Cold Fear (Xbox, 2005)

Cold Fear is in many respects a Resident Evil 4 clone, it improves on some of the latter’s mechanics and adds it’s own flavor, and is also much scarier but it doesn’t live up to Resi 4’s fluid play, camera and overall polish.
But make no mistake if you like killing things that aren’t altogether human and like to jump then you shouldn’t pass up Cold Fear.

During a severe arctic storm the protagonist; Tom Hansen of the U.S. Coast Guard receives a SOS from a nearby Russian Whaler. Upon reaching the rocking vessel the rescue team finds that it appears to be deserted, but as these things often play out Hansen quickly becomes the only survivor of the team.

To make a long story short; you quickly end up fighting several types of nasty zombie like enemies, humans, and small parasites (which are at the heart of all this trouble), with an array of weapons and environmental hazards like gas valves, Electric Transformers (fry zombie fry!), and of course the omnipresent explosive barrel.

Besides the zombies you have an ever-present enemy when you come above deck in the form of the ocean itself.
Not only will the heaving seas and waves throw you overboard, but also they make your aiming unsteady, blur your vision, and can toss you across the deck or into a wall if don’t tread carefully.

Besides the whaler cold fear also takes place on an oilrig.


Cold Fear (available on Xbox, PS2, & PC)
Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: Darkworks

I like Resident Evil type of games, so I thought I should buy this game at an affordable price. It's a good entertaining game for what I paid for it. It takes place at sea instead of on the streets or in buildings. It was slow to get started, but the action picked up after awhile.

I did not like this game. Not realistic, not scary. Very slow and slow moving. It seems to take forever just to get your guy to walk somewhere. There is no real control over your character, his movements or views. I would not recommend this game.

Pros
+ Creepy atmosphere!!!
+ Has the cinematic feel of the old Resident Evil games as well as a behind the back camera angle.
+ Awesome visuals on a boat that is at times just as scary as the monsters you fight.

Cons
- Camera angles can still be a bummer since some of the enemies move super fast at times.
- Ending feels forced and doesn't explain some things well enough.
- Most of the time you fight crazed Russians rather than monsters.

Comments
This game will never be Resident Evil 4 but it can try as it may. The characters are not so interesting but the game is fun, visuals are slick, and looking out ino the sea is an awesome experience that makes you think the boat just may capsize at times. Just think of this as 'Resident Evil' & 'The Thing' all rolled into one and put on a whaler ship. There are a lot of creepy moments that you just should not pass up.

Verdict
Must buy for horror fans but all others should probably rent first. Must have for all of you Xbox owners bummed out about not having Resident Evil 4. 4/5

This game is a little fun. If you like Resident Evil then you'll probly like this game. The feature I didnt like was the shooting. You have no control or aim. It takes about 6 shots to land one unless you play the game a lot and get really used to it... Overall I think this just passes the time if you have nothing else to do.