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Project Origin Updated Hands-On

By Guy Cocker, GameSpot UKPosted Sep 4, 2008 3:45 am PT

Warner Bros. dropped by with an updated build of Project Origin, and we got a chance to see how Monolith's F.E.A.R. sequel is shaping up.

Project Origin is both a sequel and a fresh beginning for the F.E.A.R. series. While it will continue the story of its predecessor, it promises to be more action-oriented thanks to an increase in outdoor environments. Certainly, the addition of mech-based combat is a new direction for the series, even if it isn't for developer Monolith, which has produced large-scale games in the past. We got a chance to look at an updated build of Project Origin today when Warner Bros. popped into the office, and the publisher was kind enough to tell us about where it's hoping to take the game when it's released in the first quarter of 2009.

Don't try taking on a mech without being similarly suited up yourself.

Playing the game on the Xbox 360, we got to see how Project Origin's open outdoor environments are set to change the dynamic of the combat. Many of you will remember that the original F.E.A.R. had its fair share of scary moments, and while they still occur in Project Origin, the urban environments have been incorporated to allow for a distinct change of action. The gunplay is frantic and violent, while the enemy AI looks like it has learnt even more about using flanking techniques, as well as taking cover. Enemies open car doors to use as cover, but thankfully you can use a sniper rifle to shoot off extremities that peek out around the edges. If you shoot a soldier in the leg, then he'll hobble over to stronger cover, or you can be safe and use a rocket launcher to blow the entire car up.

One of the key new additions to the game is mech combat, which we got to try out two-thirds of the way through the demo. Long-time Monolith fans might remember the game Shogo: Mobile Armor Division, a mech-based game that the company released back in 1998, and it looks like it's returning to these roots with Project Origin. As you might hope, you become much more powerful in a mech suit, with both a chaingun and a rocket launcher to play around with, but your movement is severely restricted. We were disappointed to find that you can't fly or even jump in the suit, and if it becomes too damaged, you have to eject completely. If you're in the middle of a battle against another mech and you have to eject, then you last about five seconds without the heavy armour.

Warner Bros. also used its visit to explain some more of the storyline as we were playing. Alma, the creepy girl who haunted you throughout the first game, will make a return in a more mature form. While you spent most of F.E.A.R. wondering whether you should kill or protect Alma, you now at least know that she's the reason behind all of the strange occurrences. In Project Origin, she's now grown so old that Warner Bros. referred to her as "hag" Alma, in reference to her fairly withered state. We saw both versions of Alma within a short space of time; first, as the young model crawling around on the floor; then, as the older version appearing naked and floating in the air. We weren't told why she grows old in the sequel, but we're sure that it will shed plenty of light on the occurrences from the first game.

Warner Bros. is promising that Project Origin will be even more action-orientated than F.E.A.R.

We were told that you'll start the game 30 minutes before the end of the first game, so you'll get to see F.E.A.R.'s explosive ending and its aftermath. We also saw that the famous slow-mo feature makes a return in Project Origin, although we actually preferred to move quickly through the level we played and only used this feature a couple of times during our time with the game. Additionally, Warner Bros. let us know that there is some big news for F.E.A.R. fans in the very near future and that the multiplayer game should be shown off in the UK around Halloween. We'll be on hand when it all happens, so stay tuned for more on Project Origin as soon as we get it.

242 Comments

  • mini_specs

    Posted Feb 15, 2009 8:01 am PT

    That's the unique thing about the F.E.A.R games. It doesn't revolve around you or the character you play. You're just a vessel to tell Alma's story, and what she's been through. F.E.A.R 2 is probably going to shed some light on what she wants to do, whether it's revenge on that Genevieve Aristede chick, or simply destroying the world. It's difficult to tell where her mind is at. In 'Extraction Point', she was helping you, then attacking you (...what??) Also, remember that this game is taking place at the exact same time as the original point-man's mission to escape the city, so the stories may even intertwine.

    ...In short, can't wait to get my hands on it.

