Horror in video games is nothing new yet it’s something some of us still can’t get enough of. The suspense of not knowing is usually more freighting than the actual experience. We want to be afraid and challenged at the same time. We want to yell at the screen in terror and with excitement once we clear a challenge. The developers at Monolith have been doing a tremendous job of satisfying those needs with F.E.A.R. but also the underrated series Condemned. F.E.A.R. 2 takes us back into the world of the little girl Alma and all of the twisted, bloody and unsettling experiences to go along with her.

F.E.A.R. 2 takes place just before the ending of the first game; this time with you playing the role of Sgt. Michael Becket. You start the game in the same office building that you played through near the end of the first game. This gave me a sense of deja vu because I had been playing through the first game again recently. The locations and layout were almost exactly the game just the graphics were much nicer with better textures and more details. The same tight and intense first-person shooter gameplay from the first game was still present. I started to get worried that F.E.A.R. 2 was going to be more of an expansion than a true sequel.

Once F.E.A.R. 2 moved past the ending events of the first F.E.A.R. is when the game really started to take off.  The game is still a very dark and moody game with tons of “Oh crap, what was that?” moments to keep you on the edge of your seats. You start to undercover more about Alma during some strange flashbacks during points of the game. Alma also makes several appearances, sometimes helping you while other times almost studying you. The game even includes some Condemned-like melee combat quick-time events where you’ll have to frantically press the B button to ward off certain fiends. You’ll find yourself hoping and praying your flashlight keeps working because you never know what’s lurking in the dark.

As I mentioned earlier you still get the same tight and intense gameplay from the first game. This time the AI is even more impressive with enemy soldiers seeking out more cover and following more elaborate schemes to take you out. The accuracy of the enemies is almost deadly even on the normal difficulty but just not to a point of complete frustration. The slow motion feature from the first game is still present, which is extremely helpful when fighting several enemies at once. Yet the game just doesn’t feel like you’re up against insurmountable odds.

There are plenty of weapons and ammo found scattered in the game with even more dropped by fallen enemy soldiers. You’ll find what always seemed to be just the right amount of health packs and armor to keep you alive in the game. Sure I died several times but that was usually stupid mistakes I made playing the game, not anything to do with an extreme difficulty. You might even find yourself zipping through the game in under 10 hours if you’re careful enough.

The one new feature that really impressed me about F.E.A.R. 2 was the Powered Armored Units. The Powered Armored units are mech suits that you have to fight and sometimes control in the game. Once you get inside one of these units you become an almost unstoppable weapon that can spray rockets and unleash machine gun fire everywhere. You can zoom in for a better aim or switch to a thermal view to find enemies hiding behind cover. The viewpoint inside the unit is noticeably grainy like watching on a computer monitor, especially when debris and weapon fire start going everywhere. The units control like a lumbering tank but in a good way. When I first read about these mech units I immediately dismissed them as something completely unnecessary for an F.E.A.R. game. But now the overall “cool” factor of controlling these units cannot be understated.  Even though controlling them is fun, actually trying to take one out with your normal weapons is another intense experience that is fantastic.

Even with all of the great moments in the game, F.E.A.R. 2 still feels like a game with an identity crisis. While it wants to be a top-notch shooter -, which is does well - it still wants to be a horror game. While the horror moments in the game will catch you off guard from time to time the overall horror motif is lacking compared to its brother Condemned. Now I’m sure this is obvious to the developers but for some gamers going into the game they might expect more of a horror game than a shooter. Let me say (type it) for everyone to understand: F.E.A.R. 2 is a shooter first and a horror game second. The main point of the game is to run around and shoot the enemy, there is hardly any real story that is played out within the game. What story you do have is rather brief and still confusing during most of the game. If you want a more horror centric game make sure to check out Condemned if you haven’t done so already.

F.E.A.R. 2 hits all the right buttons to keep you entertained, scared and challenged. The action in the game is still of the top-shelf flavor that should please hardcore and casual FPS fans. The horror elements are just enough to scare the wits out of plenty of gamers with some intense moments. The game is also a gory mess full of blood that could even repulse some gamers with a weak stomach. F.E.A.R. 2 is a worthy sequel that might be a little short but still offers plenty for fans of the series.

Gameplay: 8.5
The gameplay does a great job of challenging you with some interesting AI of the enemies. Even when I had to replay some areas over again the enemies would usually act differently each time. I might know where they will be coming from but their reaction to me was usually different each time. The controls are very tight and responsive with the no big problems or worries. My only complaint with the controls is the game sometimes switched weapons on me when I would try to use a med kit. Pressing down on the directional pad lets you use a med kit while pressing right will change weapons. The game still follows the same linear approach from F.E.A.R. with you going in one direction during most of the game.

Graphics: 8.9
The graphics in the game do a remarkable job of portraying a ruined city on the verge of collapse with buildings and locations torn apart in stunning detail. The game is extremely dark at times in order to build suspense of what you don’t see. The game is full of blood with plenty of splatter when you unload a shotgun at close range. The framerate was always solid and I never noticed any slowdown due to a large number of enemies on screen.

Sound: 7.9
The voice acting in the game is top notch with all of the actors doing a tremendous job with their lines. The music is more of a minimalist approach as in most horror-based games. The music is there to build up anticipation, which is does well but nothing that was really memorable.

Difficulty: Medium
The difficulty on the normal setting just feels right. Not too hard but not too easy. I found myself having to start stages over again but usually only once or twice.

Concept: 8.4
I enjoy how the game tries to find a balance between being a survival horror game and being a FPS. It might stumble at times since the game is still centered upon an FPS but the horror elements still work. I will say that I think developer Monolith is able to create some stunning and horrific moments with ease. If Capcom ever wants to make a real FPS Resident Evil game they should call Monolith first.

Multiplayer: 8.6
I wouldn’t be surprised if F.E.A.R. 2 becomes an Xbox Live favorite just for one mode: Armored Front. This mode is simply “the capture locations on the map mode” we’ve seen in countless other FPS games but with the Powered Armor Units in play. Each team has a Powered Armor Unit they can use to try to gain control over more locations on the map. But once someone is inside the mechs everyone is gunning for you, which creates an amazingly intense experience. You want to take out the mech but you still don’t want to give up a location to the other team. It’s a great cat-and-mouse type of experience where you’ll always be struggling to find the perfect balance of how to one up the other team.

Deathmatch and Team Deathmatch are included but make sure you have plenty of players. Some of the maps are very large, which can lead to everyone running around waiting to find someone to shoot. Control is the same as Armored Front but without the mechs to create havoc. Failsafe is a bomb mode where one team tries to detonate a bomb while the other team tries to defuse the bomb. Blitz mode has teams stealing PHLAGs from each others bases. The game does include an experience point system for ranked matches. As you play more ranked matches you’ll earn more points and additional achievements.

Overall: 8.5
F.E.A.R. 2 is a great game that offers an intense single-player experience and a solid multiplayer experience. While the single-player mode might be somewhat linear and maybe a little too short the overall experience is still top notch. You will be scared and you will be challenged with some great AI. Multiplayer might not have the most advanced features compared to other games but the Armored Front mode should be a hit for everyone.