The much anticipated sequel to F.E.A.R has finally arrived. It has however now been published by Warner Brothers Games and not by the original publisher Sierra. Have Warner Brothers pulled out all the stops to deliver an unforgettable experience or have they ruined this popular first person horror shooter?
The first F.E.A.R’s story line was perhaps one of its strongest points and really brought a breath of fresh air into gaming. Whatever F.E.A.R’s story did well, Project Origin does it better. The events continue from those at the end of the first one. You will play as Michael Becket, a soldier part of a specialized military unit. Your missions will lead you to discover what really happened in the secret corporate project named “Project Origin”. This goal however is made very difficult for you as this corporation has sent out troops to eliminate all evidence of this project, which includes you. As you progress you discover hidden and shocking secrets about this project. Once again your stalker, Alma, returns to haunt you while you discover how she actually became this mind-warping spirit.
The story is unlike anything you have seen before. Not only is it unique, but it manages to captivate you and leave you in horror at the same time. It develops at a good pace as pieces of the mystery unfold… and yes the ending will blow you away (enough said).
In terms of graphics, Project Origin fairs very well. The graphics are very sharp, well rendered and a pleasure on the eye. The detailing can be touch-and-go at times. Some graphical elements appear to be highly textured while others may lack a bit. Thankfully the less imaginative details and textures were left for the less significant parts. The environments are well designed and are varied as you will fight your way through elementary schools, office buildings, laboratories and the streets of a dilapidated city. Even though the action is linear, you do feel like you have some sort of choice in the matter which is a good thing.
F.E.A.R 2 manages to combine is great story with an ever suiting atmosphere which makes for an excellent gaming experience. The gameplay in Project Origin makes up for the mediocre game play we saw in the first one. The game runs very smoothly and the frame rate is solid which makes for a great and immersing experience. The atmosphere is made highly intense due to a great soundtrack, lots of blood and gore and dark, and gloomy level design. It really does feel as if you are living the horror experience.
Besides its scare factor and flashes to unorthodox and mind boggling horror scenes, Project Origin is also packed with loads of action and excitement. You will power your way through hoards of militia who are out to get you. The gun battles are intense and this is created via the solid and convincing gun action in the game. The gun action feels very realistic: weapons will recoil, take some time to reload and shake your hands uncontrollably through vibrations in your controller. You are able to carry four weapons at a time which can be quite tricky as there are a number to choose from. Once again we see the famous slow-mo feature which works just as well on the baddies as it did in the first one. The actions really piles on during the second half of the game where you are required to take up turrets and operate some powerful mechs.
On a downside, Project Origin has not managed to revolutionize the controls and has altered the already awkward controls for some more awkwardness. The controls feel clumsy at times and experienced FPS players will find themselves throwing grenades when they are trying to fire at an enemy. Once you have adjusted to them, it is something that can be overlooked.
With trophy support and online play, Project Origin does encourage a fair share of replay value. However it does not seem to be a highly popular title for local online play and so if you want to jump into a game, you’ll have to convince your friends to buy a copy or else suffer with the lag. Mutiplayer is rather standard with the exception of the ‘Armored Front’ mode where each team has a mech at its disposal and is required to capture certain points.
With its moments of pure horror and frightening imagery, mixed with explosions and hardcore gun fights: F.E.A.R 2: Project Origin will be a great gaming experience for most players. It offers a great story line, solid graphics, smooth gameplay and a little bit of replay value. Warner Brothers has set new standards and taken the F.E.A.R series to a totally new level.
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