Now that Ive finished F.E.A.R..... *spoilers*

[BD2003]

I have come to the conclusion that it is the biggest waste of potential ever.

The gfx, sound, and combat were second to none. Ill give it that. But every other part of the game was horrendous.

It was like they took the worst of doom 3, max payne, halo 2, and half life 2, sprinkled in a little metal gear solid and the ring, and this is what came out.

Doom 3 should have taught them that there is nothing worse than having to trudge through nearly the exact same type of environment for the entire game. But you do.

Story? What story? It still doesnt make any sense. It has about as much story as doom 3, and considering the way its told, which is almost exactly the same, through little voice messages, should not be surprising. It was a bad idea in doom 3, and its still a bad idea.

You dont know who you are, you dont know who youre fighting, the ending doesnt make any of that clear, and throughout the entire game your doing something which inevitably gets pushed back even further. You barely ever accomplish a single thing. You barely interact with anyone, and those that you do, the interactions are pointless. The characters in the game are terrible.

Halo 2 should have taught them that theres nothing worse than an ending before the game is over. There isnt even a boss fight. Its just, thats it? Wtf? The ending is nearly torn directly from half-life 2...I mean, theres even a giant orb! At least there was *some* closure in half life 2.

What would really be cool is if every now and then throughout the game you get sucked into a psychadelic experience that makes nearly zero sense...was fun in max payne, but now it just seems retarded.

Speaking of max payne, never mind the fact that the entire game youre fighting the same enemies (enemy soldiers), all of which are no challenge at all because you just hit the magic slowmo button, put a few nails in their head, lather, rinse repeat.

And its not even that scary. Spooky, sure, but just like doom 3, it wears off quick. Then the rest of the game becomes a test of your patience.

It was interesting, and would have been better if it was half as long, had at least one boss, at least one major change of environment, and at least some sort of interesting story.

The official theme of this game is "wtf?", and not in a good way. Just look at it as a shooting gallery.

 

[manno]

thanks for the heads up wasn't impressed with the demo, but was still considering it, not anymore.


manno

 

[Trevelyan]

Heh, I was kind of expecting this type of review eventually. Everyone else basically said "It wasn't THAT bad! I enjoyed it!", which didn't give me much confidence.

 

[Alienwho]

I can't say i disagree with his review. I've played about 7 hours of the game so far, and I have no idea how far I am. I feel like I haven't accomplished anything in the game so far and the only reason i'm playing it still is hoping that it will get better (i'll get better weapons, new level, etc.)

I don't understand what all the hype is about how people say the weapons feel great and all that. In my opinion they feel like crap. One click and 3 shots come out? I feel like I have no control over my own weapons. Not to mention I don't get any real satisfaction out of killing the enemies. Every now and then nail gun will get a satisfying kill when you nail their face to a wall, but i mean you got to hit them like 4 times until it actually nails them to the wall/cieling/etc. I want them to get nailed on the first hit! It doesn't make sense for the 4th one to be the charm or whatever. The slowmo is kinda cool, but you almost have to activate slowmo in order to kill the guys, otherwise they're so accurate they'll just instantly take you down. I also don' like it how you can't sneak in the shadows and stuff. The bad guys can' see you from a mile away even if you're crouched in the shadows behind some boxes if your peeking around the corner. Doesn't that defeat the purpose of lean feature? if they can see you regardless, why lean?

Anyway, i'll play the game to the end just to see if it gets better, but so far I enjoyed my half life 2 experience much more than fear.

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: Alienwho
I can't say i disagree with his review. I've played about 7 hours of the game so far, and I have no idea how far I am. I feel like I haven't accomplished anything in the game so far and the only reason i'm playing it still is hoping that it will get better (i'll get better weapons, new level, etc.)

