Oh, the horror genre. It works so hard and has produced so little for us in the recent years to consider great, yet Monolith and Warner Bros has produced a great addition to the saga of F.E.A.R. with F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin. With F.E.A.R. we were given a radical storyline that fallowed Alma and the Point Man who remained nameless. Through the game you learned things that twisted reality and changed everything. Both Fettel, who you were originally sent to take out, and your character the Point Man, are the children of Alma. Alma’s father then released her and forced the Point Man to fight against Alma’s ghost after forcing the reactor of Project Origin to go critical. Now that we are up to speed, I just want to say this is the best survival horror series out right now. Don’t believe me? Read this review of F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin.

Story:

The story fallows new protagonist Michael Becket, a Delta force soldier who is sent to Genevieve Aristide’s penthouse to take her into protective custody roughly 30 minutes before the original F.E.A.R. had ended. While your team goes through Aristide’s residence you find it has been overrun with ATC (Armacham Technology Corporation) mercenaries headed by Colonial Vanek. When you find Aristide you switch into Alma’s reality and fallow her ghost back into the living room where you witness the huge blast from the Project Origin lab from the first F.E.A.R. which knocks Becket out on his ass.

That’s all I am going to give you to start, but the game has an amazing story that is deep and just as scary as the first one. The game just goes psychotic and real fast too. It keeps you heavy on your toes and sweaty on your trigger all while fighting the ATC as well as a very pissed off Alma. You may wonder why Becket? The reason is that he has extremely high mental abilities, ones that even rival Alma. She comes after Becket because she knows that he is the only one who can stop her.

The story, just like in F.E.A.R. is extraordinary. The depth and twists are among the best in today’s gaming and create an atmosphere that gives you doubt as well as creates fear. Project Origin takes it a step further and forces your confrontations to be more brutal especially when fighting Alma. All you can say is that they don’t call it F.E.A.R. because the story is weak.

Story: A-

Gameplay:

Here is the peanut butter for the F.E.A.R. sandwich. The gameplay is not only better; it makes the game more intense. The added so much more to your character from what you had with the Point Man. As Becket you have several new things at your disposal from the original F.E.A.R. game. Some of your weapons have a secondary fire such as going from burst fire to automatic which can help conserve ammo, as well as being able to push over things such as tables and move couches for cover. The cover system is a fine addition to the F.E.A.R. universe and not only makes the game scarier, but makes the game more tactical as well.

Along with the ATC and the lovely Replica troops, you get to fight the psychopathic Alma in melee combat several times. The game forces you to conserve ammo from time to time. You can utilize your reflex time to take out many soldiers just like in F.E.A.R. and the different weapons you can utilize such as the wonderful combat shotgun and the SMG which is a simple and effective weapon.

The gameplay is like F.E.A.R. on speed with more to kill. The gameplay is honestly one of the most satisfying and best I have played in awhile. The gameplay without the story would still make this a decent game, which shows how solid it is. This game while linear, is really amazing and enjoyable and actually worth more than one playthrough. The game offers great firefights, hardcore hand to hand against Alma and some fun and cool weapons. Amazing gameplay here that’s worth every penny.

Gameplay: A-

Graphics:

The game offers some beautiful and exotic graphics. The explosion is just extraordinary at the start of the game and Alma is one of the creepiest antagonists in games today. The graphics surpass good and make it all the way to great status due to the environment around the game and how it adds to the games terror factor. Just like in the first game, you will constantly feel a cold chill because of the lighting and usually a shit load of blood all over walls doesn’t ease your fear either. Project Origin simply put, terrifies you through graphics alone and when you add in everything else it just keeps you in shock and awe.

Graphics: B+

Sound:

If gameplay is the peanut butter then the sound is the crust, just making it even better each time (If you don’t like the crust then go with some Lay’s). The sound is just one of the best around. From weapons to Alma to lights and elevator shafts this just does it all perfectly. The flickering of lights are wonderful and realistic along with Alma’s rage and anger personified in horrific melodies of a young woman scorn, just create a setting for thing to be totally maxed out and in a good way. The sound quality is nearly untouchable and creates an atmosphere that is just something straight out of a total nightmare. I mean in all technicalities it is a nightmare, Alma’s nightmare and it is made beautifully (in a moderate use of the word).

When firing and hitting objects they make noises that appreciate what it would possibly sound like in a real life firefight. To me this is a great addition in accordance with the games hard work on effects which encompass a heavy duty within Project Origin. I have to salute the sound work for simply filling in all the small cracks that are usually overlooked in most games. The small details can be what make a game go from good to great and truly Project Origin is walking that fine line.

Sound: A

Replay:

The replay is actually not too bad. The online games feel reinvigorated compared to other FPS other than Halo 3 which of course is still played religiously. Project Origin added to its buyability (that’s my word) by making the online something that while is online, still has that haunting and creeping factor built into it. The storyline, as I said before is good and I actually went through it about 3 total times and found plot points I missed along the way, but that’s me.

While Project Origin has been getting ragged for being linear which honestly it is, but you have to make best with what you have and in my opinion, it did that. The story is interesting and scary and the multi is worth at minimum a look see. You might find yourself logging on and playing Project Origin on multi once in awhile and it keeps true to it with the achievement list as well. Alas, this game is not about the multi, but about the single campaign and thus the game does have a weakness in the online department. Competing against GOW2 and Halo 3 nowadays is rough and made no easier each day. It can seem now that companies add online simply because it is a norm and that is unfortunate.

