90% positive on Steam: Nobody expected this PS1 classic to return

When Fear Effect arrived on the original PlayStation in February 2000, it offered a fresh twist on the action-adventure genre. Developed by US studio Kronos Digital Entertainment and published by Eidos Interactive, the game stood out with its cel-shaded visuals, fixed camera angles, and a groundbreaking feature called “Motion FX.” This technology let characters move against dynamic, film-like video backdrops – a bold innovation at the time. Combined with its cinematic presentation and seamless transitions between gameplay and cutscenes, Fear Effect quickly achieved cult status.

What no one expected: nearly 25 years later, Fear Effect has made a surprise return. On August 29, 2025, the game quietly shadow-dropped on Steam for around $10. Developed by Implicit Conversions and published by Limited Run Games, the launch marks the cult classic’s first official release on PC.

The new edition adds a range of modern features, including 31 unlockable achievements, Steam Cloud support, full controller compatibility and integration with the Steam Input API. The original Motion FX technology also returns, preserving the game’s unique visual style. Enhancing the package further is a remastered soundtrack by Matt Furniss and Jason Agolia, along with full English voice acting. According to Steam, playtime ranges between seven and nine hours.

Fear Effect has been well received on Steam so far. While it has only gathered 33 user reviews since launch, 90% of them are positive. There’s no introductory discount, however, which might come as a slight disappointment to some. Steam Deck compatibility (available on Amazon for $455) is currently marked as “Unknown.”