This article refers to the PlayStation 3-exclusive Bonus Mission unlocked after completing the campaign, not to be confused with Instant Action missions or the Xbox 360 Bonus Mission.
The Bonus Mission, also known in the loading screen as Bonus Mission - SFOD-D, is an extra side mission unlocked in the PlayStation 3 version of F.E.A.R exclusively after the completion of the main campaign. The player takes the role as an unnamed Delta Force operator apart of Foxtrot Squad, the same recon unit A. Shepard sent into the Armacham headquarters where they would meet their end as later witnessed by Point Man at the end of Interval 04 - Watchers.
Brief[]
A disturbance has been reported at Armacham headquarters; Replica soldiers may be involved. SFOD-D has been deployed to assess the nature of the threat.
Walkthrough[]
Most of this bonus mission is an edited version of Interval 04 - Infiltration - Watchers, from the base game, only with different enemy placements and some added barricades, not every area from the original interval can be retraced. The player will also be accompanied by a friendly Delta Force soldier armed with an RPL Sub-Machine Gun who will provide covering fire throughout the level. He can be killed and the player is not penalized for his death. While useful as a companion, he should not be overly relied on, as though his health is decent, certain enemies and grenades will kill him quite quickly. His weapon of choice also makes his reliance minimal.
Note: Due to the lack of Slow-Mo, extra caution should be advised as this makes the level more aggressive than others. Utilize defensive strategies more often.
The operative starts out with a RPL with 150 rounds, a single AT-14 Handgun with 100 and one N6A3 Fragmentation Grenade. Inside the elevator lobby, head out into the large room and ignore the desk, instead heading right through the opened gate. A Medkit can be found in the offices on the left of the wooden door. You can either head into this door, or go around from the glass where three Replica Fatigue Soldiers wait, armed with RPLs. Take them out and grab their ammo, don't miss the armor pickup on the middle table and the medkit near the phone booths, as well as another medkit in the offices adjacent to this room.
The next room is much larger with height advantages. There will be more soldiers on either side of the room. Focus on the group to the left, as they have soldiers armed with VK-12 Combat Shotguns and an HV Penetrator which can pierce your armor and quickly kill your AI companion. Take the shotgun and replace your RPL with the Penetrator as you'll most likely be very low on ammo for it by this point. Ignore the small offices behind the glass ahead and instead head left down the stairs for some armor and more shotgun ammo. When finished, head to the staircases to the right of the room and walk up to the second floor.
From here, another group of Replica armed with G2A2 Assault Rifles will spawn on the other side. The Penetrator or pistol can help with the longer distances for this part. Once they are defeated, grab their rifles if needed and then head into the brightly lit office to grab a medkit and then through the glass. There is an armor pickup on the sofa directly to the right. Head up the stairs afterwards and into the office cubicles. You'll hear a small gunfight followed by two more assault rifle wielding Replica. Once the two are dead, a radio conversation will play indicating the room is clear. A single assault rifle is resting on one of the cubicles with two extra frag grenades.
The small break room (the same one where Point Man had to get into the vents from) can be explored for extra goodies, including armor, medkits, ammo for the SMG, shotgun, frag grenades and even an extra pistol should the player have kept their starting handgun. Don't forget the medkit to the right side offices of the gate. Enter through to the next area when ready.
As you walk down the hall, you'll see a poor Delta Force soldier get murdered by a Replica Heavy Armor armed with the Watson Automatic Shotgun protected by several Replica Urban Soldiers armed with SMGs. Two invincible Delta Force allies will be on the second floor providing support armed with their own SMGs. While they do a good job at confusing the Heavy Armor, their weak damage means you should step in to help. When they are dead, a second heavy armor armed with another Watson will appear from an elevator with his own squad of Replica urbans. Take care of them and then look up at the squad on the second floor (he'll constantly try to get your attention until you do) and exchange dialogue. Once completed, grab any ammo or the Watsons then head into the elevator with your AI partner (If still alive) and hit the switch. A hallucination will trigger.
After the horror sequence, head towards the security station and eliminate all Replica inside, armed with RPLs. The Watson or VK-12 will make very quick work of them thanks to the close quarters. Head into the security office grab what you need, including the Watson lying on the desk, two extra frags as well as two AT-S Proximity Mines, two medkits and another pistol as well as some armor. The gun rack contains a VK-12, two SMGs, and three assault rifles. If you didn't grab them entering, don't forget the Medkit in the thin office when first entering and the armor laying on the desk. Hit the button to open the gate ahead and enter through it.
