Fatal Frame
When her elder brother goes missing, Miku Hinasaki tracks him down to an old, dilapidated mansion in the woods of Japan. Upon her arrival she discovers the Himuro mansion to be possessed by the vengeful spirits of the dead; pleading children, lost souls, and murderous ghosts walk the manor, and all who enter become cursed by the “Rope Maiden.” Armed with her sixth sense and a mysterious Camera Obscura that photographs the supernatural, Miku must unravel the mystery of the manor in order to rescue her brother and leave the grounds alive.
Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly
While visiting the woods where they used to play as children, twins Mio and Mayu Amakura find themselves drawn in to the haunted All God’s Village. Tormented souls roam the village and the voice of a girl’s insane laughter fills the air as the twins search for a way out. As Mio you battle the ghosts with the Camera Obscura, keeping an eye out for your sister as crimson butterflies lure her further in to the nightmarish village. Escape is their only chance of survival, and the further they delve in to the night the closer they draw to the “ritual”, and they begin to uncover the horrifying truth about the village… and its twins.
Fatal Frame III: The Tormented
After a tragic accident that claims her fiancé’s life, Rei Kurosawa tries to move on. Pursuing her love of photography, she visits locations of claimed haunting… until she begins dreaming of one. One night she is drawn in to a mansion in pursuit of her deceased lover, and in the dream she is touched by an angry spirit that burns a tattoo in to her body. Though the nightmare was horrifying enough, the worst comes in the realization that the tattoo remains… after she has woken up. Night after night she dreams of the haunted mansion, and every morning the tattoo spreads further. In sleep she wanders the manor with the Camera Obscura for protection, and during the day dreams and reality begin to bleed in to one another. In order to escape the curse of the Manor of Sleep, Rei must delve further in to her dreams and unearth the manor’s sorrowful past, before she- or others that have been pulled in to the nightmare- are claimed.
Descriptions:ArtificialRaindrop
Story & Playability
This is my first time reviewing a game, so technically I am extremely clueless at what to say. But oh boy, this review
was long overdue anyway- it has been rotting away to dust and ashes.
The synopsis says it all- Fatal Frame is a game categorized within the horror genre, and has been rated as one of the
more frightening games by various veterans and critics. Fatal Frame II, Crimson Butterfly, or perhaps known more as Akai
Chou, is an indirect sequel and prequel to Fatal Frame I, a link of all the happening that occurs in the first Fatal
Frame series. This time, Tecmo introduces us to Mio and Mayu Amakura, twins. Now, what the hell of a coincidence that
twins were formerly used in a sacrificial ritual within All Gods Village to seal the Hell Mouth. It is technically, a
repeat of history which includes Yae and Sae. Again, both Yae and Sae are a pain of twins who eerily resemble like Mio
and Mayu. You play Mio Amakura, and your only item of defense against these terrifying ghost that haunts the village is
the Camera Obscura, which has exorcism capabilities. Your task is to find your sister, Mayu, who has been possessed by
Sae and is currently wandering All Gods Village. Not to mention that you have to find a way out of All God's
Village. Sounds simple? No.. It is one long tiresome process.
For various levels, ranging from easy to nightmare mode, there are four potential endings. Of course, that too, will be
based on the choices you'd made throughout the game.
If you've watch Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni Kai, then you would realize the slight similarity that Mio and Mayu
shares with Shion and Mion. It's just that Fatal Frame leans less towards psychology horror and more towards
hostile ghosts who are just too eager to drain your lifebar.
I didn't really pay much attention to the primary characters, Mio and Mayu. Oh no, instead, I was thinking of how
not to be scared shitless of those hostile ghost. From crawling to floating, ghost are the main threat to your survival
in All Gods Village. Did I fail to mention that their features are completely intolerable?
As for the gaming system...
