F.E.A.R. 3
Encyclopedia
F.E.A.R. 3 is a psychological horror
first-person shooter
video game, developed by Day 1 Studios
for Microsoft Windows
, PlayStation 3
and Xbox 360
as a sequel to the game F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin and the third installment of the F.E.A.R. (series)
. It was announced on April 8, 2010 and is stated to include John Carpenter
helping on the cinematics as well as writer Steve Niles
.
, an evolved cover system, and more scares", according to Day 1 Studios founder and president Denny Thorley. In the game, the players control either Point Man or Paxton Fettel, the protagonist and antagonist, respectively, from the first game, F.E.A.R.. The control system for the Point Man is the same as the previous two games, giving the player a command list typical of most first person shooter games (the ability to fire weapons, throw grenades, melee, activate/use items etc), as well as the ability to slow time. As Fettel, the player assists the Point Man by using telekinesis, stun, possession, a melee attack unique to Fettel and other abilities. In addition to these abilities, the player also has full access to the abilities of any character Fettel possesses. Both characters have the ability to access and control enemy technology (such as mech suits). Also, the game has both online and offline Co-Op play. And as confirmed at last year's E3, there is split-screen Co-Op. Once you complete a level as Point Man, you can then replay that level in single player as Paxton Fettel.
& Mark Lund) and interrogated in an asylum. Paxton Fettel interrupts the interrogation and helps free the Point Man. The two form an uneasy alliance and escape the Asylum through the slums.
Commandeering a helicopter, the Point Man and Fettel return to Fairport to regroup with F.E.A.R. operative Jin Sun-Kwon. During their return, the civilian population that survived were either driven insane by the paranormal activity or were executed by Armacham personnel. Fighting their way through, the brothers successfully meet up with Jin. Jin plays back recorded video footage of Michael Becket, who revealed his rape by Alma and is slated by Armacham for transport.
Using an automated transport, the Point Man and Fettel assault the local airport to intercept Becket, killing the remnants of the Armacham personnel. In order to gain more intel from Becket, Fettel possesses him and reveals Becket's past life to the Point Man while Becket realizes the Point Man's identity. Fettel's release of Becket proves fatal, causing a gory explosion. The Point Man and Fettel head to an old training facility by Harlan Wade years ago to study and develop the prototypes, where the two start to destroy items associated with memories of their childhood past to inflict damage on the lingering echo of Harlan Wade known as The Creep. Shortly after destroying a monstrous apparition of Wade, one of two endings are possible, depending on multiple factors. For single-player, a good and evil ending occurs depending on whether the player has controlled the Point Man or Fettel. Alternatively, if played during co-op, the player with the higher score determines the ending. The good ending will show Point Man overpowering Fettel and vice-versa, with the ending depending on whether Point Man or Fettel had survived their final struggle.
The Point Man ending has him shooting Paxton in the head three times and watching his body spontaneously burn itself up. Then, as he walks over to Alma, ready to finish the job, he notices that her baby has been successfully born. Alma's body then disappears, with the Point Man receiving a transmission from Jin that everything is finally over, thanking him for his efforts. With the baby in the crook of his left arm, he leaves the room.
The Paxton Fettel ending has Paxton possessing Point Man's body and somehow extracting the baby from Alma's swollen body. He promises to raise the child like it was his own, but sets it aside as he notices Alma. Fettel then pounces on his mother, violently eating her.
gave the PlayStation 3
version 75.98% and 74/100, the Xbox 360
version 75.97% and 75/100, and the PC version 74.25% and 74/100. While critics highly praised the gameplay and co-operative mode, they have criticized the story and considered the game to be not as scary as its predecessors.
IGN
awarded the game with an 8 out of 10 rating. Stating that "Whether you’re looking for a new, solid shooter to play or something set in a unique, horror-filled atmosphere, F.E.A.R. 3 has something for you. You won’t find the be-all, end-all shooter experience with F.E.A.R. 3, but you’re still bound to have a lot of fun." Game Informer
gave the title a 7.75 rating. The reviewer criticized the campaign by stating it just doesn't offer the same scares the previous titles offered, but praised the multiplayer component. GameSpot
gave the title a 7.5 rating, criticizing its visuals and lack of scares, but praising the shooting mechanics, fun co-op and exciting multiplayer components. 1UP.com
gave the title a B+ rating, calling the competitive aspects the most enjoyable part of the game. Joystiq
gave the title a rating out 3.5 out of 5 stars, criticizing the missing horror but praising the fun aspects of cooperative play.
