F.E.A.R 3 PlayStation 3

F.E.A.R 3 Product Details

Released on 23/06/2011

• F.3.A.R set to deliver co-op scares in May

  Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment today announced that forthcoming horror threequel F.3.A.R. will launch across Europe on May 27th.

  Currently in development at Day 1 Studios, the folks behind the console ports of the original F.E.A.R. and LucasArtsFracture, the game will be released on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC.

  The big new addition to the series usual blend of intense and atmospheric action is co-operative play. Terrifying psychic Alma will once again appear, but this time youl be playing her two sons. Point Man, the first game protagonist, is a sharp shooter with the ability to slow time. Paxton Fettel, who was the antagonist in the original, can use his spiritual abilities - including telekinesis and possession powers - to assist the other player in combat.

  In an interview with Eurogamer, Day 1 Parker Hamilton spoke of the need to ull in a new crowd for the franchise emphasising the importance of co-operative gameplay. he landscape of gaming is developing into more social aspects and people wanting to play together. We're hoping we can maintain all of the tenets we had in previous versions of F.E.A.R. and offer a fresh look that new players will enjoy as well.

  You can also expect an improved script and cinematics, with comic book author Steve Niles on writing duties, while horror maestro John Carpenter will lend his genre expertise to the cutscenes. Third time the charm? Wel find out in just two monthstime.

• F.3.A.R. Review

  Nothing to fear
  

  Aside from its preposterous acronym, the biggest problem with F.E.A.R. 3 is that it misrepresents itself. It may be a horror-themed shooter, but if you're expecting scares then you'll be left wholly disappointed. Early on it becomes apparent that the shocks are scripted events and can't actually hurt you, at which point it becomes about as spooky as your neighbour's haunted house. If you've come for frights then look elsewhere, but if you're looking for an exceptional first-person shooter, F.E.A.R. 3 will hit the spot.
  

  Get to the point, man
  

  You reprise your role as Point Man from the first F.E.A.R. After being taken prisoner by ominous technology corporation Armacham, you're rescued by the ghost of your murderous brother Paxton Fettel, the antagonist of the first game. The brothers unite to look for their pregnant mother - a creepy, undead psychic whose tortured childhood and shattered mental state manifests itself as spooky happenings throughout the city. Despite comic book writer Steve Niles (30 Days of Night) and film director John Carpenter (The Thing) taking on the writing and cinematic duties respectively, the story is a muddled mess.
  

  Where the F.E.A.R. series always excelled was its exhilarating combat, and F.E.A.R. 3 is no exception. Due to clever enemy AI, cunning level design, and satisfying slow-motion, gunplay is fast and frantic. New to the series is a cover system, though enemies will do their best to suss you out so you can't stay prone for long. Scrambling around for cover only to be intercepted by a couple of soldiers, then having to pump them full of lead in slow motion is riveting.
  

  The ghost with the most
  

  F.E.A.R. 3 really stands apart from its predecessors through the inclusion of secondary character, Paxton Fettel. Fettel can be played either in two-player co-op (offline split-screen or online) or in any single-player mission you've already completed as Point Man. Since Fettel's a ghost, he can't use conventional weapons or go into slow-mo. His otherworldly powers include levitating foes with a spectral vine, shooting projectiles, a melee attack where he squishes enemies to a pulp by clenching his fist, and in co-op he can create a shield around Point Man by keeping him tethered to his vine. Even more noteworthy is his power to possess enemy soldiers.
  

  Inhabiting their bodies confers their abilities on you - though you can only claim a host for so long before you burst out of them in a shower of gore. You can extend your stay by collecting the red skulls dropped by any enemy you kill while in possession of a host. It's a "cat and mouse" feel that encourages you to play aggressively while inhabiting a body, but defensively when booted back to your shadowy form. Playing as Fettel is a joy in single player and even better in co-op where the two vastly different playstyles complement one another.
  

  All 4 one, and one 4 all
  

  F.E.A.R. 3's innovations don't end there as the game contains four unique multiplayer modes, each designed around four players. Convulsions is a riff on Gears of War's Horde mode, where you stave off increasingly threatening waves of enemies. Soul King puts players in the role of phantoms competing for points based on collecting the skulls left by fallen foes. Phantoms are vulnerable, but move quickly, jump high and can possess enemies. Getting killed as a phantom makes you forfeit half your points, so it remains anyone's game throughout.
  

  The best two modes are DLC that come bundled with new copies of the game as a free unlock code. One such mode has four players sprinting through enemy terrain while being chased by a wall of smoke. If anyone gets taken by the fog, it's game over for everyone. Taking care of your squad mates while on the run is just the right amount of stressful. Lastly, Soul Survivor pits one random player as a phantom - assigned to convert the other players who are busy fending off enemies. Once converted, players switch sides and whether you're playing the hunter or the hunted, it's equally good fun.
  

