Squeek
Headphoneus Supremus
- Joined
- Feb 9, 2005
- Posts
- 1,545
- Likes
- 11
F.E.A.R
I picked it up last week as it is one of the few PC titles that I was truly interested in getting, but I refuse to game on my PC. I heard many great things about it, so I figured it would keep me occupied until Gears of War and CoD 3.
Graphics
The character models are excellent. The textures and lighting are great. However, the world outside of the corridor you happen to be wreaking carnage in is just not that pretty. It has helipcopter scenes like GRAW where you are being transported from one area to another, and the city below you looks just awful. However, to me that is a minor annoyance, as what is directly in your face and your immediate surroundings is very pretty. Frame rate is locked at 30 FPS in single player. I never saw a single dip in the frame rate, and no screen tearing at all.
Gameplay
First off, the AI is amazing. Your enemies are truly intelligent and employ different strategies to take you out. They are always out to flank you and find cover for themselves. It makes for very fun and often difficult battles. The combination of enemy AI and the arsenal you are given to lay waste to them is what makes this game good. I would have loved to see more variety in enemy types though, as you always seem to be fighting the same packs of grunts until the levels "major battle" where they throw some heavy armour at you along with the packs of grunts.
However, graphically, not everything is coming up roses. The environments get stale, the levels are not very well designed, and it ends up feeling like you are stuck in one never ending corridor. Sure, there a few ladders to climb and a couple of enclaves or rooftops to battle on, but 95% of the time you will be cleaning out corridors or very cramped rooms connected by said corridors.
The slo mo is a nice touch. Obviously not the first time it has been employed in a FPS, but it works well here.
The weapons are also excellent. Well balanced and FUN! You can explode baddies with a point blank shotgun blast, rip them to shreds with the automatics, or pulverise them with rockets or grenades. There is also a nice energy gun which acts as a sniper rifle of sorts to cook the meat off your opponents bones. Very visceral, and very satisfying across the board.
There is a supernatural theme that runs throughout the game and it makes for some creepy moments. It has some "dreamscape" vignettes a la Max Payne, featuring a creepy little girl that explodes people at will, and a psychotic, cannibal battalion leader with psychic abilities. Very neat.
Sound
Outstanding. Very well mixed for 5.1. Everything sounds just right. The sound effects for the weapons are awesome. Creepy "supernatural" ambient sounds and above average voice acting round out a very tasty and immersive aural experince
Overall I'd say this is a purchase or at the very least a rental unless you have played it on PC, or if you just rather play FPS on your PC. I can understand people in that camp, but I'd rather be on my couch with a controller.
I can't speak to the multiplayer, as I just finished the SP campaign and have not gone online yet, though it should lend itself very well to some multiplayer mayhem.
8.5/10
I picked it up last week as it is one of the few PC titles that I was truly interested in getting, but I refuse to game on my PC. I heard many great things about it, so I figured it would keep me occupied until Gears of War and CoD 3.
Graphics
The character models are excellent. The textures and lighting are great. However, the world outside of the corridor you happen to be wreaking carnage in is just not that pretty. It has helipcopter scenes like GRAW where you are being transported from one area to another, and the city below you looks just awful. However, to me that is a minor annoyance, as what is directly in your face and your immediate surroundings is very pretty. Frame rate is locked at 30 FPS in single player. I never saw a single dip in the frame rate, and no screen tearing at all.
Gameplay
First off, the AI is amazing. Your enemies are truly intelligent and employ different strategies to take you out. They are always out to flank you and find cover for themselves. It makes for very fun and often difficult battles. The combination of enemy AI and the arsenal you are given to lay waste to them is what makes this game good. I would have loved to see more variety in enemy types though, as you always seem to be fighting the same packs of grunts until the levels "major battle" where they throw some heavy armour at you along with the packs of grunts.
However, graphically, not everything is coming up roses. The environments get stale, the levels are not very well designed, and it ends up feeling like you are stuck in one never ending corridor. Sure, there a few ladders to climb and a couple of enclaves or rooftops to battle on, but 95% of the time you will be cleaning out corridors or very cramped rooms connected by said corridors.
The slo mo is a nice touch. Obviously not the first time it has been employed in a FPS, but it works well here.
The weapons are also excellent. Well balanced and FUN! You can explode baddies with a point blank shotgun blast, rip them to shreds with the automatics, or pulverise them with rockets or grenades. There is also a nice energy gun which acts as a sniper rifle of sorts to cook the meat off your opponents bones. Very visceral, and very satisfying across the board.
There is a supernatural theme that runs throughout the game and it makes for some creepy moments. It has some "dreamscape" vignettes a la Max Payne, featuring a creepy little girl that explodes people at will, and a psychotic, cannibal battalion leader with psychic abilities. Very neat.
Sound
Outstanding. Very well mixed for 5.1. Everything sounds just right. The sound effects for the weapons are awesome. Creepy "supernatural" ambient sounds and above average voice acting round out a very tasty and immersive aural experince
Overall I'd say this is a purchase or at the very least a rental unless you have played it on PC, or if you just rather play FPS on your PC. I can understand people in that camp, but I'd rather be on my couch with a controller.
I can't speak to the multiplayer, as I just finished the SP campaign and have not gone online yet, though it should lend itself very well to some multiplayer mayhem.
8.5/10