Psychological horror
Psychological horror is a subgenre of horror fiction that relies on character fears, guilt, beliefs, eerie sound effects, relevant music and emotional instability to build tension and further the plot...
first-person shooter
First-person shooter
First-person shooter is a video game genre that centers the gameplay on gun and projectile weapon-based combat through first-person perspective; i.e., the player experiences the action through the eyes of a protagonist. Generally speaking, the first-person shooter shares common traits with other...
video game, developed by Day 1 Studios
Day 1 Studios
Day 1 Studios is an American game developer that operates in Chicago, Illinois and Hunt Valley, Maryland.They worked in tandem with developer FASA Interactive to create their first two games MechAssault, which Microsoft used to promote their Xbox Live service, and MechAssault 2: Lone Wolf...
for Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
, PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
and Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
as a sequel to the game F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin and the third installment of the F.E.A.R. (series)
F.E.A.R. (series)
F.E.A.R. is a series of psychological horror first-person shooter video games developed by Monolith Productions. The game currently has three main games, F.E.A.R., F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin and F.E.A.R. 3. The series is known for its horror game play and its main antagonist, Alma...
. It was announced on April 8, 2010 and is stated to include John Carpenter
John Carpenter
John Howard Carpenter is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, editor, composer, and occasional actor. Although Carpenter has worked in numerous film genres in his four-decade career, his name is most commonly associated with horror and science fiction.- Early life :Carpenter was born...
helping on the cinematics as well as writer Steve Niles
Steve Niles
Steve Niles is an American comic book author and novelist, known for works such as 30 Days of Night, Criminal Macabre, Simon Dark, Mystery Society and Batman: Gotham County Line....
.
Overview
F.E.A.R. 3 includes features such as "co-opCooperative gameplay
Cooperative gameplay is a feature in video games that allows players to work together as teammates. It is distinct from other multiplayer modes, such as competitive multiplayer modes like player versus player or deathmatch...
, an evolved cover system, and more scares", according to Day 1 Studios founder and president Denny Thorley. In the game, the players control either Point Man or Paxton Fettel, the protagonist and antagonist, respectively, from the first game, F.E.A.R.. The control system for the Point Man is the same as the previous two games, giving the player a command list typical of most first person shooter games (the ability to fire weapons, throw grenades, melee, activate/use items etc), as well as the ability to slow time. As Fettel, the player assists the Point Man by using telekinesis, stun, possession, a melee attack unique to Fettel and other abilities. In addition to these abilities, the player also has full access to the abilities of any character Fettel possesses. Both characters have the ability to access and control enemy technology (such as mech suits). Also, the game has both online and offline Co-Op play. And as confirmed at last year's E3, there is split-screen Co-Op. Once you complete a level as Point Man, you can then replay that level in single player as Paxton Fettel.
Multiplayer
There are four game modes that are going to be included in F.E.A.R. 3 multiplayer. The four game modes are "Fucking Run" "Contractions" "Soul Survivor" and "Soul King". "Fucking Run" features 4 players running through waves of enemies, all the while running from Alma's massive "Wall of Death." The players start off in a safe room and proceed through levels, killing enemies within a certain amount of time. There are several safe rooms throughout the mode, and if a player is downed, one of the co-op players can revive them. If one player is killed the game is over. "Contractions" is a survival round-based game mode where you must barricade and stock up weapons against 20 waves of enemies from the F.E.A.R. 3 single player, similar to Call of Duty's "Nazi Zombies," although the farther you increase through the waves the tougher it gets by adding a fog effect that creeps closer and closer making the map much more dangerous. "Soul Survivor" has four players pitted against each other with one player playing as a "Spectre" in which he or she has to possess enemies to kill the other three players and turn them into Spectres before the time runs out. "Soul King" is similar to Soul Survivor but with the exception that all the players play as Spectres and must possess enemies to kill each other and collect dropped souls. Teamwork and cooperation is needed for players to win in the game modes.Plot
Nine months after the events of both games, the Point Man was captured by Armacham Security Personel(Voiced by Barry PepperBarry Pepper
Barry Robert Pepper is a Canadian actor. He is best known for playing roles like Sergeant Michael Strank in the Clint Eastwood film, Flags of Our Fathers, Private Daniel Jackson in Saving Private Ryan, Roger Maris in 61*, Ned Pepper in True Grit and for his recent role as Robert F...
