Cold Fear
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| Cold Fear | |
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| Developer(s) | Darkworks |
| Publisher(s) | Ubisoft |
| Release date(s) | March 15, 2005 |
| Genre(s) | Survival horror |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: Mature (M) |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation 2, Xbox, PC |
Cold Fear is an action/survival horror game that is designed by Darkworks and published by Ubisoft. It was released on March 15, 2005, in North America. It was announced in April 2006, that a movie adaptation is also in production with a speculated 2008 theatrical release.
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[edit] Story
In Cold Fear the player takes on the role of Tom Hansen, a sailor in the U.S. Coast Guard who has been sent in to investigate a mysterious Russian whaler "Eastern Spirit" (Дух Востока) in the middle of the Bering strait. As Hansen, the player finds out that the boat is occupied by hostile Russian soldiers and by strange creatures that use humans and other life forms as hosts, to feed on and to use as protection from the environment. These parasites are a threat to Hansen from both inside and outside their host bodies. His investigation leads to the mystery of the ship and its lethal cargo.
[edit] Gameplay
Cold Fear plays like any other game of its genre, but its play mechanics are most reminiscent of those of Resident Evil 4. In Cold Fear, players can assume a behind the shoulder camera angle, much like Resident Evil 4. However, unlike Resident Evil 4, players can choose between a fixed camera angle or a behind the shoulder camera angle. Also, unlike Resident Evil 4, the player can move while aiming a weapon. The game employs many scare tactics, as well, like those found in Resident Evil and Doom 3. For example, when opening a door, a creature may jump out at the player, or while talking to an NPC, a creature may just burst out of his chest. And unlike Resident Evil, Cold Fear employs a stamina bar, which decreases as the player does certain actions, like running, which means the player will be taking constant breaks to make sure Hansen is rested enough to proceed.
The conditions on the deck of the ship can change how the player can control Hansen. Since the game takes place in the middle of the ocean during a huge storm, there's bound to be a lot of movement of the vessel as it bobs up and down through the rough seas. The cargo ship will continuously bank left and right while Hansen is walking on deck, making it more difficult to aim and to walk a straight line. In some instances, the ship rocks so much, and to such a great degree, that Hansen can get knocked down and possibly sent overboard. There are also many environmental hazards, like swinging electrical wires and crates hooked up to ropes, which are also affected by the swaying of the ship, and can easily crash into the player if he or she isn't careful. Waves crashing on to the ship's deck may also inflict damage on a player's health.
[edit] Weapons
- .45 handgun
- AK-47
- spear gun
- Benelli Super 90 M4
- M79 grenade launcher
- flamethrower
- MP5
[edit] Enemies
Unlike the enemies in Resident Evil, the enemies in Cold Fear "Don't get along with each other". And therefore, if Hansen somehow make each mutants fight one another, Hansen can go through "without a scratch".
Exo-m1.1/ExoMutant
No longer human, these creatures are savage, mindless and hungry. Blessed with inhuman strength and cursed with a hunger for flesh, They attack relentlessly. HINT: aim for the head.
Exo-ME 2.0/Exomutant Not all mutants are created equal. These are smarter, stronger and faster than their counterparts making them much more dangerous. The only way to permanently get rid of them is to kill the parasite that resides in their craniums.
Exocel
Contaminator ExoCells live to spread their infection. Fast and agile, they seek weak or dying prey to serve as hosts for their parasitic needs. If they can’t find a suitable victim they’ll be happy to make one.
Adult Exocel (Breeder) The adult form of the exocel.typically stationary,they afix themselves to walls or low traffic areas such as just under walkways.They may be stationary,but they are pretty much invulnerable to anything except for fire,they will breed more (regular) exocels at a fairly fast pace,making them sometimes diffuclt to kill.The process of breeder upgrade starts when the adult exocel emerges from it`s discarded host,it then finds a comfortable spot,latches up onto it (presumeably with an organically synthesized sticking agent) and then starts nearly continually growing until it reaches it`s breeder state.
[edit] Response
Cold Fear was treated to fair reviews from game critics, though many felt it was released at the incorrect time, considering another horror themed action game, Resident Evil 4, was released earlier that year. Other main complaints against the title were mainly against the generic and derivative environments and the weak artificial intelligence. However, critics also praised it for having much better controls than other survival-horror games.
