A new trailer has been released for F.E.A.R. 3 that highlights another of its four multiplayer modes, this one entitled Contractions. Based around the idea of tower defense, Contractions pits a team of up to four players against wave after wave of enemies.

Of course, with this being F.E.A.R. 3, and raising the stakes a necessity, Contractions works around the idea that each wave of enemies is brought about as a result of Alma’s contractions. As the contractions increase, so does a dense fog cover that will force players into much more confined spaces.

Thankfully, as the experience escalates, a wide variety of weapons will be available, many of which go beyond your typical assault rifle. But like the weapons’ increasing usefulness, so increases the types of enemies that will advance upon the team, culminating in the appearance of Alma herself. Teamwork is the name of the game in Contractions…that and some really strong weapons.

Unfortunately, what the trailer does not address is how certain elements of Contractions will work — namely weapon allocations and area defenses. While the trailer does show a weaponry wall, there is no mention of whether these weapons will be readily accessible or if there will be a currency involved with Contractions.

However, since players will also be able to both use the possession ability and pilot some the game’s signature mechs, we imagine that Contractions will be a bit more free form than something like the Zombies mode in Black Ops.

Check out the trailer below:

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The real gamble with Contractions, and the three other multiplayer modes in F.E.A.R. 3 is in not including a deathmatch variant. While there are equal parts cooperative and competitive modes, each providing a unique spin on the game's mechanics or plot points, it's a tough sell when you can't just pit two teams against each other in a fight to the death.

It won’t be until the final game releases that we will know whether or not this risky proposition has paid off, but from the looks of the first three multiplayer modes in action, they seem to bring a welcome change of pace to the FPS genre.

What do you think of Contractions, the tower defense multiplayer mode in F.E.A.R. 3? Do you think a lack of deathmatch will hurt the longevity of the title?

F.E.A.R. 3 releases June 21, 2011 for the PS3, PC, and Xbox 360.