Review: First Encounter Assault Recon a.k.a F.E.A.R

F.E.A.R
System requirements – (too darn high) LOL

Minimum:

System: Pentium(R) 4 - 1.7 GHz or equivalent
RAM: 512 MB
Video Memory: 64 MB
Hard Drive Space: 5000 MB

Recommended:

System: Pentium 4 - 3.0 GHz or equivalent
RAM: 1024 MB
Video Memory: 256 MB
Other: Radeon(R) 9800 Pro, GeForce(TM) 6600 or equivalent DirectX(R) 9. Sound Blaster(R) X-Fi(TM) series sound card.

Vandal’s sys recommendation:

CPU – P4 3.2/ AMD 3500+ (x2 4800+ recommended :bleh: )
RAM – 2 GB in dual channel
Hard drive – irrelevant on TE (cause we all got big ones)
CARD – 6800U/X850XT minimum (X1800XT/7900GT and above highly suggested)

THE REVIEW:

A NOTE:

Firstly, a personal note, I have been gaming since 2000. Ever since I got my hands on a First person shooter I was hooked. Today fps’ have come a long way, if you compare games like DOOM and Quake which started it all, a long, long way indeed.
I am a fan of the more graphically sweet shooters, as looks have always mattered to me.
This is where FEAR comes in. I recall RTCW as one of the finest looking games of its time, complete with superb gameplay, the GOTY award means I needn’t say much more.

Another fps, which took my gaming senses by storm was Farcry, another amazing shooter. At the very outset, FEAR is graphics, graphics and graphics. Lets move on!

THE GAME:

The very heart of an fps is the weaponry and of course the shooting! Why else would you wanna run around with a gun in your hand?
FEAR excels here. Monolith have done an excellent job with the game, (could’ve been a little less resource heavy, even my 7900GTX slows down at max settings).
But the feel of the weapons, the tactical gameplay, and the visuals simply grab you by the throat and immerse you completely, so completely that all you feel is exultation, and FEAR!

FEAR puts you in the boots of a member of FEAR, a high tech squad that deals with paranormal situations where fierce firepower is needed. You start inserted via chopper, and find your comrades kaput! From here on you are on your own. FEAR plays well, and the I really felt involved, as if I was really there! The enemies you face will range from replica soldiers, (controlled by a science experiment gone wrong Paxton Fettel), to heavily armored replica’s who look like the baddie Kane from Robocop 2, to irritating drones which will fly around shooting you. All these foes need some serious firepower and FEAR delivers! Shooting foes is actually one of the highlights here, the guns are ultra realistic with a kind of brutal kickback, assault rifles realistically jar you as you fire. You will feel the actual impact as the bullets rip through the enemies armor, and the rag doll effects are awesome. Spoily warning – there is a gun which will actually allow you to nail your opponents to walls and other surfaces, looks really good! The assault rifle is very powerful and will rip into foes, while the particle rifle (works like a railgun) incinerates leaving Mr. bones behind! You cannot stock up on ammo and let loose however because the weapon system allows you to carry a maximum of 3 firearms. Opponents have the same arsenal of weaponry you do, so do watch out, you’ve been warned!

As you play FEAR you will be encouraged to use military tactics of flush and finish, as the storyline grips you, your past is slowly exposed as you play along. The corridors of the tech facility you are charged with clearing of baddies, will be memorable, both for the action, and the lack of it.

Then there are these cutscenes where you’ll be haunted by a little girl, (no name, don’t want to spoil the experience), and you will see Paxton, who will spill some of those precious “what happened to me in the past†beans. The cutscenes and visions that you character has are so sudden that they will scare you.

There are instances where you have to use your flashlight (thankfully integrated on your gun, no doom fiascos here), but beware that the AI is so ferocious that they’ll detect your flashlight beam, and start scouting around! They will also call for help, flush you out with grenades, and coordinate attacks in hope of taking you down.

FEAR encourages stealth also. An enemy unaware of you will be taken down with a couple of well placed shots, but once they’re on to you, DOOM 3 seems a picnic!

