F.E.A.R. Files review (X360)

It would be too easy to just pass off FEAR Files as something for fans of the original, slap a 7 out of 10 on it and call it a day. Nah, too easy.

This is a stand-alone packaging together for the 360 of two old PC expansion packs. One, Extraction Point, follows on directly from where the original game left off (with a predictable and laughable ‘shock’ ending). The other, The Perseus Mandate, sees you playing a new member of the FEAR organisation in events that parallel those in both the original game and the Extraction Point campaign.

Abusing an Expired Nag

I wanted to work my way entirely through the two single player campaigns before writing this review. Fans of FEAR will already have bought this set and they will, no doubt, be quite happy with it. Others will have looked at the box, or some other pics of the seriously outdated graphics, and will have gone off to play Halo 3 instead (complete with its only slightly outdated graphics). So, this review is for the people still wondering whether its worth forking out £25 or so for some old and frayed rope. Those folk are looking for a simple yes or no answer. Should they or shouldn’t they? The simple answer is… maybe. Depends. Sort of.

If you were to base your decision on the Extraction Point campaign, the answer would be a very firm no. The plot is nonsensical, the graphics possibly even more sparse and dull than the original sparse and dull FEAR, and the action is so linear as to be mind-numbing. Even FEAR’s legendary enemy AI (which was largely absent when I played the 360 version), is crippled by the locations they fight in. Oh, and if the office corridors in FEAR made you twitch, avoid Extraction Point – they’re back with a vengence.

Light In A Dark Place

If you were to base your decision on whether or not to buy FEAR Files on The Perseus Mandate, the answer would be a qualified yes. Add in the fun of the Instant Action mini-games, and the answer is a slightly unsteady yes. Multiplayer only matters if you have friends who care, as playing with strangers (I found) exposes you to timid trash talkers too scared to go mess with their beefier slope-headed, knuckle-dragging brethren on the Halo 3 servers. Ah, X-Box Live, how I love thee…

Perseus Mandate features better environment graphics, better atmosphere and scares (well, some scares full stop), and fewer of those irritating invisible ninja sods, the creator of whom should be strapped down and forced to listen to live broadcasts from Parliament until they die eighteen and a half minutes in. The expansion also features far better bad guys, demonstrating solid combat AI in better designed levels. The plot makes more sense (though the end twist will make you growl a little at all that wasted effort), and your two team mates aren’t all that irritating. They wander off on their own pretty quickly anyway, so it’s not an issue.

Points Make Prizes

There are a few new weapons to play with, some new multiplayer environments but, most importantly, there are 1000 more Achievement Points to chase after, roughly half of which you’ll rack up just playing through the two campaigns without paying much attention. This is a lot more satisfying than last time around, when multiplayer and the Extreme difficulty setting were where it was at.

So, £25 or thereabouts for some reasonably entertaining times (and a few real stand-out sequences) over about 10 hours, 500 or so easy Achievement Points, and that’s about it. If that seems worthwhile to you, then go for it. If you see this turn up on trade in or in the bargain bin for, say £15, then absolutely go for it.