''F.E.A.R.'' is a
first-person shooter
First-person shooter (FPS) is a sub-genre of shooter video games centered on gun and other weapon-based combat in a first-person perspective, with the player experiencing the action through the eyes of the protagonist and controlling the pl ...
psychological horror
Psychological horror is a genre, subgenre of horror fiction, horror and psychological fiction with a particular focus on mental, emotional, and Mental state, psychological states to frighten, disturb, or unsettle its audience. The subgenre frequent ...
video game series created by Craig Hubbard in 2005. Released on
Microsoft Windows
Windows is a group of several proprietary graphical operating system families developed and marketed by Microsoft. Each family caters to a certain sector of the computing industry. For example, Windows NT for consumers, Windows Server for serv ...
,
PlayStation 3
The PlayStation 3 (PS3) is a home video game console developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment. The successor to the PlayStation 2, it is part of the PlayStation brand of consoles. It was first released on Novemb ...
, and
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is a home video game console developed by Microsoft. As the successor to the original Xbox, it is the second console in the Xbox series. It competed with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation ...
, there are three main games in the series; ''
F.E.A.R.
''F.E.A.R.'' is a first-person shooter psychological horror video game series created by Craig Hubbard in 2005. Released on Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360, there are three main games in the series; '' F.E.A.R.'' (2005), '' F.E.A ...
'' (2005), ''
F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin'' (2009), and ''
F.E.A.R. 3
''F.E.A.R. 3'' (stylized as ''F.3.A.R.'') is a first-person shooter psychological horror video game for Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3. It is the third game in the '' F.E.A.R.'' series. Developed by Day 1 Studios and published by ...
'' (2011). There are also two standalone
expansion pack
An expansion pack, expansion set, supplement, or simply expansion is an addition to an existing role-playing game, tabletop game, video game or collectible card game. These add-ons usually add new game areas, weapons, objects, characters, or an ...
s for the first game; ''
F.E.A.R. Extraction Point
''F.E.A.R. Extraction Point'' is the first standalone expansion pack for the first-person shooter psychological horror video game '' F.E.A.R. First Encounter Assault Recon''. Developed by TimeGate Studios and originally published by Vivendi Game ...
'' (2006) and ''
F.E.A.R. Perseus Mandate
''F.E.A.R. Perseus Mandate'' is the second standalone expansion pack for the first-person shooter psychological horror video game '' F.E.A.R. First Encounter Assault Recon''. Developed by TimeGate Studios and originally published by Vivendi Gam ...
'' (2007), but these games are no longer considered
canon
Canon or Canons may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* Canon (fiction), the conceptual material accepted as official in a fictional universe by its fan base
* Literary canon, an accepted body of works considered as high culture
** Western can ...
, as their plots were ignored in ''Project Origin'' and ''F.E.A.R. 3''. In 2014, ''F.E.A.R. Online'', a
free-to-play
Free-to-play (F2P or FtP) video games are games that give players access to a significant portion of their content without paying or do not require paying to continue playing. Free-to-play is distinct from traditional commercial software, which ...
game, was released, but the
servers were shut down in 2015 with the game still in
open beta
A software release life cycle is the sum of the stages of development and maturity for a piece of computer software ranging from its initial development to its eventual release, and including updated versions of the released version to help impro ...
.
Monolith Productions
Monolith Productions, Inc. is an American video game developer based in Kirkland, Washington. The company has been a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment since August 2004.
History
Monolith Productions was founded on October ...
developed the original game and ''Project Origin'';
Day 1 Studios
Wargaming Chicago-Baltimore (formerly Meyer/Glass Interactive, L.L.C., Day 1 Studios, LLC and Wargaming West Corporation) is an American game developer that operates in Chicago, Illinois and Hunt Valley, Maryland.
History
They worked in tandem ...
developed ''F.E.A.R. 3'';
TimeGate Studios
TimeGate Studios was an American video game developer based in Sugar Land, Texas. The company, which was founded in 1998, released eight titles before closing in 2013.
History
TimeGate Studios was founded in 1998 by Alan and Adel Chaveleh, who r ...
developed ''Extraction Point'' and ''Perseus Mandate''; Inplay Interactive developed ''F.E.A.R. Online''. Initially, the series' publishing rights were owned by
Vivendi Games
Vivendi Games was an American video game publisher and holding company based in Los Angeles. It was founded in 1996 as CUC Software, the publishing subsidiary of CUC International, after the latter acquired video game companies Davidson & Associ ...
, who published the original game and the two expansions under the
Sierra Entertainment
Sierra Entertainment, Inc. (formerly On-Line Systems and Sierra On-Line, Inc.) was an American video game developer and publisher founded in 1979 by Ken and Roberta Williams. The company is known for pioneering the graphic adventure game genre, ...
label. In 2008,
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment (WBIE; also known as Warner Bros. Games or WB Games) is an American video game publisher based in Burbank, California, and part of the newly-formed Global Streaming and Interactive Entertainment unit of ...
acquired the publishing rights and went on to publish ''Project Origin'' and ''F.E.A.R. 3''.
Aeria Games
Aeria Games, formerly known as Aeria Games and Entertainment, is an online game publisher. The corporate headquarters is in Berlin, Germany.
Aeria Games was a subsidiary of ProSiebenSat.1 Media, which operates an Internet gaming portal for mas ...
published ''F.E.A.R. Online'' under license from Warner.
The original game is set in the city of Fairport in 2025 and follows the fictional F.E.A.R. (First Encounter Assault Recon) unit, an elite group in the
United States Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...
tasked with investigating supernatural phenomena, as they probe a
private military company
A private military company (PMC) or private military and security company (PMSC) is a private company providing armed combat or security services for financial gain. PMCs refer to their personnel as "security contractors" or "private military ...
's secret research program, which has resulted in the unintended release of a dangerous and powerful
psychic
A psychic is a person who claims to use extrasensory perception (ESP) to identify information hidden from the normal senses, particularly involving telepathy or clairvoyance, or who performs acts that are apparently inexplicable by natural laws, ...
. The player takes on the role of the unit's newest recruit, Point Man, as he faces down not only the psychic, but so too a lethal and unpredictable
paranormal
Paranormal events are purported phenomena described in popular culture, folk, and other non-scientific bodies of knowledge, whose existence within these contexts is described as being beyond the scope of normal scientific understanding. Nota ...
menace in the form of a young girl,
Alma Wade
Alma Wade is the main antagonist and mascot of the '' F.E.A.R.'' series of first-person shooter horror video games by Monolith Productions. '' F.E.A.R.'' was introduced in 2005. The plot of the series revolves around the mystery of Alma. She is ...
. ''Project Origin'' is set immediately after the conclusion of the first game, and follows Sgt. Micheal Becket of
Delta Force
The 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment–Delta (1st SFOD-D), referred to variously as Delta Force, Combat Applications Group (CAG), Army Compartmented Elements (ACE), "The Unit", or within Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), Task Fo ...
, who awakens in a strange hospital only to find that Alma, now free from her confinements, has taken a keen interest in him. ''F.E.A.R. 3'' takes place nine months after the conclusion of ''Project Origin''. Alma's pregnancy is nearing its end, and when a resurrected Paxton Fettel (the psychic from the first game) rescues Point Man from captivity, the two head back to Fairport, with Point Man determined to prevent Alma from giving birth. Fettel, however, has an entirely different motive.
All ''F.E.A.R.'' games are first-person shooters and feature several common guns, projectiles, and
game mechanics
In tabletop games and video games, game mechanics are the rules or ludemes that govern and guide the player's actions, as well as the game's response to them. A rule is an instruction on how to play, a ludeme is an element of play like the L-shap ...
, the most notable of which is "
reflex time" (a
slow motion
Slow motion (commonly abbreviated as slo-mo or slow-mo) is an effect in film-making whereby time appears to be slowed down. It was invented by the Austrian priest August Musger in the early 20th century. This can be accomplished through the use o ...
technique that allows players to aim and shoot in real-time). With the exception of ''F.E.A.R. 3'', the campaign in each game is
single player
A single-player video game is a video game where input from only one player is expected throughout the course of the gaming session. A single-player game is usually a game that can only be played by one person, while "single-player mode" is usuall ...
-only. ''F.E.A.R. 3'' can be played in either single-player or
co-op
A cooperative (also known as co-operative, co-op, or coop) is "an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly owned and democratically-control ...
mode. ''F.E.A.R. 3'' is also the only game to offer the player a choice as to the
playable character
A player character (also known as a playable character or PC) is a fictional character in a video game or tabletop role-playing game whose actions are controlled by a player rather than the rules of the game. The characters that are not control ...
.
