Parents' Guide to

F.E.A.R. 3

By Marc Saltzman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 18+

Gory shooter sequel with strong profanity, partial nudity.

Game PlayStation 3 , Windows , Xbox 360 2011
F.E.A.R. 3 Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this game.

  • F.E.A.R. 3 Game: Screenshot #1
  • F.E.A.R. 3 Game: Screenshot #2
  • F.E.A.R. 3 Game: Screenshot #3

Community Reviews

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age 8+

Based on 2 parent reviews

TaCTiCaLxReFLeX
TaCTiCaLxReFLeX Adult
March 24, 2012
age 11+

kinda fun-language is bad- violence is bad for those who cant handle it

The sexual themes is once again just like fear 2- naughty ol' alma shows her breasts. for language, there is a pretty big wide variety or uses of f*** and s****. violence- people are torn apart everywhere

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much swearing
splatterd brainz
splatterd brainz Adult
March 10, 2012
age 4+

b

to scary plus demo blows
See all 2 parent reviews

What’s It About?

F.E.A.R. 3, a paranormal first-person shooter, reintroduces a genetically-enhanced and skilled sharpshooter named Point Man, who teams up with his deceased brother, Paxton Fettel. Both have supernatural powers. The siblings -- who have a rocky relationship -- face off against an evil presence from their past through eight main levels. Every level you complete as Point Man can be replayed as Paxton, with a different set of skills. The story isn't terrific, but it puts the action into context and helps tie up some loose ends introduced in previous games. As with its predecessors, horror masters John Carpenter and Steve Niles were involved in the direction of F.E.A.R. 3.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2 ):
Kids say (7 ):

For those old enough and who like horror games, it's fun; but be aware the game leans more toward a shooter than it does a paranormal thriller. Depending on what kind of experience you're after, F.E.A.R. 3 may or may not be the ideal game for you. There are a few scary moments in dark corridors, on rooftops, and city streets, but the bloody and gory first-person action, which is set in memorable locations, is where the game excels.

The controls feel good, regardless of whether you're using traditional or paranormal weapons. Decent A.I. ("Artificial Intelligence" -- where the computer controls non-playable characters) makes playing the solo campaign worthwhile, but it can also be tackled in co-op mode (though it shouldn't prove too challenging with two players). There are also a few multiplayer modes to keep the action fresh for a while. F.E.A.R. 3 might not be the best -- or best-looking -- shooter on the market but it shouldn't disappoint fans of action or survival horror. Note: all three versions of the game are the same.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about whether first-person shooters still have the same appeal in 2011 as they did back in the mid-to-late 1990s. Military shooters like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 are very popular, but have they evolved much? F.E.A.R. 3 adds a horror element, like Valve's Left 4 Dead 2. Does this help innovate the genre?

  • Families can also discuss violence in games. How do you monitor the games your kids are playing? What are the markers you look for to determine whether they are too violent? How do you explain to them that a game might not be appropriate for kids their age without frustrating them?

Game Details

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