F.E.A.R. 3

In comparing FEAR 3 with the other FEAR games, I would have to say this is my least favorite. The story line left much to be desired. Plus there was not a good balance between the military action and the horror story. I prefer much more of the horror part. As far as game play, there were too few points where I really had to work hard to get past that stage of game play, even on the hardest levels. I'm hoping for more FEAR sequels, but hope that the game returns to more horror and breath-taking moments like the older ones.

There are countless samey first-person shooters available on the market with very little to choose between them. One of F.E.A.R 3's greatest strengths is the fact that it offers something different to the standard carbon copy shooters. Instead, this game effectively combines the best elements of a shoot em' up game with scariest elements of horror games. However, there are still a few areas where this game is slightly unrefined which is a great shame.

If you are a follower of the F.E.A.R. series you will be aware that you play as the genetically modified Point Man. In the previous game the mysterious Alma becomes pregnant with the protagonists child. In this latest release it is your task to prevent the birth of this baby.

One of the best things about F.E.A.R. 3 is the varied gameplay. Throughout the game you are accompanied fellow Project Origin prototype Paxton Fettel. After having completed a level playing as Point Man you can then go back and play through the level as Fettel. This offers a totally new and original perspective on the game as Fettel is very different from Point Man. Better yet, you can play the campaign with a friend locally or online with one player playing as Point man and the other as Fettel - this makes for very entertaining co-op as you can use both character's strengths simultaneously.

F.E.A.R. 3 also has an excellent online multiplayer mode that is guaranteed to keep you entertained for hours and is truly a breath of fresh air in a crowded market. There are four different game modes which each allow a maximum of four players. For example in Soul King you are required to possess soldiers and zombies and the person who collects the most souls wins. Another of the multiplayer online game mode requires you to run away from an ominous cloud of smoke whilst evading and battling enemies making for exhilarating gameplay.

Essentially F.E.A.R. 3 is a first person shooter game. As well as the standard guns and explosives, playing as Point Man and Fettel you can also use their psychic powers to battle your way through hordes of creatures and monsters. The combination of supernatural powers and conventional weaponry makes this game thrilling and very different from other first person shooters.

The points system creates a progressive style of gameplay where players can achieve points in the online multiplayer, single player and co-op game modes. These points increase your level and can be used to unlock perks and new skills. This creates an addictive nature that has you replaying elements to try and beat your high score.

My only real complaint about the gameplay is that it is hard to throw grenades with any kind of accuracy - I regularly find myself overthrowing grenades which is slightly annoying. It is a niggling issue but it does not detract overly from the overall gaming experience.

Visually this game is not as refined as other, higher echelon, shooters such Call of Duty which is a shame as it holds back the game in some situations and detracts from the immersive horror. Although the voice acting can be slightly over the top in places, the sounds effects and music are good throughout and effectively add to the horror filled feeling of the game.

Overall, F.E.A.R. 3 has a lot going for it with its large variety of gameplay options that will provide hours of entertainment. Also, the unique style of this game cannot be overlooked with it seamlessly combining a horror game with a shooter game. It is a shame that the developers did not spend a little more time refining the faults in this game as it had the potential to be perfect. Still though, it is a superb horror and adrenalin filled ride that is guaranteed to provide you with hours of fun and is definitely worth purchasing.

First of all, let me start by saying I really enjoy the FEAR series.

The graphics have always appeared sub-standard compared to the likes of COD, but these games have something different to offer the FPS fans - with the shooter/horror combination and slow-mo shoot outs. These elements have managed to lift the game, offering something unique that lets the series get away from the other aspects that might see it overshadowed by superior looking games. Sometimes, you like to see the underdog do well, and that has always been the case here. Until now...

Firstly, as impossible as it might seem, the graphics have taken a backward step. Other than the cut scenes most levels are downright ugly. Cars and buildings are poorly drawn and textures bland. Graphics have never been the strong point of the FEAR games, but this one is really sub-standard.

The sounds are similar to the previous entries - the weapon sounds offer little variety, the music offers drama in the right areas, and the horror elements would be pretty fitting if it weren't for the way they were poorly executed.

Whereas before, the games chopped and changed from shooter to horror seamlessly, here it is nothing short of a mess. An open battlefield will suddenly become a horror scene without warning, moments which rather than cause tension become utterly bizarre. Some do genuinely shock, but it is almost as though the writers of the game have inserted them to fit in with the criteria of the game as an after thought. The enemies taunts and commands to one another remain a high point.

The gameplay starts flawlessly, and the new levelling up mode seems particularly welcome as completing certain challenges increases skills. The layout of the levels soon bores though, and even though I don't object to corridor shooters this is reminscent of much earlier shooters where the scripted path is far too obvious, and it soon becomes obvious this is the most basic corridor shooter ever, but with very little evidence of the previous tension offerred by previous games. But even this is not where the game fails.

The game doesn't just fail, it utterly insults the player, at about level 4 when it seems to just give up and adds the most obnoxious boss battles every few minutes. These boss battles become a matter of sheer luck, requiring about 15 minutes apiece of running, ducking, hiding, re-loading, finding weapons, and using multiple grenades. At any stage during this the screen may turn red when you get shot, rendering you totally blind. You may be able to duck, if you happen to be near cover, otherwise you just run around aimlessly unable to see anything until you eventually die. Again. With the first boss I thought I was doing something wrong, and for the first time ever in a FEAR game resorted to a walkthrough (the youtube video, with the commentator swearing "For .... sake....die already!!!" reflected my own thoughts). I realised I wasn't missing anything, I really did have to use about 10 grenades and empty countless shells before the enemy would be killed. On certain bosses, if you die, you don't just have the boss to contend with yet again, the game takes you back to replay the same moments building up to the boss, several minutes replayed over and over again. The fact that these bosses come up so frequently leads to an utterly frustrating experience within a game that wasn't that good to begin with.