F.E.A.R. Gold – PC Retro Review

 

Anyone remember the Survival horror / FPS hybrid “F.E.A.R.” that came out way back in 2005? It was incredibly popular, and was released on not just the PC, but also Xbox 360 and PS3. From what I understand, the console games were inferior, but I can’t say with any certainty because I never played the game on the console. In fact, I had never played the game on the PC either!

I know, I am a horrible gamer! The reason though, was that during those years, I wasn’t doing much gaming at all. My wife had passed away a few years before that, and I was in a major slump and gaming was the last thing on my mind. So, a good many  of the later PS2/Xbox games, and early Xbox 360/PS3 games were completely ignored…I’m still catching up!

Anyway, this is one of the games that I had to catch up on, and I finally got around to playing it on the PC and I have to admit that this is a good cinematic FPS! Easily one of the better games I have played! My only real regret is that it took me this long to pick it up and begin playing it! I wish I started playing it when I first started catching up on old games that I skipped over! Better late than never I guess though right?

The game is also incredibly LONG! Which is a huge plus in my book, and should be in yours too. You definitely get your moneys worth with this purchase, especially since you can pick it up on steam for a mere 10 bucks. Less if you wait for a sale. I got mine, for just 2 bucks. So, unless you are someone who doesn’t have much time to invest into a game, and just want a quick bang-bang, pew-pew experience, then you owe it to yourself to get this now, otherwise stick with the single player CoD campaigns for your pew-pew thrills. This one will take several hours unless you just rush through without exploring. It took me 15 hours to complete the game(That’s including the two expansion packs that are included with the gold edition)

The game is also challenging, so if you want a game that’s a breeze and practically plays it’s self, then might not be for you, and again: Stick to the single player CoD campaigns! However if you want a challenge then this game should be in your library.

Now, the game lists it’s self as a horror game, and I just do not agree with that assessment. Sure there are a few “gasp moments”, but only because the game relies heavily on jump scare tactics, and I don’t consider loud noises or quick rushing objects appearing out of nowhere to be horror. To be fair, I believe jump scare tactics might be the only way to cause a fright in a FPS, as real horror comes from escaping and fearing for your life, not gunning down everything in your way in a blazing hail of gunfire.

So, while I don’t consider it a “Horror” game, I do consider it an excellent FPS that should be in everyone’s library!

–Pros–
Good graphics for it’s age.
Fantastic Story line!
Challenging game play
Bullet time!
Impressive AI
Many hours of game play
Includes two expansion packs!

–Cons–
Clumsy default controls(Can be reconfigured to your liking)
Game maybe TOO challenging for some novice gamers even on easier settings.
Some maps get boring and slightly repetitive.

Overall Score: 7/10

Being kept awake by fear

It’s nearly 2 A.M., and though I went to bed hours ago, I find myself awake, and unable to sleep. The reason? I got to thinking about things that bother me. In fact, it bothered me so much that it prevented me from sleeping.

I got to thinking about my greatest fear, and if you ask anyone who knows me what my greatest fear is, you will receive on out of two answers. The first being “Dogs” and the second being “Death”, both of them rank high on my fear list, though they are not my strongest fear. In fact, unless someone who knows me reads this blog, they won’t know my biggest fear, since it’s not something I talk about very often.

My biggest fear? Well, it sounds corny, and is embarrassing to admit, but my biggest fear is the fear of being alone. Like I said, Stupid and Corny.

It’s just that I have very few people here in my life, and while I value my privacy, I don’t want to spend my life alone. It’s just that I have lost most everyone in my life. I have lost my father, my Uncle, My wife, and many more. In fact, I have lost so many people, that the only ones who are physically here in my life, are my mother and my grandmother, and when they are gone, I will have nobody.

I know, it’s stupid. Other people have found themselves alone, and people manage just fine. Still, it’s not something I want to do. I don’t want to lose everyone that I love, and I know that it’s inevitable.

It scares me, more than anything. Stupid fears.

Mystery Lump

Ever since my early teens I have had back trouble. It stems mainly I believe from when a lifted and carried a washing machine across my backyard on a dare. I hurt my back pretty bad, and even urinated some blood…It wasn’t pretty. However I still have the back pains, and so today I was rubbing my back, trying to work out the pain, or pop something back into place.

However while rubbing my back I felt a mysterious lump there. I don’t rub my back often, so not sure how long it has been there. I am however certain it’s not supposed to be there. This isn’t based on any medical knowledge…just one of those things you KNOW in your gut.

Not a clue what it is, but it has left me a wee bit worried. I definately intend on going to see a doctors about it, if I can remember to get an appointment, AND get someone to take me down to the docs office. Since I don’t drive, it makes things like appointments very difficult. On top of that, being in a small town like I am makes it also very difficult to get into see the doctor. There is also a good chance the doctor won’t know what it is, and just tell me it’s nothing to worry about.

I’m sure it isn’t a tumor….but it could be I suppose right? They can appear on your back right? Good chance it could just be some fatty deposit, and the odds of me having some kind of tumor are like…what? Astronomical? Even still, it’s not impossible..and the people who do end up having tumors have the same odds as I do. So, it definately can happen.

Just hope it isn’t a tumor…In the immortal words of Arnold Schwarzenegger.. “Eets not a TUMOR!!!! Ok?? EETS NOT A TUMOR!”…

Knock on wood.