My review of F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin

Test rig: Sager NP8660

Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo P9500 @ 2.53GHz Memory: 4GB DDR3-1066MHz Hard Disk: 320GB 7200RPM SATA Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 9800M GTS 512MB @ Stock speed Display: 15.4” 1680x1050


Benchmark Program: FRAPS


Reviewed Game: F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin v1.01 @ Normal mode


Impressions:

F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin is the latest sequel of F.E.A.R. by Monolith after the return of their developing rights. This is my first attempt in writing a game’s review and F.E.A.R. 2 is actually my first game in survival horror genre. After a couple of days in playing the game, I am half way though and my feeling is rather mixed.

Yes it is scary, but there is a huge mood spoiler; the soldier and the clone super soldier (?). Why? In my opinion, this is because they are not scary at all. In fact, I feel like playing normal shooter rather than a survival horror game during the moment of fighting with them. But other than that, the intensity is back, everything is at a level of silence that makes you feel uncomfortable and normally there is this huge contrast waiting in the end, chaos. Often right after you entered a room or turning a corner, the game throws everything at you, your vision changed; distorted, change in colour and with intense sound effects bombarding your ears followed by sometimes flash back or... the girl, Alma.

Lightning effects are impressive as they really strike the atmosphere into your heart in my opinion. Since most of the time of Alma appearances are in-game cut scene or someone suddenly pop into your face, it is something that you will not miss (In case you’re looking elsewhere) and will certainly give you (me) a shock.

And here comes... Blood! The game is bloody (Provided you have the gore option turn on), every life form in the game makes you wonder if they are moving blood packs. Blood spray out like there is no tomorrow when you shoot at them, beautiful.

Artistic presentation is really solid although they are not something new in this genre according to my research.

The story is there, it is not epic but it is there, what can go wrong if your mission is just to arrest a company’s president right? Further more you are with your awesome soon-to-be-death elite special force team mates (No, most of your play through are done alone).

What makes me really in love with and enjoy the game is the animation. Similar to Crysis, but better in my opinion, you actually can feel the existence of your “weight” and the reload animations are smooth and done in style. The game health system is the good old health and amour bar system. There is always plenty of health pack/ armour lying around, specifically before an event/ during an event/ after an event. So you would not have to worry about your health as you can carry up to three health packs at any instance of the game.

The bullet time or “slow-motion” from the original is still there, I found myself using it very often during fights as the A.I. will quickly move to cover when available or trying to flank you. Once activated, there is a small bar beside your corsair that indicating the time left for the bullet time and it will recharge slowly once deactivated. In the game, you could pick up item that increase the length of bullet time permanently provided if you found them. In addition, the fear factor is there but after a few “Boo” by the quick moving monster (?) in game, it can be quickly overcome through hitting the bullet time button.

There is various weapon to choose from assault rifle, sub-machine gun, shotgun, automatic shotgun, pistol to some sci-fi weapon although you pretty much stuck with any gun that comes with plenty of ammo to pick up from.


Performance:

The performance is impressive, I’m playing the game maxed out at native resolution with the FPS hovering from 30 to 60 (I have v-sync turned on). The “lag” cause by the game loading content from the hard disk in the demo is now gone. I notice no slow down or whatsoever during my play through except when the game save at checkpoint. One thing worth mentioning is the FSAA (Full Screen Anti-Aliasing). While playing with the graphics settings, I noticed turning it ON (4x in my case) will improve my performance from 5 to 10 FPS.


Conclusion:

If you’re a fan of the original series, this is the game that you shouldn’t miss. Senior survival horror game’s player might find this game to be boring/ not refreshing considering Dead Space that with relatively more innovative game play (And doing it right) is catching most people attention now. To be honest, there is nothing really new, consider this as a revamp classic. Nevertheless, it is still a very solid FPS survival horror game that is worth buying when the price comes down considering it is lacking in the multiplayer department. Finally I hope you enjoy reading my first ever attempt in reviewing a game and thank you for your time. Any comment/critic/suggestion is welcome open handed.

P/S: Screen shot will be up soon, this is taking too long and I think I should publish it first (No I’m not lazy ).

 

I loved the game, and it is indeed a true descendant of the FEAR series. Can`t wait for more

 

I picked FEAR 2 up the other week. Haven't installed it yet but your review for performance on your laptop is very informative. I'm looking forward to playing it as soon as I'm done my other games waiting in the queue.