  • Raiden8

    Posted Jan 25, 2009 5:20 pm PT

    Gonna love this game, just like the first one. I hope the story finishes though, Don't want to keep waiting for the next

  • johan_chandy

    Posted Oct 31, 2008 12:42 am PT

    hmmmm.....we played alma's first son and paxton's brother in the first game and i thought we would play him in the sequel.....we were engineered from alma to get psychic abilities like paxton was but our abilities were non existant or so it seemed.....paxton was the second project as we were the first.....i was hoping they would continue on this story but im not sure where they r going with this.......anyway i cant wait for it to come out....fear and they're expansions were a huge experience for me and there is no chance im missing project origin....XD

  • Cleaver426

    Posted Oct 9, 2008 3:00 am PT

    ATC can make all kinds of crazy weapons including mech suits. Well uf these mech suits are made by ATC

  • Cleaver426

    Posted Oct 9, 2008 3:00 am PT

    ATC can make all kinds of crazy weapons including mech suits. Well uf these mech suits are made by ATC

  • Jck-Flint

    Posted Oct 5, 2008 9:26 am PT

    FEAR is not that scary, well at least after u play thru it several times. I do think that it's a faulty move to bring in Mech combat. For one this game is supposed to take place in present society, and I doubt such enormous Mech technology is available to us right now. If anyone's played the expansion: FEAR Extraction Point, then I think I speak for all of u wen I say that I hope to find out how Paxton Fettel comes back to life after u shoot him in the head of the 1st game.
    Also, does anyone know which American city this game takes place in? I was under the impression that it was in Seattle, Washington.

  • HAL5000

    Posted Sep 28, 2008 3:53 pm PT

    It seems some think they know more about a game than the developers…THIS is a game, one that will have you pissing your pants Mr Critic…lol. Just buy the dam game and play it, then give us your opinions about the overall experience. Critics are those who say sex was great when they were still virgins…let’s just say we look forward to a great gaming experience. If it is anything like the first time round we are in for a real ride this time round.

  • blackjack95

    Posted Sep 21, 2008 6:23 pm PT

    when i get half-way thru the game i'm going to need to buy some new pants,damn it is scary

  • Psycold

    Posted Sep 18, 2008 10:35 pm PT

    the engine is showing it's signs of old age, the human character models still look fake as hell, but it seems like they are going for a more cartoonish 'kinetic action flick' type game which could lead people to believe the graphics were intentional rather than outdated. What can I say, Crysis spoiled me, then again I've always been a graphics whore.

  • Gater29

    Posted Sep 17, 2008 1:46 pm PT

    I loved the original F.E.A.R. but Im not too sure about this one... It just seems like its strayed too far from its original purpose. But, Maybe it will actually turn out to be better than Im expecting.

  • havocmerc

    Posted Sep 17, 2008 9:55 am PT

    If this edition is anything like the past releases then I know that I am going to have a blast playing it.

  • zarnywoop

    Posted Sep 15, 2008 1:28 pm PT

    the girl is a team member at the start of the game (apparantly) just like the first game had the player as a member of a team in F.E.A.R.

  • bumsoil

    Posted Sep 15, 2008 4:37 am PT

    that looks f'n scary

  • feararagon

    Posted Sep 14, 2008 5:51 pm PT

    What your a girl in this!Hopefully she wont scream when she gets shot!I also want more scares!Still if were a girl this wont be F.E.A.R anymore,it will be N.M.S.J.G.W.G (No more scares just girls with guns) lol On the bright side well if shes hot then it fine!

  • tamd

    Posted Sep 14, 2008 1:42 pm PT

    will it have dx 10 graphics on pc

  • tdl346

    Posted Sep 14, 2008 10:28 am PT

    it wold be annoing if this girl is in the place of the guy you play in fear with and mechs is not realy a shooter annymore so sounds a bit disepointed

  • Assassinspeed

    Posted Sep 13, 2008 7:31 am PT

    Do you play a chick in this?

  • Hillsy_

    Posted Sep 12, 2008 6:12 am PT

    Played the original F.E.A.R back in 2005 for PC, excellent game. I hope this lives up to the F.E.A.R name. I have to agree about the mechs, but I will wait to cast judgement. Fingers crossed on this one.

  • midn8t

    Posted Sep 12, 2008 6:06 am PT

    same here this may be disappointing game, I didnt need more action game was action enough, I wanted more scary ness like in orginal fear and what who is this girl in all pictures what happend to alama brothere ? last time we left him on roof top I was hopping story would pick up from where last one ended.

  • hiroyukiwu

    Posted Sep 12, 2008 4:03 am PT

    Slow mo and mechs (that don't fly??) and an older alma?

    I'm not so sure about wheather this is the right step, they say more action but i want more scares, for me this is a little disappointing but i'll be watching the progress

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