Ever since I finished F.E.A.R. 1, I’ve been itchiny myself to get into F.E.A.R. 2. Now I have! Well, I’m not sure I really feared Alma in the first place, more feeling sorry for her then fear. So let’s pick up where we left off with the previous article. F.E.A.R. was something to behold in it’s time, but as time went on, it seemed to be less and less impressive, there’s no real fault to cause that, it’s just how technology advance. The main question I asked myself while playing F.E.A.R. 2 was how much like F.E.A.R. 1 was it?

F.E.A.R. 2 starts out half an hour from where you finished in F.E.A.R. 1, so there is a great continuation in the storyline from another point of view. I personally admire the approach from a different angle, but it handicaps the story. The story in F.E.A.R. 2 is much like the first, in the way that it essential is the first. The whole storyline from F.E.A.R. 2 is essential F.E.A.R. 1 but without a backstory, and that really ticks me off. There isn’t much new content to low and behold.

Remember the creepy atmosphere in F.E.A.R? Well it’s half there. The game itself is creepy but only at some parts, like the elementary school. The elementary school is probably one of the strongest points in F.E.A.R. 2 because of the way Monolith designed it. When you enter the elementary school, the design is exactly like a school would be, and the creepiness stems from the fear of a place you knew to be safe, is no longer safe. Also, you have to admire that Monolith inserted some drawings Alma made and put them on a wall, it adds a really nice touch.

One of the things I really loved about F.E.A.R. was the dark atmosphere and the crisp sound effects that made you paranoid about every little detail. Does that still exist? I don’t think so. There are dark parts in F.E.A.R. 2 but the game itself is nowhere are dark and spooky as the first was. F.E.A.R. 2 prides itself in pop-up scares, while the original F.E.A.R. prides itself in a creepy environment.

F.E.A.R.  is first person shooter series, so let’s talk about gunplay. The good news: guns in F.E.A.R. 1 have been fully redesigned, and there have been more guns added. The bad news: All the interesting guns are gone. No more air missile gun, and you only get to use the particle cannon once in the game. I feel a bit ripped off. Not only the guns though, the enemy AI seems to have less personality. In F.E.A.R. 1, when you engaged enemies they’d be yelling things like “oh shit” and “fuck where did he go”. Instead we get some closed mouth push overs that seem to have no regard for each other. It’s a shame really.

So if so much has been taken away from F.E.A.R. 2, what has been gained? Well for one, the graphics. The graphics are amazing and surprising realistic, though a subject to grain filters and a bit of bluring, F.E.A.R. 2 still presents itself extremely well. Secondly, F.E.A.R. 2 has gained mech battles, and I wish I was making this up. There are parts in the campaign that have you entering mechanical suits to destroy your foes. The experience is awesome, even if it doesn’t fit in with the general F.E.A.R. understanding. Thirdly, we have a better cast of secondary characters, because unlike F.E.A.R, your teammates actual have a personality and are worth something. Lastly, the ending. The ending of F.E.A.R. 2 is unexpected and somewhat unique, and all I can say without ruining the ending is that F.E.A.R. 3 will be very, very interesting.

Bottom line? F.E.A.R. 2 is a great game, but it’s more generic than F.E.A.R. 1 was. You have less horror undertones and more action. The story isn’t very well drawn out, and you get ripped off a bit on the gun variety, but all-in-all the game presents itself with many redeeming features.