I don't understand what all the hype is about how people say the weapons feel great and all that. In my opinion they feel like crap. One click and 3 shots come out? I feel like I have no control over my own weapons. Not to mention I don't get any real satisfaction out of killing the enemies. Every now and then nail gun will get a satisfying kill when you nail their face to a wall, but i mean you got to hit them like 4 times until it actually nails them to the wall/cieling/etc. I want them to get nailed on the first hit! It doesn't make sense for the 4th one to be the charm or whatever. The slowmo is kinda cool, but you almost have to activate slowmo in order to kill the guys, otherwise they're so accurate they'll just instantly take you down. I also don' like it how you can't sneak in the shadows and stuff. The bad guys can' see you from a mile away even if you're crouched in the shadows behind some boxes if your peeking around the corner. Doesn't that defeat the purpose of lean feature? if they can see you regardless, why lean?

Anyway, i'll play the game to the end just to see if it gets better, but so far I enjoyed my half life 2 experience much more than fear.

It doesnt get any better. Honestly, if youve played it for an hour or two, you might as well have played the whole game.

You are slightly less likely to get hit while leaning though. I thought the weapons were good, except for the smg and rifle. They dont have the powerful feel, they just feel weak. If anything, the volume on the gunshots needed to be turned up.

That being said, if youve never played HL2, Doom 3, Max Payne 2, or Halo 2, you will probably think this is the greatest game ever. All three of those games were amazing in their own right. They had their low points though, and after playing them, those low points would make you want to not play them again.

Doom 3 had a complete lack of story, since it was told through the retarded idea of voice messages. But it was damn scary, and at the very least, in the end of doom 3 you went through a vast change of scenery, to mars, to hell, and back again, and it was incredible.

Fear managed to take the annoying parts, and leave out the good parts. The change of scenery is more like one type of building to another.

Max Payne 2 had slowmo, and psychadelic experiences. But it was a very story driven game. The psychadelic experiences only furthered that, and the slowmo was cool, but you had to save it, and couldnt use it for every encounter.

With a lack of expository storytelling to support it, the psychadelic experiences make almost no sense at all in fear. The ability to use slowmo constantly cheapens the game entirely. Again, takes the bad parts, leaves the good parts.

Half-Life 2 was a game where you had to piece the story together as you went along. You didnt know what was going on in the beginning, and slowly but surely it all came to you. But you didnt learn this all from voice messages strewn around on random telephones in the game. You met characters, those characters told you what they knew, some helped you, some hurt you, but in the end, the story made sense, and you were a part of it.

In fear, youre just plain lost. They tried to make a situation where you pieced the story together piece by piece, but it just didnt work. It was alright in doom 3 because there wasnt really meant to be much of a story. But this purports to be a story driven game thats supposed to scare you, and if it cant get the story across to you effectively, what the hell is the point.

HL2 also had a weak, abrupt ending. But what followed up to that ending was practically orgasmic. You could tell the ending was coming, because the sh*t basically was hitting the fan. There was some resolution. Halo 2 had a very weak ending. But at least there was a boss fight, however weak it was. But it left you with a wtf, here comes the sequel ending.

Fear just makes you wonder wtf they were thinking. In fact, the story is so weak, I still dont understand who the girl is, and who I was.

Halo 2 also suffered from a problem where the entire level was so monotonous, and you were never given a clear goal on where to go. Often times Id find myself backtracking without even realizing it, because everywhere looks the damn same. Likewise for fear.

I dont want to give the impression that I'm completely ragging on the game. I had fun. The gfx, sound, etc, made it a fun play. I had a good time cause of that. But never again, Im done with it.

 

[Maximilian]

Aw boo! not doom 3 again.... Why couldnt they have copied farcry! I have played that game through twice and am on the third attempt, its awsome.

 

[ViciouS]

I wish Resident Evil 4 would come out for the PC i hear that game is l33t for scarry games.

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: ViciouS
I wish Resident Evil 4 would come out for the PC i hear that game is l33t for scarry games.

Hell yes. Now that is a game that is the whole package.

I have only a single complaint about RE4, and its a nitpick. Its the fact that the game is so good, the atmosphere so great, that its a crying shame that every time you want to change your weapon you have to enter a menu screen, that completely and utterly takes you out of the game.