  F.E.A.R. 3 may not be scary and the story is lacking, but it more than makes up for these shortcomings with refined and inventive gameplay. The base mechanics of the game subtly improves upon its predecessors without compromising their integrity, while its new ideas are a resounding success. Whether played as single player, co-op or multiplayer, F.E.A.R. 3 is a brilliant gem of a shooter.
  

  

  Perfection:
  + Excellent combat.
  + Playing as a ghost is inspired.
  + Multiplayer is a blast.

  Inperfection:
  - Not scary.
  - Story is poorly told.
  - Somewhat misleading title.

• Bring On the Bad Guys!

  
  

  

  This week sees the release of Prototype 2, where the Alex Mercer, hero from the first game seems to have become the new bad guy to beat. So, in celebration of all things vile and villainous, the digital team has once again been gently prodded to share with you our favourite evil-doers. These are the people, who, in the style of Bugsy Malone, are "the very best at being bad"

  
  

  

  Glenn - Mad Mod

  Diablo is the Lord of Terror and a Prime Evil of Hell. That's a job title that alone warrants a spot on our best bad guys list.

  He manipulates his opponents using their innermost fears and then obliterates them with his Demonic strength and incredibly powerful Spells. The strongest Demon in Hell, named after the Devil himself, and seemingly indestructible (Read - he's been destroyed a number of times, even with the Arch Angels helping and he's still keeps ticking, like a malevolent Duracell bunny), devious and able to possess his enemies, Diablo is the Ultimate Bad Guy. And he's back in Diablo 3!
  

  

  Marc - Analyst to the Stars

  The little girl from F.E.A.R. - Alma Wade.

  She was scary. Honest. Like the girl from the Ring (Japanese version, obviously). The first corridor experience with her and the ceiling of blood is one of the scariest scenes ever in a game.

  The Music and Sound was eerie too. It was just all far too scary and Alma was the cause of it all.

  Carl - Design Doodler

  Shao Kahn from Mortal Kombat. Because he is a massive #@+! and I can't kill him!

  

  Ali - Queen of the Internet

  My favourite video game villain is Revolver Ocelot. He started life in Metal Gear Solid as a random gunslinger who you could kill if you (as Solid Snake) waited for him to need to reload his revolver - he really should have named himself something with more than 6 bullets!

  After cutting off his arm you assume that's the end of him, but he's more maniacal than you realise as he replaces his arm with that of your dead clone brother Liquid Snake. In a strange twist of surgery his arm takes over his mind so you have to beat him again in Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. Finally the epic family feud of a lifetime is over, but with Metal Gear nothing ever seems to stay dead. Roll on Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance!

  James - Captain Category

  G-Man from Half-Life - not really a villain but still very creepy

  

  Nick - Colonel Category

  Wesker from Resident Evil.
  
  How many times did he die escape get retconned? Nigh on unkillable (until the muddle that was Resident Evil 5), the variety of his super powers (whatever the situation demanded, basically) and his smartass one-liners made him the man (ish?) well all loved to hate.

  Plus, sunglasses in those dark places, yes, THAT's how hard he was!

  Louis - Merchandising Meddler

  Wesker be top of my favourite picks, too. From his humble beginnings in a dual life as a scientist/Umbrella genius/STARS Leader, he goes about sacrificing his entire team in the name of science... and obtaining reliable combat data.

  After he is foiled by Chris and Jill, Wesker fakes his own death, escapes, and, not content with the destruction of Raccoon City, tries to continue his research away from the tenacious and meddling Redfield...

  But, Wesker is a bad guy and is therefore doomed to fail. After failing twice, mutating his body beyond belief and moving to Africa, he becomes nothing short of annoying and impossible to kill. The only way he is stopped is by being tackled by Chris and Eva and hundreds of bullets later, is engulfed in a pool of lava.

  Truly special, I'll always remember him for his rubbish sunglasses (worn at all times) and even worse Matrix-esque coat (RE 5). It was also really weird the way his accent changed too. He went from camp American to indignant English... I guess that cemented the transformation from mildly devious to completely evil!

  My second pick would be The Shredder (many Turtles games, but in particular, the 1989 TMNT Arcade Game). Not content with burning down April's apartment building, he kidnaps her too - forcing the Turtles into action and on a mission to end all missions. To a degree, menacing, but generally just annoying and incessant ; )

  Finally, I'd say my third pick would be Dr. Robotnik from Sonic. Generally, he's also just annoying, but also very devious and innovative. From trying to run Sonic down with a drill machine, to smashing Sonic with a giant wrecking ball, to trying to drown Sonic, to pitting Sonic against Metal Sonic in a race to save Amy Rose. Robotnik never gives up... You gotta love a good villain!