Critically, reactions to the games have been mixed. The original game received very strong reviews and went on to be celebrated as a defining title in the FPS genre, both for its mechanics and its innovations in
AI technology. Subsequent games were not as well-received; whilst their mechanics were generally lauded, a common complaint has been that the series'
psychological horror
Psychological horror is a genre, subgenre of horror fiction, horror and psychological fiction with a particular focus on mental, emotional, and Mental state, psychological states to frighten, disturb, or unsettle its audience. The subgenre frequent ...
elements have lost potency with each entry. The original game sold very well, but after ''F.E.A.R. 3'' failed to meet commercial expectations, the mainline series has been on hiatus.
Games
* ''
F.E.A.R. First Encounter Assault Recon'' was developed by
Monolith Productions
Monolith Productions, Inc. is an American video game developer based in Kirkland, Washington. The company has been a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment since August 2004.
History
Monolith Productions was founded on October ...
for
Microsoft Windows
Windows is a group of several proprietary graphical operating system families developed and marketed by Microsoft. Each family caters to a certain sector of the computing industry. For example, Windows NT for consumers, Windows Server for serv ...
and published by
Vivendi Games
Vivendi Games was an American video game publisher and holding company based in Los Angeles. It was founded in 1996 as CUC Software, the publishing subsidiary of CUC International, after the latter acquired video game companies Davidson & Associ ...
, under the
Sierra Entertainment
Sierra Entertainment, Inc. (formerly On-Line Systems and Sierra On-Line, Inc.) was an American video game developer and publisher founded in 1979 by Ken and Roberta Williams. The company is known for pioneering the graphic adventure game genre, ...
label. Released in October 2005, it was made available in both a standard edition and a ''Director's Edition'', which included both a
CD-ROM
A CD-ROM (, compact disc read-only memory) is a type of read-only memory consisting of a pre-pressed optical compact disc that contains data. Computers can read—but not write or erase—CD-ROMs. Some CDs, called enhanced CDs, hold both comput ...
and
DVD
The DVD (common abbreviation for Digital Video Disc or Digital Versatile Disc) is a digital optical disc data storage format. It was invented and developed in 1995 and first released on November 1, 1996, in Japan. The medium can store any kin ...
version of the game, a
Dark Horse
A dark horse is a previously lesser-known person or thing that emerges to prominence in a situation, especially in a competition involving multiple rivals, or a contestant that on paper should be unlikely to succeed but yet still might.
Origin
Th ...
comic prequel, a live-action prequel, a "Making of ''F.E.A.R.''" documentary, a one-hour "Developers' commentary", and an episode of a promotional
machinima
Machinima, originally machinema () is the use of real-time computer graphics engines to create a cinematic production. Most often, video games are used to generate the computer animation. The word "machinima" is a portmanteau of the words ''ma ...
. It was ported to the
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is a home video game console developed by Microsoft. As the successor to the original Xbox, it is the second console in the Xbox series. It competed with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation ...
in October 2006 and to the
PlayStation 3
The PlayStation 3 (PS3) is a home video game console developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment. The successor to the PlayStation 2, it is part of the PlayStation brand of consoles. It was first released on Novemb ...
in April 2007, with both ports developed by
Day 1 Studios
Wargaming Chicago-Baltimore (formerly Meyer/Glass Interactive, L.L.C., Day 1 Studios, LLC and Wargaming West Corporation) is an American game developer that operates in Chicago, Illinois and Hunt Valley, Maryland.
History
They worked in tandem ...
and published by Vivendi. In March 2007, ''F.E.A.R. Gold Edition'' was released on PC, containing all the content from the ''Director's Edition'', plus the ''Extraction Point''
expansion pack
An expansion pack, expansion set, supplement, or simply expansion is an addition to an existing role-playing game, tabletop game, video game or collectible card game. These add-ons usually add new game areas, weapons, objects, characters, or an ...
. In November, ''F.E.A.R. Platinum Collection'' was released, containing all the content from the ''Gold Edition'' plus the ''Perseus Mandate'' expansion pack. The complete ''F.E.A.R.'' series was released on
Steam
Steam is a substance containing water in the gas phase, and sometimes also an aerosol of liquid water droplets, or air. This may occur due to evaporation or due to boiling, where heat is applied until water reaches the enthalpy of vaporization ...
in July 2012, the ''Platinum Collection'' was released on
GOG.com
GOG.com (formerly Good Old Games) is a digital distribution platform for video games and films. It is operated by GOG sp. z o.o., a wholly owned subsidiary of CD Projekt based in Warsaw, Poland. GOG.com delivers DRM-free video games through its ...
in February 2015, and the entire franchise was added to Microsoft's
backward compatibility
Backward compatibility (sometimes known as backwards compatibility) is a property of an operating system, product, or technology that allows for interoperability with an older legacy system, or with input designed for such a system, especially i ...
program, making the games playable on the
Xbox One
The Xbox One is a home video game console developed by Microsoft. Announced in May 2013, it is the successor to Xbox 360 and the third base console in the Xbox series of video game consoles. It was first released in North America, parts of ...
and
Xbox Series X/S
The Xbox Series X/S are home video game consoles developed by Microsoft. They were both released on November 10, 2020, as the fourth generation Xbox, succeeding the Xbox One. Along with Sony's PlayStation 5, also released in November 2020, t ...
, in November 2021.
* ''
F.E.A.R. Extraction Point
''F.E.A.R. Extraction Point'' is the first standalone expansion pack for the first-person shooter psychological horror video game '' F.E.A.R. First Encounter Assault Recon''. Developed by TimeGate Studios and originally published by Vivendi Game ...
'', a standalone expansion pack for the original game, was developed by
TimeGate Studios
TimeGate Studios was an American video game developer based in Sugar Land, Texas. The company, which was founded in 1998, released eight titles before closing in 2013.
History
TimeGate Studios was founded in 1998 by Alan and Adel Chaveleh, who r ...
and published by Vivendi, under the Sierra Entertainment label. Originally released for PC in October 2006, it was later included in both the ''Gold Edition'' and ''Platiunum Collection'' re-releases of the game. It was released for Xbox 360 in November 2007, although was only available bundled with the ''Perseus Mandate'' expansion, under the collective name ''F.E.A.R. Files''. The complete ''F.E.A.R.'' series was released on Steam in July 2012, the ''Platinum Collection'' was released on GOG.com in February 2015, and the entire franchise was added to Microsoft's backward compatibility in November 2021.
* ''
F.E.A.R. Perseus Mandate
''F.E.A.R. Perseus Mandate'' is the second standalone expansion pack for the first-person shooter psychological horror video game '' F.E.A.R. First Encounter Assault Recon''. Developed by TimeGate Studios and originally published by Vivendi Gam ...
'', a second standalone expansion pack for the original game, was developed by TimeGate Studios and published by Vivendi, under the Sierra Entertainment label. Released for PC and Xbox in November 2007, it was made available for PC in both a standard edition and as part of the ''Platiunum Collection'' re-release of the game. On Xbox 360, it was only available bundled with the ''Extraction Point'' expansion, under the collective name ''F.E.A.R. Files''. The complete ''F.E.A.R.'' series was released on Steam in July 2012, the ''Platinum Collection'' was released on GOG.com in February 2015, and the entire franchise was added to Microsoft's backward compatibility in November 2021.
* ''
F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin'', which ignores the events of both expansions, was developed by Monolith for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360, and was published by
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment (WBIE; also known as Warner Bros. Games or WB Games) is an American video game publisher based in Burbank, California, and part of the newly-formed Global Streaming and Interactive Entertainment unit of ...
in February 2009. In September 2009, Monolith released a single-player
DLC pack, ''F.E.A.R. 2: Reborn'', which continued the story. The complete ''F.E.A.R.'' series was released on Steam in July 2012, both ''Project Origin'' and ''Reborn'' were made available on GOG.com in March 2015, and the entire franchise was added to Microsoft's backward compatibility in November 2021.
* ''
F.E.A.R. 3
''F.E.A.R. 3'' (stylized as ''F.3.A.R.'') is a first-person shooter psychological horror video game for Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3. It is the third game in the '' F.E.A.R.'' series. Developed by Day 1 Studios and published by ...
'' was developed by Day 1 Studios for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360, and was published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment in June 2011. It was released on Steam in July 2012 as part of the complete ''F.E.A.R.'' series. The entire ''F.E.A.R.'' franchise, including ''F.E.A.R. 3'', was added to Microsoft's backward compatibility in November 2021.
* ''F.E.A.R. Online'', a
free-to-play
Free-to-play (F2P or FtP) video games are games that give players access to a significant portion of their content without paying or do not require paying to continue playing. Free-to-play is distinct from traditional commercial software, which ...
online multiplayer shooter, was developed by InPlay Interactive and published by
Aeria Games
Aeria Games, formerly known as Aeria Games and Entertainment, is an online game publisher. The corporate headquarters is in Berlin, Germany.
