( CNN ) -- `` F.E.A.R . 3 , '' the latest installment in the action-horror series , aims higher than your typical first-person shooter game . It boasts cool combat features , a spooky paranormal story line and some dramatic tension . But because its emphasis is on combat , not thrills , the game is not nearly as scary as it should be . `` F.E.A.R . 3 '' ( Day 1 Studios , Warner Bros. Interactive ) continues its franchise 's story of a family in conflict as two brothers work together to track down their psychically enhanced mother , Alma , who is about to give birth . However , their reasons for wanting to find dear Mom are totally opposite . Filmmaker John Carpenter , director of the classic fright flick `` Halloween , '' helped create cinematics for the game that heighten its fear factor . Comic book horror writer Steve Niles co-wrote the story line . Co-op mode is the preferred mode of play here , allowing you to take advantage of each brother 's skills during combat and strive toward the highest score on each level . You can play as Point Man , who is well versed in military training and technique , or as Paxton Fettel , who was slain during the original `` F.E.A.R '' but returns here as a ghost with psychic energy powers . The brothers must navigate wave after wave of soldiers , whacked-out cultists and creepy creatures created from Alma 's mind . The battlefields range from a looted food warehouse to the science bunker where Alma is being held . While the action is pretty linear , there are detours in which you can search for hidden weapons and ammo , psychic link gathering locations , and an Alma doll , which scores big points when found . There are enemies who require some extra work to defeat , including one called a Phase Caster , who summons additional soldiers over and over . Kill him first . Seriously . It is easy to get immersed in the run-and-gun aspects of `` F.E.A.R . 3 , '' but keep in mind that it 's also supposed to be a horror game . Remember , Mom is a psychic time bomb allegedly waiting to erupt when she gives birth to ... whatever . To be sure , there are some very good horror moments in the game . The apparitions that briefly appear , scare and disappear are disconcerting . And having a ghost brother along during solo mode is a constant reminder . When they occur , the terror elements are jump-out-of-your-seat frightening . It is almost like watching a horror movie from the eyes of the lead actor . The problem is those moments do n't seem to occur as often as you 'd think or hope . There were plenty of times in the game where I forgot it was supposed to be a thriller and not just a shooter . Some levels ' features are so combat-heavy that there 's no room for any memorable paranormal experiences . Early in the game I was peeking around every corner expecting to find some apparition or twisted scene , only to shrug and move on . By the end of the game , I stopped looking for ghosts and just treated everything as a combat scene . Multiplayer modes help make the game fun to replay . You can work together with your teammates to survive waves of enemies emerging from an advancing fog , or be possessed by Alma and try to take over your former teammates . `` F.E.A.R 3 '' is a well-made first-person shooter that will challenge players with intelligent enemies and compelling battles . Sadly , the frights are n't quite as jarring as they could have been . Which , I 'm sure , makes the ghosts very sad . Boo . `` F.E.A.R . 3 '' is playable on the PC , PlayStation 3 , and Xbox 360 . It is available now in North America , Australia and the UK . The game is rated M for mature due to blood and gore , intense violence , partial nudity and strong language . This review was done after playing the Xbox 360 version .
`` F.E.A.R . 3 '' aims higher than your typical shooter game , with some dramatic tension . The game is the story of two brothers trying to find their mother . The brothers must wade through wave after wave of soldiers and whacked out cultists . Sadly , the frights are n't quite as jarring as they could have been .