  

  Robyn - In-Yer-Face Interfacer

  Baron von Blubba. You know, the whale in Bubble Bobble! When time runs out it goes ape and super fast... Waaaaaah!!!! (o_o)

  Damien - Good Word Writing Man

  Does 'Dragonforce - Through the Fire and Flames' from Guitar Hero: World Tour count? Talk about an unbeatable enemy... No? Well then there's always the Joker in Arkham Asylum and City - played with delicious glee by Mark Hamill. He won an award for it and everything.

• F.3.A.R. (F.E.A.R 3) - Review

  

  Nothing To Fear

  Aside from its preposterous acronym, the biggest problem with F.E.A.R. 3 is that it misrepresents itself. It may be a horror-themed shooter, but if you're expecting scares then you'll be left wholly disappointed. Early on it becomes apparent that the shocks are scripted events and can't actually hurt you, at which point it becomes about as spooky as your neighbour's haunted house. If you've come for frights then look elsewhere, but if you're looking for an exceptional first-person shooter, F.E.A.R. 3 will hit the spot.

  Get To The Point, Man

  You reprise your role as Point Man from the first F.E.A.R. After being taken prisoner by ominous technology corporation Armacham, you're rescued by the ghost of your murderous brother Paxton Fettel, the antagonist of the first game. The brothers unite to look for their pregnant mother - a creepy, undead psychic whose tortured childhood and shattered mental state manifests itself as spooky happenings throughout the city. Despite comic book writer Steve Niles (30 Days of Night) and film director John Carpenter (The Thing) taking on the writing and cinematic duties respectively, the story is a muddled mess.

  Where the F.E.A.R. series always excelled was its exhilarating combat, and F.E.A.R. 3 is no exception. Due to clever enemy AI, cunning level design, and satisfying slow-motion, gunplay is fast and frantic. New to the series is a cover system, though enemies will do their best to suss you out so you can't stay prone for long. Scrambling around for cover only to be intercepted by a couple of soldiers, then having to pump them full of lead in slow motion is riveting.

  

  The Ghost With The Most

  F.E.A.R. 3 really stands apart from its predecessors through the inclusion of secondary character, Paxton Fettel. Fettel can be played either in two-player co-op (offline split-screen or online) or in any single-player mission you've already completed as Point Man. Since Fettel's a ghost, he can't use conventional weapons or go into slow-mo. His otherworldly powers include levitating foes with a spectral vine, shooting projectiles, a melee attack where he squishes enemies to a pulp by clenching his fist, and in co-op he can create a shield around Point Man by keeping him tethered to his vine. Even more noteworthy is his power to possess enemy soldiers.

  Inhabiting their bodies confers their abilities on you - though you can only claim a host for so long before you burst out of them in a shower of gore. You can extend your stay by collecting the red skulls dropped by any enemy you kill while in possession of a host. It's a "cat and mouse" feel that encourages you to play aggressively while inhabiting a body, but defensively when booted back to your shadowy form. Playing as Fettel is a joy in single player and even better in co-op where the two vastly different playstyles complement one another.

  

  All 4 One, And One 4 All

  F.E.A.R. 3's innovations don't end there as the game contains four unique multiplayer modes, each designed around four players. Convulsions is a riff on Gears of War's Horde mode, where you stave off increasingly threatening waves of enemies. Soul King puts players in the role of phantoms competing for points based on collecting the skulls left by fallen foes. Phantoms are vulnerable, but move quickly, jump high and can possess enemies. Getting killed as a phantom makes you forfeit half your points, so it remains anyone's game throughout.

  The best two modes are DLC that come bundled with new copies of the game as a free unlock code. One such mode has four players sprinting through enemy terrain while being chased by a wall of smoke. If anyone gets taken by the fog, it's game over for everyone. Taking care of your squad mates while on the run is just the right amount of stressful. Lastly, Soul Survivor pits one random player as a phantom - assigned to convert the other players who are busy fending off enemies. Once converted, players switch sides and whether you're playing the hunter or the hunted, it's equally good fun.

  F.E.A.R. 3 may not be scary and the story is lacking, but it more than makes up for these shortcomings with refined and inventive gameplay. The base mechanics of the game subtly improves upon its predecessors without compromising their integrity, while its new ideas are a resounding success. Whether played as single player, co-op or multiplayer, F.E.A.R. 3 is a brilliant gem of a shooter.

  GAME's Verdict

  The Good:

  • Excellent combat.
  • Playing as a ghost is inspired.
  • Multiplayer is a blast.

  The Bad:

  • Not scary.
  • Story is poorly told.
  • Somewhat misleading title.

