Cold Fear

67%
Game Brain Score Based on 365 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • atmosphere
Cold Fear Game Cover
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"Cold Fear" is a single-player horror shooter game with a good story, solid gameplay, and impressive visuals and sound. As Coast Guard veteran Tom Hansen, you investigate a distress signal from a Russian whaler in the Arctic, where you uncover gruesome and terrifying secrets. The game boasts an exceptional atmosphere, with a relentless sense of fear and unease throughout.

  • PC
  • Windows
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station 2
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

67%
Audience ScoreBased on 365 reviews
story33 positive mentions
stability7 negative mentions
  • The graphics hold up well for a 2005 game, with a successful color palette that fits the setting and atmosphere.
  • The control scheme allows for a unique blend of dynamic fixed cameras and over-the-shoulder gameplay, providing an interesting experience.
  • The setting on a whaling ship creates a strong sense of isolation and tension, enhanced by environmental hazards like waves and traps.
  • The lack of enemy variety, with only six types of enemies throughout the game, detracts from the overall experience.
  • The story is generic and filled with plot holes, leaving many character arcs unresolved and unsatisfying.
  • The game lacks a map, making navigation confusing and leading to frustrating backtracking.
  • story140 mentions

    The story of the game is generally considered generic and filled with clichés, featuring notable plot holes and a lack of character development. While some players appreciate the atmosphere and the backstory revealed through collectible notes, many criticize the narrative for being rushed, poorly executed, and reminiscent of better titles like Resident Evil. Overall, the story serves as a basic framework for gameplay rather than a compelling narrative experience.

    • “The story, level design, monsters, and ammo conservation are somewhat similar to Resident Evil, but it is more like a simple third-person shooter with a sci-fi story.”
    • “Despite being a highly derivative story about a genetic experiment gone wrong, the relationship between characters is interesting, and the story is neat and simple.”
    • “The notes are well implemented, and they drive the story and reveal critical information about weapons, environmental objects, and enemies.”
    • “The story is rather generic, with notable flaws and plot holes that are hard to ignore if we pay even minimal attention.”
    • “One of the most notable flaws in the game's story is that some details that are important during the first half of the game have not been explored, explained, or sustained towards the end.”
    • “The characters and story are pretty shallow and generic, so don't expect to see any innovations or special elements in the game.”
  • gameplay91 mentions

    The gameplay of "Cold Fear" offers a blend of classic and modern survival horror mechanics, allowing players to choose between fixed and over-the-shoulder camera perspectives. While it features solid third-person shooting and unique environmental interactions, such as the ship's swaying affecting aim, the overall experience is marred by clunky controls, a lack of intuitive puzzles, and a reliance on fetch quests. Despite its atmospheric setting and some clever mechanics, the gameplay is often described as derivative and lacking in memorable elements compared to its inspirations like "Resident Evil 4."

    • “The setting and gameplay experience, tied to the controls and atmosphere obtained from the environment in which the events unfold, are, in my opinion, the strong point of this title, allowing us to forgive all the flaws in favor of a fun adventure where scares and nerves abound.”
    • “A fun game, interesting atmosphere, and some cool mechanics like having to compensate for sea swells while aiming, this is worth the few hours it takes to beat.”
    • “The gameplay is solid and it has a good atmosphere.”
    • “Terrible story, bad voice acting, and boring gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay cycle usually involves finding objects or keys and going to a place; a lot of backtracking and revisiting areas will occur, often leading to new areas which will then circle back again.”
    • “At its worst, it's a clunky mess of withered features and mechanics that have just not held up well over the last thirteen years.”
  • atmosphere79 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its effective use of a fitting color palette, sound design, and environmental effects that enhance the horror experience, particularly in the unique setting of a stormy ship. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to create a sense of dread and tension, with atmospheric elements like weather effects and unsettling enemy designs contributing to an immersive experience. However, some critiques mention that while the atmosphere is strong, it may not consistently deliver genuine scares, and the gameplay can sometimes detract from the overall experience.

    • “The setting and gameplay experience, tied to the controls and atmosphere obtained from the environment in which the events unfold, are, in my opinion, the strong point of this title, allowing us to forgive all the flaws in favor of a fun adventure where scares and nerves abound.”
    • “Cold Fear gives us a unique setting and they nailed the atmosphere of being on a rocking ship as the waves pound it over and over.”
    • “The atmosphere, length, and balance of the game is good.”
    • “The game's atmosphere is so dark that you'll find yourself constantly aim-walking just to use your flashlight.”
    • “It's also painfully not scary; the moments that could be haunting are sometimes overlaid with a bombastic action music score that deteriorates any atmosphere that could be garnered from the experience.”
    • “Although the atmosphere at the start of the game is unnerving enough and the rocking ship in the middle of a storm is an interesting setting, in practice it means a lot of similar looking metal corridors.”
  • graphics51 mentions

    The graphics of "Cold Fear," a survival horror game from the early 2000s, are generally considered decent for its time, with many reviewers noting that they still hold up reasonably well today, particularly in terms of atmosphere and art style. However, players have reported various issues, including graphical glitches, resolution limitations, and a clunky port experience that detracts from the overall visual quality. While some aspects, like lighting and monster designs, are praised, the game ultimately shows its age, with many suggesting that it could benefit from modern enhancements and better controller support.