The left path takes you to Norton Mapes's office. You cannot progress this way, but extra medkits and armor can be found as well as a short scripted sequence involving ATC Guards. Afterwards, head down the right path instead following the blood trail. You'll witness a civilian being executed, so one should assume there will be a fight around the corner. Three more SMG wielding Replica accompanying another Watson-armed Heavy Armor. The Penetrator or Watson are very useful for clearing this area out and dealing with the heavy. Pick up the Heavy's shotgun as well as the one leaning on the side of the cubicle of you need it. Carry on to witness a small horror segment where Alma Wade massacres a Delta Force soldier. Continue on to witness another Alma sighting.
Up ahead, instead of finding Fettel like in the original Interval, you'll see a squad of Replica armed with assault rifles. Take them out and grab the medkit on the yellow box and press forward to see yet another Alma sighting. Ignore the areas next to her as they contain nothing of value. Instead head towards the double doors and be careful entering this next area, as the door is out in the open where Replica could easily funnel in and throw grenades. You can bait them around the corner and take them out. There will usually always be a Replica in the small window where the Health Booster usually is. After they are all dead, you are free to pick up the Health Booster and Medkit, but it will ultimate prove pointless past this point.
Continue to the right and down the hall to hear Alma once more and then into a familiar looking room where you'll link up with the rest of your squad. If your companion survived, it will only be one there to greet you. If he didn't survive, there will be two Delta Force soldiers instead. Regardless, as they exchange dialogue, they notice an elevator is arriving to their location, only to see that it is Alma Wade, who completely liquifies the room and massacres your entire team and then you, turning your screen red and locking you in place.
The mission ends as Den Mother finally breaks radio static far too late.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- The health booster from Interval 04 - Watchers is still present on the bonus mission and can even be picked up, despite the fact no more enemies will appear afterwards, making it's inclusion most likely an oversight when porting assets.
- Of all canon SFOD-D units besides Dark Signal, Foxtrot Squad appears to have been the second most effective. The team successfully combatted the Replicas and paranormal threats, surviving admirably until Alma killed them.
- This is the second side-mission in which the player is not a member of the F.E.A.R team, but an SFOD-D soldier.
- At one point, both halves of Foxtrot Squad are present during the same battle. The player and their ally will encounter Replica forces engaging their fellow Delta members, who are firing down from the top floor of the room. Until the underground battle scene with the APC in F.E.A.R. 2, this marked the highest number of AI allies that fought alongside the player in the series.
- The Delta Operatives can all see Alma's psionic disturbances, despite lacking psychic powers.
- The player's character appears to speak at certain points to other Foxtrot members.
- Foxtrot seems to be a five-man unit, though only four of them are ever seen in any one area at the same time (the fifth is seen to be killed during a firefight). However, it is possible to see Alma liquefy an unidentified Delta operative at one point during the mission, hinting that there may have been a sixth member, or that there was a second component of the recon team.
- It's also possible that this operator's death relates to the fact that only three Delta units survive to regroup. In the scenario in which the player's ally survived, the third member of the team makes a comment about mysteriously losing his colleague. It makes sense that the other half of the team was separated, and that the operative the player sees die is in fact the fourth Foxtrot member.
- This is the first level in a F.E.A.R. game where completing the level kills the player.
- The only major character in the first game to appear in this level is A. Shepard, and only via radio transmission.
- After the squad has regrouped, Alma appears from out of a recently-arrived elevator. Curiously, none of the AI squad members attempt to fire on Alma when she appears, or even when she attacks, most likely to keep consistent with Jin Sun-Kwon's findings.
- Despite this, the player is free to open fire on Alma as much as they want to contradict her statement of "I don't see any bullet holes. There's no brass laying around either, these guys didn't fire a shot."
- Only one ATC Guard can be seen shooting. It happens in the room where Norton Mapes fall through the celling. The player can hear gun fire, and if they wait long enough they will hear yelling and see an ATC Guard running, but gets gunned down.
- There is one ATC personal not counting the ATC Guard that the player can see. While his name is unknown, at the spot where the player can see Alma kill the first SFOD-D Soldier, the player can hear him begging not to be shot, and if they are fast enough can see him fall over dead.
- None of the Replica bodies are in present when the player plays as Point Man, excluding the ATC bodies.
- If the player stares at his ally, he will enter a weird pose.
- All Delta Force Operators in this level reuse names. (D. Passalaqua and P. Niculescu)