F.E.A.R. Extraction Point

THE BAD:

SUMMARY:
FEAR Extraction Point is FEAR's add-on FEAR, which will be ignored by the developers for "FEAR 2", known as Project Origin because the name FEAR is belonging to the publisher. But, it would be a pity to ignore this add-on and its story. It shows something totally unexpected: the two Alma, killing everyone for revenge, are not anymore on the same side.

Well, if you don't want to know how FEAR ended, you have to jump what will follow.

You, the nameless Pointman, discovered why you were receptive to visions and why you developed some special abilities. You were the First Prototype, Alma's firstborn and Harlan Wade's grandson as your mother was his daughter. You understand now why Harlan was wanting forgiveness from Alma. And knowing where you come from - first by Paxton Fettel, your enemy, revealing that he was your younger brother and than by the final vision you had with your mother's file with the name Alma Wade -, you realize that your birth was a real horror for your mother as you were taken from her and because you didn't reach the expectations of your grandfather, you've been thrown in another project, saving your life instead of killing you (after all, you're only an experiment subject). And you do realize that Alice Wade, killed by Paxton, was your aunt. Even if you survived the explosion, even if you were saved by Jun and Holiday, the last thing you saw what the spirit of your mother when she died (the older form) climbing in the helico.

Extraction Point begins there. Your mother made the helico crash in Auburn and nobody can't contact you. You're separated from Jun and Holiday, in a place where Replikas are no more dangerous (Paxton's death). But soon, Paxton reveals himself, he doesn't know why he's still here - ask Alma the Older who wants revenge - but he didn't like the trick you pulled on him. Anyway, now, you have to escape this hellish place... with your mother trying to kill you and her younger self trying to protect you... Two Alma are fighting and siding with their sons... One with Paxton and the other with you. You can beginning to wonder if you were born in the right family.

With a storyline like that, even if Paxton's resurrection is something a little too crazy, I'm still wondering why Monolith wants to reject Extraction Point. I mean, it's more complex than FEAR with Alma showing two sides: her revengeful and bitter one because of what happened (she died in her 20's, after having seen her first son taken away from her and been calmed by being immerged) and the somewhere still not so negative one (when she was taken as a subject at the age of 8 - her usual form in fact: the little girl). It's something that psychiatrists would love to analyze.

Gameplay is still the same as the original game, so, I'm just copying what I've already written (lazy, me?). You have to shoot enemies, mainly Replikas and nightmare creatures sent by Alma the Older. But shooting while running like a mad dog into enemies isn't the right solution here. You have to be careful, using the environment at your advantage. After all, you have a special power, a sort of bullet time: time is slowed while you have still the same speed. It's very useful when you're fighting against the EVE robots or a bunch of soldiers.

One of the features of this gameplay is the fact that you can only carry three weapons. So, you have to make some choices and you never know if it's right or not. It adds to the realistic part of the game but someone like me who is used to have all the weapons will be disoriented. Indeed, when you love more than three weapons, it's always painful to say goodbye to your favorites. You find the weapons on your enemies, so, it's not a problem for finding them.

You have also a passage where you'll be helped by Holiday in the industrial zone but as much as I love seeing friendly AI, in this kind of game, it's still sad to see that it's useless. Well, Holiday helps you to survive, I can't go against that, but I don't think that the Pointman would have loved to have a companion knowing that his dear mom is still trying to kill him because he's not as bitter as Paxton (after all, Paxton didn't show everything that Alma shared). And well, when a friend tries to help you, he'll be without doubt killed. Holiday isn't an exception... What is strange is that when Holiday is attacked and killed, the creatures didn't lay a finger on you even if you're firing at them...

You have also new weapons, like the Laser, making me think to a certain Demon Head/Screamer from Painkiller Overdose. If my memory serves me right, you have three new weapons: the famous laser gun, a minigun and some turrets, very useful in the industrial zone against Replikas.