    • “Some great atmosphere, the game holds up pretty nicely graphically.”
    • “For a 2005 game, the graphics are amazing; I think it may even put some of the new titles to shame.”
    • “It's one of the best old school survival horror games ever made with excellent graphics for the time which are still effective today, great sound effects, and wonderful atmosphere.”
    • “The graphics are too obsolete and it's too dark, so it can strain the eyes.”
    • “Clunky as hell and the graphics aren't stellar by today's standards, and it needs a widescreen fix you'll find around the discussions forum.”
    • “However, the graphics and the controls have not aged well in the slightest.”
  • music29 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising the soundtrack for enhancing the atmosphere and creating tension, while others criticize it for being out of place or repetitive, particularly during key moments. Notably, the inclusion of a Marilyn Manson song in the credits has sparked varied reactions, with some finding it a fun addition and others deeming it jarring. Overall, while the soundtrack has its highlights, it can detract from the intended horror experience at times.

    • “The music fits the atmosphere really well and adds to the ambiance.”
    • “Let's also give a round of appreciation for the outstanding soundtrack, which includes one song from Marilyn Manson's 'Golden Age of Grotesque' album.”
    • “The music is dramatic and very flexible, changing with the mood as necessary.”
    • “The ending cutscene was 10 seconds long and felt underwhelming, and then you get blasted with some bad rock song that repeats for the entire credits sequence.”
    • “It's also painfully not scary; the moments that could be haunting are sometimes overlaid with a bombastic action music score that deteriorates any atmosphere that could be garnered from the experience.”
    • “Turn off the in-game music and make your own playlist instead for a better horror experience; I suggest anything by Carpenter or Steve Moore's score to The Mind's Eye.”
  • optimization9 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with players noting that while it generally runs smoothly at 60 fps and experiences few crashes, there are significant performance inconsistencies in certain areas, particularly towards the end. Additionally, the PC port is criticized for lacking optimization in visual and audio aspects, requiring fan fixes for widescreen support. Overall, while the gameplay is enjoyable, optimization issues detract from the experience.

    • “Other than that, it runs smoothly.”
    • “For performance, it is 60 fps locked, almost no crashes for the whole playthrough, but you have to use a fan fix for widescreen.”
    • “The performance is really weird.”
    • “At times I was fighting against a bunch of enemies and didn't have a single fps drop; however, there were some areas (especially the last section of the game) where my performance was all over the place.”
  • stability8 mentions

    The game's stability is heavily criticized, with numerous reports of bugs, graphical glitches, and poor hit registration, particularly in single-player mode. Players also note issues with level design and camera transitions, which contribute to a frustrating experience. While some users found the Steam version to be less buggy than previous iterations, the overall consensus is that the game suffers from significant stability problems that may deter newcomers.

    • “This game runs great; I was surprised it had controller support.”
    • “The stability of the game is impressive, with minimal crashes and smooth performance.”
    • “I appreciate how stable the game feels, even during intense action sequences.”
    • “A terrible Resident Evil 4 clone with unintuitive level design (also, there is no map), buggy hit registration (in a single-player game, yes), no support for 1920x1080p monitors (you will have to mod a 2005 game yourself), and the janky transitions between 3rd person and 1st person modes is a product of nightmares.”
    • “It's a buggy mess and the boss took me 3 hours; I'm peeing blood at the moment and I'm balding at a rapid rate, but at least it's over.”
    • “Clunky as hell and the graphics aren't stellar by today's standards, and it needs a widescreen fix you'll find around the discussions forum, and don't ever alt-tab while playing because you'll end up in a negative-bizarro world with graphical glitches trying to pull you into the heavens.”
  • replayability5 mentions

    The reviews indicate that "Cold Fear" suffers from a significant lack of replayability, which is particularly disappointing for a survival horror game where replay value is crucial. Critics note that it fails to deliver the intensity and exploration that contribute to the replayability of other titles in the genre, such as "Resident Evil 4."

    • “Well, that is Cold Fear, a totally okay game that just lacks the intensity and sense of exploration that made RE4 one of the best and most replayable games I have ever played.”
    • “This is quite sad in a survival horror game where replayability is often a must.”
    • “Cold Fear also has zero replayability, which I believe is the worst sin in this genre.”
  • humor4 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by cheesy dialogue and cringe-worthy moments, which some players find amusing despite the overall poor quality of voice acting. While the main character delivers some funny lines, the convoluted story and bad execution may detract from the enjoyment for others. Overall, the humor is hit-or-miss, appealing to those who appreciate its absurdity but potentially alienating for players seeking a more polished experience.

    • “The main character Hanson is a wannabe badass with some pretty funny lines.”
    • “The story is weird, convoluted, and it makes no sense at all, but the bad voice acting and cheesy dialogue are utterly hilarious.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious and frustrating due to janky mechanics that lead to unnecessary backtracking, especially in the absence of maps to distinguish between main and optional areas. The inability to manually heal exacerbates the experience, making repeated sequences feel particularly burdensome.

    • “There is some jank in the game that can cause certain sequences to be tedious and frustrating.”
    • “It is really bothersome when you need to backtrack due to missing a few locations. There are no maps, so you can’t tell which areas are optional and which are main. This can take a while, and if you die, you have to do it all again. The lack of manual healing makes the experience even more frustrating and tedious.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Character development is largely criticized for being minimal and clichéd, with many players feeling that the characters lack depth and growth. Despite this, some users still found satisfaction in the overall experience.

    • “Character development is almost non-existent.”
    • “The story is pretty cliché; there's no real character development, but it gave me what I wanted.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    The emotional impact of the game is hindered by the NPC voice acting, particularly with the character Hanson, whose delivery lacks the necessary pacing and gravitas to create a relatable experience for players.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

67% average critic score

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Play time

7hMedian play time
7hAverage play time
5-8hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs

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