Shogo Mobile Armor Division
Release Date: Oct 18, 2005
Platforms: Windows, Xbox 360, PS3
Developer: Monolith Productions
Publisher: Vivendi Universal Games
Genre: First Person Shooter
Prep: Can be purchased on GoG or Steam, still runs on modern systems. There is a fan made patch F.E.A.R. Echo Patch which improves the experience.
Pre-Game: by Filbert
We start the second EXP Monthly with F.E.A.R. Following up with Shogo a Monolith Productions game with another Monolith game. F.E.A.R. is a first person shooter but with two notable gameplay mechanics. The first is melee combat is a viable method to do damage in this game. From hitting with the butt of weapons to jumping kicks. The other prominent mechanic is reflex time, a type of bullet time. You can react at normal speeds still firing and melee enemies. F.E.A.R. was another game I did play around its release.
It’s a game I recall fondly because one of my older brothers had purchased a gaming PC. It was our first computer with a dedicated graphics card. Granted we had this PC for at least a year or two now but it was still a new and cool experience to play at the time high end games on max or nearly max settings. F.E.A.R. and the first Far Cry are two games which always come to mind. Gone were the days of playing the newest game on the family computer getting 20 FPS.
Now, it has been nearly 20 years since I last played the single player of F.E.A.R. I don’t remember much when it comes to the story other than it dealt with the paranormal and a few enemies. I assume I would have beat the game but can’t specifically recall. Much like Shogo this game will feel nearly like the first time playing through, though with Shogo I did recall a few major story beats. When it comes to F.E.A.R. I only remember there was a little girl. I also want to say early in a mission all your team dies and bleeds out of their helmets? Who knows if that recollection is accurate lol.
I do know I never would of played the two expansions for the game. When I was in college me and a group of friends were playing LAN nights often. At the time a free version of F.E.A.R. released which was only multiplayer. Me and a few friends including Blue had many nights playing 2v2s, 4v4s or FFA matches in the dorm room. Though the single player narrative didn’t quite stick with me, those LAN parties that F.E.A.R. was a staple will always be cherished memories.
