nothing to be afraid of
Gameplay- There really hasn't been any major changes to the gameplay aspects of FPS's and this isnt an exception. The control scheme is what you would normally find in an FPS. Like the R trigger being the weapon to fire, and that sort of thing. You have some of the same weapons that you would normally find like a pistol, an assault rifle, an SMG, a rocket launcher, along with some exclusive weapons as well. But what makes F.E.A.R. different is the satisfaction you feel when shooting enemies. You feel like every weapon, even a pistol, can rip apart foes like nothing else. A big part of this satisfaction comes from slo-mo, a properly named device in the game which simulates your fast reflexes with a matrix-esque view where your enemies move in slow motion while you can move normally and react to what they do more. This can be extremely valuable because the enemies you face in this game are tough, even on the low difficulties. They will zone in on you, take cover, react to your flashlight, give orders to other squadmates and just rip you all up. Some may find these encounters are repetitive, but I found myself flooded with joy because they were downright fun as crap and they were a nice break from the creepy jump-out of your seat, under-your-skin, pychological scares that you are occasionally a part of. This game is very scary and chilling and at the end of it all, you will feel drained from the scares. Do not let this chase you away from playing this game though, it is so worth it.
Graphics- Being a port from a PC game, the graphics are not brilliant but they are still very good. It is technically very good, and the particle and shadow effects make the battles very frinetic and exciting. In many of the scary instances in the game, the visuals are just plain disturbing and will scare the piss out of you, no matter how manly you are. While it doesnt push the systems capablilities at all, it still looks very nice.
Sound- The sound is one of the shining highlights of the game. The eerie sounds dig into your brain and just leave you with chilling tension, its that good. The guns sound great, the voice acting is above average, but where the audio truly shines are the moments leading up to a scare as you know something is gonna happen, then it doesnt. Its totally silent and then Ah!, the little girl is right there. The audio toys with you, and that is impressive in its own right.
Value- The main campaign should take you atleast 8-10 hours to complete, but the game lets you stick around to play short segments called quick action to post your scores online, And thats another thing. It is dissapointing that you cant play locally, but you can play online.
Note- This was a very fun game. Do not let the scares drive you away, the shooting gameplay is the main part of the game, and it is very well executed and very fun.