F.E.A.R. Combat (PC)

[XoRn]

Writers note: I find myself awake at 6 a.m. having drank a pot of coffee around midnight for reasons unknown to myself. My internet once again has been conked out for the past 8 hours and my ISP is going to get a size 12 up their ass from the BBB as soon as their office opens in the morning. Until then I’ve decided to review F.E.A.R. Combat, the stand alone multiplayer client for the critically acclaimed First Encounter Assault Recon released last year as I recently got and played the snot out of it.

For me, F.E.A.R. is a game I would have never touched if not for its now free multiplayer download. My roommate picked the full game some time ago and I watched him play through the first couple of levels only to realize that when it comes to horror in video games, I’m a pansy. When ever something would jump it would always scare the crap out of me, creepy children in any form of media always give me chills, and I’m not even going to go into cannibalism. Fortunately for me though the free multiplayer is completely devoid of the “fear” half of the single player and concentrates only on the “combat” portion and does it better then many games you actually have to pay for!

Because it’s a free client I immediately have to give props to the “fun for your buck” factor. It’s more then worth every penny you save by not having to buy the full game and admit your total pansies to the masses.


If my internet was working I’m sure there would be lots of chaos in this screen

The visuals are kind of sparse as far as content. Sure each level is unique with its own textures and design but props and environments feel some what stripped like a moving company just rolled in and did a half ass job. Still if anything they provide some nice Counter Strike like locals such as an office buildings, the top of sky scraper, a science lab, a college campus and pretty much any other sort of setting you can imagine with drab hallways. The actual models look rather nice some times I like to go in for a melee attack just to get a good look before I send someone crumpling to the floor. The explosions and chaos on the other hand are great. Despite the spares level content Combat still looks better then pretty much every other free game out their.

From the get go most the weapons are selectable to start with and provide a nice enough variety for anyone to find something they particularly like. A few “super” weapons are also scattered around maps and can deal out some serious punishment when mixed with a good attack position (yes Mr. Particle Rifle, I’m talking about you). Running stock the G2-A2 Assault Rifle is perhaps a tad to powerful but the game allows servers to balance weapon damage or totally restrict any weapon they like. My personal favorite is the AT-14 Pistols that provide nice stopping power and great mobility. There’s also a shotgun, a submachine gun, a stake launcher apply named the Penetrator, and a three shot burst sniper rifle. The melee system is thankfully more then just a rifle bash as you’re able to deliver flying kicks, strong punches and ground sliding shin bangers to dispatch your enemies with.


You can thank my ISP here: Welcome to Internet Services

Of course none of this matters if the game doesn’t deliver fast and exciting multiplayer and fortunately, it does. With 12 different maps and 10 different game modes F.E.A.R. Combat is sure to keep you busy for some time. The game modes Team Deathmatch, Deathmatch, and Capture the Flag come in both standard and SlowMo flavors that allow you to enter the games spectacular “bullet time” online. Elimination and Team Elimination play like their Deathmatch counter parts only each player only receives a single life. There is also a Conquer All mode which is a team game that places 5 nodes on the map which the primary win condition is for your team to capture all 5 nodes, and Control mode which has two teams duke it out for control of 3 different nodes with the team to reach the point limit first winning the match. If the sheer volume of game types isn’t enough to win you over servers can also have tweaked settings such as run speed and damage adjusters to make new unique experiences. I’ve paid for games with less content then this.



Seriously, start downloading it or I’ll DoS your myspace

When you slap a price tag like “free” on something with so much content, you’re looking at the best bargain since Enemy Territory. The game play is fast and brutal while a little finesse and tactic can still make a difference in any situation. As far as I’m concerned, there are only two reasons why you shouldn’t try F.E.A.R. Combat. Reason 1: you don’t own a computer. How you might be reading this then, I’m not sure. Reason 2: You don’t like free stuff. Did I mention it’s free?
Download here: FEAR - First Encounter Assault Recon


At least I can show you how the pretty explosions warp the environment

Score: Because the game is free I won’t be giving it a % score. It’s just unfair to games that I had to pay for that aren’t as good (*cough* Kane & Lynch [XoRn- Review coming soon]). Incase you couldn’t tell though, I highly recommend you give it a shot since theirs absolutely nothing to lose.

+ It’s free!
+ It’s still free!
+ Are you downloading it yet?
- no?
- your myspace just went poof
- er… homeless people can afford it so someone may beg you for spare change online?
? Was Chuck Norris part of the development team? This is the only FPS I can recall being able to round house kick in.
? I really wish my internet was working.
? If you eat someone else’s booger, is that considered cannibalism?

[fstroupe]

Thanks for the info. FEAR was a weird game, but not bad.

[Tyreal]

FEAR Combat is old but good, I used to play alot. Always got accused of hacking though...

[gvblake22]

Originally Posted by Tyreal

FEAR Combat is old but good, I used to play alot. Always got accused of hacking though...

HAHA, some things never change!

[Tyreal]

I know eh. I get accused of hacking in COD4 too. I don't even play it alot.

[Hitman]

Originally Posted by Tyreal

FEAR Combat is old but good, I used to play alot. Always got accused of hacking though...

Originally Posted by Tyreal

I know eh. I get accused of hacking in COD4 too. I don't even play it alot.

Public opinion carries a lot of weight, just ask George W. Bush.

[stinger608]

Originally Posted by Tyreal

FEAR Combat is old but good, I used to play alot. Always got accused of hacking though...

Fear is a great online game

I always have a fear server running, its called PointBlank Death Match.
IP: 69.146.133.59

Its also listed on GameTracker.
PointBlank Death Match [fear] F.E.A.R.