[Triple Ace]

I'm not going to say anything about it so I don't spoil it, but I like what I've read and seen. Now, I'm off to try and update F.E.A.R. 2 to get it ready.

The interview - http://xboxlive.ign.com/articles/100/1008718p1.html

The trailer - http://xbox360.ign.com/dor/objects/812587/fear-next-gen/videos/fear2reborn_trl_firsttrailer_72709.html   

[General Battuta]

I have to say that - in my opinion, mind - FEAR 2 was a tremendous letdown compared to the original.

Hopefully they can patch some of its weaknesses, but I'm not optimistic.

I don't mean to be a downer; does anyone else feel the same way?

[0rph3u5]

both had their ups and downs...  there has always been a lot of time-filler levels where you just had to shoot replicas, ATC-sec or ATC-mercs....


so I find F.E.A.R. to be inferior to its sequel... "Epicenter" made a huge difference to me;
also I found Alma to be more fledged out character in F.E.A.R 2, I really began to creep out when she appeared and when it came to the end I really felt sorry for her (somehow in my bitter, twisted heart I wanted NOT to kill her)

Spoiler:

which you gladly don't

as for the DLC ... I will not pass a judgement just now...

EDIT:

Spoiler:

so they are going to re-introduce Fetel? hmm....

[General Battuta]

My big problem was that FEAR 2 AI seemed inferior to the first game's.

[Gortef]

Mmm, this sounds great. I liked F.E.A.R. 2 quite a bit (and the first F.E.A.R. aswell) and wanted to have more stories in the FEAR universe.

[VPR]

My big problem was that FEAR 2 AI seemed inferior to the first game's.

Same feelings here. I played through Project Origin on hard on my first go and I didn't get stuck in as many places unlike the first game. Playing both F.E.A.R. and F.E.A.R. Extraction Point (though it'll never be a true sequel) was noticebly more difficult than PO in my opinion at highest difficulty. The sequel felt a step back in it's challenge.

While I'm here the melee attacks seemed to have been neutered somewhat plus why did we lose the ability to lean in the sequel, or hold dual handguns?

[freespacegundam]

Thankfully they patched the difficulty a while back, so normal/hard is actually a challenge.  I went back to try out hard mode and found myself getting blown to pieces by some clever trickery on the part of the enemies.  Basically while I was running from one grenade, they were throwing another one to where I was heading.  Even with slow-mo, the game is actually challenging on hard.

The main thing FEAR 2's A.I. was that it was only smart if you allowed it that precious second to get into position.  With the release game, this just wasn't possible, because slow-mo made you unstoppable.  Now the A.I. is challenging, although I still think they aren't up to extreme on the original FEAR.

I'm looking forward to this DLC, but I still wish Monolith had spent some time making the guns sound less muffled, creating a MP system that actually worked, and trying to actually be scary.  FEAR 2 is just another FPS really, the horror element seems almost tame now.

[Triple Ace]

I think that the problems that everyone had with FEAR 2, was that it suffered from Console-itus. The game was designed with consoles in mind unlike the first, which was origionally a pc exclusive and then was ported later. I still love FEAR 2, but I do have to agree that some things should have been improved. And I miss the repeating cannon and particle weapon.

Spoiler:

Playing as a Replica in the DLC, I wonder if we will fight other Replicas, Armacham mercs, or possibly a new enemy.