"Run! Run- OMG, OMG, it's behind us! RUUUNNN!" --> Typical
response. Yet perfectly reasonable and logical because Mio just DRAGS. Even if you attempt to speed the poor girl up,
there's not much of a difference. Another annoyance that the producers could have fix. But somehow, Tecmo manages
to makes it that even if your vicious attacker is in lunging mode, he/she will miss. Always. Unless, of course, if
you're foolish enough to let your guard down. The control system was perfectly fine to fiddle with. Now, if only we
weren't forced to take close shots to hit the ghosts dead...
Rating: 7
Graphics
Tecmo obviously didn't put much effort into designing the many rooms, houses, mansions and shrines scattered all
across All Gods Village. If it wasn't for the god-almighty map, I might have wandered into a different room and
though it alike to the previous one I had visited.
I wouldn't give the art based on the characters much. Even if the summary stated that Mio and Mayu are twins, they
do have rather different features. I wouldn't even bet on them being related if I didn't know better. Oh lord,
those facial expressions... dear me, you have a psychotic, white old man who's not even the slightest happy to see
you (on the other hand, just too happy to suck the life out of you), a ghastly hag who resembles Samara from The Ring
just a little bit too much, and another limboing couple who's totally messed up, floating just mere inches away-
and dare you tell me you won't scream and run for your life?
Apparently not, for Tecmo.
Bah, so the characters went down the drain. The setting itself, did not. It was completely dark and eerie, a fascinating
combination of red and black. The effects of turning the screen a grainy black and white when Sae is around was, and
still is, a horrifying experience. Somehow, I still get the shivers from experiencing that. The surroundings however,
when you are traveling, is a tad too dark to my likings. Doesn't help much if a random ghost jumps out of nowhere
and decides that you are his meal for tonight. I know a darker setting is more appropriate in comparison to a background
of beaches and sunlight when it comes to a game like Fatal Frame, but still... ugh.
Rating: 5
Sound
Tsukiko Amano's "Chou" -FF II ultimate theme song- is one of the
longest standing songs in my computer's database. Though I have to admit that I don't listen to Chou as often
as I do back in the older days, it still brings a quiet, nonchalant sentimentality that only Amano has managed to
produce. Her voice is hoarse, but Amano manages to kick off Chou well. It's not particular forgettable either, and
I have to give Tecmo credits for that.
Now, if it wasn't for the eerie background music, I wouldn't be quivering like a couch potato, would I? Or
maybe it's a cowardice of mine. But now, it's time to jab. The voice acting. Horrible, completely horrible. I
have no idea about how Fatal Frame II fared well in the sound section in it's native language, but the English
dubbing was one hell. The characters voice were unclear, not at all solid- in a nutshell, it sucks. Granted there are a
few precious lines, but the producers could have chosen better seiyuus. And can't Sae rasp more than 'you said
you'll come back...'?
Rating: 6
Fun
At this point, I DO know that I still quake at the idea of facing those horrors, but it is still unclear if I enjoyed
that game throughly or not.
Gameplay is good. What I enjoy most will be blasting the knickers out of those hostile ghost. Combining combo shots to
just shave off their lives makes me just scream aloud in joy. You would too, after numerous hours of being assaulted by
these assess. I only complain that All Gods Village is simply too large. Without a map, you're bound to get loss.
Stacking up healing items are absolutely a must, or you would never be able to surpass Night 3, with all those random
hostile ghosts around.
Sometimes I thought that Fatal Frame II had dragged the entire thing too long. Look here; to open ONE. STINKING'.
LOCK, it was necessary to travel from south to north and all back again. In addition, Tecmo always equips the stronger
ghosts with those keys. For an amateur who finds it absolutely a need to follow the FAQs, you'll be facing the
screen for a good 5-10 hours. And I'm not so sure if you'll be sick of the game then. The only thing that
pushed me was probably the ending- which I could have just lazed back and watch it via online. But hell, where's
the thrill?
If I'm whining that much about FF2, then Fatal Frame III is going to be hell. Thirteen nights in whole, in
comparison to FF II's five. Good lord.
... This feels more of a rant than a proper review.
Rating: 6
Final Verdict
6.1667 (average)
Reviewed by Lariel, Jul 27, 2008