I've read about this game in a issue of Game Informer a couple of years back. After playing the lackluster expansion packs of F.E.A.R., I hoped the sequel would improve upon the flaws of F.E.A.R. 1 and when I got the game, I was indeed right. Here's a review of F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin.
Story: Project Origin is set about a half hour before the ending of F.E.A.R. 1. A small squad of Delta Force soldiers codenamed Dark Signal were dispatched to arrest Genevieve Aristide, the woman responsible for all the chaos from F.E.A.R. 1's events. Michael Becket is sent to find Aristide and take her in while fighting a team of Armacham's Black Ops. Before he can complete the mission, Michael gets knocked unconscious from the impact of the Origin Facility explosion. Sometime later, doctors operate on him under Genevieve's charge to increase his psychic powers and tune them to Alma Wade, mother of the F.E.A.R. Point Man and Paxton Fettel. Michael is soon stalked by Alma. He must fight off the vengeful spirit and destroy her once and for all. 5/5
Graphics: F.E.A.R. 2 has improved graphics over F.E.A.R. 1 and the non-canon expansion packs. No more long hallways and cramped office quarters, you can now go outside and explore the ruins of the destroyed city of Fairport. The outside environments are a major plus for the game. The character models never looked better. 5/5
Sound: F.E.A.R. 2 has some pretty atmospheric music and at least has one hard rock track toward the end of the game. The Replica soldiers don't sound as robotic as they did in F.E.A.R. 1. Monolith has done a good job in picking out a voice cast for the game like Phil Lamar from Condemned 2 and Jen Taylor from the Halo trilogy. 5/5
Gameplay: The game play hasn't changed all that much even though there's a bit more variety this time around. Michael can slow down time like the F.E.A.R. Point Man to gain an advantage over his enemies but he can also knock over objects that can be used for cover and drive large armor mechs for the more intense gun fights in the game. The smart enemy AI from F.E.A.R. 1 is there. You can also pick up intel that has important information on the characters and the events that led up to the destruction of Fairport. Other than that, the game play remains the same. 4/5.
F.E.A.R. 2 has the much needed improvements over F.E.A.R. 1 and the god awful expansion packs while at the same time, not much has changed. It's a pretty good balance of old and new. Overall, F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin is a pretty awesome game and definitely worth buying.
Final Score: 5/5
Story: Project Origin is set about a half hour before the ending of F.E.A.R. 1. A small squad of Delta Force soldiers codenamed Dark Signal were dispatched to arrest Genevieve Aristide, the woman responsible for all the chaos from F.E.A.R. 1's events. Michael Becket is sent to find Aristide and take her in while fighting a team of Armacham's Black Ops. Before he can complete the mission, Michael gets knocked unconscious from the impact of the Origin Facility explosion. Sometime later, doctors operate on him under Genevieve's charge to increase his psychic powers and tune them to Alma Wade, mother of the F.E.A.R. Point Man and Paxton Fettel. Michael is soon stalked by Alma. He must fight off the vengeful spirit and destroy her once and for all. 5/5
Graphics: F.E.A.R. 2 has improved graphics over F.E.A.R. 1 and the non-canon expansion packs. No more long hallways and cramped office quarters, you can now go outside and explore the ruins of the destroyed city of Fairport. The outside environments are a major plus for the game. The character models never looked better. 5/5
Sound: F.E.A.R. 2 has some pretty atmospheric music and at least has one hard rock track toward the end of the game. The Replica soldiers don't sound as robotic as they did in F.E.A.R. 1. Monolith has done a good job in picking out a voice cast for the game like Phil Lamar from Condemned 2 and Jen Taylor from the Halo trilogy. 5/5
Gameplay: The game play hasn't changed all that much even though there's a bit more variety this time around. Michael can slow down time like the F.E.A.R. Point Man to gain an advantage over his enemies but he can also knock over objects that can be used for cover and drive large armor mechs for the more intense gun fights in the game. The smart enemy AI from F.E.A.R. 1 is there. You can also pick up intel that has important information on the characters and the events that led up to the destruction of Fairport. Other than that, the game play remains the same. 4/5.
F.E.A.R. 2 has the much needed improvements over F.E.A.R. 1 and the god awful expansion packs while at the same time, not much has changed. It's a pretty good balance of old and new. Overall, F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin is a pretty awesome game and definitely worth buying.
Final Score: 5/5