Aeria Games was a subsidiary of ProSiebenSat.1 Media, which operates an Internet gaming portal for mas ...
, under license from Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. The storyline of the game runs parallel to ''Project Origin''. It entered
closed beta
A software release life cycle is the sum of the stages of development and maturity for a piece of computer software ranging from its initial development to its eventual release, and including updated versions of the released version to help impro ...
in May 2014, and open beta in October. The
servers were shut down in May 2015 with the game still in open beta.
Gameplay overview
All games in the ''F.E.A.R.'' series are
first-person shooter
First-person shooter (FPS) is a sub-genre of shooter video games centered on gun and other weapon-based combat in a first-person perspective, with the player experiencing the action through the eyes of the protagonist and controlling the pl ...
s and all share multiple
game mechanics
In tabletop games and video games, game mechanics are the rules or ludemes that govern and guide the player's actions, as well as the game's response to them. A rule is an instruction on how to play, a ludeme is an element of play like the L-shap ...
.
In the
first game and ''
F.E.A.R. Extraction Point
''F.E.A.R. Extraction Point'' is the first standalone expansion pack for the first-person shooter psychological horror video game '' F.E.A.R. First Encounter Assault Recon''. Developed by TimeGate Studios and originally published by Vivendi Game ...
'', the only
playable character
A player character (also known as a playable character or PC) is a fictional character in a video game or tabletop role-playing game whose actions are controlled by a player rather than the rules of the game. The characters that are not control ...
is Point Man;
in ''
F.E.A.R. Perseus Mandate
''F.E.A.R. Perseus Mandate'' is the second standalone expansion pack for the first-person shooter psychological horror video game '' F.E.A.R. First Encounter Assault Recon''. Developed by TimeGate Studios and originally published by Vivendi Gam ...
'', the player controls an unnamed F.E.A.R. sergeant;
in ''
F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin'', the player controls Sgt. Michael Becket of
Delta Force
The 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment–Delta (1st SFOD-D), referred to variously as Delta Force, Combat Applications Group (CAG), Army Compartmented Elements (ACE), "The Unit", or within Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), Task Fo ...
;
in ''
F.E.A.R. 3
''F.E.A.R. 3'' (stylized as ''F.3.A.R.'') is a first-person shooter psychological horror video game for Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3. It is the third game in the '' F.E.A.R.'' series. Developed by Day 1 Studios and published by ...
'', which can be played in either
single player
A single-player video game is a video game where input from only one player is expected throughout the course of the gaming session. A single-player game is usually a game that can only be played by one person, while "single-player mode" is usuall ...
or
co-op
A cooperative (also known as co-operative, co-op, or coop) is "an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly owned and democratically-control ...
modes, the player can control both Point Man and Paxton Fettel, one of the antagonists of the original game.
When the player is controlling Point Man, the sergeant, or Becket,
gameplay
Gameplay is the specific way in which players interact with a game, and in particular with video games. Gameplay is the pattern defined through the game rules, connection between player and the game, challenges and overcoming them, plot and pla ...
is very similar, irrespective of which game is being played.
Common weaponry across all games includes
handgun
A handgun is a short- barrelled gun, typically a firearm, that is designed to be usable with only one hand. It is distinguished from a long gun (i.e. rifle, shotgun or machine gun, etc.), which needs to be held by both hands and also braced ...
s,
assault rifles,
submachine gun
A submachine gun (SMG) is a magazine-fed, automatic carbine designed to fire handgun cartridges. The term "submachine gun" was coined by John T. Thompson, the inventor of the Thompson submachine gun, to describe its design concept as an autom ...
s,
shotgun
A shotgun (also known as a scattergun, or historically as a fowling piece) is a long gun, long-barreled firearm designed to shoot a straight-walled cartridge (firearms), cartridge known as a shotshell, which usually discharges numerous small p ...
s,
sniper rifle
A sniper rifle is a high-precision, long-range rifle. Requirements include accuracy, reliability, mobility, concealment and optics for anti-personnel, anti-materiel and surveillance uses of the military sniper. The modern sniper rifle is a por ...
s,
nail gun
A nail gun, nailgun or nailer is a form of hammer used to drive nails into wood or other materials. It is usually driven by compressed air (pneumatic), electromagnetism, highly flammable gases such as butane or propane, or, for powder-actuated ...
s, and
rocket launcher
A rocket launcher is a weapon that launches an unguided, rocket-propelled projectile.
History
The earliest rocket launchers documented in imperial China consisted of arrows modified by the attachment of a rocket motor to the shaft a few in ...
s. Other weapons available in the games include
repeating cannons,
particle beam
A particle beam is a stream of charged or neutral particles. In particle accelerators, these particles can move with a velocity close to the speed of light. There is a difference between the creation and control of charged particle beams and neu ...
s,
minigun
The M134 Minigun is an American 7.62×51mm NATO six-barrel rotary machine gun with a high rate of fire (2,000 to 6,000 rounds per minute). It features a Gatling-style rotating barrel assembly with an external power source, normally an electric ...
s,
laser carbines,
grenade launcher
A grenade launcher is a weapon that fires a specially-designed large-caliber projectile, often with an explosive, smoke or gas warhead. Today, the term generally refers to a class of dedicated firearms firing unitary grenade cartridges. The mos ...
s,
night vision
Night vision is the ability to see in low-light conditions, either naturally with scotopic vision or through a night-vision device. Night vision requires both sufficient spectral range and sufficient intensity range. Humans have poor night vi ...
rifles,
lightning arcs,
flamethrower
A flamethrower is a ranged incendiary device designed to project a controllable jet of fire. First deployed by the Byzantine Empire in the 7th century AD, flamethrowers saw use in modern times during World War I, and more widely in World ...
s,
pulse rifles, and
machine pistol
A machine pistol is an autoloading pistol capable of fully automatic fire. The term can also be used to describe a stockless handgun-style submachine gun. The term is a calque of ''Maschinenpistole'', the German word for submachine guns. Machine ...
s.
The player also has access to various projectiles.
Frag genades are common across all games, whilst other types of projectiles include
proximity grenades, remote bombs,
deplyable turrets,
incendiary grenades
Incendiary means "capable of causing fire". It may also refer to:
* Incendiary device, a device designed to cause fires
* Incendiary ammunition, a projectile designed to set fire to a target
* Incendiary (novel), ''Incendiary'' (novel), a novel by ...
, shock grenades (electricity-based),
flash bangs, and zap grenades (electricity-based).
Point Man, the sergeant, and Becket also have limited melee abilities; punch, kick, jumping kick, sliding tackle, and using the
butts of their guns in
hand-to-hand combat
Hand-to-hand combat (sometimes abbreviated as HTH or H2H) is a physical confrontation between two or more persons at short range (grappling distance or within the physical reach of a handheld weapon) that does not involve the use of weapons.Huns ...
.
In ''F.E.A.R. 3'', Point Man also has a knife for use in
close combat
Close combat means a violent physical confrontation between two or more opponents at short range.''MCRP 3-02B: Close Combat'', Washington, D.C.: Department Of The Navy, Headquarters United States Marine Corps, 12 February 1999Matthews, Phil, CQB ...
.
A prominent
gameplay
Gameplay is the specific way in which players interact with a game, and in particular with video games. Gameplay is the pattern defined through the game rules, connection between player and the game, challenges and overcoming them, plot and pla ...
element in all ''F.E.A.R.'' games is "
reflex time"; an ability which slows down the game world while still allowing the player to aim and react at normal speeds.
This effect is used to simulate the player character's superhuman
reflex
In biology, a reflex, or reflex action, is an involuntary, unplanned sequence or action and nearly instantaneous response to a stimulus.
Reflexes are found with varying levels of complexity in organisms with a nervous system. A reflex occurs ...
es, and is represented by stylized visual effects, such as bullets in flight that cause air distortion or interact with the game's
particle system
A particle system is a technique in game physics, motion graphics, and computer graphics that uses many minute sprites, 3D models, or other graphic objects to simulate certain kinds of "fuzzy" phenomena, which are otherwise very hard to repr ...
.
In all games, the duration which reflex time lasts is limited, determined by a meter which slowly fills up automatically when the ability is not being used.
In all games except ''F.E.A.R. 3'', the player can permanently increase the size of the reflex meter by picking up reflex boosters.
In ''F.E.A.R. 3'', the player only has access to reflex time when playing as Point Man. When playing as Fettel, the player has access to a
possession
Possession may refer to:
Law
* Dependent territory, an area of land over which another country exercises sovereignty, but which does not have the full right of participation in that country's governance
* Drug possession, a crime
* Ownership
* ...
ability which allows Fettel to take control of an enemy
NPC, who then becomes the playable character.
