The expansion pack for the critically acclaimed computer game F.E.A.R. takes place in the same universe as the original FPS, with a story that begins about halfway through those events and will ultimately have an open ending, leaving plenty of options for the next sequel. Unfortunately the aging game engine, outdated visual effects and repetitive tactical combat prevents this latest addition to achieve its formal glory.

Perseus Mandate has a rather weak and twisted story that barely makes any sense for those unfamiliar with the first chapter of this franchise, and completing the game won't answer most of the questions. Sadly enough there is a good chance that many people will give it up in the early stages and will simply cruise through the levels, paying little or no attention at all to ambiguous comment that some of the central characters utter from time to time.

This is bad news for a game that relies heavily on the player's commitment and focuses on creating a certain atmosphere that will keep you wired until the final chapter, because killing the same type of opponents over and over again is not enough to preserve the interest on the long run. If you take the psychological component out of the FEAR series, you'll get an average first person shooter unable to compete with its more sophisticated counterparts.

What made the original game really special was the creepy atmosphere and its horror aspects that would provide the player with the much desired adrenaline rush, so it's no wonder that Perseus Mandate focuses on the same recipe for success. Trying too hard, to preserve the elements that were considered to be essential ingredients, has its downsides. The game looks more of a clone than a new addition to the series. Furthermore the lack of innovative concepts will have a deterring effect on the hardcore fans, who might feel they are playing the same game all over again in a slightly different background.

After playing for a couple of hours you'll start to anticipate most of the firefights as they always take place in similar locations, a warehouse, a courtyard or in a larger room in the office building. So the risk of getting caught in an ambush is close to zero. The sewers however is the only place where this game can still surprise you, and this is where most of the paranormal activities unfold; the evil creatures that lurk in the dark and come out when least expected will force extensive use of the flashlight and when it is recharging it's wise to limit your movement and stay put.

All these ghosts, wandering around or disappearing in thin air, ghouls trying to grab you under the floor and the occasional encounter with the main villains Paxton and Alma will do the trick for a while but will fail to impress after you see them again. The truth is that there are simply not enough new elements provided by Perseus Mandate to improve the horror atmosphere created by the original F.E.A.R. to keep the game afloat.

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The other key element of this FPS is of course the actual combat which consists of wiping out entire divisions of replica soldiers, ATC personnel and the brand new Nightcrawlers which are briefly introduced. The first part of the game is particularly uninspiring, as you find yourself killing the same opponents over and over again in virtually the same environment; clearing office after office in those huge buildings quickly becomes a boring and tedious experience.

On the good side, the AI is still very good and the enemy will always try to have the upper hand, frequently changing location and approaching in teams, in an attempt to surround you. Still there is little they can do if you are smart enough to take advantage of the various objects and take cover, then return fire when they appear. Switching on the higher difficulty will not make them smarter, but instead they will benefit of better weapons and will have increased accuracy and damage so this is not going to require more skill but rather more patience.

At some points during the campaign you'll have a couple of FEAR agents or Delta Force soldiers on your side to provide you with assistance and cover but their help is close to zero. Compared to the opponents' AI, these guys are about as bright as a burnt-out 20 watt light bulb, and will be rapidly annihilated. Their role in the storyline is insignificant and their assistance minimal so there is no reason to get involved and try to prevent them from getting shot; it's simply a waste of time and sooner or later you'll find yourself all alone against the mixed army of replicas, ATCs and Nightcrawlers.

From time to time you'll be involved in short fights with armored opponents wielding better weapons who require good coordination and extensive use of the Slow Mode to take down, but usually you'll be stuck with the regular soldiers who present little challenge. The Nightcrawlers however have the same ability as yourself and can dodge bullets thanks to their enhanced reflexes, and of course superior armor that allows them to withstand numerous blows.

The arsenal consists of the regular pistols, assault rifles and submachine guns as well as the brand new lightning gun and grenade launcher who are supposed to spice things up and help you deal with tough opponents. In fact, the lack of ammunition makes these otherwise neat guns of as much use as a one-legged man at an ass-kicking contest.

The campaign set is crippled by the absence of an entertaining storyline and it ends abruptly, which is a huge turn off, to say the least. Fighting the elite of the Nightcrawlers is somehow challenging as they can sustain heavy punishment regardless of your gear, while their slow mode ability make you look about as fast as a tortoise on Prozac. Completing the campaign will grant you access to the bonus missions, but unfortunately these are shorter than Paul McCartney's arms and won't add any extra value to the storyline either.

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Perseus Mandate doesn't bring enough innovative features to stand out from the crowd, and its aging engine and obsolete visual effects won't grant it the edge over the competition. For those who didn't play the original game, it's probably a better choice to try that one, while those who did shouldn't set their expectations too high about this latest installment.

Gameplay: 68

It's still pretty exciting to engage the enemy in fast paced firefights, and this game can provide you with the much needed adrenaline rush while you try to find your way out of the sewers. Still, the repetitive tactical combat will cause your enthusiasm to plummet down to earth faster than a speeding bullet after a couple of hours. Sooner or later killing hundreds of clones and thrashing offices will lose it's entertaining side and with a crippled story line, unable to preserve you interest Perseus Mandate is bound to turn into a tedious experience.

Graphics: 71

Two years ago these visual effects were outstanding but nowadays they have lost their edge and fail to impress even the fans of the franchise, while the savvy consumers find them outdated. Of course it's still nice to see bullets flying towards the opponent's chest in slow mode, and to pin the enemy to the walls with the slick HV Penetrator, but we've already seen it before, twice.

Sound: 74

Creating the right atmosphere is the cornerstone of the F.E.A.R. series and Perseus Mandate preserves the same line that insured tremendous success for the original game. Slamming doors and screeching noises are perfect for the basements and sewers and the sound effects make an important contribution to the creepy setup. Again the resemblance to the previous titles is uncanny so it's hard to pretend we are very impressed, but overall it fits well and delivers so there is no reason to complain.

Multiplayer: 66

The multiplayer mode brings virtually nothing new to the original F.E.A.R., except maybe for a few extra weapons so there is no wonder it is available for free. The bottom line is that you'll have exactly the same experience as with the previous titles so there is no reason at all to purchase the latest addition for this purpose alone.

Hardware: 80

The original game pushed computers to their limits, but that was in 2005 and since there are no notable improvements in Perseus Mandate one should have little worries about the way it will run on nowadays computers.