If not for that, it would have been perfect.

 

[ViciouS]

Originally posted by: BD2003

Originally posted by: ViciouS
I wish Resident Evil 4 would come out for the PC i hear that game is l33t for scarry games.

Hell yes. Now that is a game that is the whole package.

I have only a single complaint about RE4, and its a nitpick. Its the fact that the game is so good, the atmosphere so great, that its a crying shame that every time you want to change your weapon you have to enter a menu screen, that completely and utterly takes you out of the game.

If not for that, it would have been perfect.

It's comming out on PS2 soon, but i want it on the PC. I actualy almost bought a GameCube so i could play it.

 

[gorcorps]

Meh, I don't agree. I do think the major drawback would be the length... it's way too short and it ended too quickly for the story to make more sense. But we all know that when the story isn't finished there could be a sequel. The paranormal experiences were a lot more creepier than anything in doom3 or any game I've played for that matter. Doom3 relied too much on stuff popping out at you, so it wasn't really fright it was just shock. FEAR is more "in your head" type of fright that works really well IMO.

The slowmo is quite cool in that it's really usefull, unlike max payne where it was just a "look what I can do" type of gimmick. You say you have access it all the time and hate using it always, so don't use it so much! You can't complain about the game for something YOU'RE doing. Nice challenge I think.

I think boss battles would ruin the mood that FEAR was going for. They wanted you to feel like something was going on in the real world, and a boss battle would add too much of the cheesy arcade shooter feel. Plus, all games have bosses so kudos for something different.

And going on to the story. Yes it's still unclear who you really are playing as, but that Paxton guy does say "We came from the same mother" so you at least get a hint. And the little girl, Alma, is the daughter of the one chick you were trying to save as she ran to find her dad.

 

[RedBeard]

Alma = your mommy
Paxton = your brother

 

[MTDEW]

I actually felt the game was just "good" until i got through the last few levels which elevated the game up a notch for me, i finished it thinking it was "really good!"

I also wished for more variety in the enviroments, but i think that was more of a design decision to match the story. (unlike in Doom3 where i felt it was more of a limitation of the 3d engine)
But still i would have liked to see more outdoor / open areas.

I thought the soldiers displayed good ai and were fun to fight against.
Although once again, i wish there were more types of foes, but once again i accepted this as a design decision to match the storyline.

Bottom line is , I really enjoyed the game and feel it is one of the better FPS i've played in awhile.

I personally liked it way more than Doom 3 or Quake 4. (i'm not finished with Quake4 yet though).

So i'd rank the game just below Far Cry and Half Life 2, but above Doom3 and Quake4.




As for the story...
Man, am I ever glad nobody else completely "gets it" either!

I'm still wondering why Fettel feeds on human flesh.
Yet my character seems to not have that urge despite being Fettels brother.
And just about every other storyline questions in this thread are the same things i wasnt sure about either.

I'd sure like to read a storyline summary to better understand it all.

 

[BD2003]

That much I understood. But it was never really explained what the point of it all was. Why the hell is she haunting you and trying to kill you if youre her son? Same with paxton? If paxton is this crazy guy that escapes and causes all this trouble, how the hell did you escape from wherever you were created, and ended up in some super secret government organization who's purpose and role is also never fully explained?

The paranormal experiences were creepy, but they were *pointless*. They were random, for no reason whatsoever, youd end up back where you started, unless you get smacked by some weird half-bodied ghost thing, which might kill you in the nether realm. And wtf were those anyway?

