F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin

70%
Game Brain Score Based on 2,490 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin Game Cover
It's less tactical than its forebear, but Monolith delivers a tightly paced and atmospheric ride with F.E.A.R. 2.
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In F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin, assume the role of Special Forces Sgt. Michael Becket and navigate through an apocalyptic landscape following a disastrous explosion. Engage in intense combat against new enemies, utilizing slowed time and environmental interactions to your advantage. Unravel a terrifying mystery as you confront new characters and face the growing power of Alma Wade.

  • PC
  • Windows
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station 3
  • Xbox
  • Xbox 360
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

70%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,490 reviews
story272 positive mentions
stability25 negative mentions
  • The game features improved graphics and a more varied environment compared to the first game.
  • The gunplay is fun and engaging, with a decent variety of weapons and the return of the slow-motion mechanic.
  • The story expands on the lore of the first game and includes some genuinely creepy moments, particularly in the school level.
  • The AI is significantly dumbed down, making combat less challenging and more predictable.
  • The horror elements are less effective, relying more on jump scares rather than building tension.
  • The removal of the leaning mechanic and the introduction of a more linear level design detracts from the tactical gameplay experience.
  • story1,001 mentions

    The story of "F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin" is a mixed bag, with many players noting that while it continues the narrative of the first game and delves deeper into the character of Alma, it often feels disjointed and less engaging. Some appreciate the atmospheric horror and environmental storytelling, while others criticize the reliance on text-based lore and the lack of character development, leading to a less impactful experience compared to its predecessor. Overall, the game is seen as a decent sequel that offers some interesting moments but fails to fully capture the compelling storytelling of the original.

    • “The story unfolds with gripping tension, drawing players deeper into its dark and mysterious narrative.”
    • “The story is exciting and engaging; however, the gameplay path is a little chaotic.”
    • “The story is very well paced, if a little predictable and the dialogue a tad cheesy...and the ending...that would make two f.e.a.r.”
    • “The story is still not told properly.”
    • “The story is an excuse plot that is barely there and more just action where you go from corridor to corridor filled with jump scares of Alma following you around.”
    • “The story is confusing, your squadmates are unlikable, and leaning was removed, which is ridiculous.”
  • gameplay520 mentions

    The gameplay in "Fear 2" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while it retains some solid first-person shooter mechanics and the enjoyable slow-motion feature, it feels more generic and less innovative compared to its predecessor. Critics highlight the removal of tactical elements like the lean mechanic, leading to a more straightforward run-and-gun experience reminiscent of Call of Duty, which diminishes the strategic depth and horror atmosphere that defined the original. Overall, while the game offers fun gunplay and improved graphics, it struggles with repetitiveness and a lack of engaging gameplay variety.

    • “The gameplay is actually really fun and it didn't change too much from the first.”
    • “The solid FPS mechanics and great visuals make it a standout title in the genre.”
    • “The gameplay features from the first set of games have changed ever so slightly.”
    • “The game is very buggy, not well paced, and has some of the worst combat mechanics. Limited actual difficulty outside of artificial challenges, enemies will just teleport around and kill you.”
    • “The gameplay has been completely butchered and even though most of the weapon arsenal is back, it feels unbalanced, in most cases unimpactful and weak.”
    • “The gameplay is ultimately the main deal-breaker for me when it comes to my dislike for this game.”
  • graphics403 mentions

    The graphics in this game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting significant improvements over the original title, particularly in terms of detail, lighting, and overall visual fidelity. While some appreciate the enhanced aesthetics and immersive environments, others criticize the art style shift towards a more sci-fi look, which detracts from the horror atmosphere. Overall, the visuals are generally considered good for a game released in 2009, holding up well even by today's standards, though some players feel that the graphical upgrades come at the cost of the original's unique charm and atmosphere.

    • “The graphics are surprisingly good, considering it was a game released in 2009; it still looks good.”
    • “The game’s graphics, especially for its time, are detailed and contribute to the immersive horror experience.”
    • “For a 2009 game, the graphics held up nicely in 1920x1080.”
    • “The graphics look fine for a game from 2009, but most of the time you're walking around factory buildings in an apocalyptic world, and once you've seen one of them, you've seen all of them.”
    • “Clearly this game was made for consoles; huge downgrade in graphics, everything is blurry and bulky, graphics like mashed potatoes.”
    • “The graphics are noticeably better than earlier Fear titles -- even if the game is still a DX9 title, but the overall experience feels less immersive and atmospheric.”
  • atmosphere238 mentions

    The atmosphere in the game is often described as immersive and visually appealing, with strong environmental storytelling and a haunting soundtrack that enhances the experience. However, many reviewers note that it lacks the tension and horror elements present in the original game, with some feeling that the reliance on jump scares detracts from the overall atmosphere. While the game features beautifully designed environments, it struggles to maintain a consistently creepy or unsettling atmosphere, leading to mixed feelings among players.

