Recently, producer Tim Hall at Sierra was kind enough to answer my questions about the new F.E.A.R. title Perseus Mandate. I would like to thank Tim and Michael for setting this up.
Questions from Gareth Von Kallenbach
Skewed and Reviewed
1.) What is the background and setting for the game please and how does it relate to the last two chapters in the series?
TH: The game takes place in-between the original F.E.A.R. and Extraction Point. It’s a look at the events from the perspective a new team who are called in to quell something else that is happening at Armacham during the chaos of the original event. There are crossovers in the storyline but if you have never played F.E.A.R. before the story also stands on its own.
2.) What are some of the new weapons players will be able to use and will they be available in multiplay?
TH: Perseus Mandate has 3 new weapons for the player. There is an automatic rifle with infrared scope, an electric gun and my favorite, the grenade launcher, which fires football shaped grenades that explode like a nail bomb.
3.) What are some of the locales that will be featured in the game?
The player will get to go through some of the city streets, the sewers and the abandoned underground city to name a few. We also have some spooky cloning facilities for the player to explore.
4.) What forms of multiplay will be featured if any?
TH: We will be adding some new maps on the PC and new instant action on the 360.
We will also be bringing some of the new weapons from both Extraction Point and Perseus Mandate over to some of the maps so get ready to chew people up with the minigun and grenade launcher.
5.) Blending action with a detailed plot can always be tricky. How have you attempted to create this element, and will scripted events be a part of the game?
TH: Scripted events are part of the game and they are what added the fear in F.E.A.R. There is plenty of action in Perseus Mandate and with a whole new team and mission plenty of story also.
6.) Will the new operative have enhanced reflexes or other special powers?
TH: Yes, the new operative will also have enhanced reflexes but no other new special powers.
7.) What new enemies will players face and what are some of their abilities?
TH: There is an entire new army of mercenaries to take down as well as all the factions you battled against in F.E.A.R. and Extraction Point.
On the creepy side we have a new little bit of sunshine called a Shade. Shades appear in dark places and reach out and grab the player trying to pull them down into the dark world below.
8.) Roughly how long is the game and how many new maps will players get for multiplayer?
TH: 5-6 hours for the new expansion pack and approx 3 new MP maps along with many old favorites that you can now use the added weapons from both Extraction Point and Perseus Mandate.
9.) The series has always featured standout A.I. What new tweaks are in store for gamers?
TH: We’ve made a few more adjustments including new firing routines so they are a little quicker on the trigger.
We have also added more tiered combat so in certain areas you can find yourself fighting on the middle ground fending off attacks from above and below.
10.) What are some of the biggest obstacles you faced in creating the game and the biggest successes?
TH: The biggest obstacle is always time. With 1 year to get everything in it can be a tight squeeze but we have some great new things.
My favorite additions include the grenade launcher and the added destruction in the environments – yes more things break and explode than ever before!