& Mark Lund) and interrogated in an asylum. Paxton Fettel interrupts the interrogation and helps free the Point Man. The two form an uneasy alliance and escape the Asylum through the slums.
Commandeering a helicopter, the Point Man and Fettel return to Fairport to regroup with F.E.A.R. operative Jin Sun-Kwon. During their return, the civilian population that survived were either driven insane by the paranormal activity or were executed by Armacham personnel. Fighting their way through, the brothers successfully meet up with Jin. Jin plays back recorded video footage of Michael Becket, who revealed his rape by Alma and is slated by Armacham for transport.
Using an automated transport, the Point Man and Fettel assault the local airport to intercept Becket, killing the remnants of the Armacham personnel. In order to gain more intel from Becket, Fettel possesses him and reveals Becket's past life to the Point Man while Becket realizes the Point Man's identity. Fettel's release of Becket proves fatal, causing a gory explosion. The Point Man and Fettel head to an old training facility by Harlan Wade years ago to study and develop the prototypes, where the two start to destroy items associated with memories of their childhood past to inflict damage on the lingering echo of Harlan Wade known as The Creep. Shortly after destroying a monstrous apparition of Wade, one of two endings are possible, depending on multiple factors. For single-player, a good and evil ending occurs depending on whether the player has controlled the Point Man or Fettel. Alternatively, if played during co-op, the player with the higher score determines the ending. The good ending will show Point Man overpowering Fettel and vice-versa, with the ending depending on whether Point Man or Fettel had survived their final struggle.
The Point Man ending has him shooting Paxton in the head three times and watching his body spontaneously burn itself up. Then, as he walks over to Alma, ready to finish the job, he notices that her baby has been successfully born. Alma's body then disappears, with the Point Man receiving a transmission from Jin that everything is finally over, thanking him for his efforts. With the baby in the crook of his left arm, he leaves the room.
The Paxton Fettel ending has Paxton possessing Point Man's body and somehow extracting the baby from Alma's swollen body. He promises to raise the child like it was his own, but sets it aside as he notices Alma. Fettel then pounces on his mother, violently eating her.
Reception
F.E.A.R. 3 received mostly mixed to positive reviews. Aggregating review websites GameRankings and MetacriticMetacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
gave the PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
version 75.98% and 74/100, the Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
version 75.97% and 75/100, and the PC version 74.25% and 74/100. While critics highly praised the gameplay and co-operative mode, they have criticized the story and considered the game to be not as scary as its predecessors.
IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
awarded the game with an 8 out of 10 rating. Stating that "Whether you’re looking for a new, solid shooter to play or something set in a unique, horror-filled atmosphere, F.E.A.R. 3 has something for you. You won’t find the be-all, end-all shooter experience with F.E.A.R. 3, but you’re still bound to have a lot of fun." Game Informer
Game Informer
Game Informer is an American-based monthly magazine featuring articles, news, strategy, and reviews of popular video games and associated consoles. It was formed in August 1991, when FuncoLand started publishing a six-page magazine, free in all its retail locations...
gave the title a 7.75 rating. The reviewer criticized the campaign by stating it just doesn't offer the same scares the previous titles offered, but praised the multiplayer component. GameSpot
GameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
gave the title a 7.5 rating, criticizing its visuals and lack of scares, but praising the shooting mechanics, fun co-op and exciting multiplayer components. 1UP.com
1UP.com
1UP.com is a video game website owned by IGN Entertainment, a division of News Corporation. Previously, the site was owned by Ziff Davis before being sold to UGO Entertainment in 2009....
gave the title a B+ rating, calling the competitive aspects the most enjoyable part of the game. Joystiq
Joystiq
Joystiq is a video gaming blog founded in June 2004 that has since become one of the most successful sites within the Weblogs, Inc. family of weblogs. It is the centerpiece of WIN's own network of video gaming blogs, which also includes a blog dealing specifically with the popular MMORPG World of...
gave the title a rating out 3.5 out of 5 stars, criticizing the missing horror but praising the fun aspects of cooperative play.