Atmospherically, F3ar a great game still. It takes what made Fear 1 + 2 great and amps up the kinetic events and scares. Sadly what I loved about Fear 1 + 2 was the suspense. It had a Resident Evil atmosphere, of slow and deliberate. With gradual and intermittent horror. F3ar has decided that suspense isn't as good as constant horror. There's never a quiet moment, it's either battling mechs and soldiers, or demons and zombie-like enemies with explosives strapped to their chests. Gone are the ghosts and spirits from the prequels, and instead it is now Hell on Earth.
It actually feels less like a FEAR game now, and more like Dead Space, a series I also love a great deal. But Dead Space 2 also amped up it's horror and action as a trade-in for suspense, but the overall feel of the game stayed pretty much the same. F3ar 3 has basically ditched the entire spirit/kinetic system and gone for a more physical-battle approach.
Point man now has a face, but awkwardly no voice, the brother is now personified and this results in quite silly and dull cut-scenes. Alma is pretty much only in child-form, which is a good decision, but she pretty much poses no threat at all now. Gone are the health and reflex boosters, and the answering machine messages which simulated the Resident Evil diaries.
There are many demonic enemies, some taking great deal of time to kill. I had to use the slow-mo far more in this game than in any of the prequels (in fact I seldom used slow-mo in the previous games), it's quite challenging.
I do have to say it's my least favourite of the 3. It's probably not one I'll replay. The plot was very shallow and basic, more like a Resistance game than a FEAR game.
With so many similar games: FEAR, Dead Space, Resistance, and in part Bioshock. It seems silly for FEAR to lose so much of it's individualism. I will definitely be more hesitant about buying a sequel, and I hope they return to their Resident Evil homage roots.
But as far as gameplay goes, the atmosphere was good, the weapons and combat worked well, and aside from some battles feeling too long, and others feeling too short, it'd be a better game to play in short bursts than try to plough through for the plot as I did.
It actually feels less like a FEAR game now, and more like Dead Space, a series I also love a great deal. But Dead Space 2 also amped up it's horror and action as a trade-in for suspense, but the overall feel of the game stayed pretty much the same. F3ar 3 has basically ditched the entire spirit/kinetic system and gone for a more physical-battle approach.
Point man now has a face, but awkwardly no voice, the brother is now personified and this results in quite silly and dull cut-scenes. Alma is pretty much only in child-form, which is a good decision, but she pretty much poses no threat at all now. Gone are the health and reflex boosters, and the answering machine messages which simulated the Resident Evil diaries.
There are many demonic enemies, some taking great deal of time to kill. I had to use the slow-mo far more in this game than in any of the prequels (in fact I seldom used slow-mo in the previous games), it's quite challenging.
I do have to say it's my least favourite of the 3. It's probably not one I'll replay. The plot was very shallow and basic, more like a Resistance game than a FEAR game.
With so many similar games: FEAR, Dead Space, Resistance, and in part Bioshock. It seems silly for FEAR to lose so much of it's individualism. I will definitely be more hesitant about buying a sequel, and I hope they return to their Resident Evil homage roots.
But as far as gameplay goes, the atmosphere was good, the weapons and combat worked well, and aside from some battles feeling too long, and others feeling too short, it'd be a better game to play in short bursts than try to plough through for the plot as I did.