F.E.A.R. First Encounter Assault Recon

10 Review to this product

• 

  E. Hill
  October 10th, 2010 on 4:30 pm

  Rating

  F.E.A.R is an extremely, exciting, and intense game. The first person shooter story is developed well and is delivered in an teaser format, with a little bits of the over all story told throughout game play in either visions/voices or over answering machines. There are not any long and boring videos during game play. Some of the visions and hallucinations can be intense and horrifying.

  The best way to describe this game would be a cross between Max Payne (bullet Time)and Half Life(story/game play). The bullet time sequences are incredible, especially the shock waves that are a result of the muzzle blasts. There is a lot of flashlight walking which may turn off a lot of people, but the battles and AI are great!

  The game is fun and exciting, but may not have much replay value!
  
• 

  Terrence Aybar
  October 10th, 2010 on 5:56 pm

  Rating

  Short review:

  Go out and buy this game right now, you will not be disappointed. You need this like you need blood in your body. Okay, maybe not that badly but still worth every cent.

  Review:

  The single player for this first person shooter is a tad repetitive but still tense and creepy as all hell. I wouldn’t put this at the top of scariest games of all time but it’s at least top ten. It’s unsettling and unnerving at times but the emphasis is more on action in this game.

  The single player campaign is a lot of fun, with pretty nice graphics and effects. The rag doll physics are hilarious and it’s always a blast to shoot someone and watch them fly back and over a railing to a six story drop. One of the things that makes the single player really stand out is the enemy soldier A.I., which you won’t really appreciate until you experience it for yourself. They are very strategic in their methods and execute what seems like professional, real-world offensive maneuvers in washing you. Just don’t be surprised when they keep you pinned down long enough to throw a grenade right where you’re squatting and there isn’t a damn thing you can do about it. There is also a nice little Max Payne style slow motion button that works wonders when you’re going up against a squad of commandos with high powered machine guns and rocket launchers. Also, the 5.1 surround mix on this game is immaculate. This is a game to be played loud and in the dark for maximum effect.

  The multiplayer portion of the game is just downright gritty. Literally, it’s the perfect game for those that just want to go online and shoot someone in the face with a shotgun or empty an entire clip from a machine gun into their jiggling bodies without having to think about it too much. The modes are your standard deathmatch, CTF, team based modes so there’s really nothing innovative about the multiplayer game, save for the modes that allow one to use the slow-mo function. I’m actually surprised at how well it plays online and if there’s one thing that I have to complain about, it’s the lack of a lobby function. So basically, you’ll get kicked out of the room once the session is over and everybody will have to start the process of starting up a new room over. It’s a minor beef and I’m praying that they’ll fix this with a patch, which I’m sure they will.

  Bottom line is, this game is damn good and a great port over from the PC version. Great graphics, fantastic surround sound, exciting multiplayer action and some spooky chills will make this worth your while.
• 

  Ayinde Waleed
  October 12th, 2010 on 12:40 pm

  Rating

  Okay let me go on record as saying I LOVE this game so far and I would have to agree with the before mentioned that it does remind you of Condemned or Half-Life 2 both of which I owned, loved though and got lots of hand cramps playing. First off let me say that this is not a run and gun type of game and if that is what you are looking for may I suggest Call of Duty 2? But if you are in the mood for something scary, methodical and fun I STRONGLY suggest this game. The game is meant to be slow and methodical because that adds to the F.E.A.R. factor. Let’s face it running around shooting and blasting everything in sight does not a scary game make. On to the review:

  Graphics – 4.5 out of 5 – while it is not great in comparison to SC: DA or FN3 it does rank high in the Graphics category. I think they could be a Tad bit better in some areas though. I don’t think anyone will be disappointed with the graphics though unless you were hoping to see Gears of War type graphics.

  Sound – 5 out of 5 – Scary! Scary! Scary! Really nuff said there…but voice acting and background music/sounds are some of the best I’ve heard.

  Controls – 5 out of 5 – Controls like your standard 1st person shooter nothing new here, except maybe the addition of the slow motion button which works great I might add.

