Cold Fear

Dying to play Resident Evil 4, but you don't have a GameCube? Fret not--Cold Fear will chill you to the bone.

If you're disappointed that Resident Evil 4 is a GameCube exclusive (at least until the PS2 version hits in late 2005), then check out Cold Fear, a unique entry in the survival/horror genre.

As a Coast Guard agent, you stalk the blood-drenched decks of a derelict Russian whaling ship during a raging hurricane. Your mysterious enemies, dubbed ExoCels, are foul, wriggling parasites dredged from the center of the Earth during an oil-drilling expedition. How they managed to contaminate the entire crew is a mystery, but you'll piece together the puzzle while fending off infected humanoids and other icky surprises.

The preview version had Resident Evil overtones, but with a few nasty twists. First and foremost, the whaling ship tilts and lurches endlessly, throwing off your aim--that's a real problem in combat since you'll rely on headshots to finish off your freakish foes. Luckily, you're also armed with a handy shove move, which helps you clear space when you're mobbed by mutants.

Visually, the preview version looked simply stunning, with lifelike character animation, detailed lighting, and superb weather effects. The cramped, claustrophobic environments and grisly depictions of alien gore looked like they were straight out of The Thing. The audio upped the suspense, manipulating the sounds of booming thunder to great effect.

Let's hope the final game lives up to the paralyzing promise of the preview version.

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