F.E.A.R. Files for Xbox 360 Reviews by Gamers

This was an excellent addition to the FEAR saga. I played it with all the lights out and the sound system turned up loud, and I must say that there were a few parts that literally made me jump. If you knew me well enough, you would know that's a feat.

The gameplay is as solid as it's predecessor. With tactical AI enemies that make their best attempt to outwit you on the battlefield. The bullet-time is still there as well, though I must admit, it seemed no matter how many reflex boosters I picked up, the slow-mo gauge didn't seem to expand any.

This title is actually a compilation of expansions that were released after the original FEAR; Extraction Point, which picks up where the original left off, and Perseus Mandate, a stand-alone campaign set around a completely different member of F.E.A.R. that spans the time across the first two campaigns. Think "Half-Life: Blue Shift". There is also an Instant Action mode that pits you up in some quick fire scenarios that you can attempt to clear within an allotted time. Notable were the "Subway" and the "Arena".

Now for the negatives. As it always has been, the storyline is very cryptic, and can take a few run-throughs of each campaign to grasp it all. Lighting issues plague the engine as always, but those can be solved with the in-game gamma correction and that handy brightness control on your TV. Plasma owners, you know the drill by now. Finally, I felt the endings of both campaigns were quite a let-down, pretty anti-climatic.

Overall, if you loved the first FEAR, rent this one, I recommend it. But as a standalone game for those not familiar with the series, I would suggest just waiting for FEAR 2, or rent the first FEAR before this one.

This is really one of the top 10 shooters for the Xbox 360, and that is saaying something. Revolutionary at the time, FEAR introduced quite possibly the most intelligent artificial intelligence system. Never before has a computer enemy set up his own shield or jumped through windows to attack me. The gameplay here is staggering, and the graphics are quite good for any next-generation game - especially in HD.

For those of you who have played the original FEAR; this IS a lot of the same thing. This one is perhaps a little less 'freaky', and the gameplay IS very much the same, as is the story line. If you are looking for more FEAR as I am, you are in for a treat. Both games play very well, and will provide hours of enjoyment.