When Fettel possesses an NPC, he gains access to any abilities and weaponry wielded by that individual, meaning that although the player cannot use guns when playing directly as Fettel, they can use guns when Fettel possesses gun-wielding enemies. Once in possession of an NPC, the player has a limited amount of time before the possession ends and the player returns to controlling Fettel. The player also has the option to manually end possession at any time. The player can permanently increase the size of the reflex time/possession meter via the game's
ranking system
A ranking is a relationship between a set of items such that, for any two items, the first is either "ranked higher than", "ranked lower than" or "ranked equal to" the second.
In order theory, mathematics, this is known as a Strict weak ordering ...
, which is based on completing various challenges.
Completing a challenge awards
points
Point or points may refer to:
Places
* Point, Lewis, a peninsula in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland
* Point, Texas, a city in Rains County, Texas, United States
* Point, the NE tip and a ferry terminal of Lismore, Inner Hebrides, Scotland
* Point ...
, and when enough points have been accrued, the player's rank increases. Each rank progression gives the player an award, such as increasing the size of the meter, unlocking new melee abilities, increasing ammo and grenade capacity, or allowing the player's health to regenerate faster.
Introduced in ''Project Origin'' is the ability to use a heavily armored
mechs
In science fiction, or mechs are giant robots or machines controlled by people, typically depicted as humanoid walking vehicles. The term was first used in Japanese (language), Japanese after shortening the English loanword or , but the mean ...
, called an Elite Power Armor (EPA) in-game.
In ''Project Origin'', EPAs are armed with two miniguns and two shoulder mounted rocket launchers. Ammo for each is infinite, but the miniguns overheat if fired continuously, and require a short cool-down period. Similarly, the rocket launchers require a moment to arm. EPAs also have fully regenerative health and an optional night vision display that allows the player to easily discern
heat signatures.
In ''F.E.A.R. 3'', there are two types of mech available; the REV9 Powered Armor and the Enhanced Power Armor (EPA). The REV9 is armed with two burst cannons and a head-mounted raygun. The EPA has two miniguns and a shoulder-mounted rocket launcher.
Ammo is infinite for all weapons, but the cannons/miniguns overheat if fired continuously, and require a short cool-down period. Similarly, the raygun/rocket launchers require a moment to arm.
Both mechs also have fully regenerative health and shields, which can significantly reduce incoming damage. However, when the shields are deployed, the rocket launchers cannot be used.
Unique to ''F.E.A.R. 3'' is an active
cover system
A cover system is a video game gameplay mechanic that allows a virtual avatar to hide from and avoid dangers, usually in a three-dimensional world. This method is a digital adaptation of the real-life military tactic of taking cover behind obst ...
. When cover is available to the player, a command prompt will appear on-screen, allowing the player to snap to cover. Once in cover, the player can peer around or over their cover and can move around to a limited degree while staying snapped. If another piece of cover is nearby, the player can move from one piece to the other without having to leave cover.
Players can also vault over cover and automatically spin 180 degrees to face in the opposite direction and target any enemies who have emerged behind them.
Multiplayer
The original game's
multiplayer
A multiplayer video game is a video game in which more than one person can play in the same game environment at the same time, either locally on the same computing system (couch co-op), on different computing systems via a local area network, or ...
features
deathmatch
Deathmatch, also known as free-for-all, is a gameplay mode integrated into many shooter games, including first-person shooter (FPS), and real-time strategy (RTS) video games, where the goal is to kill (or "frag") the other players' characters a ...
, team deathmatch,
elimination, team elimination,
capture the flag
Capture the flag (CTF) is a traditional outdoor sport where two or more teams each have a flag (or other markers) and the objective is to capture the other team's flag, located at the team's "base", and bring it safely back to their own base. ...
, "Control", and "Conquer All".
It also features game types specifically designed to allow players to use reflex time; SlowMo deathmatch, team SlowMo deathmatch, and SlowMo capture the flag.
These game types feature a reflex time
power-up
In video games, a power-up is an object that adds temporary benefits or extra abilities to the player character as a game mechanic. This is in contrast to an item, which may or may not have a permanent benefit that can be used at any time chosen ...
, which only one player can carry at a time, and when it is fully charged (it charges when it is being carried) that player can activate it and give themselves (and the rest of their team, if applicable) a considerable speed advantage over opposing players. However, whoever is carrying the power-up will have a bluish glow and will be permanently visible on all players'
mini-map
A mini-map or minimap is a miniature map that is often placed at a screen corner in video games to aid players in orienting themselves within the game world. They are often only a small portion of the screen and must be selective in what details ...
s.
In August 2006, ''F.E.A.R.''s multiplayer component was re-released on PC as a free download under the name ''F.E.A.R. Combat''. Incorporating the latest multiplayer patches, all ten gameplay modes, and all nineteen maps, ''F.E.A.R. Combat'' was compatible with the original PC retail edition's multiplayer, meaning those with only the download could play with those who own the full game.
''Project Origin''s multiplayer features deathmatch, team deathmatch, "Control", "Armored Front" (similar to Control, but control points must be captured in a specific order, and each team also has access to an EPA), "Failsafe" (one team is tasked with planting and detonating a bomb, the other team with preventing them), "Blitz" (a capture the flag game), and SloMo Deathmatch.
''F.E.A.R. 3''s multiplayer features four different multiplayer modes. In "Soul King", all players have the possession ability and are unable to bear arms. To win, the player must possess enemy NPCs and collect their souls; the winner is the player with the most souls at the end of the match.
In "Contractions", players must defend a base against a series of increasingly difficult enemy waves.
In "F**king Run!", players must fight their way through enemies as they move towards an extraction point, all while running from Alma's "Wall of Death". If a player is killed by an NPC, their teammates can revive them, but if the Wall consumes any one player, the game is over for all players. In "Soul Survivor", players defend against waves of enemies, but in this mode, one of the players is randomly corrupted at the commencement of the game, and that player's goal is to possess the other players before the time limit expires. When a player is possessed, they too become corrupted and work to possess the remaining players. To win the game, a player must survive until the end of the round without being possessed.
Development
''F.E.A.R.''
''
F.E.A.R.
''F.E.A.R.'' is a first-person shooter psychological horror video game series created by Craig Hubbard in 2005. Released on Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360, there are three main games in the series; '' F.E.A.R.'' (2005), '' F.E.A ...
'' was announced for
Microsoft Windows
Windows is a group of several proprietary graphical operating system families developed and marketed by Microsoft. Each family caters to a certain sector of the computing industry. For example, Windows NT for consumers, Windows Server for serv ...
at
E3 2003.
The foundational concept was to make a game where the player felt like the hero of an
action film
Action film is a film genre in which the protagonist is thrust into a series of events that typically involve violence and physical feats. The genre tends to feature a mostly resourceful hero struggling against incredible odds, which include life ...
.
This led to the development of
reflex time, with
Writer
A writer is a person who uses written words in different writing styles and techniques to communicate ideas. Writers produce different forms of literary art and creative writing such as novels, short stories, books, poetry, travelogues, p ...
,
director
Director may refer to:
Literature
* ''Director'' (magazine), a British magazine
* ''The Director'' (novel), a 1971 novel by Henry Denker
* ''The Director'' (play), a 2000 play by Nancy Hasty
Music
* Director (band), an Irish rock band
* ''Di ...
, and
lead designer
Game design is the art of applying design and aesthetics to create a game for entertainment or for educational, exercise, or experimental purposes. Increasingly, elements and principles of game design are also applied to other interactions, in ...
Craig Hubbard stating that he wanted "to make combat as intense as the tea house shootout at the beginning of
John Woo
John Woo Yu-Sen SBS (; born September 22, 1946) is a Hong Kong filmmaker, known as a highly-influential figure in the action film genre. He was a pioneer of heroic bloodshed films (a crime action film genre involving Chinese triads) and the gun fu ...
's ''
Hard Boiled''". Defeating "enemies with style" was crucial to this.
Another key influence was
the Wachowskis
Lana Wachowski (born June 21, 1965, formerly known as Larry Wachowski) and Lilly Wachowski (born December 29, 1967, formerly known as Andy Wachowski) are American film and television directors, writers and producers. The sisters are both trans ...
' ''
The Matrix
''The Matrix'' is a 1999 science fiction action film written and directed by the Wachowskis. It is the first installment in ''The Matrix'' film series, starring Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, and Joe Pantolia ...
'' (1999).
In particular, the lobby scene was the team's initial point of reference for how the game's combat should look and feel.
