Wow. Clone armies, psychic ghosts and mechs, oh my!
That game well surpassed the 20 bucks I put into it two weeks back to give me something to do after extensive homework sessions. The funny part is I remember not being particularly fond of FEAR 1. Everything about the sequel kicked butt, though. The combat, the visuals, the voice acting, and the music. Even the plot actually becomes something impressive- Well, maybe not the plot, but rather the backstory behind Alma, the character that really holds the series together. Now, is it a great game that everyone needs to play? Not really. The FEAR games are a series you can overlook in the growing field of immersive FPS games, but if you're into horror or just a really well-polished shooter, you can't go wrong with giving them a spin.
At heart, it really is just that- a standard FPS game; it has the shootouts, the sniping segments, the parts where you temporarily become a total bad motherhubbard and blow your enemies away, all that. But dangit, it does them in a way with an awesome and distinct flavor. Granted, this is also a very adult game as well- out of many video games I have played, I will say this is one of those games I wouldn't condone kids below 17 playing. Between the heavy language, explosive levels of gore and an ending that really will make you shiver in revulsion, it truly is for mature audiences. I mean, heck, I couldn't even find any site-friendly screenshots to post.
But hey, if your idea of a good time-killer is blasting away at heavily armored clone troopers with some of the coolest video game music playing in the background as you dodge gunshots and narrowly avoid grenades in slow-motion, 20 bucks can't be spent any better.
I'm not really going to bother with multiplayer since I don't expect it to be anything special, and let's face it- this isn't the sort of game you buy for that. But who knows? Maybe you might get hooked- maybe you won't. So yeah, that's all I've got, folks. Is FEAR2 the next Dead Space? That's a definite no, but it's still a fun little ride that balances action and horror quite nicely.
If you want me to get really technical, I'll just break it down like this.
Gameplay: Running and gunning in slo-mo, delivering roundhouse kicks to peoples faces and piloting mechs. What's not to like? The button-mashing grapple moments are rather disappointing events that often water down otherwise intense moments, though. It's fun, but nothing memorable in itself8/10
Story:Victimized experiment girl seeks revenge against an unsuspecting world. Not much here. 6/10
Graphics: The guns look awesome, the enemies look awesome, and an eerie atmosphere that you know you shouldn't wander into but that nagging bit of curiosity ropes you in. Cutting edge? No, but still a good looking game. 8/10
Music: Action in a first person shooter is a must- but what good is an intense moment without some epic music to heighten the mood? FEAR 2's soundtrack is easily one of the more noticeable parts of the game, delivering a really unique style that ultimately defines some of the sequences in the game. Maybe even one of my top 5 favorite soundtracks. 9/10
Overall: 7.5/10. It's a good game, but arguably so. Nothing you haven't seen before ultimately, and that's what holds it back from me giving it a more glowing review. Regardless, it manages to keep you coming back with it's unique skin applied to an all-too-familiar game formula. Don't buy this game with any high expectations, but trust me, it's still a fun game.
Oh, and Alma? If you're gonna start the apocalypse, you could at least have the common courtesy to wear some freakin' clothes.