Har har har…that title is so punny…

So it’s been a while since I’ve added to the blog. Mostly because there really hasn’t been much happening on the gaming scene recently, other than massive layoffs. EA’s kicking upwards of 1,000 people out the door and THQ followed suit recently by slashing their manpower budget to the tune of 600 jobs. The only developer who apparently isn’t suffering is Stardock, the creators of Sins of the Solar Empire (excellent strategy game, by the way) among other things. They’ve just opened a new studio and are hiring.

In spite of the lack of new appearances on the gaming scene, however, there have been two events of note—the release of the FEAR 2 demo and the Dawn of War II multiplayer beta.

First, FEAR 2. Or, more accurately, F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin. If you haven’t played the original F.E.A.R., you’re a bit out of luck … first, for having missed such an excellent game; and second, because the story is maddeningly difficult to summarize — I’ve tried several times without any luck. Suffice to say it involves a creepy little girl who wants to kill you. With clones. And you get a gun that skeletonizes people. And if that doesn’t make you salivate with desire, you have clearly not watched enough B-movies.

But seriously, it is a great game, involving some of the most intense firefights and atmospheric moments in gaming. More importantly, it’s terrifying. I remember playing the demo for the original game in a dimly lit room after midnight, completely and totally scared spitless from beginning to end, and loving every second of it. After purchasing and playing the awesome full game and snubbing the lame expansions, I parked the experience in the back of my mind along with S.T.A.L.K.E.R., Homeworld and real Hawaiian pineapple in the area reserved for ‘awesome experiences I’ll probably never have again.’ Because, honestly, a repeat performance fell outside the bounds of believability.

And so it was with a certain amount of skepticism that I downloaded and installed the demo for FEAR 2 (take note here — all reviewers of this game stop punctuating the title at some point, usually after the seventeenth time they write F>E,aR..) demo and fired it up. “They can’t phase me,” I said to myself while turning off all the lights and putting on my sound-insulating headphones. Jaded I was, steeled against all the tricks of the scare-game trade. Yes, FEAR had frightened me, but that was then, and this was now, and there was no way FEAR 2 could do it again.

After I restarted my heart for the third time, I began to suspect that perhaps FEAR 2 had indeed done it again.

I won’t give too much away, but the game looks awesome. The graphics have been significantly tuned up, the interface is crisp and immersive, the gameplay is tight, and if the content of the demo is anything to go by, the game will be equal parts scarifying and action-packed. Look for a review here after it comes out.

Second, the Dawn of War II multiplayer beta. In contrast to the FEAR demo, I knew this was going to be good. With the possible exception of Homeworld 2, developer Relic has never let me down. All of their games are must-plays for anyone with even a passing interest in real-time strategy — starting with the legendary Homeworld and continuing with Impossible Creatures, Company of Heroes, and the original Dawn of War series.

Set in the grim future world of Warhammer 40,000, the game draws heavily from the Company of Heroes playbook, in that it differs dramatically from the traditional RTS formula. There is no base building; there is only territory control and the annihilation of the enemy.

The beta has been a blast so far. Supplied with six maps (two one-on-one and four six-on-six), and two modes (territory control and annihilation), it is far from the complete game. But the action is fast, the combat is brutal, the graphics are gorgeous, and the gameplay is smooth as silk. There are some balancing issues (the Tyranids’ in particular are a bit unbalanced), but that’s what a beta is for. If you have Steam, definitely download it and check it out. If you don’t have Steam, slap yourself repeatedly and do not stop until you get it.

So, as I told you in my earlier preview of this game, keep your eye on this one. It looks to be fantastic.

Apologies for the long time between posts. Keep your eye on these games. And if you’re a particularly big fan, send me money so I can afford to buy them and review them for you.

Jerod Jarvis is an independent gaming journalist and founder of Duality Games. He maintains gaming columns for The Washington Times Communities and for The Outpost. When not blogging madly about games, he freelances for the Spokesman-Review in his hometown of Spokane, Washington and attends school at Whitworth University. Check out his presence on Facebook and Twitter to stay up on Duality Games updates and the inside scoop on the gaming news you care about.