F.E.A.R.: Extraction Point is an expansion to 2005’s excellent shooter F.E.A.R., so if you need me to give you an overview of the gameplay you’re in the wrong place. The rest of you are probably wondering what’s been added to one of your favorite shooters and the short answer is “not a lot”. You get a new story which plays out over 12 levels and a few new weapons, but overall the game is far more an extension of the original game than an expansion. When you win as many fans as F.E.A.R. did though, an extension can be most welcome.

The firefights are just as intense.

First, the new story. Extraction Point begins with you in a helicopter with your squad observing a massive explosion in the center of a city. Your helicopter crashes shortly afterward and leaves you facing a long trek across the city to reach your extraction point. This will be no walk in the park as Paxton Fettel returns with Alma-like powers and an army of Replica soldiers stands in your way. You can expect plenty of creepy paranormal situations and intense firefights just like those you grew to love in the original game.

The problem here is that while the expansion does deliver some creepy moments, its actual story is on the threadbare side and doesn’t come close to delivering the impact of the story in F.E.A.R.. When you get down to it, it boils down to a simple escape plot that you’ve already seen in plenty of movies and probably in a few of your dreams. It’s basically a long series of intense firefights interspersed among much hallway walking.

The new weapons include a chain gun, a laser weapon, and a turret which can be set up to give you extra firepower and watch your back. The turret is the most interesting of the new weapons, but the vast majority of the game will be spent playing with your old stand-bys the shotgun and machine gun.

In its favor Extraction Point does do a good job of delivering atmosphere through good use of lighting and audio effects. You’ll certainly have some of those “jump out of your seat” moments that you enjoyed so much in the original game.

All things considered, Extraction Point is good because F.E.A.R. was so good. If you want to extend the experience for a bit it certainly does that, although with less of an impact then the original. You’ll probably find that you expected more out of a F.E.A.R. expansion, though.

In The End, This Game Hath Been Rated: 78%. A good expansion because F.E.A.R. is a great game, but F.E.A.R. really deserved a great expansion.