Fear Effect 2: Retro Helix (2001)

by Nish
written by Nish 7 minutes read

Summary

Fear Effect 2: Retro Helix is a survival horror video game developed by Kronos Digital Entertainment and published by Eidos Interactive. It was released for the PlayStation and Microsoft Windows in 2001. The game is a prequel to the 1999 game Fear Effect, and follows the story of four mercenaries who are tasked with rescuing the kidnapped daughter of a powerful Chinese executive.

The game is set in a crazed, alternate future of Hong Kong, where technology has run amok and the city is overrun by mutated creatures. The player takes control of one of the four mercenaries, each with their own unique abilities and weapons. The game features a variety of gameplay elements, including stealth, action, and puzzle-solving.

Fear Effect 2: Retro Helix was praised for its intense action, complex characters, and engaging story. However, the game was also criticized for its high difficulty level and some technical issues. Despite these flaws, the game remains a cult classic among fans of the survival horror genre.

Gameplay

Fear Effect 2: Retro Helix is a third-person shooter with a focus on stealth and survival horror. The player takes control of one of the four mercenaries, each with their own unique abilities and weapons. The game features a variety of gameplay elements, including:

  • Stealth: The player can use stealth to avoid detection by enemies. This can be done by hiding in shadows, moving silently, and using silenced weapons.
  • Action: The player can also use force to defeat enemies. This can be done by using a variety of weapons, including guns, knives, and grenades.
  • Puzzle-solving: The player must also solve a variety of puzzles in order to progress through the game. These puzzles can be environmental, such as finding a key to open a door, or they can be more abstract, such as solving a riddle.

The game features a variety of敌人, including mutated creatures, cyborgs, and armed guards. The player must use a variety of tactics to defeat these enemies, including stealth, action, and puzzle-solving.

Story

The story of Fear Effect 2: Retro Helix takes place in a crazed, alternate future of Hong Kong. The city has been overrun by mutated creatures, and the government has collapsed. The player takes control of one of the four mercenaries who have been tasked with rescuing the kidnapped daughter of a powerful Chinese executive.

The mercenaries soon discover that the kidnapping is part of a larger plot to unleash a deadly virus upon the world. The mercenaries must race against time to stop the plot and save the kidnapped girl.

Characters

The player can choose to play as one of four mercenaries in Fear Effect 2: Retro Helix:

  • Hana: A skilled assassin with a mysterious past.
  • Glas: A former soldier with a cybernetic arm.
  • Deke: A demolitions expert with a penchant for gambling.
  • Rain: A close friend of Hana’s and a skilled martial artist.

Each mercenary has their own unique abilities and weapons. The player must choose the mercenary that best suits their playstyle.

Development

Fear Effect 2: Retro Helix was developed by Kronos Digital Entertainment, a Canadian video game developer. The game was directed by John Zuur Platten, who also directed the original Fear Effect game. The game was developed using the Unreal Engine.

Fear Effect 2: Retro Helix was released for the PlayStation and Microsoft Windows in 2001. The game was a critical and commercial success, selling over 1 million copies worldwide.

Reception

Fear Effect 2: Retro Helix was praised for its intense action, complex characters, and engaging story. However, the game was also criticized for its high difficulty level and some technical issues. Despite these flaws, the game remains a cult classic among fans of the survival horror genre.

Legacy

Fear Effect 2: Retro Helix is considered to be one of the best survival horror games of all time. The game’s intense action, complex characters, and engaging story have made it a favorite among fans of the genre. The game has also been praised for its innovative use of the Unreal Engine.

Fear Effect 2: Retro Helix has been ported to a variety of platforms, including the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and PC. The game has also been released on the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade.

In 2018, a remastered version of Fear Effect 2: Retro Helix was released for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. The remastered version features updated graphics and sound, as well as some new gameplay features.

Fear Effect 2: Retro Helix remains a popular game among fans of the survival horror genre. The game’s intense action, complex characters, and engaging story have made it a cult classic. The game’s legacy is sure to continue for many years to come.

Review Score

8/10

Art

Cover Art

Screenshots

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Nish is a software engineer by day and avid gamer who loves to play video games after he puts his two boys to bed. His insights delve into the mechanics, and storytelling of the games he plays with the aim to share his passion with the audience. He loves to travel back to his native India and travel the country on his restored Royal Enfield Bullet 350, a relic from a simpler time, like some of the games he plays.

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