Master your Fear for maximum Effect

From...

March 7, 2000
Web posted at: 8:17 a.m. EST (1317 GMT)

In this story: From triads to Hell and back again Style and substance Fear and present danger Pro Tips RELATED STORIES, SITES

by Uncle Dust

(IDG) -- PlayStation games reach a new height in cinematic storytelling with Eidos' new futuristic thriller, Fear Effect. Its super cool anime-style graphics and whopping four CDs of gameplay should leave you shaking in your boots.

Fear Effect's opening is a stunning movie-style opening credit sequence that ends in murder, and then cuts to a couple of mercenaries (the seductive Hana and the gruff Glas), flying through a Blade Runner-esque cityscape. They're discussing the $90 million dollar payday they'll receive for finding a kidnapped daughter of a Triad leader.

It's a perfectly flashy setup that leads to the involving story that takes you from Hong Kong to rural China all the way to Hell in the process of turning this ransom into something much more sinister.

As the story unfolds you'll play as Hana, Glas and Deke (the third merc in the crew) as scenes crosscut to build suspense and slowly unveil the supernatural storyline. The gripping and sometimes gruesome story and the cleverly constructed plot work very well with the gorgeously rendered graphics to form a solid interactive narrative unlike any before it.

	GALLERY

Fear Effect is a crowning achievement in style, which is fully integrated in the subject matter and storyline, and it showcases the ability to make impressive characters, animations and backgrounds work seamlessly together in creating a visceral gaming experience. From the main characters to every single bad guy, characters retain a cel-animated look and feel that perfectly captures the essence of anime features like Ghost in the Shell.

Fear Effect keeps this cinematic feel going strong with a very high quality soundtrack. The solid voice acting makes the numerous in-game cinemas a pleasure to watch, while the music and sound effects keep you riveted in action sequences.

The heartbeat that measures your "fear effect" or how much damage you can sustain before finally succumbing adds the final piece to this aural gem. Only the occasional hiccup from load times and cinematic transitions mar this perfection.

Control is the only weak spot in Fear Effect. It takes a while at first to get a hold on what the eight buttons do for your character, and the awkward menu system is a trip, but once you get a grip on that you still find yourself being tripped up on some of the stylish camera angles.

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When moving about different rooms or from scene to scene, camera angles move wildly, sometimes changing so much that you lose your bearings and head in the wrong direction. It's not a huge problem, but it often enough (along with getting stuck on invisible obstacles) and it'll get you killed often enough to make you repeat some action scenes several times, making the camera problems more frustrating then some of the puzzles - not a good thing.

Fear Effect is an amazing game, full of action, puzzles and characters you actually give a damn about. The solid integration of visual design and solid gameplay makes Fear Effect a must for any survival, horror or action-adventure fan.

Graphics:
Stunning anime-style characters work well with the impressive Blade Runner-esque backgrounds. This game has an unmistakable look that you won't soon forget.

Sound:
Adding to the cinematic visuals is a rock solid soundtrack, complete with top-notch voice acting and excellent music and effects that will keep you riveted during both gameplay and in-game cinemas.

Control:
The only problem with a game this stylish is being able to move your character through the gorgeous backgrounds without a hitch. Unfortunately, the awkward controls and the creative camera angles make some action sequences more frustrating than fun.

Fun Factor:
Even with control problems popping up, Fear Effect is a great game and a worthwhile adventure, one you won't be able to put down until you've reached the fourth disc -- if you can control your fear enough to make it there.

• Reload your weapons (by selecting them and pressing the triangle button) after every gunfight. You'll take a few hits reloading your weapon in a gunfight, so it's best to avoid that if possible.

• Hold down the R2 button to sneak up on an enemy. Once your target goes red, let them have it, and you'll score a one hit kill. This will save you ammunition and make your multiple opponent gunfights a little easier.

• When in a boss fight hold the L2 button and press a direction on the D-pad to roll. This is the best way to quickly maneuver and avoid fire. It takes some practice to master, but once you have it down the big action gunfights will be much easier.

• Pay attention to the girl on this TV monitor. Her movements will be key to solving a puzzle on the puppet machine later in the level.

• To avoid running out of ammo in the Catacombs of Hell, find the Sun Key to open this door. Here you'll find the paper assault rifle, and you'll be able to use the paper bullets that the demons leave when you kill them.

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PlayStation
Game info from Eidos

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