To PC players suffering from FEAR withdrawal searching for another 'kick' - Underhell
DISCLAIMED: PC only :( and a few caveats to boot, as it is an older standalone mod, not a game
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJuw8uuG2Jc
PREFACE
It's odd I couldn't find any post or comment on this subreddit mention this mod. It has all the 'bells and whistles' of FEAR - creepy ambience, horror, pretty good FPS gameplay, 2004-esque graphics with the creepy Source engine visuals but cranked to 11. Even though it is a mod, it has proper voice acting (quality varies), plots, characters, pretty good writing, set pieces and, interestingly, diverse gameplay. I won't spoil much, but it's more than just corridor shooting.
For a good chunk of mod enthusiasts, it's one of the best standalone mods out there and we waited for its continuation for well over a decade. Unfortunately, writing this post is how I found out its creator had passed away a few months ago... What he produced was one of the most memorable mods out there and I hope you will have the opportunity to enjoy and appreciate his work.
INSTALLATION
Prerequisites
- Steam account (free)
- Source SDK Base 2007 installed via Steam - no Source game required ModDB
Downloading
- Download the mod: https://www.moddb.com/mods/underhell/downloads
- Extract the downloaded archive
- Move the Underhell folder into your Steam sourcemods directory (C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\sourcemods)
- Restart Steam
- Underhell should appear in your Steam Library under Games
Unfortunately, it's not easy to get it to run smoothly. Here are additional steps.
Patching
- Install SDK Base 2007, NOT any other newer or older version.
- Install the 4GB Patch. Load the patch with SDK Base 2007's hl2.exe. (https://ntcore.com/4gb-patch/)
Why waste time with all of the above? Well, I don't think there is a game out there that gets as close to FEAR's vision as this standalone mod does. Perhaps there is no bullet time (bar for one great scene), no near-future tech-y timeline, it's a bit more supernatural, but the FEAR inspiration is unmistakable and very tangible almost everywhere. And the mod is highly atmospheric. FEAR vibes are immaculate. And the soundtrack is fantastic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKjGrG4viNo
RIP mxthe. You put together a great team that produced a terrific mod. Thank you and you will be SORELY missed. Waiting is indeed hard.