F.E.A.R.

Although the basis of this PS3 port (the original PC title) is now a couple years old, I'm pleased to report that F.E.A.R.'s taut gameplay can still hold its own with the best of the genre. [May 2007, p.84]

The main draw is the fierce, more involving shoot-outs, which given the variety of weapons and intelligence of the enemies are simply excellent.

Possibly the worst version of F.E.A.R. available. That doesn't make it a bad game, it just makes us a little jealous of our Xbox 360 and PC-playing pals. Whilst F.E.A.R. is still a great title, it just feels a little old and recycled for PS3. [Issue #151, p.82]

F.E.A.R. isn't perfect -- there's glitches, watered-down graphics and crappy load times -- but it's still one of the best experiences I've had on a PS3 to date. The gameplay is solid and will serve as a treat to anyone looking for an entertaining shooter with an excellent multiplayer system.

An above average shooter with some fright tossed into the mix.

But when so much is this good, a few hazards along the way don't ruin the hugely entertaining ride. [May 2007, p.61]

A fun and great experience for anyone who hasn't played the game before. Anyone who's tried the game on the PC or Xbox 360 will immediately notice flaws and probably retreat to the previous versions.

With a decent multiplayer mode, great gameplay mechanics and a solid campaign mode, it’s almost easy to look past the lengthy load times and the poor graphics.

The PS3 version of F.E.A.R. isn't bad by any means, but the poor graphics and occasional glitches makes it far from perfect.

The PS3 version is graphically outdated and the loading times are painfully long, but Fear is still a quality shooter. Despite the atmospheric music and sound effects, the game is not as frightening as it could be. Great AI, though. [June 2007]

The PlayStation 3 version is a downgrade in many respects.

A game that you’re going to like a lot or you’re not going to like at all, depending on your tolerance for genuinely challenging gun battles, genuinely unsettling creepiness and genuine-looking bland industrial environments.

FEAR provides the right amount of tension coupled with amazing AI couple with amazing lighting and graphical effects that will just keep you coming back for more. [Apr 2007, p.54]

While a sloppy port doesn't completely ruin what is otherwise a solid shooter, it does make it the last-resort option when compared to the polished PC and Xbox 360 versions. [June 2007, p.86]

A glaring disappointment considering it looked and played miles better on PC. [Apr 2007, p.63]

It's aged badly. The PS3 version looks like the PC version running on low detail...It's a fair attempt, but in no way essential. [Apr 2007, p.79]

While F.E.A.R. is still a good action game, it doesn't live up to its potential, thanks to stuttering frame rates and washed-out graphics.

F.E.A.R.'s slo-mo gunplay is worth experiencing, but the whole game hangs on a single gimmick - and ultimately it isn't quite enough. [May 2007, p.86]

The action in F.E.A.R. is relentless from start to finish, and the AI of enemy soldiers is about the best you'll find in video games at the moment. Sadly, the core game is let down by some sloppy technical issues that really shouldn't be seen in a port of a game first released in 2005.

Just don't expect the technical marvel that PC owners have been waxing on about for years, you'll be sorely disappointed.

Although FEAR is starting to show its age, the twisted plot and strong gunfights overcome such obstacles, delivering a memorable experience to the PlayStation 3.

It's a shame more effort wasn't put into this release as it just feels rushed and unfinished. The loading times alone are enough to make you want to give up and play something else instead.

Unfortunately, the PS3 version features a choppier frame rate. F.E.A.R. is still playable, but the frame rate doesn't maintain a preferred rate of 30 frames per second, giving the action a slightly sluggish feel. Luckily, the controls give super-precise targeting abilities, which helps compensate.

First among F.E.A.R.'s transgressions is the nauseating framerate. This isn't me being metaphorical here; the framerate in this game is so bad that it literally made me feel nauseated after any appreciable playtime. We're talking about something in the realm of 20 fps; that's just inexcusable for an FPS.

The atmospheric first-person shooter retains all of its tension, along with the neat slow-down option that lets players pull off some brutally imaginative kills. However, the graphics look like they've been reworked for a PlayStation 2 version instead of for the PS3. Furthermore, the weak response time of the SIXAXIS pad ruins the experience and the game takes too long to load.

If the framerate hadn't been as jerky, we'd have a fairly enjoyable game -- nothing ground breaking, but enjoyable, nevertheless.

It really is a shame to see this once powerhouse FPS struggle the way it does on the PS3.

It’s impossible to review the PS3 version without looking over at the PC and 360 editions, which are both clearly superior games. Why pay that kind of money for a PS3 game with poor controls and graphics when the same game can be had for a better price on other platforms?

Things pick up around chapter 8, but by then you may be in deep sleep. [June 2007, p.84]