The demo for one of the most awaited games of the year, F.E.A.R., was released last Friday and I finished the download today via torrent. I could’ve finished it earlier but my connection was behaving erratically. The download is all of 646.67MB. It’s a pretty short demo though - at most 30 minutes of gameplay and that too because you will spend a few minutes getting used to all the controls. But the game itself is fantastic! Visually, it matches up to the likes of DOOM 3 and Half-Life 2, and at the same time, gameplay and sound are awesome too. Let’s look at different aspects of the game one-by-one:

Graphics & Sound:

Like I said earlier, the game has spectacular graphics. Monolith, the same guys behind AvP2 with their Lithtech engine, deliver superior graphics yet again. The engine seems quite flexible and provides a plethora of tweaking options. I ran the game at 800×600 with 2x Anisotropic filtering, AA off, and most settings either at Maximum or at Medium on my 128MB ATi Mobility 9700. The game looked very detailed and I’m sure will look fabulous on high-end graphics cards. My frame rates varied between 20 fps and 60 fps but mostly hovering around 30-40 fps which meant comfortable gaming. The game supports high-end sound with EAX Enhanced HD capability. The audio is clear and sound effects seem authentic. The ghosts and flickering lights enhance the spooky atmosphere.

Gameplay, Weapons, and other Features:

The demo has a small single-player campaign which starts off with a lengthy cut-scene explaining what’s happening. I will not waste time explaining the storyline. The weapon system reminded me of Halo and Halo 2. You can carry a limited number of weapons, just 3 guns plus grenades. But the game features more than 3 guns so you need to get rid of one to get another weapon. Also, you can smack the enemy in the face with the right mouse button for some effective melee action. You can use your helmet-mounted flashlight which automatically recharges once switched off. A warning to run and gun FPS players: THIS IS NOT A RUN & GUN TYPE FPS!!! You need to go slow and use cover effectively because your enemies will duck, dive, crawl, and attack you when you reload! The AI is very good and will put up a good fight. The spooky elements in the game come from dead people - both dead bodies, and ghosts. The game progresses at a decent pace and does not slow down. The Slow-Mo mode adds a new twist to the gameplay as it slows down everything in the game allowing you to use your reflexes against your enemies better. A good feature is that you can carry up to 10 medikits with you and use them when you are low on health - even in the midst of a fight with the enemy soldiers. A special mention on climbing/descending ladders: You need to press the F key to use ladders/doors and once you press F near a ladder, your character will swing around and grab hold of the ladder!! It looks really cool, trust me :d

Conclusion:

This game is definitely a great game. While not everyone will be comfy to the idea of a 647MB download for some 20-30 minutes of gameplay, the game does not disappoint. The game will be released in October and gamers will appreciate this early demo. It lets you get a feel for the game and decide whether or not you like it. I, for one definitely loved it and can’t wait to get my hands on the full game! Expect an extended review once I play the full game

Screenshots:

To check out more screenshots, visit the following link:

Oobertech