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Project Origin
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Prepare to feel the F.E.A.R. all over again.

Alma is back… Boy, is she ever… and the world is paying the price in a big way.

In case you never had the pleasure of meeting our favorite pre-teen terror, here is a quick summary. There was an escaped psychotic cannibal inmate. There was a paranormal conspiracy involving your telepathic mother, you and your evil brother. There was an elite ghost busting squad called First Encounter Assault Recon (F.E.A.R… get it?) that you are a part of. There was a telepathically controlled enemy army with questionable interest in the same conspiracy. There was a creepy little ghost girl named Alma who ends up being your mother…or something. And there was a massive psychic explosion that leveled an entire city.

"I'm coming to eat your face!"

Project Origin picks up where the F.E.A.R. storyline left off. Despite not carrying the F.E.A.R. name, due to licensing issues as a result of a company separation, Project Origin is the direct sequel. In P.O. you take on the role of Michael Becket, a Delta Force operator tasked with arresting a key character who played a role in the F.E.A.R. catastrophe. In the process of the mission you get caught up in Alma’s little psychic tiff, and ultimately sucked into the crisis.

My hands-on time took place in the city that Alma effectively destroyed in F.E.A.R. Buildings are reduced to rubble, and the shells of abandoned cars litter the citizenless streets. The level that I was shown took place entirely outside, in the streets of the destroyed city. Graphics have noticeably improved, and environments seem much more color-rich, although this may have been due to the fact that I was in an outdoor environment; a rarity in the first game. Despite her key role in the game, Alma did not make much of an appearance. Who DID make VERY much of an appearance were soldiers from the same (or seemingly so) army as you battled in the previous game.

Outdoors is the new indoors.

Enemy AI was clearly in full effect in P.O. Snipers kept me moving from safe spot to safe spot, popping up to dispose of them when the opportunity presented itself. Opposing soldiers took full advantage of cover, even going so far as to open car doors and shoot from behind them. Luckily you can do the same; but be careful. As I discovered (unhappily) vehicles are prone to exploding after being riddled with enough bullets.

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