    • “The atmosphere is dense and has amazing environmental storytelling.”
    • “The eerie soundtrack and sound effects add to the unsettling atmosphere and enhance the overall experience.”
    • “The atmospheric environments and haunting soundtrack contribute to an immersive experience that will leave you on the edge of your seat.”
    • “This is quite a downgrade from the first in terms of gameplay and it's also somewhat lacking in the horror department and atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere has also been downgraded by brighter lighting, quieter noises, and wider/more open spaces.”
    • “The dark and scary atmosphere is almost completely gone, the story isn't very captivating, and the characters aren't exactly interesting.”
  • music104 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its atmospheric qualities and ability to enhance the overall experience, while others criticize it for being repetitive or inferior to the original game's soundtrack. Many players appreciate the eerie and haunting elements that contribute to the game's tension, though some find certain tracks annoying or out of place during action sequences. Overall, while the soundtrack has its standout moments, it often feels recycled or less impactful compared to its predecessor.

    • “The eerie soundtrack and sound effects add to the unsettling atmosphere and enhance the overall experience.”
    • “The atmospheric environments and haunting soundtrack contribute to an immersive experience that will leave you on the edge of your seat.”
    • “On the upside, the mech sections are absolutely cathartic, the music is very strong and echoes the first game's score beautifully, and there is much more character interaction and good dialogue given the shift in cast from a lone operative to a delta force strike team.”
    • “The music is awful, the dialogue is atrocious, and the motion blur and effects make me want to vomit.”
    • “The music mostly just exists, and aside from a single track from the final mission, no song really stood out to me.”
    • “The soundtrack is generic and boring, with the only good bits being the ones that were directly copied from the first games.”
  • stability29 mentions

    The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous reports of bugs, glitches, and crashes that disrupt gameplay, particularly in later levels. While some players experienced a relatively smooth experience, many noted significant issues such as teleporting enemies, unresponsive controls, and graphical anomalies. Overall, the game appears to be plagued by instability, detracting from the overall enjoyment.

    • “Very old and simple, but still fun to play; an all-time classic that runs great, looks good, and can give you chills even after all those years.”
    • “Masterfully executed level design, stunning kill animations, horrifying visuals and ambiance. It came out ready to play with all of the advertised multiplayer modes, and last but not least - bug free.”
    • “Awesome sequel to the first game, looks and runs great!”
    • “The game also, in this day and age, can be incredibly unstable and buggy, barring from a seamless experience, especially towards the end.”
    • “More time was spent troubleshooting issues than playing the game, so definitely beware if you're interested.”
    • “The rest of the game was a buggy mess with enemies shooting through walls, instantly shooting you when they round corners, one-tapping you with full health and armor at times, and the red dot on your optics disappearing randomly.”
  • optimization27 mentions

    The optimization of the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its overall performance and smooth gameplay on modern hardware, achieving 60+ FPS at max settings. However, others report inconsistent performance issues, particularly at 1080p, and note that the game is not well-optimized for PC, suggesting that mods may be necessary for improvement. Overall, while there are commendable aspects of optimization, significant performance problems persist for some users.

    • “Good optimization (no patches needed).”
    • “The game is, for the most part, optimized, and you don't need to install a file to make sure your FPS isn't stuck at 20. The game runs really smooth, and I rarely had problems with FPS, even during combat in wide open intense environments with a lot of enemies. It's not perfectly optimized, but it's good enough. With max settings at 1080p, you should be able to get 60+ FPS easily with no drops below that on most modern computers.”
    • “+ performance and optimization is respectable.”
    • “Not optimized for PC well at all, but perhaps there are mods out there for that.”
    • “I really don't know how such performance issues are possible with modern machines.”
    • “Game is un-optimized.”
  • humor26 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with many players finding it enjoyable and filled with funny moments, quirky dialogue, and amusing easter eggs. However, some critiques highlight that the humor often overshadows the horror elements, leading to a disjointed experience where intended scares come off as laughable instead. Overall, while the comedic aspects can enhance the gameplay for some, they may detract from the intended atmosphere for others.