  Gameplay – 5 out of 5 Okay this is where the game absolutely TAKES off!!! Like I stated before the Slow-Mo is a nice touch and will add to the Gameplay. But what really stands out is how challenging the enemies can be. They will duck in to rooms and behind cover to avoid you snuffing them out and some will even try to flank you while you are concentrating on a certain direction of fire. This by itself to me sets this game above the rest. No enemies are going to come charging you without one of his buddies laying down some suppressing fire. So be ready to use the SLOW-MO button.

  Story – 4 out of 5 I have just started this game about 25% thru I think but so far the story is just okay, I honestly hope it will get better, as I have never played this game on PC, so I don’t know what to expect.

  I will now say that I am a big 1st person shooter fan anyway so this review may come off somewhat Bias. I tried to be as unbiased as possible, but I honestly can not imagine anyone NOT liking this game once they started playing (Esp. if you like a good FPS). Also let me say that I play my XBOX360 on a 32″ Samsung HD TV so when I rate the graphics that is all I have to go by, so I cannot honestly tell anyone how good the graphics look on a regular TV. I can’t imagine they would be that much worst though.

  Bottom Line: We are in the Holiday season and it is really starting to show, some of the best games we’ll see this year are being released now and in the next couple of weeks to come and F.E.A.R. will stand proudly among them.
  
• 

  Bryan W. Maclure
  October 13th, 2010 on 4:45 am

  Rating

  Despite the bad reviews of this game for the PS3, I think that it is a really good FPS game. There is really no difference from the other versions of the game except for this version has a new level and gun. I think that it was a great buy, and I am looking forward to purchasing F.E.A.R. 2 for the PS3. Oh and the slow motion is siiiick!
• 

  Graham F. Henderson
  October 13th, 2010 on 8:57 am

  Rating

  First let me start off by saying this is a great shooter. I played it a while ago when it came out on the PC. It was pretty solid on computer but nothing compaired to the 360. I like first person shooters better on the console but that’s just me. Not only is the Campaign hard but it’s freaky too! If you play in the dark at night, you will literally jump out of your seat.

  The other day i played it on Xbox Live and didn’t put the controller down for 3 hours. It’s really fast paced. No waiting after you die and the games are fun. It’s a close second behind Halo for the best Online First Person Shooter IMO. A must have for any 360 fan.
• 

  S. Sharp
  October 13th, 2010 on 12:15 pm

  Rating

  This is probably some of the most fun I’ve ever had playing a game. Not to mention the most I’ve ever said ‘Oh @$#%!!’ while playing. There are some parts that really, really, made me jump.

  A few things:

  Most reviewers are saying that it’s repetitive. I agree, but have to say that I seriously feel this was done intentionally to lull you into complacency before some bad guy or ghost or voice jumps out at you. Part of the scariness was due to unexpected things happening in the ‘familiar’ environments. Still, a bigger change from level to level would’ve been welcome.

  Also, I found the controls a bit jumpy and needed to be reworked through the options several times; but even still didn’t quite get it for me. This could be because, 1. I am not good at FPS games (like ‘em, just not good at ‘em) or 2. our left stick is a big wiggy from another house member playing Dead Rising. From other reviews though, I think it was a combo of the aforementioned and design. Not enough to warrant more than minor irritation at the more precise points.

  Third, the plot IS there, but has to be gleaned from voice messages from office equipment and voice-overs. Everything comes together in the end, and the little girls story is disturbing.

  Last, these enemies are smart. You’ll hear, “I hear him, he’s behind the crate”, see them hide behind a box, raise their arm up, and shoot you blind, or limping to hide once hit. The AI is sweet.

