Fear Alma – again. F.E.A.R., the seminal classic shooter, revitalised a tired FPS genre with a great mix of horror, gunplay and Matrix style slow-motion action sequences that proved a huge amount of fun. F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin returns to the same formula, and doesn’t really differ too much. However, more of the same means more fun.

Story

The sequel to the original game kicks off just before the original game ends, i.e. prior to the massive explosion triggered by the release of Alma (a girl raised to be a biological weapon used to produce ‘replica’ soldiers) and her crazy powers. The player takes the role of Sgt. Michael Becket, a member of a special task force sent in to rescue Genevieve Aristide – President of the corporation responsible for the replica soldiers and Alma herself. Luckily, quite early in, Becket receives the same power as the ‘Pointman’ from the original game, meaning that he too can slow down time (or rather his super reactions kick in) to take out enemy forces.

Graphics

There’s no doubt that F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin looks great. The environments, whilst at times looking quite similar, are very well rendered with a great level of detail. Textures are good and enemies are particularly well animated (check out how they try to vault walls and react when you shoot them). Perhaps the real visual treats come in the form of Alma and the other ghost encounters. Frequently disorienting, you’ll be amazed at the variety of effects used.

Sound

A true highlight of the game, there’s nothing quite like the ghostly sounds of Alma, the announcements by soldiers giving you a heads up on the plan or hearing the dreaded “I see a flashlight!”. All of the incidental stuff really does add to the game and it serves to really show what a quality package the whole game is.

Mood

I’m still undecided on how I feel about the mood of the game. There are some particularly tense moments provided by the horror atmosphere. However, it can be quite jarring to go from this to an action-packed encounter when you’re piloting a mech. It isn’t Dead Space, but at times it seems like it wants to be. When it does get it right, it’s fantastic, but at other times it does appear to be a little schizophrenic.

Gameplay

Ah, the most important element to any game – and F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin does not disappoint. The gunplay is very, very satisfying indeed. Only perhaps Black served up much destruction when using automatic weapons. Moving to the guns, there’s a lot to play with in F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin, from lasers to shotguns and everything in between.

The other aspect to the game that is more supportive of the horror storyline are the continuing encounters with Alma. They’ll frequently pop up in the game and you’ll have to either interact with a sequence or face a button mash to stop yourself from being ‘merged’. These quick time action sequences are nothing new but sit quite well with the game as a whole.

My favourite addition to the gameplay definitely comes in the action areas where you get to pilot a powered armour suit. The amount of destruction you can wreak is simply superb. There are a lot of destructible environments in the game and you’ll love the unlimited chaingun ammo and rechargeable missiles.

The single player part of the game is quite well plotted with a varied range of enemies to tackle (including Alma herself). The multiplayer modes are somewhat limited but nonetheless reasonably fun. I’m convinced it’ll find some fans out there.

Overall

F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin is an impressive achievement by Monolith – though given their previous pedigree of games I didn’t expect anything less. The story will keep you interested, the horror sections will make the hairs on the back of your neck stands up and the action sequences will make your blood pump. What more could you ask for from a game? It provides a heady, intoxicating mix with a lot of brilliant set pieces.

Those who are looking for lots of free-form, open gameplay should look elsewhere, but those seeking a superb action title with a nice line in horror and some truly awesome set pieces should go out and buy immediately. A worthy sequel to the original game? Hell yes. Monolith… You’ve done it. I F.E.A.R. Alma – again.

Available on: PS3, Xbox 360, PC
$50
8/10

To celebrate the launch of F.E.A.R 2: Project Origin, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment is hosting its Whatisfear live event on Thursday 12th February 2009 at a secret haunted location in the UK. F.E.A.R fans will be put through their paces in a unique gaming tournament where they will battle it out across several levels of the game whilst being brought face-to-face with their biggest fears.

Eight carefully selected F.E.A.R community fans will be flown in from across Europe to a secret haunted location where they will go head-to-head in an intense battle of gaming skills, strength and spine chilling F.E.A.R.

The eight lucky contestants have been picked from 100s of online applicants and as part of the application process were asked to cite their greatest personal fears. In effect, our eight participants have signed up to face their biggest fears head on at the event and it’s you, the general public, who will decide exactly what they are up against by voting online!

A unique environment has been carefully prepared for you, the community, to watch the event live and to determine the terrifying experiences each player must undergo whilst playing the game.

Eventually we will be left with one contestant, our winner, who will have to face their ultimate F.E.A.R. to claim their prize. Their F.E.A.R. is in your hands. Push them to their limits and watch every second of their reaction, LIVE online at www.whatisfearlive.com.

Be there – Thursday 12th February – 19:00 (GMT) – www.whatisfearlive.com

F.E.A.R 2: Project Origin, developed by Monolith Productions and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment launches across Europe on February 13th 2009.

F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin is a blend of advanced visceral combat mixed with seamless game pacing set inside a sinister and paranormal universe that begins shortly before the ending of F.E.A.R. A Special Forces squad is on a routine mission when the city of Auburn is rocked by a supernatural explosion. Alma, a girl with immense power and a thirst for revenge, has unleashed her wrath upon the city and thrown it into chaos. Tension builds as the squad must combat enemy forces and the supernatural as they struggle to find a way to stop Alma and uncover the mysterious forces arrayed against them before it’s too late.