In a 2008 interview, Hubbard explained,
As well as its core first-person shooter
gameplay
Gameplay is the specific way in which players interact with a game, and in particular with video games. Gameplay is the pattern defined through the game rules, connection between player and the game, challenges and overcoming them, plot and pla ...
, ''F.E.A.R.'' is also a
psychological horror
Psychological horror is a genre, subgenre of horror fiction, horror and psychological fiction with a particular focus on mental, emotional, and Mental state, psychological states to frighten, disturb, or unsettle its audience. The subgenre frequent ...
, and was specifically influenced by
Japanese horror
Japanese horror is horror fiction derived from popular culture in Japan, generally noted for its unique thematic and conventional treatment of the horror genre differing from the traditional Western representation of horror. Japanese horror tends ...
, with the
developers citing films such as ''
Ringu'' (1998), ''
Memento Mori
''Memento mori'' (Latin for 'remember that you ave todie'[Kairo
Kairo may refer to:
* Kairo (band), Mexican boy band from 1993 to 1999 with Eduardo Verástegui as member until 1996
* ''Kairo'' (video game), independently published exploration video game made by Richard Perrin
* ''Kairo'' (film), A.K.A. ''Pul ...]
'' (2001), ''
The Eye'' (2002), ''
Ju-On: The Grudge'' (2002), and ''
Dark Water Dark Water may refer to:
Books
* '' Darkwater: Voices from Within the Veil'', 1920 book by American philosopher W.E.B. Du Bois
* ''Dark Water'' (book) (仄暗い水の底から; ''Honogurai mizu no soko kara''; literally ''In the Depths of Dark ...
'' (2002), as well as
Koji Suzuki
is a Japanese writer, who was born in Hamamatsu and lives in Tokyo. Suzuki is the author of the Ring (novel series), ''Ring'' novels, which have been adapted into other formats, including films, manga, TV series and video games. He has written ...
's 1991 novel ''
Ringu'' (on which the 1998 film was based).
The main source of the game's horror is
Alma Wade
Alma Wade is the main antagonist and mascot of the '' F.E.A.R.'' series of first-person shooter horror video games by Monolith Productions. '' F.E.A.R.'' was introduced in 2005. The plot of the series revolves around the mystery of Alma. She is ...
. In terms of influences, she is often assumed to have been inspired by
Samara
Samara ( rus, Сама́ра, p=sɐˈmarə), known from 1935 to 1991 as Kuybyshev (; ), is the largest city and administrative centre of Samara Oblast. The city is located at the confluence of the Volga and the Samara (Volga), Samara rivers, with ...
from ''
The Ring'' (the American remake of ''Ringu''). Hubbard, however, explains that Alma "was born out of a tradition of eerie, faceless female ghosts" and not "as an answer to any specific movie character".
Although he does acknowledge that Alma "bears some visual resemblance to the ghosts in ''Dark Water'' or ''
Séance
A séance or seance (; ) is an attempt to communicate with spirits. The word ''séance'' comes from the French word for "session", from the Old French ''seoir'', "to sit". In French, the word's meaning is quite general: one may, for example, spe ...
''", he points out that "creepy little girls have been freaking
imout since ''
The Shining''".
Alma was named after Alma Mobley from
Peter Straub
Peter may refer to:
People
* List of people named Peter, a list of people and fictional characters with the given name
* Peter (given name)
** Saint Peter (died 60s), apostle of Jesus, leader of the early Christian Church
* Peter (surname), a sur ...
's novel ''
Ghost Story
A ghost story is any piece of fiction, or drama, that includes a ghost, or simply takes as a premise the possibility of ghosts or characters' belief in them."Ghost Stories" in Margaret Drabble (ed.), ''Oxford Companion to English Literature'' ...
'' (1979).
The game's
AI was the culmination of work which
Monolith Productions
Monolith Productions, Inc. is an American video game developer based in Kirkland, Washington. The company has been a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment since August 2004.
History
Monolith Productions was founded on October ...
had begun with ''
The Operative: No One Lives Forever'' (2000) and ''
No One Lives Forever 2: A Spy in H.A.R.M.'s Way'' (2002).
In developing the AI routines, the team's main goal was to try to match the
NPCs
A non-player character (NPC), or non-playable character, is any character in a game that is not controlled by a player. The term originated in traditional tabletop role-playing games where it applies to characters controlled by the gamemaster o ...
' intelligence with the player's skill level. According to Jeff Orkin, senior AI engineer, "our goal is not to have the players dominated by the AI, but we want them to learn to respect the AI so much that even the easy kills provide a sense of accomplishment."
''F.E.A.R.'' was the first video game to use "GOAP" (Goal Oriented Action Planning).
GOAP is a
STRIPS-based architecture that allows enemies more autonomy than simply reacting to the player. Instead they decide on a goal from a list of options and do not have to be programmed on
plan
A plan is typically any diagram or list of steps with details of timing and resources, used to achieve an objective to do something. It is commonly understood as a temporal set of intended actions through which one expects to achieve a goal.
F ...
how best to reach that goal.
Orkin explains that "with a planning system, we can just toss in goals and actions. We never have to manually specify the transitions between these behaviors. The AI figure out the dependencies themselves at run-time based on the goal state and the preconditions and effects of actions."
This is manifested in the gameplay insofar as,
The
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is a home video game console developed by Microsoft. As the successor to the original Xbox, it is the second console in the Xbox series. It competed with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation ...
version of the game was announced in May 2006, with
Day 1 Studios
Wargaming Chicago-Baltimore (formerly Meyer/Glass Interactive, L.L.C., Day 1 Studios, LLC and Wargaming West Corporation) is an American game developer that operates in Chicago, Illinois and Hunt Valley, Maryland.
History
They worked in tandem ...
handling the port. Graphically, the Xbox 360 version was equivalent to the PC version on maximum settings and Day 1 also increased the native resolution to 720p and added
high dynamic range
High dynamic range (HDR) is a dynamic range higher than usual, synonyms are wide dynamic range, extended dynamic range, expanded dynamic range.
The term is often used in discussing the dynamic range of various signals such as images, videos, au ...
lighting, an advanced
particle system
A particle system is a technique in game physics, motion graphics, and computer graphics that uses many minute sprites, 3D models, or other graphic objects to simulate certain kinds of "fuzzy" phenomena, which are otherwise very hard to repr ...
, and HD textures. The Xbox version also features an exclusive bonus level not found in the PC original, as well as an exclusive new weapon. The
PlayStation 3
The PlayStation 3 (PS3) is a home video game console developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment. The successor to the PlayStation 2, it is part of the PlayStation brand of consoles. It was first released on Novemb ...
port was announced in August 2006. Like the Xbox 360 version, the PlayStation 3 port was developed by Day 1 Studios. This version also has its own exclusive additional level and weapon. Like the Xbox version, the game's native resolution was increased to 720p, but the other enhancements were removed for this version.
''Extraction Point'' and ''Perseus Mandate''
''
F.E.A.R. Extraction Point
''F.E.A.R. Extraction Point'' is the first standalone expansion pack for the first-person shooter psychological horror video game '' F.E.A.R. First Encounter Assault Recon''. Developed by TimeGate Studios and originally published by Vivendi Game ...
'' was announced for Microsoft Windows in May 2006, with
TimeGate Studios
TimeGate Studios was an American video game developer based in Sugar Land, Texas. The company, which was founded in 1998, released eight titles before closing in 2013.
History
TimeGate Studios was founded in 1998 by Alan and Adel Chaveleh, who r ...
working on
development
Development or developing may refer to:
Arts
*Development hell, when a project is stuck in development
*Filmmaking, development phase, including finance and budgeting
*Development (music), the process thematic material is reshaped
*Photographi ...
. Due to uncertainty regarding rights (Monolith had been purchased by
Warner Bros. Games
Warner Bros. Games (formerly Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment) is an American video game publisher based in Burbank, California, and part of the Global Streaming and Interactive Entertainment unit of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD). The p ...
in 2004, and owned the rights to the
intellectual property
Intellectual property (IP) is a category of property that includes intangible creations of the human intellect. There are many types of intellectual property, and some countries recognize more than others. The best-known types are patents, cop ...
and characters, but
Vivendi Games
Vivendi Games was an American video game publisher and holding company based in Los Angeles. It was founded in 1996 as CUC Software, the publishing subsidiary of CUC International, after the latter acquired video game companies Davidson & Associ ...
still owned the name "''F.E.A.R.''"), it was stated in a press release that the plot for ''Extraction Point'' had been approved by Monolith and was in line with their own plans for a full sequel, which they had announced in February.
During the promotion of the game,
producer
Producer or producers may refer to:
Occupations
*Producer (agriculture), a farm operator
*A stakeholder of economic production
*Film producer, supervises the making of films
**Executive producer, contributes to a film's budget and usually does not ...
Tim Hall explained that in making ''Extraction Point'', the
designers
A designer is a person who plans the form or structure of something before it is made, by preparing drawings or plans.