There was not a single endearing character in the entire game for you to love or hate. You are nameless and voiceless. Your squad members lack all personality and are with you for seconds at a time, with no explanation as to where or what theyre doing. Team leader is good for nothing but cursing every now and then over the radio. Other characters include the fat computer nerd guy, who was absolutely ridiculous in every way. He shows absolutely no fear when you run up on him, he's a petulant bastard throughout the entire game, gives away his position while eating cheesy poofs (come on!!), and gets shot at the end for "doing his job", which of course, was never explained, all the while being terribly acted. Alice wade, was a dumb idiot girl, who again, showed a complete lack of personality or emotion. Shes apparently super smart, but not smart enough to realize that running around this place is going to accomplish anything but getting yourself shot by the nameless army of paxton (why are they following him again?) or the ATC (again, who the hell were they?). Of course that doesnt happen, she gets captured by paxton of all people. Who is the main villiain throughout the entire game, and ends up going out like a sucker because you see him in your psychadelic trance, you shoot him once and he dies! Then you snap out of it, and its real. What kind of a game is this? Then theres the old dude who shoots the fat guy and does something through the glass at the end of the game that is so unmemorable that even though I beat it a few hours ago I still cant remember it.

Then you press a few buttons, snap a few thingies into place, run out, finally get outside and see the light of day for the first time in the entire game, and then theres a nuclear explosion, WHICH YOU SURVIVE, only to wake up in a helicopter, which the little girl jumps up into. Why is your mom, in child form, which of course, makes no sense, trying to kill you?

I honestly fail to see what part of the story or characters are interesting. Never mind the fact that you accomplish absolutely zero throughout the entire game, as your first objective "catch paxton fettel" will be your last, since something always gets in the way.

Most games have bosses because killing one grants you a feeling of accomplishment, something which unfortunately, this game is completely and utterly devoid of. If they wanted you to feel like you were doing something in the real world, they would have clued you in as to wtf you were doing, and done away with the random nameless enemies and monotonous environments.

 

[gorcorps]

Edit: nvr mind i did miss something ><

 

[MBrown]

I think Ulma is supposed to be fettel's and main characters mother. And the main character and fettel are brothers. I really liked the game. Of course there is always going to be the few people that completey hate the game. Definately better than Doom 3. And it was spooky. And it seemed like they set it up for a sequel at the end of the game. That fat dude was really pissing me off though.

 

[bacon333]

Pros:
Great graphics, slowmo is cool but makes the game easy, special effects of dust and debris and explosions are amazing. The lighting is pretty awesome too. The "karate" moves are pretty cool (you can do a jumping roundhouse!). I felt the storyline was pretty straightfoward at the end and it was more complete than HL2. HL2 was a great game but the ending left much to be desired. FEAR was fun/repeative throughout the game but the ending was great.

Cons:
Not much interactivity with the environment and it seems like the same place over and over. Though not as dark as Doom 3, I had to use the flashlight quite frequently. The characters don't have much facial emotion and you run solo all the time. You fight the same kind of enemies, soldiers, psychokentic demons, EVE, and those invisible things. Weapons are not that impressive nor innovative. Kinda based their "spooky" stuff on the ring and the grudge.

Overall:
I honestly was thinking "man when are things going to be interesting" up until the last 3 levels. That's when all the clues and premonitions are getting answered and made the game quite enjoyable. It's like one of those movies where as it progresses it really sucks but the ending makes up for it and becomes a pretty good movie. I like the fact that it wasn't so open ended like HL2. It was a good game and I recommended it to anyone.

For those that are not too sure about the ending here's my 2cents:
You're Alma's son and the first prototype (super human with telepathic powers). Fettel is the second prototype and is your brother. Harlan Wade and his company were using Alma to give birth to these prototypes and locks her up in the "vault" until she is needed again. Alma was able to telepathically connect to Fettel when he was 10 years old and caused him to go crazy (synchronization effect). Later she was able to command him to follow her orders. Harlan Wade did not know that Alma actually died in the vault till he tried to open it and found out what she had become the hard way. Alma just wanted her first son back (you can hear her say it on a TV screen in some alley towards the last levels "Give him back!") and in order to do that, she has to kill you. I really don't know why she appears as a little girl throughout the game when in actuality she was an adult by the time they were born. maybe just for spook factor. If you wait until the credits roll by you will listen to a phone conversionation that confirms that you were just a pawn used to destroy the evidence of the origin project. You hear Geneive say "Prototype One was a complete success!" I guess that leaves room for a sequel.