  This game is good on its own right… if you’ve just finished playing COD or Halo, you may be hard pressed NOT to find flaws. But get over yourself and have a good time, you won’t regret it!!
• 

  Leonardo Munoz
  October 13th, 2010 on 2:17 pm

  Rating

  Since there isn’t much that is actually wrong with this game why don’t i start with what didn’t work for me, the ending. I know, i know they where setting up for a sequel, but i just felt that there should have been more, however you will just have to see the ending for yourself because i am not saying anymore. With that being said, let us speak of what works in this game, almost, everything. The weaponry is great, from a missle launcher to a projectile beam cannon, to a couple of old fashioned, hard hitting uzies, how can one go wrong, and the story………….top notch, when it comes to scary movies i am a pretty tough critic, however this game makes you feel like you are right there, in the middle of a frightening, and desperate struggle for your survival. if you like first person shooters, horror flicks, and have always wanted to unload a couple of rounds in the face of that ugly chick from the ring, then this is the game for you, i’ll tell you right now, you won’t regret it.
• 

  Lisa Shea
  October 13th, 2010 on 6:41 pm

  Rating

  There are horror games that simply try to bombard you with gore and violence – and then there are horror games that are a complex interweaving of music, graphics and plotline. FEAR definitely falls into the psychological thriller category.

  First, the situation. A compound is taken over by a military group in full body gear, led by an apparent vampire. Normal attempts to retake the area have failed, so you are sent in alone. It’s just you against groups of these quite intelligent enemies. They’ll work together, move around to flank you, take cover.

  Graphics are very smooth – you can watch as an enemy walks towards you, crouches down to get beneath an overhang, and stands as he continues to seek you out. Peering around corners feels very natural, as does lurking in the shadows. There are dust motes in the air, shadows on the floors, holes shot out of walls.

  In addition to the “natural” events, there are also seamlessly built in unnatural ones. Was that a person who moved just out of the corner of your eye, or a ghost? Did you really glimpse something in the shadows or was it a vision? It ramps up the tension until you’re jumping at the smallest of sounds, worried that it portends something nasty.

  The sound interweaves nicely with this. There are moments which are dead quiet, where every tiny footfall noise stands out. There are other moments when the bullets are flying and music is thrumming, that you know you have to shoot quick or be dead.

  Sometimes “bullet time” is awkward in a game, but it really worked in well in FEAR. It really gives the sense that you are caught up in the adrenaline and that your sense of time slows down. Anybody who’s been in a real life adrenaline rush knows that feeling!

  There are some periods in the game which are just extended gun battles. I imagine that without these, some people would find the game “boring” – not enough shooting. Other people will find these long battles lose the tight-wrapped tension the rest of the game offers. I happen to be in the second camp, but I understand why game makers have to make these trade-offs.

  I especially like this being on the XBox 360 – with the combination of a large, widescreen TV and high end graphics. Play this late at night when the rest of the world is asleep, when you can pick out every small creak or strange noise. You can really get emotionally involved in the situation, which is the mark of any good drama.

  Be sure you understand this game is rated mature (there is a lot of nasty violence and swearing) and that it is meant to be very scary. This wasn’t designed for little kids! If you’re a mature gamer who enjoys horror games, definitely check this one out. It’s very well done.
• 

  Reuben Roa
  October 14th, 2010 on 7:23 pm

  Rating

  People can say what they want about the graphics in this game. Theyre right, if you play call of duty 4 right before popping this in youre not gonna like it. But if you actually play the game you realize just how awesome it is. Sound effects that make the hairs on your neck stand up, and gameplay that makes you not want to put the controller down. The story behind it could be compared to like The Ring mixed with Resident Evil but twice as scary as both. I played this whole game alone in the dark and it freaked me out. My little brother even refused to play it cuz he was too scared lol. Bottom line, pick it up if you like suspense you wont be disappointed.
• 

  A. Arvig
  October 15th, 2010 on 4:03 pm

  Rating

  I’ve been playing this for about 3 hours now and i have to say this game is worth every penny. I’m a big FPS fan and this is up there with Resistance. The game runs smoothly, load times arent too bad, and its just overall fun. The AI is very good and the scenery looks really good. The game itself is kind of creepy. I give the game 4 1/2 stars, it loses 1/2 a star for the maps, they can get kind of confusing sometime with not much help as to letting you know where to go, but if you wanted for a while you will figure it out. I recommend this game to anyone who likes this type of game, its definately worth it.