| F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Monolith Productions |
| Publisher(s) | Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment |
| Producer(s) | Troy Skinner |
| Designer(s) |
|
| Programmer(s) | John O'Rourke |
| Artist(s) | Dave Matthews |
| Writer(s) | Craig Hubbard |
| Composer(s) | Nathan Grigg |
| Series | F.E.A.R. |
| Engine | LithTech Jupiter EX |
| Platform(s) | |
| Release | |
| Genre(s) | First-person shooter, psychological horror |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin is a 2009 first-person shooter psychological horror video game for PlayStation 3, Windows, and Xbox 360. Developed by Monolith Productions and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, it was released for all platforms in February 2009. It is the second game in the F.E.A.R. series and is followed by F.E.A.R. 3. In September 2009, Monolith released a single-player DLC pack, F.E.A.R. 2: Reborn. In March 2015, both the base game and Reborn were made available on GOG.com. In November 2021, the F.E.A.R. franchise, including Reborn, was added to Microsoft's backward compatibility program, making the games playable on the Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S. Project Origin ignores the events of both TimeGate Studios-developed expansion packs for the original game (F.E.A.R. Extraction Point and F.E.A.R. Perseus Mandate), which are now no longer considered canon to the F.E.A.R. universe.
Project Origin begins thirty minutes prior to the conclusion of the original F.E.A.R., with the player controlling Michael Becket, a Delta Force sergeant. Sent to take the president of Armacham Technology Corporation (ATC) into protective custody, things go awry when Point Man destroys the Origin Facility, and Becket and his teammates are caught in the blast. Waking up in a strange hospital that is seemingly under attack by an ATC black ops squad, things become even more complicated when Alma Wade, now free from her confinements, begins to show a keen interest in Becket.
In making Project Origin, Monolith looked at the reception of the first game, specifically what was popular and what was not. With this in mind, they set out to correct the two most frequently criticised elements of the original; monotone and repetitive environments, and lack of enemy variety. At the same time, they attempted to enhance the game's most lauded elements; the combat mechanics and enemy AI. By making Alma a more central presence than in the first game, they also hoped to enhance the horror elements of the original.
Project Origin was generally well received by critics, although it was felt to be inferior to the first game. Common points of praise included the combat mechanics, sound effects, mech sections, graphics, and enemy variety, with some critics also lauding the level design and voice acting. Less enthusiastically received were the plot, cover mechanics, horror elements, some of the gameplay changes from the original (specifically the removal of the lean function), and multiplayer. Several critics also felt the game took too few risks and was little more than a generic, albeit well-made, shooter.
- ^ Kozanecki, James (February 9, 2009). "AU Shippin' Out February 9–12: F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin". GameSpot. Archived from the original on March 10, 2022. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
- ^ Ocampo, Jason (February 10, 2009). "F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin has shipped". IGN. Archived from the original on March 10, 2022. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
- ^ Gibson, Ellie (January 19, 2009). "F.E.A.R. 2 demo coming this week". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on March 8, 2022. Retrieved March 8, 2022.