  Published: 29/06/2011

• Bring On The Bad Guys!

  
  

  

  This week sees the release of Prototype 2, where the Alex Mercer, hero from the first game seems to have become the new bad guy to beat. So, in celebration of all things vile and villainous, the digital team has once again been gently prodded to share with you our favourite evil-doers. These are the people, who, in the style of Bugsy Malone, are "the very best at being bad"

  
  

  

  Glenn - Mad Mod

  Diablo is the Lord of Terror and a Prime Evil of Hell. That's a job title that alone warrants a spot on our best bad guys list.

  He manipulates his opponents using their innermost fears and then obliterates them with his Demonic strength and incredibly powerful Spells. The strongest Demon in Hell, named after the Devil himself, and seemingly indestructible (Read - he's been destroyed a number of times, even with the Arch Angels helping and he's still keeps ticking, like a malevolent Duracell bunny), devious and able to possess his enemies, Diablo is the Ultimate Bad Guy. And he's back in Diablo 3!
  

  

  Marc - Analyst to the Stars

  The little girl from F.E.A.R. - Alma Wade.

  She was scary. Honest. Like the girl from the Ring (Japanese version, obviously). The first corridor experience with her and the ceiling of blood is one of the scariest scenes ever in a game.

  The Music and Sound was eerie too. It was just all far too scary and Alma was the cause of it all.

  Carl - Design Doodler

  Shao Kahn from Mortal Kombat. Because he's massive and I can't kill him!

  

  Ali - Queen of the Internet

  My favourite video game villain is Revolver Ocelot. He started life in Metal Gear Solid as a random gunslinger who you could kill if you (as Solid Snake) waited for him to need to reload his revolver - he really should have named himself something with more than 6 bullets!

  After cutting off his arm you assume that's the end of him, but he's more maniacal than you realise as he replaces his arm with that of your dead clone brother Liquid Snake. In a strange twist of surgery his arm takes over his mind so you have to beat him again in Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. Finally the epic family feud of a lifetime is over, but with Metal Gear nothing ever seems to stay dead. Roll on Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance!

  James - Captain Category

  G-Man from Half-Life - not really a villain but still very creepy

  

  Nick - Colonel Category

  Wesker from Resident Evil.
  
  How many times did he die escape get retconned? Nigh on unkillable (until the muddle that was Resident Evil 5), the variety of his super powers (whatever the situation demanded, basically) and his smartass one-liners made him the man (ish?) well all loved to hate.

  Plus, sunglasses in those dark places, yes, THAT's how hard he was!

  Louis - Merchandising Meddler

  Wesker be top of my favourite picks, too. From his humble beginnings in a dual life as a scientist/Umbrella genius/STARS Leader, he goes about sacrificing his entire team in the name of science... and obtaining reliable combat data.

  After he is foiled by Chris and Jill, Wesker fakes his own death, escapes, and, not content with the destruction of Raccoon City, tries to continue his research away from the tenacious and meddling Redfield...

  But, Wesker is a bad guy and is therefore doomed to fail. After failing twice, mutating his body beyond belief and moving to Africa, he becomes nothing short of annoying and impossible to kill. The only way he is stopped is by being tackled by Chris and Eva and hundreds of bullets later, is engulfed in a pool of lava.

  Truly special, I'll always remember him for his rubbish sunglasses (worn at all times) and even worse Matrix-esque coat (RE 5). It was also really weird the way his accent changed too. He went from camp American to indignant English... I guess that cemented the transformation from mildly devious to completely evil!

  My second pick would be The Shredder (many Turtles games, but in particular, the 1989 TMNT Arcade Game). Not content with burning down April's apartment building, he kidnaps her too - forcing the Turtles into action and on a mission to end all missions. To a degree, menacing, but generally just annoying and incessant ; )

  Finally, I'd say my third pick would be Dr. Robotnik from Sonic. Generally, he's also just annoying, but also very devious and innovative. From trying to run Sonic down with a drill machine, to smashing Sonic with a giant wrecking ball, to trying to drown Sonic, to pitting Sonic against Metal Sonic in a race to save Amy Rose. Robotnik never gives up... You gotta love a good villain!

  

  Robyn - In-Yer-Face Interfacer

  Baron von Blubba. You know, the whale in Bubble Bobble! When time runs out it goes ape and super fast... Waaaaaah!!!! (o_o)

  Damien - Good Word Writing Man

  Does 'Dragonforce - Through the Fire and Flames' from Guitar Hero: World Tour count? Talk about an unbeatable enemy... No? Well then there's always the Joker in Arkham Asylum and City - played with delicious glee by Mark Hamill. He won an award for it and everything.

  Published: 22/04/2012

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