+rep!

 

It's a great sequel...

 

Good review. I am up to the part where your tank falls in the sewer hole and you gotta use the turret. How far am i in the game?

 

+1
It was a bit short but I love it <3

+Rep to you

 

nice review. anyone try the game on last gen cards? i'm hesitant to get the game w/o knowing how it'll perform. loved the first game though.

 

It's suposed to run nicely even on a 8600M GT (~7950GTX) at lower res.

 

Nice review. Can't agree about the game though, I wrote it was a disappointment relative to the original FEAR games in my review. FEAR 2 has a disconnected feel, the level design is very linear and repetitive, and the story is totally separate from the player. It has basically no replay value due to its linearity. It's a generic shooter dressed up in good graphics and sound. The disconnected feel of the game is what kills it.

 

i hated the game
boring and lame

 

I'll scratch more into performance part later today. Thanks for everyone input, appreciate that.

@Chaz

I have never play the first part so I only got to know the previous story from a video of Fear 2. I just noticed your review for Fear 2 :X Very clean and professional (Was in my mind of that format), good job!

After a read of your review, I have to agree about the story immersion part. Maybe Monolith should just continue the first story rather than a fresh start off new people. Its very hard in my opinion to get you into story by having everything happen so quickly. There is this new faces but early in the game we're separated, the next time we met, they're dead. Why do I care the death of a people that I never come across to know? (I mean in a game, not reality lol)

@wewe

There's too many complain about it, not to mention the shadow in my experience. Most of them are static, disable or not in the option they are still there. I barely notice the dynamic shadow most of the time, I remember only seeing one dynamic shadow in-game and that's the shadow of myself.

 

Test rig: alienware m17

Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo t9400 @ 2.53GHz Memory: 2GB DDR3-1066MHz Hard Disk: 160GB 7200RPM SATA Graphics: DUAL ATI radeon 3870s in crossfire 512MB @ Stock speed Display: 17” 1440x900


Benchmark Program: FRAPS


Reviewed Game: F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin v1.01 @ MAX mode

my average fps with every thing on maximum includeing AF and AA is 40fps and spikes into 60-80. In combat it stays about 40-45. I am right where the crazy leg things start showing up. It never lags except for when it reachs a check point.

hope this helps

 

to be honest nic. i never played the first part
but this game costed me 4 times more than crysis , and i regret it
i only play few seconds to test my new installed drivers , cz i always try the new drivers
i get around 30 fps minimum 25 and my temps reach 82 ( dox 182.05)
so it's a requiring game but i don't see that it's worth it
very poor first person shooter game

 

Gaming preference vary from people to people but jumping into conclusion just within seconds of playing the game...

Sorry the game's performance turn out unsatisfying for you, I have a notebook with 8600M GT lying around but I'm starting to get busy as the summer break is over.

Sorry about the incomplete review guys, I'll make sure the next one be better.

 

no the game's performance is not bad i can play with 25 and 30 fps without any problems
but i just don't like the game
not the usual addictive first person shooter game

 

pretty lame game imo. its like a completely different company developed it. i know there were issues with monolith and sierra but still its like what tyrech did with cod.

 

I also liked the game but I am confused that if the ghost girl is influenced from the movie "The Ring"??

 

Funny thing for me was that with or without AO it stayed around 50 fps, and dipped into the 25s in some cases...

 

I thought it was barely ok,found the HUD annoying,as was the OTT bobbing movement when walking.
The story was unmemorable,I can't even really remember what it was about and I only finished it a few day's ago.

The original and PM were the pick of the bunch imho,those two I have replayed and enjoyed again,project origin has nothing that inspire's me to have another look at it.

 

Does anyone know how the GeForce 7900GS card handles this game, will I be able to play at close to max settings?

 

...i really did try to like the game...but it is missing that...WOW factor that Crysis, Cod4, and Mass Effect has, it just does not keep you coming back for more.

 

How can you call a game poor when you didn't even play it!?

 

Despite all the downside of the game, I actually enjoy it. I guess my "requirement" is pretty low. Not surprise to see many people respond negatively to it.

 

YEAH...but even my hamster would think this game was mediocor.

 

So far I'm enjoying it. I loved the first one, and thought the expansions were fun. So I guess maybe it's for fans of the original moreso than anything else.

 

No not really...it just is'nt as good as we thought it would be