Contrary to FEAR, you'll visit open spaces. I agree to say that the church of the beginning isn't a real open spaces but after this passage, you'll enter some sort of industrial zone, travelling in a subway (not really open, I mean, with a sky, the sun and some clouds, but it's still larger areas than the usual offices or sewers) for finishing your escape in a hospital. As in FEAR, the path is very linear but you forget soon this flaw when you're fighting your way and trying to know what is happening in Auburn and how two Alma can exist when they're the same person at different times of her life.

Enemy AI is very good. The Replikas can duck, take cover or try to ambush you in order to kill you. Yes, everyone know that at the end, you'll be victorious (I hope) but having played games where the enemies do not see you even when you're in their eyesight or enemies running at you, making their death an easier task, I can assure you that Extraction Point, as in FEAR, can give some hard work to the hero.

Graphics are still excellent, particularly when in the subway station or in the hospital and above all, when you're in Alma's world, in a sort of prison where you can recognize some people of your recent past like the Armacham employees, Alice - who doesn't have a responsability in Alma's tragic story but is probably in this cell because of her sisterly link to Alma - and Harlan, her father, your grandfather - with a special treatment -. You're happy not to be in these cells but I do think that Alma the Older has deep inside her a soft spot for you, as the firstborn, as the one seen to be taken away. Yes, you've killed Paxton, the one she trusted for her revenge, yes, you're taking the path she would have prefer but you're still her son, the one who probably triggered her hate against the scientists because of your separation from her.

Soundtrack is like in FEAR, sticking really with the ambiance of a raging war between the two factions (Delta Force, you and Alma the Younger, representing somewhere the good side and Paxton, Replikas and Alma the Older, deep down into revenge and hatred - even if Paxton seems not wanting to kill your friends, as if he doesn't want you to suffer).

It's here that the characters from FEAR are most important (with the exception of Alma, Paxton and Jankowsky): Holiday gives you some help, Jun is someone you have to save and for me, the fact that Alice and Harlan are present in Alma's jail is a strong point: Alice is somewhere innocent in this case and was investigating some facts leading to what happened to her sister, she probably wasn't aware of what her dad or Armacham did but still, she's been killed by Paxton and imprisoned in Alma's world. As for Harlan Wade, he knew that at the second that Alma would be free, he'd be killed for what he did, in the end, he just wanted to give peace to her daughter, as he was probably remorseful for what happened and trying to prevent the opening of the chamber, knowing what will happen. He's just atoning for his "sins" in Alma's world and I'm pretty sure that he's happy because he's receiving a deserving punishment.

GAMEPLAY: 8/10 - It's Fear, so, it's good but still, I'm not happy with the three carrying weapons

STORY 10/10 - Alma and her two forms, Jun's death, Aunt Alice and Grandpa Harlan in the depths of Alma's insane mind make the story more tragic than you're thinking. And during the game, you know who you are, making somewhere more difficult to go against your family.

GRAPHICS: 9/10 - What more? Oh yeah, perhaps no more industrial zone, thanks... Alma is still creepy in her older form but knowing that she died with the knowledge of two sons taken from her, one somewhere unknown (you) and one used as a subject (Paxton), that her father seemed to care more for his project than her, well, I can understand why she wants so much revenge for what she endured.

SOUND: 9/10 - nothing to say but Alma's voice saying that you're safe now is the one of a concerned mother, what a contrast with the first FEAR...

LIFETIME: 8/10 - It's short but it's an addictive game. As an add-on, you can count between 5 and 8 hours of game.

FINAL : 18/20 - An add-on which isn't just there for satisfying players. Thinking about Alma's action in her child form and at the unification of the two is making my throat dry. And feeling sad that Monolith will consider it as non-canon... I recommend to play FEAR and Extraction if you want an extraordinary experience and if you want to dive into a dark world of betrayal, revenge and blood with a touch of love and hope.