Replay: B-

Overall:

The game is worthwhile and delivers. For a horror games fan this is a must own as it is one of the best of the genre in the last few years. The game offers a story filled with haunting moments and other times when pure terror takes over. Trust me, the first time Alma jumps your ass you will not only be caught off guard, but you might crap yourself. The story and updated gameplay are the real reason why you bought this game and there is nothing that proves that any different. Project Origin is built around the terror factor as I said before and damn does it use it like a midget to a stepping stool. The crazy fights, the insane encounters with supernatural shit and the aggravating replica soldiers all make for a bad stay anywhere you go.

The sounds are haunting; the graphics are violent and angry all while keeping you in the dark literally. It is graphically strong minus a few dings here and there such as light fixtures and the game is just overall really well done in my book. It is weak in the online department, but this game is not being bought by you to play it online. It is a game that you want to play and freak out to as well as be amazed. The game is worth a rental and if you’re a horror genre fan this is a must buy no doubt. I enjoyed it and it is, along side Dead Space one of the best horror games in the last few years.

Overall: B+

Achievements:

	Dead Eye	15
	Headshot 10 enemies with the Sniper Rifle.
	Kiss the Cook	15
	Roast 10 enemies with the Napalm Cannon.
	Snake Fist!	15
	Kill 10 enemies with Melee
	Stick Around	15
	Pin 10 enemies to the wall with the Hammerhead.
	Blinding Truth	15
	Slice up 10 enemies with the Laser.
	Raining Men	15
	Kill 4 enemies with one Grenade.
	Deadly Ballet	15
	Kill 4 enemies with one Slow-mo use.
	Home Wrecker	15
	Use 50 pieces of interactable cover.
	Bank Shot	15
	Kill 10 enemies using combat opportunities.
	Complete: Sanctuary	15
	Complete Mission on any difficulty: Sanctuary
	Complete: Awakening	15
	Complete Mission on any difficulty: Awakening
	Complete: Discovery	15
	Complete Mission on any difficulty: Discovery
	Complete: Withdrawal	15
	Complete Mission on any difficulty: Withdrawal
	Complete: Replica	15
	Complete Mission on any difficulty: Replica
	Complete: Ruin	15
	Complete Mission on any difficulty: Ruin
	Complete: Top	15
	Complete Mission on any difficulty: Top
	Complete: Elementary	15
	Complete Mission on any difficulty: Elementary
	Complete: Nurse's Office	15
	Complete Mission on any difficulty: Nurse's Office
	Complete: Snake Fist	15
	Complete Mission on any difficulty: Snake Fist
	Complete: Keegan	15
	Complete Mission on any difficulty: Keegan
	Complete: Epicenter	15
	Complete Mission on any difficulty: Epicenter
	Complete: Approach	15
	Complete Mission on any difficulty: Approach
	Complete: Climax	15
	Complete Mission on any difficulty: Climax
	Veteran	30
	Complete all Missions on the hardest difficulty.
	All Juiced Up	30
	Collect all Reflex Injectors in the game.
	Paparazzi	15
	Collect 25% of the journal intelligence found throughout the game.
	Stalker	20
	Collect 75% of the journal intelligence found throughout the game.
	Historian	15
	Collect 50% of the journal intelligence found throughout the game.
	Oracle	30
	Collect 100% of the journal intelligence found throughout the game.
	Enlisted	10
	Promoted to rank: Private
	Officer and Gentleman	30
	Promoted to rank: Second Lieutenant
	Four Star General	60
	Promoted to rank: Four Star General
	Five Star General	100
	All multiplayer achievements unlocked.
	Bloodbath	10
	Get 20 kills during a ranked match.
	Finishing First	35
	Be the highest scoring player for 3 consecutive ranked matches in any game mode.
	Monogamous Fragger	15
	Kill the same player 5 times during any ranked match.
	Demolitions Expert	30
	Set the C4 charge 3 times in a ranked FailSafe match.
	Dastardly Disarmer	15
	Disarm a C4 charge 3 times in a ranked FailSafe match.
	The Mad Capper	15
	Capture a PHLAG 10 times during a ranked match.
	MVP	30
	In a ranked Blitz match that your team wins, be the only player on your team to capture a PHLAG.
	Gotta Cap 'Em All	15
	Capture a control point 10 times during a ranked Control match.
	Control Freak	20
	Defend a control point 10 times during a ranked Control match.
	Untouchable	15
	Survive an entire ranked deathmatch match.
	Flash Dance	20
	Kill 3 players while blinded from a shock grenade during any ranked match.
	Time well spent	25
	Play 8 hours worth of ranked multiplayer.
	Suicidal Tendencies	20
	Kill yourself 5 times.
	I'll Take Those Odds	15
	Have more kills than deaths at the end of any ranked match.
	City Planner	20
	Destroy 100 combat ops while piloting a Powered Armor unit during ranked play.
	Bad Robot	15
	Destroy 2 enemy Powered Armor units in the same ranked round with a carried weapon.

"F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin" is on sale February 10, 2009 and is rated M. Shooter. Developed by Monolith Productions. Published by Warner Bros Interactive.