Okay, while I see a bit has been covered by both a laundryman and rancid, I figured I'd pop in and lend a couple tips I found helpful when I made my Survivalist run.
Sure, F.E.A.R. is an oldie, but it's
still a goodie!
So the obvious difficulty you're going to want to attempt this on is easy, anything higher and you're either Rambo (and thus can handle it) or you're just causing yourself unnecessary hassle. So with that being said, go ahead and start a new game on easy.
There are only a few notable danger-points in F.E.A.R. by way of you dying.
- You've got the obvious situation where you might be overwhelmed in general gun-play, so an good counter to this is not rushing in. Fools rush in, they always say, so be a clever one and stick back and pop heads from a distance.
- The heavies and mech enemies. They can be a bit of a hassle if you're under-armed or, even, a little low on health. It's fortunate for you that pretty much all of the mechs in the game can be bypassed without a second look. Clearly this, itself, can be troublesome as you now have to edge past unnoticed. I find it's a good idea later in the game when mechs become more regular to keep a Type-7 on hand; a few shots do the trick on lower difficulties which makes your life easier.
- There is one famous spot midway through the campaign where you're forced to jump across a gap in the collapsed floor. It's right after where you encounter a mech, and right before you deal with the rooftop Type-7 shooters. Look, there's no easy way to do this, just get a good run-up, don't jump too early thinking you're gonna run off the edge, and just try to clear it. Using slow-mo helps, as it gives you that little bit extra in your jump. It can be so frustrating to die here, as it literally fluffs everything but sadly it is one of the more common ways to go out in a Survivalist run!
- And lastly, in any segment featuring Alma, especially the end of the game, be extremely cautious not to let her touch you as this results in an instant death - and let's be serious, you don't want to be a few minutes away from your goal and have it snatched away like that. She usually approaches you from your left as you enter that 'hospital lobby', so use your periphery to steer clear.
And in the end, where she's stalking you in the corridor, just be sure to aim for the head and finish her off before she has a chance to reach you.
If you manage to get through all that, you've definitely done well and deserve your Survivalist achievement. And as the others have said, you
can be quick and dashboard it in case you die, but that's your decision. And just be sure to collect all the boosters you come across, as they
will make the game that much easier.
Alright, so good luck and go show that creepy, creepy girl. Quickly now, before they make a seq-... oh, too late.