F.3.A.R: Horror game short on any real scares

WB Games highly successful and, on the whole, well received F.E.A.R series has returned for a third instalment.

The first thing I noticed when I looked at the game case was an excerpt from a review calling it “the scariest horror game franchise ever,” so on good grounds I went into this game expecting sleepless nights.

Like the first two titles, you’re still after the creepy child psychic Alma, traversing a world that lays in ruin after a series of destructive paranormal events.

You can play either as Point Man or his brother Fettel, which brings some variety to the game, as the two characters are controlled in very different ways.

I started F.3.A.R expecting to be terrified, but I can safely say that throughout the game I jumped only once and there was no feeling of a build up in tension whatsoever.

I found the ‘horror’ elements just to be a bit weird, more than anything else.

The other main part of the game is the shooter side of it, which whilst nothing groundbreaking is still pretty impressive.

You face waves of heavily armed enemies who in terms of AI are pretty tough, with them using cover, flanking, hurling grenades to push you out of any hiding places and even lay down suppressive fire.

You face these almost unassailable odds with no more than two guns and grenades, but you get to use a pretty neat bullet time feature.

It is a pretty tough game in that respect and even whilst playing on medium difficulty to get through the game quickly, I found myself dieing a few times.

Graphically, F.3.A.R is a bit drab and depressing, but not in any way that really helps promote the tension with regards to the horror element; however there is one part with waves of enemies running and crawling around, intermittently illuminated by stage lights which made me a little nervy.

F.3.A.R is a good shooter, but in terms of horror it is a definite failure, with no real element of fear felt throughout the game.