"A Botched Sequel"
This one was particularly tough for me to evaluate, largely due to how controversial of a game it is to begin with. I did not like the first F.E.A.R. title upon my first short time with the game, but I really warmed up to that game, with it serving as a very good Action-FPS in my opinion. I believed that the sequel's main goal would have been to diversify the level environments, provide a slightly stronger and more cohesive story, and preserve the original title's gameplay while refining bits and pieces to it. What the sequel actually accomplished was...a mixed bag to say the least.
Upon starting a new game, I immediately noticed that the surface-level graphical fidelity was improved. Characters were more animated, the voice acting was more plentiful, and there was a stronger emphasis on characterization through movement and expression. While not "top notch", even by 2009 standards, it improved on an otherwise disappointing array of graphical settings that were in the first game. However, the reason I say "surface-level graphics" becomes obvious very quickly - many of the amazing gunplay effects from the first title have been drastically toned down or removed. Bullet holes no longer crack cement on walls, grenades no longer fling objects around the environment, and smoke trails from guns/explosives no longer leave the battlefield looking torn-up, as it should. This was a massive disappointment, since these effects that were present in the first game four years prior were now sliced out of the equation.
The environments also presented a similar facade. Upon fist examination, the environments are easily more varied and colorful than the first game. There are schools to fight through, underground labs, ruined cities, and a nuclear power plant (to name a few). However, the color is still very muted and gray/brown. It's a curse of games from this time period, but everything looks very similar and washed-out, even if the locations are inherently different. Additionally, while the environments are somewhat better looking, the way these levels actually "play" is a drastic step back, in my opinion. The enemy AI still interacts with nodes around the environment, but it all felt like it flowed less cohesively. I never felt like I was flanked by a squad of enemies like in the last game, and this took away a lot of dynamism and tactical feel from each battle. The new environments did little to make up for this drastic loss to the core gameplay interaction between player, AI, and environment/level.
The story is stronger this time around - however, it isn't presented in a very efficient way. Character's are still pretty boring and lack a lot of depth. Most of their deaths will leave you without any reaction other than "Dang, he/she got messed up!". There's no attachment, and while the voice acting is okay, no one is really established as super interesting throughout the plot. As for the plot itself, the bulk of the game's information/detail is locked behind PDA's that you find throughout each level. These contain text files that explain a lot of the core motivations/elements behind each character's motives and actions. Without these files, the game is a bit of a mess on the story side - its still better than F.E.A.R., but it failed to capture my attention. Alma is developed more as a character, but she HERSELF is boiled down to a "jumpscare-machine". Her motivations are only ever explained through minor interactions with the player and exposition lobbied towards the player by other characters. This led to a lack of engagement on my part, and ultimately made me disinterested in many of the plot points and narrative elements. It's a bit better than the first game, but not by a whole lot.
Lastly, I am left with one last question to answer: "Is this game a worthy sequel to F.E.A.R.?" Sadly, I am forced to give a disappointing "No". While some elements of the original game are improved upon (environments, story), the core gameplay has been butchered. The game has turned into a generic FPS, with many of the first titles gameplay elements being drastically altered or outright removed. Melee combat has been ruined, and punches/kicks lack any substantial impact or consistency to their usage. Gunplay feels much worse, with the sound design behind many weapons feeling weaker and damage output for most weapons being reduced. it really seems like all weapons in this game have been weakened substantially, and it leaves the character feeling less powerful. Additionally, the "bullet-time" mechanic feels redundant - in the old game, it made the game a bit easier, but was much more rewarding with the ragdoll physics engine and environmental destruction. Here, it feels pointless! The ragdoll physics are gone, and guns damage the environment far less. I honestly forgot to use this mechanic throughout much of the game due to how useless it ended up being. These changes to gameplay were the primary offenders of this game for me, and left me severely disappointed with the final product.
Upon completion, I can say my time with F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin was very "meh". I went in hoping for refinement upon the original game's formula, and instead was met with strange design decisions and drastic cutbacks on the first game's strengths. I would Not Recommend checking this one out if you were a huge fan of the first game - it essentially transformed the formula into a generic shooter. It's not "horrible", but it really ain't special in any way either.
