Forgive its atrocious name, because if you’re a FEAR fan Trepang2 is probably the closest thing we’re going to get to a sequel.
Released on PC earlier this year (you can read our review right here), Trepang2 puts players in the boots of a super soldier. Your first task is to escape from a mysterious facility where you’ve been held captive. After that, you find yourself working for Task Force 27, an organisation that seems hellbent on dismantling the shady operations of another organisation called Horizon.
Operating out of a remote base, what stands out here is that you can push on with the main story if you wish, not that Trepang2 is all that heavy on it, or take part in side missions. You can replay missions if you’d like, too. You’re given a decent amount of freedom as to how you approach the game, then, and you’ll likely want to replay missions due to how fun the core gameplay is.
This is a hardcore first-person shooter at its heart; fast-paced, tough-as-nails and action packed. Although you are given a choice as to how you approach many encounters. While going in all-guns blazing is an option, sometimes it pays to be stealthy, sneaking up on enemies to take them down or use them as human shields. You have a handy cloaking ability to help with that, too. The real fun in Trepang2 lies in going loud and unleashing hell, however.
Just like in FEAR, you have the ability to slow down time, allowing you to easily overcome even a squad of foes. With just the press of a button, you essentially become a monster, able to tear apart your enemies with your arsenal of weapons in a kind of heightened state that makes everything more impactful. It’s glorious. Add in your ability to slide into enemies, knocking them off their feet and into the air, and you have a combat system that truly feels electrifying.
Where Trepang2 really differs from FEAR is that it leans even more into the supernatural. In addition to a variety of well-equipped soldiers, you’ll also find yourself facing off against literal monsters, like a giant moth-man. Some may find it a little over the top, but it at least it keeps you on your toes and forces you to switch up your tactics. Dealing with zombie-like creatures that swarm you challenges you in a different way to a unit armed with assaults rifles and shields, after all.
Developed by Trepang Studios (hence the name – it’s their second game), Trepang2 really does feel like a successor to FEAR. And with Monolith Games and Warner Bros. seemingly no longer interested in the series, we’re happy it exists. Console owners can now get in on the fun, too, with both PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions available. We’ve spent some time with the PS5 version and have had nothing to complain about. It looks nice, has quick loading times, and we haven’t noticed any performance issues. It’s a great way to play.
If you’re FEAR fan, then, make sure you don’t sleep on Trepang2. Its name might be silly, giving the impression that it’s a sequel when it truly isn’t, but this is a highly entertaining first-person shooter with some thrilling supernatural powers and enemies.
Check the price of Trepang2
