F.3.A.R. Review: The Third Chapter of Horror

F.3.A.R., otherwise known as the third video game in the F.E.A.R. franchise, is a First-Person Shooter (FPS) which plays more like Action Adventure than Horror. Unlike the two previous video games in the series, the latest title has more realistic, gruesome gunfire and multi-player appeal in exchange for fewer chills, scares and screams. Let's take a closer look at F.3.A.R., which was released for PC, Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 on June 21^st, 2011, and what this creepy video games offer for FPS video game fans and gamers who simply enjoy a frightening atmosphere.

F.3.A.R. details: Storyline, characters and mechanics.

F.3.A.R. picks up where F.E.A.R. 2 left off, with players once again taking control of Point Man (the protagonist from F.E.A.R. 1) in the eerie, unnerving world which the series has made so familiar by the third chapter in the saga. As an added bonus, F.3.A.R. offers simultaneous, co-op multi-player mode, in which a second player steps into the shoes of Paxton Fettel, Point Man's brother and the primary villain in the original F.E.A.R. title. In the previous two titles (yes, there are spoilers for F.E.A.R. 1 and 2 included in this article), we players learned that Fettel is Point Man's brother and a powerful psychic with a link to elite soldiers. At the conclusion of F.E.A.R. 1, Point Man puts a bullet in Fettel's brain, killing his sibling. In F.3.A.R., Fettel returns as a ghost, and players can use his supernatural, otherworldly powers to possess soldiers, lift them off the ground using telekinesis, and squeeze them in a gory explosion of blood and body parts when in melee range. This video game carries an ESRB rating of Mature, and it is definitely a well deserved assessment.

What F.3.A.R. doesn't lack is plenty of realistic gunfire, quality voice acting and sound effects, and some pretty spectacular cut scene cinemas. Unfortunately, the plot line is completely predictable, even if exploring the tortured past of the brothers is interesting'"and truly troubling'"at times. But the events progresses in wholly predictable ways, so if you're looking for a captivating plot line full of twists, look elsewhere.

The co-op mode in F.3.A.R. is rather enjoyable, as the brothers have completely different skill sets, which allows for vastly different styles of gameplay. Fettel requires a little more finesse and patience, whereas Point Man has a full arsenal of weapons and ammo to help ease his transition through the story. If you opt for single-player mode, you must complete each section of F.3.A.R. as Point Man before gaining the option of playing as Fettel. Another bonus is the multiple ending possibilities, both in single-player and multi-player co-op mode, but I won't spoil the surprise.

Where is the horror?

Unfortunately, F.3.A.R. is seriously lacking in the horror department. The truly unnerving, creepy atmosphere of the first two chapters in this saga is present, but in a very watered-down kind of way. This is especially true when playing co-op mode, though simultaneous gameplay is notorious for diminishing quality freak-out moments. Something about encountering every scare with a friend reduces the effect, so let's not count F.3.A.R. down too much for co-op mode. But the Survivor Horror feel of the original two titles, combined with the FPS perspective, is simply lost in F.3.A.R. even in single-player mode.

Is it worth the purchase price?

F.3.A.R., which is often classified as a Sci-Fi First-Person Shooter, offers a lot to players. Fans of the F.E.A.R. who are looking for a rich plot and the horrifying, disturbing creep-factor of the original two titles will likely be disappointed. Players who want a quality FPS with co-op mode should definitely give this one a try. This series of video games is definitely bloodthirsty, with great action and even a few chills along the way, but F.3.A.R. excels as a multi-player choice above all else. Single-player mode is enjoyable, and the added option of replay as Fettel definitely improves the overall replay value of F.3.A.R., as does the multiple endings.

If the original two F.E.A.R. titles were too much for you to play alone in the dark, consider F.3.A.R. a lesser evil when playing alone. You won't jump out of your skin, or peek around dark corners, but it's good for a 10-hour ride or so. Want to enjoy this one fully? Grab a friend, and see which one of these twisted brothers comes out ahead'"and which gets their specific ending.