Platform: Nintendo Switch
Developer: Sushee
Publisher: Square Enix Collective, Forever Entertainment SA
Type of game: a mature isometric action-adventure thriller with an engaging story
Players: offline, single-player
File size: 6.9 GB
AVAILABLE: eShop downloadable version available on March 6th

Fear Effect Sedna is the third instalment in the Fear Effect series that started its life on the original PlayStation. More than 15 years later, Fear Effect Sedna is ready to take new as well as old fans by storm. But worry not. This game is perfect for newcomers because, personally, growing up I did not own a PlayStation and only heard about this series until Sedna was announced for Switch; that didn’t stop me from enjoying it one bit.

RUN, SHOOT, ROLL, SNEAK, EXECUTE

The game plays from a 3D isometric point of view, giving you control of your character and a good view of the surrounding environment. You can run, use a primary attack, special attack, sneak around and use cover. Sneaking gives you the added benefit of being able to see enemies’ range of detection and playing it smart and executing your foes the silent way can keep you alive in the more challenging levels. You can also switch between available characters on the fly and give them orders whether to follow you or stay behind while you go the stealthy way.

FEAR EFFECT

The ‘fear’ mechanic found in the game controls what strengths your character has at a given moment. If you’re surrounded, getting shot at and low on health, your damage is higher but your resistance is down. You will need to keep an eye out on your heart rate and health and replenish your health with medkits, bringing your fear level down at the same time. Last but not least, the game has a cool mechanic that allows you to stop time and plan your actions in real time. For example, you can freeze time, set the course your character will walk to neutralise a guard and then execute that plan. It’s a neat gameplay feature that gives a surprising amount of depth to the way you choose to go through a level.

MMM, PUZZLES

Fear Effect Sedna has some pretty neat puzzles peppered throughout its levels. They are unique and just the right amount of difficult in order to make you feel good about yourself when you find the solution. The reason I found the puzzles so enjoyable is because they can be solved by careful observation of the room the puzzle is in as well as the puzzle screen itself. They don’t feel tacked on and add to the overall experience. Fail to solve a puzzle and a unique and brutal death sequence will play out to indicate the game is over…with style.

CONTROL YOUR FEAR

Controlling any of the playable characters is a breeze. Every action is responsive and smooth. Fear Effect Sedna has an almost non-existent learning curve, partly due to the games incredibly clean UI, that fits into the game’s modern/futuristic look. Your objectives are always clear to you, as well as controls for special equipment, health and fear levels. Seriously, Fear Effect Sedna has some of the cleanest menus and user interface I’ve seen in a game the past two years and it really goes a long way to making the game a better experience when developers implement quality of life details such as these.

CEL-SHADED AWESOMENESS

The first thing you will probably notice in Fear Effect Sedna is the art style. The first game in the series is well-known for pioneering cel-shaded visuals in games and this game does justice to the series’ roots. Cutscenes are clean, well-animated and feature fantastic voice-acting and you will find yourself caring about the characters and story because of them. Not only that but the death sequences I mentioned before, which I believe are a staple of the series, have attention to detail and are brutal enough to make you care when you mess up and your character dies. But fret not, you can skip them if you so choose or even disable blood from the pause menu.

SMOOTH MOVES ON THE GO

Regarding gameplay, most of the game runs at around 60 frames-per-second with a drop in a certain level with a lot of NPCs on-screen, specifically a certain champagne event. Nothing too serious. Overall, Fear Effect Sedna has a clean style, beautiful bloom lighting and well-detailed levels. Performance is great on portable mode as well, with what I’m guessing is a 720p resolution and a very clear picture. My only complaint is that I wish the developers used something other than what I believe is Gouraud shading for hiding portions of the level in shadow as you walk through them. It makes camera movement feel a bit jerky and it’s a bit of a shame in such a pretty game.

SOUNDS GOOD TO ME

As I mentioned before, the voice-work in the game is fantastic. I was really impressed by how natural the relationship between Hana, Rain as well as other characters was conveyed through the talented voice actors. Really good stuff. And to top it all off, the game has a soundtrack that, well, hits all the right notes. From high-energy tracks to slower tempo ambient songs, the soundtrack is a 10/10 for me.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I really enjoyed played Fear Effect Sedna. It has a well-acted, engaging story and the fun gameplay to go with it. I found myself playing the game and looking forward to progressing the story further and further, something that doesn’t happen often with me. I was hooked. It’s safe to say that I am now a fan of the Fear Effect series and I can’t wait for the remake of the original game. Do yourself a favour and get Fear Effect Sedna.

Review code provided by Forever Entertainment SA.

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