In practice, anyone who creates tangible or intangible objects, products, processes, laws, games, graphics, services, or exp ...
were keen to address some of the common criticisms of the base game. Hall explained that because one of the main criticisms of the first game was that the
levels
Level or levels may refer to:
Engineering
*Level (instrument), a device used to measure true horizontal or relative heights
*Spirit level, an instrument designed to indicate whether a surface is horizontal or vertical
*Canal pound or level
*Regr ...
were too repetitive and enclosed, the team had ensured to include more aesthetically varied environments, especially large outdoor sections. He clarified, "we wanted to not only give the player more of the fun factor of ''F.E.A.R.'' but also to address any criticisms that players had - yes we have heard the office layout one a million times - so we changed things up a little. With ''Extraction Point'' we not only have that same fun
close quarters combat
Close-quarters combat (CQC) or close-quarters battle (CQB) is a tactical situation that involves a physical fight with firearms involved between multiple combatants at short range. It can occur between military units, police/corrections officers ...
but we have also added in some much larger areas for some fun ranged combat as well."
''
F.E.A.R. Perseus Mandate
''F.E.A.R. Perseus Mandate'' is the second standalone expansion pack for the first-person shooter psychological horror video game '' F.E.A.R. First Encounter Assault Recon''. Developed by TimeGate Studios and originally published by Vivendi Gam ...
'' was announced in July 2007, when it was revealed that the Xbox 360 version of the game would be bundled with ''F.E.A.R. Extraction Point'' (previously only available on PC) and released under the name ''F.E.A.R. Files''.
Developers TimeGate Studios revealed that the game would not be a narrative sequel to ''Extraction Point'', but a
sidequel
In media, a spin-off (or spinoff) is a radio program, television program, film, video game or any narrative work, derived from already existing works that focus on more details and different aspects from the original work (e.g. particular topics, ...
to the base game and the first expansion, focusing on a different F.E.A.R. team. They also stressed that the player would be accompanied for much of the game by an AI companion, a design decision made after the section in ''Extraction Point'' where Point Man is joined by a colleague received very positive feedback.
Originally, the plan was to release ''F.E.A.R. Files'' on both PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, but the PlayStation version was cancelled.
Canonicity
As of 2008, neither ''Extraction Point'' nor ''Perseus Mandate'' is considered canon in the ''F.E.A.R.'' universe insofar as ''Project Origin'' disregards the events of both, acting instead as a direct sequel to the original game. Initial reports were that Monolith had given the expansions' storylines their blessing, and that they were in line with their own in-development sequel.
However, in December 2008, a year after the release of ''Perseus Mandate'' and a few months before the release of ''Project Origin'', Dave Matthews, ''Project Origin''s
lead artist, explained that the expansions
''Project Origin''
''
F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin'' was announced by Monolith in February 2006. Monolith had been purchased by Warner in 2004, after development of the original ''F.E.A.R'' was already underway and a publishing deal had already been struck with
Vivendi
Vivendi SE is a French mass media holding company headquartered in Paris. Widely known as the owner of Gameloft, Groupe Canal+, Havas, Editis, Prisma Media, Vivendi Village and Dailymotion, the company has activities in television, film, video ...
. By 2006, although Monolith and Warner owned the rights to the ''F.E.A.R.'' intellectual property and characters, but Vivendi still owned the name "''F.E.A.R.''" As a result, any non-Vivendi game set in the ''F.E.A.R.'' universe could use the characters and events from the original, but could not be called ''F.E.A.R.'' At the same time, any non-Warner game set in the ''F.E.A.R.'' universe could not use the characters and events from the original game, but could be called ''F.E.A.R.''
In May 2006, Vivendi announced that an expansion pack for the first game was being developed and the press release clarified that the plot for the expansion had been approved by Monolith.
However, in December 2008, Monolith officially confirmed what had long been suspected; despite initial reports that they had approved the story and that that story was in line with their own plans, in fact, that sequel would ignore the events of both expansions and instead serve as a canonical follow-up to the original game.
In September 2008, Monolith Productions and Warner re-acquired the ''F.E.A.R.'' name from Vivendi.
Originally, the plan for ''Project Origin'' was to release two completely different games - one for PC, and one for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, with Monolith president Samantha Ryan stating, "in addition to continuing the series on PC, we're committed to bringing it to
next-generation consoles by creating separate titles tailored to each audience."
This plan was never realised and in December 2008, Craig Hubbard explained that the two titles "just merged."
One of Monolith's main goals with ''Project Origin'' was to successfully tackle the biggest criticisms of the original game - the bland and repetitive environments, and the lack of enemy variety.
Co-lead designer John Mulkey explained that "variety" in a general sense was one of the main guiding principals as the team strove for "more visual variety, more variety in enemies and in gameplay experiences." Mulkey, who was lead level designer on the first game, acknowledged that although that game was claustrophobic by design, the interiors were too similar, and so, "we've decided to mix it up and to have these more open spaces."
For the sequel, Monolith wanted to have the game take place across multiple, visually differentiated, locations.
In terms of enemy variety, the team endeavored to create not just aesthetically differentiated enemies, but "new AI types that have different tactics."
Indeed, the creation of new locations and new enemies dovetailed into one another in an unexpected manner. As Mulkey explains, "as we started to change the volume of the space the combat altered, and it gave us new opportunities to approach the AI in different ways, educate them with different activities and abilities."
Much as the first game's atmosphere was heavily inspired by certain films, so too with the sequel. Matthews names films such as
Timur Bekmambetov
Timur Nuruakhitovich Bekmambetov (, ; ; born June 25, 1961) is a Russian-Kazakhstan, Kazakh film Film director, director, Film producer, producer, screenwriter, and tech entrepreneur. He is best known for the fantasy epic ''Night Watch (2004 fi ...
's ''
Nightwatch'' (2004) and ''
Daywatch'' (2006),
Alexandre Aja
Alexandre Jouan-Arcady, known professionally as Alexandre Aja, (; born 7 August 1978) is a French filmmaker best known for his work in the horror film, horror genre. He rose to international stardom for his 2003 horror film ''High Tension, Haute ...
's ''
Haute tension
''High Tension'' (French: ''Haute Tension'', ; released in the United Kingdom as ''Switchblade Romance'') is a 2003 French slasher film directed by Alexandre Aja, co-written with Grégory Levasseur, and starring Cécile de France and Maïwenn, ...
'' (2003), and the ''
Saw
A saw is a tool consisting of a tough blade, wire, or chain with a hard toothed edge. It is used to cut through material, very often wood, though sometimes metal or stone. The cut is made by placing the toothed edge against the material and mo ...
'' franchise as especially important inspirations for the game's atmosphere.
In relation to ''Saw'', he explained the designers were trying to capture, "that response that happens in your body when you realise you're going to have to do something horrible, or something much worse is going to happen".
One of the central elements of the game's atmosphere would be Alma, who had a much more involved role in the sequel than in the original.
By way of this increased presence, Monolith intended to enhance the game's horror; "we've put a lot of effort and a lot of thought into the ways in which we can give Alma teeth."
Hubbard also pointed out that Alma has "a stronger agenda, which gives her a more active, visceral role."
Speaking of the balance between combat and horror, Hubbard reminded people that "this is first and foremost an action game. There are horror elements, but it's not meant to be an unrelenting experience in terror."
With this in mind, Monolith were attempting to strike a similar balance as in the first game;
''F.E.A.R. 3''
''F.E.A.R. 3'' originally began life as ''F.E.A.R. 2''.
In 2006, with the rights still split between Warner and Vivendi, each company began development of their own sequel to the original game; Warner stuck with Monolith as developers whereas Vivendi hired Day 1. Thus, two rival sequels were in production at the same time - the Warner/Monolith game and the Vivendi/Day 1 game.
In September 2008, 18 months into development on the Vivendi/Day 1 game, Monolith and Warner re-acquired the ''F.E.A.R.'' name, bringing all of the copyrights under one roof.
Monolith continued development on their sequel, which now became the 'official' sequel. When Warner looked at the work Day 1 had been doing for their version of ''F.E.A.R. 2'', they suggested that the game could be moulded into '' F.E.A.R. 3'', and so Day 1 began reworking the game from the ground up.
To write the script, Warner hired
Steve Niles
Steve Niles (born June 21, 1965) is an American comic book author and novelist, known for works such as '' 30 Days of Night'', '' Criminal Macabre: A Cal McDonald Mystery'', ''Simon Dark'', ''Mystery Society'', and '' Batman: Gotham County Line''. ...
over the objections of Day 1, who wanted to use
Brian Keene
Brian Keene (born September 22, 1967) is an American author and podcaster, primarily known for his work in horror, dark fantasy, crime fiction, and comic books. He has won the 2014 World Horror Grandmaster Award and two Bram Stoker Awards. In ...
