Title: F.E.A.R. Files

Release Date: November 06, 2007 (US), November 16, 2007 (EU), November 30, 2007 (AU)

Developer/Publisher: Day 1 Studios/TimeGate

Genre: FPS

Platform[s]: Xbox 360

Storyline

In 2006 Xbox 360 owners were introduced to the spooky FPS, F.E.A.R and for the most part the game was a huge success.  Players witnessed a creepy story of ghosts, psychics, heavy action and one angry undead child bent on revenge and destruction.  F.E.A.R. Files is more of the same but split across two short campaigns: Extraction Point and Perseus Mandate.  EP follows on directly from the first game’s ending – for those who haven’t completed F.E.A.R. I shan’t spoil it.  For those who have; you know what happened!  PM is a new story with a new protagonist, however Alma and Paxton do return.

As with the first game, Files does offer a story but the execution is far from perfect and it’s all over just a little too quickly.

 Note: Following the release of F.E.A.R. 2, F.E.A.R. Files is no longer considered cannon in the overall plot of the series.

Gameplay

What F.E.A.R. Files offers in terms of gameplay is basically more of the same; long action sequences followed by periods of nothing (with horror ambience) and then a big jump moment (repeated for three to six hours).  This might seem simple but it can work, after all it did in the original… however the expansions over use the formula and so it all becomes stale after a while.  It’s good just not as good as it was the first time.

Once again, expect a semi-decent multiplayer feature with zero popularity on XBL (meaning no-one to play with).  Also ‘Instant Action Maps’ make a return, with a couple more levels; this gives players non-stop action in which to score as high as possible and compete for top place on the world-wide leaderboard.

Despite the above mentioned flaws Files is still fun.  There is action, there is atmosphere and finally there is Alma!  Unsurprisingly there are also new weapons; to see your enemies explode in at least three new ways!  So yes, the expansions pale in comparison to Alma’s first reign of terror but they offer something for the fans and let’s face it, how often do expansion packs outsell their main game counterparts?            

Graphics

Graphically F.E.A.R. Files is almost but not quite on par with F.E.A.R which means that the game will seem outdated by today’s standards but offer brilliant special effects, shadows and lighting.

Sound

The following quote from our F.E.A.R. review is still relevant for Files:  

“Hook up the surround sound, turn up the volume and you won’t be let down. The sound effects are absolutely fantastic; the music adds plenty to the atmosphere and the only real drawback are the few moments of weak voice acting which occasionally rear their ugly heads.”

Overall Score & Replayability

F.E.A.R. Files is far from perfect and it certainly isn’t an improvement from the game that preceded it however there’s a lot for the fans and considering how cheap you can pick it up it’s definitely worth a plough through one rainy weekend!