As one of the very best first person shooters (FPS) for PC last year, F.E.A.R. makes a smooth, natural and welcome transition to Xbox 360 where it's just as brilliant.

Of course, it scores no points for originality (the original PC version stole all those)—excepting maybe a couple for bonus modes like "Instant Action"—, but it's still one of the better conceived, technically marvelous and flat out fun shooters available for Xbox 360.

A near-future sci-fi commando type game, F.E.A.R. throws in some horror-story telling of "The Grudge" and "The Ring" variety, with you as a genetically superior soldier (with reflexes so fast you can see things in slow motion) tracking down a psychotic psychic scientist and the psychotically gifted little girl he's (maybe) ensnared.

Though thin, the story injects enough moments of spine tingling creep-outs if not gut-churning gross-outs to propel you to your purpose, which is to get from A to B using a combination of guile, stealth, token puzzle solving skills and, more often than not, firepower.

As with the PC version, F.E.A.R really shines in the artificial intelligence (AI) department, with many a disposable foe showing similar signs of cunning and guile, taking cover—even creating cover by knocking stuff over—like most computer-generated characters wouldn't, even going so far as to team up, flank you or work you into a corner. Better still, when all else fails, they panic like proverbial schoolgirls, scream at you belligerently and/or get up and run away, guns blazing in a random flail behind them all the way. It's a rather remarkable technical achievement—a testament to the X360's processing power, too—that's also funny and gratifying.

Game controls translate from the PC's mouse & keyboard to gamepad thumbsticks and buttons as well as any game of this ilk, with sensitivity settings adjustable from dawdling noob to wicked pro. Online multiplayer, not actually either version's strong suit, is also available for up to 16 players in a variety of mayhemic modes. Gorgeous multiplayer mayhem to be sure, but the best reason to get FEAR is for the awesome single player experience.

• TIP: As usual, there are a great many "Achievement Points" to be found in F.E.A.R. for Xbox 360, those little tokens awarded to keeners who prove that they have too much time on their hands by playing games incessantly. The biggest single Keener Point awards are Survivalist (150 points), which you get for completing the game on any difficulty setting without dying once (good luck with that) followed by Fearsome (100 points), which you get if you complete the game on the Extreme difficulty setting.