Product Description

First Encounter Assault Recon is a horror shooter video game based around a ghostly little girl, who looks very much like Sadako from the Ring! In this game from Monolith Productions (Aliens vs Predator, No One Lives Forever), players, who assume the role of the anti-terrorist team (F.E.A.R.) must survive the horrors of terrible menaces, and combat an army of cloned soldiers. A mysterious paramilitary unit takes control of numerous places, holds your team hostage and protects itself from assaults in a disconcerting way. This must be something paranormal!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3112 in Computer & Video Games
• Brand: Sierra
• Released on: 2007-04-13
• Rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
• ESRB Rating: Adults Only
• Platform: PLAYSTATION 3

Manufacturer's Description
You aren't a soldier. You are a weapon.

A mysterious paramilitary force infiltrates a multi-billion dollar aerospace compound, taking hostages but issuing no demands. A Special Forces team is sent in by the government tp contain the situation, but contact is severed as an eerie signal interrupts radio communications. When the interference subsides moments later, the team has been obliterated. Live footage of the massacre shows an inexplicable wave of destruction tearing the soldiers apart before they can even react.

In light of the desperate situation the F.E.A.R. team is assembled. As part of this elite classified strike force created to deal with the most unusual and shocking of threats, your mission is simple: Eliminate the intruders at any cost. Determine the origin of the signal and contain this crisis before it spirals out of control.

Customer Reviews

For Every Awesome Reviewer!
Okay I am reviewing the PS3 version (As I am guessing you hit a link to look at the PS3 Version). Would someone please PLEASE stop people from reviewing games based on their experience of Xbox, PC and demo's!!!

FEAR is a first person shooter set in a dark and gloomey corner of the world, where a mystery bad guy (who is a bit of a hannibal lector) has taken control of the dark arts - not to mention a legion of cloned super soldiers. Its never quite explained but there is also a young ghost like girl (part based on Samara from the Ring and part based on the chinese girl from The Grudge) who strides around in the shadows, creating some genuinely 'jumpy' moments. Between the ghosts and the soldiers, FEAR has the potential to be a really good FPS.

So the good bits... the game has some very good 'tension and suspense' like any good horror movie, it builds the suspense well and its probably the only game that has made me jump - believe it or not. It does this using the same tools as the movies, sound, music, suggestion - things you think you see but maybe you didnt... for instance, someone walks past you so you turn the corner and they have gone.. and then there are some scenes where you get transported into blood soaked rooms to witness some pretty horrible flashbacks.

The fire fight set pieces are pretty good with the enemy AI reasonably high, meaning they attack, flank and counter fairly well - certainly better than in fall of man. The array of weapons is good and the use of bullet time slow motion is also very good, and enables a different style of gameplay.

So that bad bits... well those super soldiers are hard as nails, I mean to the point where they take the infamous shotgun to the legs and still get up to kill you. Several pin point sniper shots to the head and they can still fire back. In addition, I found the controls and aiming that touch more tricky that usual FPS's, whereas the enemy soldiers rarely miss - and only need to hit you a few times to score a kill. They seem to be able to see you a mile off so there is little opportunity to use stealth tactics. I dont mind hard difficulty, but the game didnt seem at all fair, or that realistic.

Then there is the levels design. You basically have three main areas, all of which have been abandoned with a few straggling security people. Each level is very boring and repetitive. Corridor, stair case, a lift shaft and ladder. The game layout and levels is very basic and the initial 'suspense' tools of lighting and darkness, along with long periods where nothing happens and there is no one to fight just makes the game fairly boring and samey.

This game is best compared to the film 'Dusk Til Dawn'. something that had the potential to be either a really good gangster film, or a really good vampire film. FEAR had lots of potential but ultimately fails to deliver a big scare (or two) on the horror front, or a really solid FPS for action lovers. The combination in FEAR just doesnt seem to work (for me).

The games biggest failing is that it does little to bring anything new, utilise the power or capabilities of the PS3, and it doesnt feel big budget (ala COD4 and even Turok). I have to say that I own some far better FPS's on PS2. FEAR isnt terrible, but is just isnt up to scratch.

Great story - realistic combat
Like a lot of reviewers, I've enjoyed playing this game. It's very different to fom and the two games don't really compare. Where it scores highly is the excellent combat system. Enemy AI is pretty realistic as are their radio coms while you blow them away! Weapons and armour are scarce and you are rewarded for prudent fighting. Even on easy mode you can't just charge in blazing. The effects are tremendously creepy at times - easy to achieve if you're playing as a schoolgirl with a camera, less so if you're a well armed super soldier. Cut scenes are short and leave a real air of mystery.
The main downside is the lack of variety of locations. Most of the game is spent shooting up a huge factory: fom's varied environments beat this hands down.It's also a bit too linear though sionce one corridor looks like any other, it has to be. That aside, the sound effects, cut scenes and storyline more than compensate and parts of this game are truly chilling! I recommend it highly.

Great game, shame for PS3.
I'd have given this game more stars if the graphics had been better. The game itself is great, I've played it on the Xbox360 and my PC. Trouble is, given the power the PS3 has, the game lets it down. Whether the PS3 lacks power or whether it was lazy programming the game just does not run as smoothly as it does on a PC (Pentium D 915 with 8800GT even 8600GT is smooth) or the Xbox360. There seems to be no anti-aliasing which leaves jaggies everywhere. A shame for such a fine game (it's a game that can really make you jump at times). It looks so low resolution.
However, don't let that put you off if you only have a PS3, it's a fine game. Tough in places, soft in others. The story is interesting and the AI is rather good. Enemies will try to outflank you or flush you out with grenades. If you show signs of advancing they will retreat to cover and peek out to take a shot or two at you. Graphics and areas are a bit samey but it's the scares that work on me, truly creepy. Oh! Apparently there's an extra level and an extra weapon in this version, I look forward to that.