Less Fear, more repetition in the Perseus Mandate

Like the subsequent sequels to Nightmare on Elm Street, the latest expansion of F.E.A.R. has lost some of its charm.  In Perseus Mandate, the standalone expansion to F.E.A.R., players take on the role of a different soldier assigned to a different squad.  The story in Perseus Mandate runs parallel to that of the main game, so some of the same enemies is to be expected.

Recommended Videos

 

What was scary in the first game (disappearing apparitions, creepy girls, flickering lights) comes off as silly.  The way I feel about Perseus Mandate was the same way I felt after watching Nightmare on Elm St. 2 twenty years after it first came out; instead of being scared, I rolled my eyes at changes in the environment that were supposed to strike fear in gamers' hearts.

 

fear2.jpg

 

Many of the old F.E.A.R. enemies (cloned soldiers, slow moving heavy armored soldiers, etc.) are in the game as well as a new type of enemy.  This new enemy is a bit annoying because not only is he fast moving, but sometimes he takes on a cloak of invisibility which makes him a pain to aim at. I guess that's what enemies feel like whenever I use the slow-motion (aka 'reflex time') feature to take them out in the middle of a fire-fight.  It's a frustrated taste of my own medicine.

 

The original F.E.A.R. came out more than two years ago and the expansion has shown that it hasn't aged well.  The graphics, while impressive at the time, especially during slow-motion portions, look dated now.

 

While it's true that Perseus Mandate runs parallel to the main story, the halls and rooms looked so like the original game that I felt like I was playing just that.  A little variety in the environment would have been a nice change of pace.

 

When it comes down to it, Perseus Mandate is just another chance to play through what happens in Armacham.  If you can suspend belief and you're not jaded against overused tricks to keep tension in the game, Perseus Mandate can even be enjoyable.  Otherwise, it's just another shooter with outdated graphics.


Siliconera is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more
related content
Read Article Persona 5: The Phantom X Opening Movie Appeared Online
Persona 5: The Phantom X Opening Movie Appeared Online
Read Article Gallagher Teams in Honkai: Star Rail Take Advantage of Debuffs
honkai star rail gallagher teams
Read Article Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 DLC Roadmap Adds Future Saga
Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 DLC Roadmap Adds Future Saga
Read Article Best Gallagher Build in Honkai: Star Rail Focuses on Break Effect
star rail gallagher light cones relics build
Read Article Acheron Teams in Honkai: Star Rail Require Nihility Units
star rail acheron teams
Related Content
Read Article Persona 5: The Phantom X Opening Movie Appeared Online
Persona 5: The Phantom X Opening Movie Appeared Online
Read Article Gallagher Teams in Honkai: Star Rail Take Advantage of Debuffs
honkai star rail gallagher teams
Read Article Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 DLC Roadmap Adds Future Saga
Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 DLC Roadmap Adds Future Saga
Read Article Best Gallagher Build in Honkai: Star Rail Focuses on Break Effect
star rail gallagher light cones relics build
Read Article Acheron Teams in Honkai: Star Rail Require Nihility Units
star rail acheron teams
Author
Louise Yang
Former Siliconera staff writer who loves JRPGs like Final Fantasy and other Square Enix titles.