 

[MurdarMachene]

Stop comparing this game to Doom 3. Stop saying, "It's better than Doom 3". Can't you liked BOTH games? They're both fun in their own ways.

 

[Parkre]

the invisible guys freak me out. The books moving on the desks and shelves without warning, the ceiling tiles falling right in front of you. I am only about halfway through the game. But I plan on finishing tonight on the evening of Halloween.... MUhahaha!!!

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: MurdarMachene
Stop comparing this game to Doom 3. Stop saying, "It's better than Doom 3". Can't you liked BOTH games? They're both fun in their own ways.

I can like both games, but I didnt. I compare it to doom 3 because its similar to doom 3, why is that a problem?

That being said, I finally finished quake 4 today.

While the AI was nowhere near as good as fear, the gfx and sound were slightly better, the story and environments were MUCH better, it was far more interesting and challenging, and just an overall better game.

 

[CTho9305]

I think BD2003 skipped a lot of the laptops and voicemails, or he would have understood a lot more of the story than he did.

 

[Beef Taco]

Originally posted by: CTho9305
I think BD2003 skipped a lot of the laptops and voicemails, or he would have understood a lot more of the story than he did.

Ummm, you bumped this thread why?

 

[RedBeard]

Originally posted by: Beef Taco

Ummm, you bumped this thread why?

 

[hoorah]

I may be a bit late to this thread (I play games off and on), but I just finished FEAR and was wondering where the first half of the game went. For example:

Mabye I totally missed something, but where the heck did your partner, Jankaowski go? He disappeared, then started appearing as a ghost, then totally disappeared from the storyline.

What was in the water? You went through the treatment plant, Jankaowski says ?There?s something in the water??, you hear about a few water test reports on voicemails, and then you get picked up and go to an office building. My best guess is that they were putting something in the water that allowed certain people or things to control the (water drinkers) telepathically, but it was never resolved.

What exactly is Armacham?s, well, mission statement? Obviously, they develop weapons for the government. But those cloaking guys? Bio-engineered, or just cool jackets? They never got explained either.

Why does Harlan Wade kill Norman? From what I gathered, Norman is trying to cover up evidence, since he says ?he?s just doing his job?, rather than trying to expose what they did. So shouldn?t Harlan be on his side? And what was Harlan doing in the vault? Take Alma?s body home with him? I mean, she died a long time ago, and I?m assuming they left her in that containment unit. If he was trying to destroy the place and cover things up, why does Norman say ?you have to get in there and destroy this place? to you?

Oh well, on to another game if my girlfriend will let me J

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: MTDEW
I actually felt the game was just "good" until i got through the last few levels which elevated the game up a notch for me, i finished it thinking it was "really good!"

I also wished for more variety in the enviroments, but i think that was more of a design decision to match the story. (unlike in Doom3 where i felt it was more of a limitation of the 3d engine)
But still i would have liked to see more outdoor / open areas.

I thought the soldiers displayed good ai and were fun to fight against.
Although once again, i wish there were more types of foes, but once again i accepted this as a design decision to match the storyline.

Bottom line is , I really enjoyed the game and feel it is one of the better FPS i've played in awhile.

I personally liked it way more than Doom 3 or Quake 4. (i'm not finished with Quake4 yet though).

So i'd rank the game just below Far Cry and Half Life 2, but above Doom3 and Quake4.




As for the story...
Man, am I ever glad nobody else completely "gets it" either!

I'm still wondering why Fettel feeds on human flesh.
Yet my character seems to not have that urge despite being Fettels brother.
And just about every other storyline questions in this thread are the same things i wasnt sure about either.

I'd sure like to read a storyline summary to better understand it all.

well, i waited it it was almost Bargain Bin ($33) and am playing it now.



It is a good game . . . not great . . . but it does "pull you in". i am looking forward to finishing it.
:thumbsup:

 

[xboxist]

Love it when people knock games because they don't understand the story.

Good game. Play it.