.
At the same time, a project on which he had been working with
John Carpenter
John Howard Carpenter (born January 16, 1948) is an American filmmaker, actor, and composer. Although he worked in various film genres, he is most commonly associated with horror, action, and science fiction films of the 1970s and 1980s. He ...
had recently fallen through, and so he asked Warner if they'd be interested in bringing Carpenter on board as well, to which they said yes. Some of the Day 1 staff, however, do not have fond memories of working with Niles and Carpenter. According to associate producer Chris Julian, "John Carpenter did absolutely nothing. It was like we licensed his name and that was about it."
On the other hand, narrative designers Stephen Dinehart and Cory Lanham said that Carpenter ''was'' involved, albeit limited to conference calls where he would listen to the team's ideas and give suggestions, occasionally advising on cutscenes and the script. Carpenter himself was never on-site and never met any of the Day 1 people in person. According to lead artist Heinz Schuller, "they wrote him a cheque to get his name on the game and they got some ideas from him. Probably."
Officially, the team's main design principle was to avoid messing "too much with the ''F.E.A.R.'' franchise's successful formula of frenetic soldier combat and
paranormal
Paranormal events are purported phenomena described in popular culture, folk, and other non-scientific bodies of knowledge, whose existence within these contexts is described as being beyond the scope of normal scientific understanding. Nota ...
horror."
Behind the scenes, however, Day 1 initially wanted to make the game more like the original than the sequel - emphasising the
survival horror
Survival horror is a subgenre of survival of the players as the game tries to frighten them with either horror graphics or scary ambience. Although combat can be part of the gameplay, the player is made to feel less in control than in typical ac ...
elements, such as a dearth of ammo and medkits, and a real sense of being isolated and alone. However, according to Schuller, the then president of Warner Bros. Games, Martin Tremblay, had become a big fan of the ''
Call of Duty
''Call of Duty'' is a first-person shooter video game Media franchise, franchise published by Activision. Starting out in 2003, it first focused on games set in World War II. Over time, the series has seen games set in the midst of the Cold W ...
'' games, and Day 1
Chris Julian was primarily responsible for the game's horror elements. He had a team of ten Day 1 personnel each of whom had experience with different types of horror. This group, called the "Scare Team" set themselves the goal of creating 10 to 15 really good scares to spread across the game. According to Julian, however, "once the co-op came down, horror pretty much went out the window."
He said that Day 1 had no real interest in making the game co-op, but
By late 2010, many of the staff, who had been working on the game for over four years, had burnt out. According to level designer Matt Mason, there were "many, many months" of "unofficial
crunch", before the crunch became official with staff being told they ''had'' to work longer hours.
According to Schuller, the game had 44
milestones
A milestone is a marker of distance along roads.
Milestone may also refer to:
Measurements
*Milestone (project management), metaphorically, markers of reaching an identifiable stage in any task or the project
*Software release life cycle state, s ...
, each of which involved a degree of crunch, whilst the last crunch consisted of eight months of 60-80 hour weeks. Multiple staff members quit during this period.
Other media
; ''P.A.N.I.C.S.''
In the lead up to the first game's release in October 2005, episodes were released online of a comedy miniseries created by
Rooster Teeth
Rooster Teeth Productions, LLC is an American digital media company headquartered in Austin, Texas. Founded in 2003 by Burnie Burns, Matt Hullum, Geoff Ramsey, Jason Saldaña, Gus Sorola, and Joel Heyman, Rooster Teeth is a subsidiary of Warner ...
and distributed by BeSeen Communications. ''
P.A.N.I.C.S.'' (''People Acting Normal In Crazy-Ass Situations'') is a parody of ''F.E.A.R.'', produced primarily by way of the
machinima
Machinima, originally machinema () is the use of real-time computer graphics engines to create a cinematic production. Most often, video games are used to generate the computer animation. The word "machinima" is a portmanteau of the words ''ma ...
technique of synchronizing footage created by a game engine (in this case, the
LithTech Jupiter EX) to pre-recorded dialogue and audio effects. Vivendi commissioned Rooster Teeth and BeSeen to make the series as a viral marketing campaign, with Lori Inman, Vivendi's Senior Brand Manager, stating, "with ''F.E.A.R.'' we knew we had a very special title combining a cutting edge FPS engine with a spine-tingling storyline. We liked the idea of creating a humorous viral machinima series that would entertain fans and showcase the spectacular visuals and character
animations
Animation is a method by which still figures are manipulated to appear as moving images. In traditional animation, images are drawn or painted by hand on transparent celluloid sheets to be photographed and exhibited on film. Today, most anima ...
offered in the game."
;Alma Interview
Set several years before the main game, and included with the ''Director's Edition'' of the game, "
Alma Interview" is a live-action short depicting four snippets from an interview with the seven-year-old Alma in the lead up to her being placed in Project Origin.
;''F.E.A.R.'' comic
Included with the ''Director's Edition'' of the original game, the
''F.E.A.R.'' comic was written by Alden Freewater, with art by Edwin David, and published by Dark Horse. It takes place moments before the game begins and expands on the game's opening
cutscene
A cutscene or event scene (sometimes in-game cinematic or in-game movie) is a sequence in a video game that is not interactive, interrupting the gameplay. Such scenes are used to show conversations between characters, set the mood, reward the ...
.
;''F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin'' digital comic
Created by
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. (doing business as DC) is an American comic book publisher and the flagship unit of DC Entertainment, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery.
DC Comics is one of the largest and oldest American comic book companies, with thei ...
, and released on
GameTrailers
''GameTrailers'' (''GT'') was an American video gaming website created by Geoffrey R. Grotz and Brandon Jones in 2002. The website specialized in multimedia content, including trailers and gameplay footage of upcoming and recently released v ...
on October 31, 2008, the
''F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin'' digital comic is an animated 73-second clip depicting the aftermath of the helicopter crash from the end of the first game.
;''Armacham Field Guide''
Included with a limited steel box edition of ''Project Origin'' available only by preordering the game from
GameStop
GameStop Corp. is an American video game, consumer electronics, and gaming merchandise retailer. The company is headquartered in Grapevine, Texas (a suburb of Dallas), and is the largest video game retailer worldwide. , the company operates 4,5 ...
, ''
Armacham Field Guide'' is a
primer
Primer may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Films
* ''Primer'' (film), a 2004 feature film written and directed by Shane Carruth
* ''Primer'' (video), a documentary about the funk band Living Colour
Literature
* Primer (textbook), a t ...
detailing much of the background mythology behind the ''F.E.A.R.'' games. The book recounts the events of the first game, as well as expanding on Alma's history. It also includes information on the various characters and weaponry from each game. The book is littered with handwritten notations, composed shortly before the second game begins.
;''F.E.A.R. 3: Prelude''
Available via
Amazon
Amazon most often refers to:
* Amazons, a tribe of female warriors in Greek mythology
* Amazon rainforest, a rainforest covering most of the Amazon basin
* Amazon River, in South America
* Amazon (company), an American multinational technology c ...
pre-order and as part of the ''Collector's Edition'' of the game, ''
F.E.A.R. 3: Prelude'' was written by Steve Niles, illustrated by
Stefano Raffaele
Stefano Raffaele (born March 15, 1970) is an Italian comics book artist.
Biography
Born in Milan, his first published work was in '' Lazarus Ledd'' #4 in 1994. From the following year, he worked for American comics series such as ''New Gods'', '' ...
, and published by DC Comics. The comic serves as a prequel to the game, beginning with the helicopter crash which ends the original ''F.E.A.R.''
Reception
The PC version of the original game received very positive reviews, with the AI garnering especial praise. Critics also lauded the
graphics
Graphics () are visual images or designs on some surface, such as a wall, canvas, screen, paper, or stone, to inform, illustrate, or entertain. In contemporary usage, it includes a pictorial representation of data, as in design and manufacture ...
, atmosphere,
sound design
Sound design is the art and practice of creating sound tracks for a variety of needs. It involves specifying, acquiring or creating auditory elements using audio production techniques and tools. It is employed in a variety of disciplines including ...
, music, and combat mechanics. Common points of criticism were a lack of enemy variety, a weak plot, and repetitive level design. ''
IGN
''IGN'' (formerly ''Imagine Games Network'') is an American video game and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa distri ...
''s Tom McNamara called it "one of the best shooters this year". ''
GameSpot
''GameSpot'' is an American video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information on video games. The site was launched on May 1, 1996, created by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. In addition ...