SIGHTS & SOUNDS:

Visually speaking, FEAR is one of the best looking games ever! Bullet time effects make a brilliant showing here, and you can see the ‘matrix’ style slow mo bullets whoosh by you, and your lead whooshing into the baddies. I immensely enjoyed a particular section where I went into bullet time and dual welded pistols, (which are surprisingly punchy for the smallest weapons in the game), threw a grenade, then emptied both clips into 2 soldiers far away from the explosion while the 2 guys close to it contributed to the red décor! Sweet indeed. Grenade explosions cause concussive shock waves, very realistic, as is the dismemberment upon use of a powerful weapon or explosive. The sheer amount of particle and debris effects are amazing as rounds plow through walls leaving behind big gashes, and the flying chunks of concrete and dust all adds to the absolute realism that FEAR delivers.

The only sore point is the extremely high graphics requirements. I played FEAR first on an X850XT (office), then a 7900GTX on an FX 55 rig (office again), and my new rig. The sad part is it didn’t run “perfectly†on any of these. it blows current hardware right outta the water!

Sound wise FEAR excels, with the music picking up tempo with fights, and dieing down to a steady haunting hum, that adds twitch to that trigger finger. Voice acting is good, with the replicas getting so loud in their voice commands, that you actually hear them before you see them.
Weapons sound like, well weapons, the way they’re meant to sound, loud, harsh and jarring. Not for the faint hearted!
The soundtrack, as far as special effects go also rocks! Bullets tearing into walls, shredding replicas, and shattering pottery will sound like you’d imagine it should!

To sum up although FEAR is resource heavy, but I feel this is a trend that will only increase. To actually enjoy the game with all its effects you need an uber rig, but if you have one at your disposal, this is GoTY material! Sights and Sounds get FEAR a 9/10 from me, (one less cause of the high requirements)

GAMEPLAY:

FEAR gameplay is ‘A’ class. Very few games can deliver action, in its most visceral form. To shoot and actually feel you gun hand rock, and see your target being torn to shreds, wounds pumping gore, this is special, and might I add very difficult to inculcate in a game.
The atmosphere, empty at times, is just as eerie without the baddies, in fact more so. The gloomy corridors, eerie sounds and shadows all add to the oppressive feeling of being one against the mob! Suddenly a door opens somewhere, or a guard shouts ‘intruder’, the pace changes, and its shoot fast, shoot accurate, and keep moving. FEAR actually makes you think for awhile, as to the next move. Slow thinking will get you a grenade in the face!

After a while, the game does get a tad repetitive, simply because the replicas tend to call out to each other before you see them. They will also use the same dialogues, over and over, like “He wiped out the whole squadâ€, means there’s two baddies left, while “I need backupâ€, means there’s just one more replica to pop!

This slightly repetitive scenario does detract a bit from the suspense that FEAR is capable of delivering. Not to say it’s intrusive from entire immersive experience thing.

MY TAKE:

If I were to choose between FEAR and Farcry, I’d still go the old is gold way. Reasons being gameplay for one, the stealth factor, (FEAR doesn’t offer silent weapons), and level design. However the gap is very tiny, and as far as graphics goes there’s no comparison. If gripping and scary is what you want then it’s a no brainer, FEAR any day!

The storyline is also more immersive, the visuals well I’ve ranted about them enough by now. The feel of the game is top notch, and the actual chaos of combat closely simulated.

Quite simply if your rig is up there with the best, get this game, else don’t even bother with a pirated copy, cause you’ll miss some 65% of the action, and 90% of the experience.

Advice to all – upgrade before you play the latest crop of games – FEAR, Oblivion etc. it’s well worth it!

PS - gimme a few days to post screenies please :) , no time at home (working) so not able to use my comp, only office lappy..

Thanks for reading :)
 
Great Review Mate ! You Deserve Reps for that !

Err... I am sorry : "You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to vandal again".
Quite simply if your rig is up there with the best, get this game, else don’t even bother with a pirated copy, cause you’ll miss some 65% of the action, and 90% of the experience.
Plz Elaborate ! What do u mean by "u r goin to miss 65% of action and 90% experience ". I agree with a Not so good GPU I wud loose on some eye candy but 65% action as in gameplay ? How ?
 
