Mixing action and horror together sounds like it would be a mess, but the F.E.A.R series managed to pull it off. I loved the first game, but for me, F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin is a clear step above its predecessor in every regard. With epic and brutal gunfights and lots of spooky goings-on, it was awesome to jump back into this and play through it again.
How to Download F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin
You can get the game from Steam, PS Store and Microsoft Store. There is also a free demo for Xbox 360 available at Microsoft Store. Click on the Download button at the end of the review.
The Game Review
The story of the game takes place at the same time as the first game. You play as a completely different character, but you do get to see events from the first game. It answers many questions that were left unanswered and in all the story is a great mix of action and horror.
It starts slow, but I was all in with this story. Once again that creepy little dead girl Alma is trying to rip people and the world apart with her mind. She is a great antagonist and you find yourself wanting to know more about the way she is. One thing that F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin does very well I feel is the different kinds of enemies it throws at you.
These are similar to the first game. However, there is a bigger variety here and I like how you can go from having an intense bullet fight with soldiers to having to deal with spooky specters. Even though the action and the horror styles should be at odds with each other the game blends them together seamlessly.
So, the presentation, style, premise, and story are great, but what about the gameplay? F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin is a damn solid first-person shooter. Seriously this is just a ton of fun to play and as it has horror elements, you may be surprised at how fast-paced the gameplay is. You sometimes feel like you never have a moment to breathe!
This is when you can kick in your bullet-time-like ability. This is awesome and one of the best uses of bullet time in a game in my opinion. Not only does it give you a massive edge, but it is also a ton of fun to use. This is mainly due to the sound effects of the bullets and the brutal impact of your attacks. You even get to change things up by getting to pilot this awesome battle suit that makes you ultra-powerful.
You have many different chapters to play through and while it does start just a tad slow in the hospital. After this, the game has a tremendous variety to the levels ranging from a war-torn urban area, an underground facility and a breathtaking outdoor level created by Alma! Even after all these years, F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin is a game that looks good.
One thing I do want to mention is that I have actually played every version of this that has been released. While the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions are great I do feel that the PC is where this game is at its very best. Still, no matter what version you play you are in for a wild, scary and fun time.
I like all three of the games in this series, but I would have to say that this is my favorite of the trilogy. Above all else, F.E.A.R. 2 is just a really fun game to play and one that will have you on the edge of your seat. While I like this game best, I would advise that you play through the whole trilogy in order to get the best out of it.
