F.E.A.R.
by Vivendi Universal
for Windows
Grade: :)My taste in video games is similar to my taste in music-I'm a single-genre guy, preferring rap to all other forms. When it comes to games no other class gets my blood pumping faster than First Person Shooters (FPSs). Usually the most hyped releases for PC each year, FPSs showcase the latest game engines, with gorgeous graphics and gameplay so immersive you can almost feel the hot rifle blazing in your hands. Lately, though, the big releases have disappointed me, with Doom III and Half-Life 2 failing to live up to their legendary predecessors. I had almost given up hope; that is, until I played F.E.A.R.

In development by Monolith for the past several years, the hotly-anticipated F.E.A.R. finally hit retail shelves last week. Upon firing up the game, you are transformed into a new member of the First Encounter Assault Recon squad, a division of the U.S. Army handling paranormal threats. A man named Paxton Fettel, who controls an army of clones, has escaped from the enigmatic corporation that created them and is wreaking havoc through their headquarters, and you alone must go in and take out Fettel, as you are the only one who can enter the scene without freaking out and combusting. During your long pursuit , you have horrific flashbacks, while discovering terrible secrets about the corporation's sins, an unholy experiment and even more disturbing truths about your own unknown past.

F.E.A.R. is a truly horrifying shooter-I was always on the edge of my seat, and jumped off it more than a few times. I have not seen such an intriguing story since the original Half-Life. The plot is action-packed, and the gameplay is smooth and immersive, something other recent games have sorely been lacking. The game sports a brand new engine, with superb graphics that run fast and look great even on my old PC. The best part by far though is the enemies; I constantly forgot I was playing a computer, believing instead I was fighting an army of real, intelligent human soldiers. The multiplayer function is a fun addition too, though hardly revolutionary. This title will definitely be a contender for Game of the Year, so I recommend you pick it up as soon as possible-that is, unless you're scared.