''s Jason Ocampo said it "elevates the genre to a whole new level of intensity". ''
Eurogamer
''Eurogamer'' is a British video game journalism website launched in 1999 and owned by alongside formed company Gamer Network. Its editor-in-chief is Martin Robinson.
Since 2008, it is known for the formerly eponymous games trade fair EGX ...
''s Tom Bramwell called it "fresh and compelling." ''
Game Informer
''Game Informer'' (''GI'', most often stylized ''gameinformer'' from the 2010s onward) is an American monthly video game magazine featuring articles, news, strategy, and reviews of video games and associated consoles. It debuted in August 1991 w ...
''s Adam Biessener praised the "smartest AI-controlled opponents I've ever faced" and called the combat mechanics "intense almost to the point of sensory overload".
The Xbox 360 port also received generally positive reviews. ''IGN''s Eric Brudvig wrote, "''F.E.A.R.'' has made it from the PC to 360 with everything that made it an outstanding experience." ''Eurogamer''s Kristen Reed argued that "it gets the core of the experience so absolutely spot-on." ''GameSpot''s Jason Ocampo called it "easily one of the most intense and atmospheric games on the Xbox 360."
The PlayStation 3 port received less positive reviews, with many critics unimpressed with the port's technical issues and graphical inferiority, although they still lauded the game mechanics. ''IGN''s Greg Miller wrote, "the PS3 doesn't hold a candle to the visuals found in the Xbox 360 version", but called it "still one of the best experiences I've had on a PS3". ''GameSpot''s Jason Ocampo argued that it "lacks the level of polish and atmosphere seen in the previous two versions." ''
Electronic Gaming Monthly
''Electronic Gaming Monthly'' (often abbreviated to ''EGM'') is a monthly American video game magazine. It offers video game news, coverage of industry events, interviews with gaming figures, editorial content and product reviews.
History
The m ...
''s Joe Rybicki called it "a tragedy", citing "inexcusable technical issues", and finding it to be "one of the most reprehensible ports in recent memory."
The PC version of ''Extraction Point'' also received positive reviews, with critics praising its fidelity to the base game. Common criticisms included a lack of replay value, a short campaign, and a failure to innovate or try anything really new. ''Game Informer''s Adam Biessener praised it for "
etainingevery single good element that was present
n the base game. ''
Xplay
''Xplay'' (previously ''GameSpot TV'' and ''Extended Play'') is a TV program about video games. The program, known for its reviews and comedy skits, airs on '' G4'' in the United States and had aired on ''G4 Canada'' in Canada (and briefly on YT ...
''s Jason D'Aprile called it "a worthy gun fix."
''GameSpot''s Jason Ocampo argued, "TimeGate deserves plenty of credit for maintaining the intensity of the original". ''IGN''s Charles Onyett found it a little too similar to the original; "you may at times be fooled into thinking you're playing the first ''F.E.A.R.''"
The PC version of ''Perseus Mandate'' received mixed reviews with critics praising the mechanics, but criticising the dated graphics and the game's similarity to previous titles. ''PALGN''s Neil Booth criticised it for not "deviating one inch from the formula", finding it "so familiar that an air of been-there-done-that sucks a lot of the life out." ''IGN''s Dan Adams wrote, "if you're looking for something new or compelling and some flashy sound or visuals, don't bother.
''GameSpot''s Jason Ocampo wrote, "it's difficult to play this expansion without feeling that you're doing the exact same things that you've done countless times before."
''Project Origin'' received positive reviews but some critics felt it to be inferior to the first game. Common points of praise included the mechanics, sound effects, graphics and mech sections, and enemy variety. Less enthusiastically received were the plot,
cover mechanics, horror elements, and some of the gameplay changes from the original. Several critics also felt it took too few risks and was little more than a generic, albeit well-made, shooter. ''
IGN
''IGN'' (formerly ''Imagine Games Network'') is an American video game and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa distri ...
''s Jason Ocampo called it "a good shooter, bordering on great", but acknowledged, "it's not as groundbreaking as its predecessor." ''GameSpot''s Kevin VanOrd felt that it "seems to have lost sight of the strengths that made its predecessor so unique." ''
PC Zone
''PC Zone'', founded in 1993, was the first magazine dedicated to games for IBM-compatible personal computers to be published in the United Kingdom. Earlier PC magazines such as ''PC Leisure'', ''PC Format'' and ''PC Plus'' had covered games but ...
''s Steve Hogarth argued "''Project Origin'' falls short of delivering the kick provided by the original." ''Eurogamer''s
Kieron Gillen
Kieron Michael Gillen (; born 30 September 1975) is a British comic book writer and former video game and music journalist. In comics, Gillen is known for ''Phonogram'' and ''The Wicked + The Divine'', both co-created with artist Jamie McKelvie ...
was especially unimpressed, finding the game to be "a checklist of genre-tropes" and "as archetypal a corridor-shooter as has ever been made."
''F.E.A.R. 3'' received mixed reviews. Critics generally lauded the multiplayer, co-op, and the mechanics, but were unimpressed with the plot, the absence of any real horror, and the short length of the campaign. Many critics felt that although it was a solid, if by-the-numbers, first-person shooter, it failed as a ''F.E.A.R.'' game. ''Eurogamer''s Jeffrey Matulef was critical of the "subpar scares" and "shoddy narrative", but found it to be "a finely crafted
action game
An action game is a video game genre that emphasizes physical challenges, including hand–eye coordination and reaction-time. The genre includes a large variety of sub-genres, such as fighting games, beat 'em ups, shooter games, and platform gam ...
." ''GameSpot''s Carolyn Petit argued that "while ''F.E.A.R. 3'' may disappoint as a
horror game
A horror game is a video game genre centered on horror fiction and typically designed to scare the player. Unlike most other video game genres, which are classified by their gameplay, horror games are nearly always based on narrative or visual pr ...
, it satisfies as a shooter." Adam Mathew of Australia's ''
PlayStation Official Magazine'' called it "solid, if stock-standard". Calum Wilson Austin of ''
The Sydney Morning Herald
''The Sydney Morning Herald'' (''SMH'') is a daily compact newspaper published in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, and owned by Nine. Founded in 1831 as the ''Sydney Herald'', the ''Herald'' is the oldest continuously published newspaper ...
'' wrote, "I would hate to see this entry be the death knell of the franchise."
Sales and awards
The original game was a commercial success. By the time the game was released on PlayStation 3 in April 2007, the combined worldwide sales of the PC and Xbox 360 versions was over two million units. The PlayStation 3 version itself was the console's best selling title in April, moving 45,864 units in North America.
''F.E.A.R.'' won ''
Computer Games Magazine
''Computer Games Magazine'' was a monthly computer and console gaming print magazine, founded in October 1988 as the United Kingdom publication ''Games International''. During its history, it was known variously as ''Strategy Plus'' (October 1 ...
''s 2005 "Best Sound Effects" award, and was a runner-up for their list of the year's 10 best PC games. It won 2005's "Best Action Game" from both the
Game Critics Awards
The Game Critics Awards are a set of annual awards held after the Electronic Entertainment Expo, E3 video game conference since 1998. The awards are given to products displayed at E3 with the title Best of E3 of their category.
Format
The nomine ...
and ''
PC Gamer US
''PC Gamer'' is a magazine and website founded in the United Kingdom in 1993 devoted to PC gaming and published monthly by Future plc. The magazine has several regional editions, with the UK and US editions becoming the best selling PC games mag ...
''. ''GameSpy'' awarded it their 2005 "Best Story" award. In ''GameSpot''s 2005 annual awards, it won "Best AI" and "Best Graphics (Technical)". At the 4th Annual
Game Audio Network Guild Awards
The Game Audio Network Guild Awards (shortened to the G.A.N.G. Awards) is an award show that celebrates excellence in video game audio. The awards, which started in 2004, are arranged by the Game Audio Network Guild and held annually during the ...
in 2006, it shared the "Best Use of Multi-Channel Surround" with ''
Call of Duty 2
''Call of Duty 2'' is a 2005 first-person shooter video game developed by Infinity Ward and published by Activision in most regions of the world. It is the second installment of the ''Call of Duty'' series. Announced by Activision on April 7, ...
''.
''Extraction Point'' won ''
PC Gamer
''PC Gamer'' is a magazine and website founded in the United Kingdom in 1993 devoted to PC gaming and published monthly by Future plc. The magazine has several regional editions, with the UK and US editions becoming the best selling PC games ma ...
''s 2006 "Best Expansion Pack" award.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:FEAR (series)
F.E.A.R. (video game series)
First-person shooters
Psychological horror games
Video game franchises
Video game franchises introduced in 2005
Video games adapted into comics
Video games developed in the United States
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment franchises