    • “Most guns are very fun to shoot and there were some funny and awesome moments that broke up the gameplay.”
    • “There's a bunch of small and insignificant details in the map that give a lively feeling, with humor and jokes here and there.”
    • “Also I found myself laughing at the fact that the game tells you to move this heavy table so you can get through a door, but then a chair is glued to the ground and can't be budged.”
  • replayability18 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is mixed, with scores ranging from 3/10 to 6.5/10. While some players appreciate the addition of multiplayer modes and achievements that enhance replay value, many criticize the linearity and lack of meaningful choices, leading to a perception of limited replayability. Despite some positive remarks about exploration and replayable elements, the consensus suggests that the game does not match the replayability of its predecessor.

    • “The multiplayer mode is a welcome addition, providing an additional layer of replayability to an already engaging single-player campaign.”
    • “2 has a lot of achievements to unlock, which gives the game some replay value.”
    • “This is one of the most replayable shooters ever.”
    • “Beyond unlocking in-game achievements, I don't think there is a lot of replayability due to how linear the game is.”
    • “This also limits replay value as there are very few choices to make in what you bring with you.”
    • “The lackluster sound design, graphics, and total lack of replayability don't actually detract from the enjoyment all that much, but they're still worth mentioning.”
  • grinding18 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, often citing repetitive enemy encounters and a lack of variety in gameplay. The removal of quick save features and reliance on checkpoints further exacerbate the grind, making progress feel laborious rather than engaging. While some appreciate the visuals and smooth mechanics, many agree that the combat quickly becomes monotonous, diminishing the overall enjoyment of the experience.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Between chapter 2 and early chapter 4, you always fight the same kind of enemies with the same kind of weapon, and that made me feel quite tedious to keep up.”
    • “Awesome visuals, cool weapons, but the combat gets tedious a few hours into the game, level design is uninspired, and gameplay lacks innovation.”
  • monetization16 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has drawn mixed reviews, with some players viewing the inclusion of ads and new features like aim down sights (ADS) as a cash grab that detracts from the game's tactical depth and horror elements. While some appreciate the improvements in graphics and gameplay mechanics, many criticize the reliance on ADS and the overall generic feel, suggesting that these changes prioritize profit over player experience. Overall, the monetization strategy appears to have polarized the player base, with concerns about the game's direction overshadowing its potential enhancements.

    • “All you've done is made a lazy story, took all tactical depth out of combat, and made the most generic shooter possible in what feels like just another cash grab.”
    • “Oh yeah, and they replaced the zoom feature with ads because every game has to have aim down sights in the 7th generation; stupid choice.”
    • “The ads are entirely useless as I can shoot a guy directly in front of me and nothing will happen, so just stick to hip fire.”
  • emotional15 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is largely criticized for its incoherent storytelling and reliance on disturbing themes, overshadowing any potential depth. Players express feelings of distraction and emptiness, particularly due to repetitive gameplay and a lack of impactful narrative moments, leading to a sense of disconnection from the characters and their struggles. Overall, the emotional engagement is deemed weak, with many finding the experience unsatisfying and lacking in genuine resonance.

    • “All in all, pretty wholesome.”
    • “The ending just made me feel empty, and you could very easily see it coming from how everything was playing out.”
    • “The timegate expansions were okay, but they didn't do nearly as good a job as conveying the heartbreaking story of Alma.”
    • “Very generic linear post-apocalyptic shooter with 8 different types of guns and a boring story they hide the plot of until a line of dialogue thrown in the middle of gameplay. Not even a cutscene, then there is no ending; the game's just over, not even much of a cliffhanger to make you want to play the sequel.”
  • character development5 mentions

    Character development in the game is notably inconsistent, with some players expressing disappointment due to a lack of depth and growth among characters, especially given the game's short length. While a few reviews highlight strong character arcs that enhance the story, many others criticize the fleeting nature of characters, leading to minimal emotional investment. Overall, the potential for rich character development is overshadowed by the game's pacing and narrative choices.

    • “The story was great, even the end 😂, but really it was well put together, spun off of the last game quite well, and had crazy good character development.”
    • “No character development at all.”
    • “Your squad has a lot more to do in the plot, but sadly due to the game’s short length, there’s not a lot of room for character development.”
    • “There is no character development from any characters that you encounter, as the majority of them die off quickly.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

74% average critic score

Buy F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin

Play time

6hMedian play time
6hAverage play time
7hMain story
11hCompletionist
4-8hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 14 analyzed playthroughs

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