F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin + Reborn

F.E.A.R. 2 introduces a couple of changes (which luckily don’t include regenerating HP) to the gameplay formula of the original game. Most of them work well, like the ability to control Elite Power Armor units, most of new guns are fun. The game now tracks your collectibles (which are once again storytelling messages and reflex boosters). I don’t know how it’s possible, but I managed to find them all without a guide in one playthrough. If I could do it, so can you. Props to the devs for not making it a pain to find them. A couple of enemies have undergone cosmetic redesign, the nightmares, in particular, have become far less creepy, IMO. There is an in-game achievement system, the Awards (the DLC ones are more like challenges even). I completed the game twice, and enjoyed it immensely more the second time – when I didn’t have to worry about either the awards or the collectibles. While you can’t save anywhere anymore and have to use checkpoints, the base game feels easier than the first one. The DLC, on the other hand, is very well-balanced – it manages to be satisfyingly difficult without being too tough. Think what you will of the gameplay changes, but you can’t deny the story and the worldbuilding F.E.A.R. 2 does. Right from the get-go you get to meet Genevieve Aristide. Apparently, she doesn’t call all the shots by herself at Armacham, but answers to the Board. You’ll meet the head of the Armacham clean-up squad, who will be pursuing you throughout the game. You will learn more about secret projects of Armacham, and not just the ones you’re familiar from the first game. And then there’s one of the coolest friendly NPCs I’ve ever met, whom I won’t spoil. And of course the poor Alma, whose story is once again not a conversation topic for a family dinner, even more so this time. The events of F.E.A.R. 2 and its DLC set up the final part of this definitive FPS trilogy.

Almost everything you've heard about this game is probably true. Compared to the first game, it has levels that are somehow even more linear (making enemy A.I. encounters less interesting), less punchy gun/grenade sounds, and you can't lean around corners. I suspect a lot of said issues, stem from the fact the game was made for consoles first, then ported to PC second. Since the consoles couldn't handle what you could get in the first game, they had to compromise. Granted, that's not an excuse for how this game ended up how it did, but that's what happened. With that being said, I'd say it's still worth playing, as it does do a few things to differentiate itself from the first game. Things like the 4-weapon limit, a proper continuation of the first F.E.A.R.'s story (since Extraction Point's story pretty much went nowhere), mechs and turret sections. Also, despite how much the gunplay itself has been downgraded, it's still kind of fun as is.

The game was pretty fun, but a lot of elements from the first game have been taken away. No more leaning, you are actually expected to use the iron sights, a lot of the enemies and guns have glowing lights like everyone is going to a military themed rave, the spooky parts are now extremely loud and in your face. Also, Alma is kind of into you, and shows it in the creepiest way possible. It's not existential horror, but more avoiding cooties. Dead lady cooties. The music isn't quite as weird and out there as the original, but moreso than the sequel. The pace seems much more rushed, and for whatever reason you are given a mech suit and minigun. The meatpuppets are creepy and cool, but barely used despite being a major point in the media up to release. There are a couple of cool shooting sections. The two best ones come one after the other. One is on a cargo train, the other from a sniper's vantage point. I distinctly remember enjoying them both. The music during these two sections is at its best, as well. There were some silly decisions made in the development of this game, but it isn't at all awful. The story most certianly needed an editor, and the glow sticks needed to go, but the core is there. It is just under the thin layer of modern military shooter paint.

The Good: + Shooting enemies 'John Woo Style' is still fun + Cool new enemies like the Remnant and Abomination + More colorful graphics and scenery variation + Wade Elementary is genuinely creepy + Control an overpowered mech + Carry 4 weapons instead of 3 + Bloodier than F.E.A.R. + Flashlight stays on + Aim down sights + Cook grenades + Good soundtrack + F.E.A.R. Reborn DLC The Bad: - Suffers heavily from 'Consolitis' - Bad story (Ghost Alma wants a baby and needs Becket's man juice, wtf) - Environment isn't nearly as destructable as in F.E.A.R. - Worse particle effects and volumetric lighting - Bright colors make the graphics look a bit cartoony - Enemies glow in the dark when using slo-mo - Enemy A.I. feels dumbed down to appease console players - Enemies don't talk as much as in the first game - QTE's for boss fights (mash 'E' button) - Melee system like dropkicks and slides are hit-or-miss - Weak weapons that sound like pea shooters - Terrible combat shotgun and useless flamethrower - Predictable white noise and flashlight stutter to announce spooky stuff - PDA updates on-screen getting in your line of sight - Can't use scroll button to read messages in PDA - Using the cover system is pretty useless - Especially since there's no leaning - Annoying on-screen hud - No manual saves The Ugly: - GOG version has game breaking bugs not present in the Steam version - Can't bind mouse buttons 4 and 5 without a community fix (https://www.highrez.co.uk/downloads/xmousebuttoncontrol.htm) - Can't disable mouse acceleration without a community fix (https://community.pcgamingwiki.com/files/file/932-fear-2-mouse-fix/)

F.E.A.R 1 and 2 was one of the few horror games that I played on PS3 console. The second one is a piece of horror art, better engine, better story and better gameplay. It's gruesome and gory and obviously I love it. when do you like horror games you want to feel frightened all the time(now I'm expanding m horizons to new kinds of experiences but horror games are still my thing too) F.E.A.R 2 is the last game I played of this franchise(I don't like the following ones, because they're ugly to me lol)