Sometimes the things one fears the most never really come true. F.E.A.R. 3 is a horror shooter that some gamers fear may never be released. A game series that prides itself on a creepy atmosphere and a demonic girl with psychic powers, F.E.A.R. 3 certainly looks scary enough, it just doesn’t seem to be very lucky. Having already been delayed from 2010 to 2011, it looks like once again F.E.A.R. 3 is getting pushed back.

With a new release date sometime in May, things look a bit shaky for the horror FPS franchise. A time when many gamers will be out enjoying the summer sun, May can sometimes be seen as the kiss of death for game releases. Having now been removed from fourth quarter and first quarter placements, two notoriously successful release windows, it might seem like F.E.A.R. 3 is living up to the history of its previous titles.

The F.E.A.R. franchise itself has notoriously been synonymous with bad news since the first title’s release back in 2005. The game’s use of bullet-time, combined with its mood and atmosphere, made it one of the more unique first person shooters of its time. After marginal success, it looked like F.E.A.R. was on the fast track to becoming the next Resident Evil. Unfortunately, it was from there that the problems started.

After Activision absorbed Vivendi Universal, Monolith Productions, developer of the first game, was left with a concept but no title. Pushing forward with new a partner in Warner Bros., Monolith took to the gaming community to select a new title. Finally settling on Project Origin, Monolith began working hard to get a familiar IP with a different title marketed to the gaming public.

Then, out of nowhere and amidst Project Origin marketing, Warner Bros. secured the rights to the F.E.A.R. name and F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin was born. Receiving review scores that settled in the mid to high range and ending on one heck of a cliffhanger, it seemed inevitable that F.E.A.R. would become a trilogy, to be completed some time in late 2010. Then the F.E.A.R. 3 delays started.

While these delays and problems do put a smudge on the reputation of F.E.A.R. 3, they hopefully will not take away from the game itself. Under the development of Day 1 Studios, the company responsible for the 360 and PS3 ports of the first game, F.E.A.R. 3 takes a unique twist on the horror series by telling the story of the Point Man and his brother, Paxton Fettel.

Some might be wary of Day 1’s development decisions, especially Fettel’s psychic gameplay, but if the game can deliver a comparable experience and wrap up an extremely complex story in a satisfying way, the delays will be all but forgotten.

Does this F.E.A.R. 3 delay detract from your enthusiasm for the game? After so many delays do you think F.E.A.R. 3 has a chance of being successful?

F.E.A.R. 3 is now set for a May release on the PS3, Xbox 360, PC, and OnLive.

Source: Eurogamer