Action as in the visuals during the fights, the smoke effects, particle effects, and the weapon effects, not surprisingly, you play it on a low end system like even a 6600GT (low end IMO now) and you'll miss so many effects. I thought FEAR wasn't good on my 6800GT and left the game, but on my new card I've played it right through..great experience...

@ would appreciate some reps :P blade, eddy particularly my inspiration tracerbullet............(:P ). Also in particular from one Mr. mod who spammed :bleh: my last review, evidently reading it, but not repping me, a Mr. R I believe...c'mon sir, give someone his dues now....:)
________________

Woow not a single reply for this one W00T???? C'mon guys if not reps at least appreciate and hour of typing.....
writers need encouragement ya know..:tongue:
 
Nice Review, Format your text a little bit, like you have done in The God Father Review:P.

Screenies plz
 
Blade_Runner said:
lol ! i was going to reply but forgot :P
Good review but as always no pics :( and can't rep you due to the spreading problem. :)

Thread rated.
Ok when you've spread some rep around don't forget to rep me. I want those rep points blady boy..and thanks...
grrr... wait for the screenies.. and say please :tongue:

@ saiyan shut up...:tongue: Godfather was work this is fun :bleh:
 
FEAR Screenies added, 7900GTX (mine) :bleh:

sorry but they're the same level (as in all taken in one part of the game, the good thing being they're right up and hot with action, watch me pump those replica's).. I had gotten fraps from office and wanted ta check it out... never woulda put screenies unless someone demanded AND I wanted ta use this...:P

http://img123.imageshack.us/my.php?image=fear17bu.jpg

http://img119.imageshack.us/my.php?image=fear24su.jpg

http://img218.imageshack.us/my.php?image=fear30rv.jpg

http://img122.imageshack.us/my.php?image=fear40ac.jpg

REPS PLEASE :)
NO MORE REVIEWS till I see those lil green squares near my name increase :tongue:
 
vandal said:
FEAR Screenies added, 7900GTX (mine) :bleh:

sorry but they're the same level.. I had gotten fraps from office and wanted ta check it out... never woulda put screenies unless someone demanded AND I wanted ta use this...:P

http://img123.imageshack.us/my.php?image=fear17bu.jpg

http://img119.imageshack.us/my.php?image=fear24su.jpg

http://img218.imageshack.us/my.php?image=fear30rv.jpg

http://img122.imageshack.us/my.php?image=fear40ac.jpg

REPS PLEASE :)
NO MORE REVIEWS till I see those lil green squares near my name increase :tongue:

not so good screenies. :P

needs more AA & AF. :P

max out AA & AF & then post screenies again. :bleh:
 
Udit said:
not so good screenies. :P

needs more AA & AF. :P

max out AA & AF & then post screenies again. :bleh:
Yo F*** n#tz... :tongue: that's with SS on and 8x AF, I keep AA off because it slows down, 2x AA is the max i've used. remember I have only 1 HDD, (making load times longer and the game slower), until I get to formatting the T7K... A review is supposed to have screenies not show off the max what my card is capable off...
That's the settings at which I play, this is a game review not a bloomin candy show :P
remember :cool2:
@ thanx >> repping :ohyeah:
 
Screenies, on the 940 BW. Again running at 1024x768, cause I cannot run widescreen res in FEAR, it isn't showing the option.

brought me pen drive today (rather took the office one home :bleh: )
PS RTCW & KOTOR 2 screenies also updated.

I'm using my 7900GTX, game is running @ max details, 4x AF and 4x AA, fraps is showing some 70~105 fps, which seems decent, but I haven't benchied anything.

could the mods please merge these with the writeup?

and could I get some more reps? :P
more screenies to follow, when time permits.. watch this space :ohyeah:
 
The only thing lacking in FEAR is a strong story line... they explain (write) the story every time the levels load...but that's about it. And most of the time it's repetitive. For e.g. from the start till the end every load screen has a objective of find Paxton fettel!! ...it just didn't make sense... btw DOOM 3 is much more scary cause of the Torch without gun combo :2guns: .... You got to play it *at night* to njoi it!
 
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