Fear Factor Unleashed (Game Boy Advance) Review

Those of you that live in the USA, or perhaps have better knowledge of TV than us, might know of a show called Fear Factor. We did some research (because we are nice like that) and managed to find out that apparently is a very popular programme on which a number of stupid Americans do stupid things for a stupid price...stupidly. This is basically the game of the TV show. Now, as far as film to game conversions go the success rate isn't great...as for TV to game crossovers, don't even get us started...

So the omens are not too good, and to be honest the game isn't either. To say it is pointless would be an insult to the criticism; this game is devoid of so much point that it is positively empty of any point at all, in any way. The premise of the game is simple, make a character, select a game mode, and try to escape from various 'perilous situations'. In the main mode, entitled 'Fear Factor' you have to watch all your opponents complete, or fail at their challenge, before you get a go at yours. You can skip through it all, but having to sit around hammering 'A' until the game lets you have a go is insanely tedious.

The challenges themselves are also a little bit rank. Escaping chains whilst strapped to a train-line with an oncoming freight rushing towards you is glorious pointless. You have to turn a lock and drop a bolt a number of times, to free yourself, but you can't get too scared. If your character gets so frightened that he or she starts wetting themselves (possibly) then it's game over. So you have to hammer at the L and R triggers to keep the 'Fear Meter' in the middle...whilst completing the challenge too. If it sounds tedious when we explain it, trust us when we say it is even more tear-inducingly dull when you actually have to play it.

Challenges include: Fright Train, The Pit and the Pendulum, Teeter Terror, Hydro Horror and (wait for it) Hell-icopter. Each one more terrible, awkward and pointless than the last. We wouldn't have a problem with the game if it was enjoyable, but it simply isn't. The challenges are either tedious, impossible to do well (poor gameplay, horrific controls) or are just badly thought out. You can practice the challenges should you so wish, which is vaguely entertaining. But at the end of the day no matter what challenge you play it will invariably be dull as a Conservative Party conference.

This game has no point, it has no structure, it has no aim, it is just painfully awful tripe. We looked and looked for some enjoyment, we even took out games we had previously rated as being awful and played them to compare...and it comes off badly against the worst of the worst. It has no redeeming features, none at all.