Final Verdict: 5/10 (Average)
This one was particularly tough for me to evaluate, largely due to how controversial of a game it is to begin with. I did not like the first F.E.A.R. title upon my first short time with the game, but I really warmed up to that game, with it serving as a very good Action-FPS in my opinion. I believed that the sequel's main goal would have been to diversify the level environments, provide a slightly stronger and more cohesive story, and preserve the original title's gameplay while refining bits and pieces to it. What the sequel actually accomplished was...a mixed bag to say the least.
Upon starting a new game, I immediately noticed that the surface-level graphical fidelity was improved. Characters were more animated, the voice acting was more plentiful, and there was a stronger emphasis on characterization through movement and expression. While not "top notch", even by 2009 standards, it improved on an otherwise disappointing array of graphical settings that were in the first game. However, the reason I say "surface-level graphics" becomes obvious very quickly - many of the amazing gunplay effects from the first title have been drastically toned down or removed. Bullet holes no longer crack cement on walls, grenades no longer fling objects around the environment, and smoke trails from guns/explosives no longer leave the battlefield looking torn-up, as it should. This was a massive disappointment, since these effects that were present in the first game four years prior were now sliced out of the equation.
The environments also presented a similar facade. Upon fist examination, the environments are easily more varied and colorful than the first game. There are schools to fight through, underground labs, ruined cities, and a nuclear power plant (to name a few). However, the color is still very muted and gray/brown. It's a curse of games from this time period, but everything looks very similar and washed-out, even if the locations are inherently different. Additionally, while the environments are somewhat better looking, the way these levels actually "play" is a drastic step back, in my opinion. The enemy AI still interacts with nodes around the environment, but it all felt like it flowed less cohesively. I never felt like I was flanked by a squad of enemies like in the last game, and this took away a lot of dynamism and tactical feel from each battle. The new environments did little to make up for this drastic loss to the core gameplay interaction between player, AI, and environment/level.
The story is stronger this time around - however, it isn't presented in a very efficient way. Character's are still pretty boring and lack a lot of depth. Most of their deaths will leave you without any reaction other than "Dang, he/she got messed up!". There's no attachment, and while the voice acting is okay, no one is really established as super interesting throughout the plot. As for the plot itself, the bulk of the game's information/detail is locked behind PDA's that you find throughout each level. These contain text files that explain a lot of the core motivations/elements behind each character's motives and actions. Without these files, the game is a bit of a mess on the story side - its still better than F.E.A.R., but it failed to capture my attention. Alma is developed more as a character, but she HERSELF is boiled down to a "jumpscare-machine". Her motivations are only ever explained through minor interactions with the player and exposition lobbied towards the player by other characters. This led to a lack of engagement on my part, and ultimately made me disinterested in many of the plot points and narrative elements. It's a bit better than the first game, but not by a whole lot.
Lastly, I am left with one last question to answer: "Is this game a worthy sequel to F.E.A.R.?" Sadly, I am forced to give a disappointing "No". While some elements of the original game are improved upon (environments, story), the core gameplay has been butchered. The game has turned into a generic FPS, with many of the first titles gameplay elements being drastically altered or outright removed. Melee combat has been ruined, and punches/kicks lack any substantial impact or consistency to their usage. Gunplay feels much worse, with the sound design behind many weapons feeling weaker and damage output for most weapons being reduced. it really seems like all weapons in this game have been weakened substantially, and it leaves the character feeling less powerful. Additionally, the "bullet-time" mechanic feels redundant - in the old game, it made the game a bit easier, but was much more rewarding with the ragdoll physics engine and environmental destruction. Here, it feels pointless! The ragdoll physics are gone, and guns damage the environment far less. I honestly forgot to use this mechanic throughout much of the game due to how useless it ended up being. These changes to gameplay were the primary offenders of this game for me, and left me severely disappointed with the final product.
Upon completion, I can say my time with F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin was very "meh". I went in hoping for refinement upon the original game's formula, and instead was met with strange design decisions and drastic cutbacks on the first game's strengths. I would Not Recommend checking this one out if you were a huge fan of the first game - it essentially transformed the formula into a generic shooter. It's not "horrible", but it really ain't special in any way either.
Final Verdict: 5/10 (Average)