. On a higher difficulty the time it takes to complete the game greatly increases because the enemies become much more difficult to handle and ammo is less abundant.

I haven't gotten a chance to play online yet but from what I've read it isn't much different from other FPS games. I really didn't play this game for the multiplayer though. The single player is enough for me and the enemies are smart enough that I never missed playing against actual people.

Another thing that adds plenty of length is trying to complete some of the achievements within the game. The game has some of the most difficult achievements to accomplish that I've seen on any X-Box 360 game. It'll challenge any gamer out there to try and accomplish many of these achievements.

Overall: 9 / 10

The game really sets itself apart by offering an intense experience that few other games can rival. It also has better implementation of its horror elements than many survival horror games out there. Even if you don't' want to buy the game it's still worth renting just to experience one of the best FPS games out there

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 01/16/07