A worthy sequel
When I first saw FEAR 3's footage, I cursed the graphics. It looked like some up-scaled Xbox game! But when I finally got my hands on it, the graphics is actually not too bad. I just became too hyped up because FEAR 2: Project Origin set the bar higher.
To prevent writing myself a school essay that probably no one would read, allow me to use point form.
I would divide my review in the following sections: the good, the bad, scores and verdict.
THE GOOD
#Change of Scenery
FEAR was criticized of its repetitive indoor office settings. In FEAR 3, you won't find this problem again.
#Fettel
Love his possession ability. Love his evil laugh after a possession.
#Co-op campaign
Need I say more? Co-op is always double the fun.
THE BAD
#Out-dated graphics
If a studio can't make a stellar graphics engine themselves like DICE, use the Unreal Engine 3 already. Seriously, FEAR 3 looks just like a HD Xbox game.
#Pseudo linear campaign
Even closing doors 10 feet behind me huh? You must be blind to be lost in the game.
#Fettel assigned to client only
It's in single player only that you can choose a character. To play as PM, you must be the host. To play as Fettel, you must join someone else's Co-op campaign. And I tell you this: very few people still play online. You would have to search a game and be disappointed by the "No Game Found" message (which sends you back to the menus to press "search" again for infinite times). If you want to be Fettel, I suggest you host and when somebody joins, kindly ask him to be the host and invite you to his game.
#Collectables in 1/4 of possible locations
I really don't appreciate this randomized placement of collectables. It makes you check 100 places (fewer when you start to memorize the patterns of appearance) for 25 collectables!
#No retry for Contractions
Basically Gears of War 2's horde mode but you can't retry a failed wave. I feel horrible failing on Wave 7 and can't picture how it feels to fail on Wave 20.
#Peer to Peer connection = Fail!
P2P results in lags on the client side. Everyone agrees that sucks. Wait. Maybe they can't afford a dedicated server? Ah!!! Come on!
#No join-in progress = EPIC FAIL!
This very lame technical problem handicapped many video games that could otherwise be successful – like Aliens Vs Predator. It makes you scratch your head in front of the lobby screen and pray people will show up and not leave due to boredom. When the game starts, you pray again they don't leave mid-game. Look around! Big MP games like Call of Duty and Battlefield all have join-in progress!
#Connection Lost = EPIC FAIL!
My Contraction games always terminate because "the client connection has been lost" but a moment ago my teammates were fiercely fighting. It has to be a network issue.
#Very few are playing FEAR 3 MP
It has gotta be the result of the stupid lobby matchmaking.
SCORES
Campaign (Co-op and Solo): 4/5
MP Game Types: 2.5/5
Penalty: DRM Code for F**king Run Game Mode -0.5/2
Overall Score: 6
VERDICT
FEAR 3 Co-op Campaign is great fun. The graphics is a let down but it isn't a game breaker.
The real pain comes with the Multiplayer when disconnection happens every so often. Now just a handful of people still play it.