Porting PC games to a home console doesn't always turn out as everyone would like.  Whether it's because the controls don't translate so well (I'm looking at you Battle for Middle Earth II) or it's just not the same game ('sup Battlefield 2 on Xbox 360), taking games designed for the PC and cramming them into a console can be very hit or miss.  Now, when the PC game in question was a contender on nearly everyone's list for "2005 Game of the Year," we can only hope that the port is a faithful one.  Luckily for us, we've been blessed by the Xbox Live Marketplace gods with a terrific demo of F.E.A.R. (First Encounter Assault Recon) more than a full month before its November 7^th release date for the Xbox 360.  We can all rejoice because it looks like Day: 1: Studios (the developer handling the port) is on the verge of scoring a bull's-eye.

The F.E.A.R. demo, clocking in at a relatively light 543MB, throws you directly into the action.  As a member of the military's ultra-secret paranormal task force you're called in to deal with a paramilitary group that's taken control of an aerospace complex.  Of course, there's more going on than meets the eye.  Other special forces teams have already been called in, but they've been wiped out.  Now, it's up to you to deal with this threat by infiltrating the industrial complex and hunting down the mystery man leader, Paxton Fettel.

"The Ring" who?
F.E.A.R., originally developed by Monolith for the PC, takes place entirely in the first person, but this isn't your everyday run of the mill FPS.  F.E.A.R. sets itself apart from other shooters with its strikingly ominous atmosphere that is so powerful; it makes even the non-combat sections of the game even more intense than the most frenetic firefights found in other games.  F.E.A.R.'s moody atmosphere beats Hollywood at its own game using fleeting apparitions and haunting sound effects that will keep you on the edge of your seat.   This creepy atmosphere makes even the most clichéd FPS environments (aka, the warehouse) take on a life of their own. 
 
F.E.A.R.'s atmosphere isn't the only element that is otherworldly.  Combat is, without a doubt, at the heart of F.E.A.R. and your character's time-bending slow motion ability is its life-blood.  This ability can be activated for short periods of time, gauged by a meter that regenerates after use, and can be extended by stimulants scattered throughout the environment.  Even though this type of feature has been used before in many other games, it really makes the combat shine.  Clouds of dust rise up as your bullets take chunks out of concrete, break glass, knock junk off of shelves and rip through your enemies.  Instead of being a tacked on feature, F.E.A.R.'s slow motion effect is at the core of the combat.  Giving an enemy soldier a full frontal shot gun blast that knocks him back six feet, sending his arms flailing while his death grip on his trigger fires several erratic blasts has got to be seen to be fully appreciated. 

Speaking of weapons, the demo gives you access to six different guns, all with their own unique characteristics and satisfying bonus when used with your slow motion ability.  The pistol works great to deliver precise headshots, the assault rifle and sub-machine gun spew out clouds of blood when you connect with an enemy soldier, the penetrator fires out metal stakes that you can use to literally nail your opposition to the wall.  Best of all, the most powerful gun available in the demo, the type 7 particle weapon, works like a sniper rifle that disintegrates the flesh of your target, leaving only a charred, smoking skeleton behind.  Of course, there'll be even more weapons available in the final game, including another FPS staple, the rocket launcher. Except this one has three, yes three, barrels.  If that doesn't get you all hot and bothered I don't know what will.

These guys mean business
Perhaps these weapons sound a tad excessive, but believe me, you'll need them.  The AI, which was hailed as superb in the PC version, has remained intact.  Enemy squads will work together, use flanking tactics and understand how to use the environment to their advantage.  They'll knock over shelves to prevent you from rushing them, dive through windows to get out of harm's way and stay under cover when you unload your automatic weapons from a distance.   These guys are definitely not your everyday FPS cannon fodder.

Compared to the PC version, F.E.A.R. on the 360 is almost spot on in terms of graphics.  However, even in HD the textures on the 360 don't quite have the same sharpness as the PC version.   That's not to say the game doesn't look great.   The lighting effects alone will make your jaw drop.  Running at a solid frame rate even during combat, with the exception of a few odd places, such as going down ladders, the game has little to no slow down (unless you're using your slo-mo abilities!).  Considering that F.E.A.R.'s PC requirements amounted to at least a thousand dollar rig to run at a medium detail level, graphically the 360 version is outstanding.

There are a few details that Day: 1: Studios needs to address before the game's release. The speed of the bob of your gun is the same whether you're walking or running.  The same goes for the sound of your footsteps:  it's as if you're always jogging around, no matter how fast you're actually moving.  This stems from porting the controls from a keyboard and mouse to the analog thumbstick.  While not a make it or break it detail, it is simply annoying and needs to be addressed by the time the game is released. 
 
It's time to face your F.E.A.R.
F.E.A.R. on the 360 is coming together quite nicely and should be pretty high on anyone's list, even during the crowded holiday season.  If you missed F.E.A.R. on the PC, now's your chance to catch what was hailed as the best shooter in 2005.  For those of you that have already had the pleasure of F.E.A.R. on the PC, now you can play it on the big screen with your surround sound turned all the way up!  Add in new game modes (not playable in the demo) and achievement points and you will have a hard time not reliving what was probably your greatest F.E.A.R.

- Teal