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Such a great Game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: June 06, 2005
Author: Amazon User

This is just another great Capcom survival horror game. It was total non stop action. It has a great soundtrack, and the controls are very easy to get used to, definitely pick this game up if you're looking for an awesome new game. The graphics are just incredible also.

Another Great PS2 Horror Game With A Lot Of Cool Original Elements

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: March 19, 2007
Author: Amazon User

When a car crash kills her parents, teenage girl Fiona (a somewhat elf-like gal in some of her expressions and mannerisms) wakes up in the dungeon of an immense castle. Befriending a large white dog named Hewie by rescuing him from a snare-trap, girl and dog set out to explore the castle and grounds, initially intent on simply finding their way out, but soon getting drawn into a labyrinth of secrets and conspiracies.

The most immediate thing about "Haunting Ground" giving it its own identity is the two-member team you have in Fiona and Hewie. The player controls Fiona directly and through Fiona can direct Hewie with a variety of commands to carry out such actions as searching out hidden items or attacking enemies. Hewie will also take actions on his own, and how responsive the furry l'il guy is depends on how good a rapport Fiona can establish with him. I really enjoy the horror games with something of a team scenario, from titles like "Resident Evil: Outbreak" with its party actively looking together, to entries in the "Silent Hill" saga where you generally control one character but often have a partner with you who acts on their own toward the same purpose; so the unique set-up of one human/one canine is really neat. As you navigate the grounds and the interior of the castle - some of which is majestic and elegant, other parts mysterious and creepy, you encounter a host of other characters. Some of these are clearly enemies; in other cases a large part of the game's mystique is trying to figure out which characters are on your side and which are against you.

As for the gameplay, there are definate plus-es and minus-es. In figuring out a lot of the conundrums you're faced with, a lot of the time you really have to put your head into logically figuring things out instead of just wandering around waiting to stumble upon something. Other times - less frequent - it's all trial-and-error through getting killed and pressing continue, as there are a couple of crises you have to escape where it seems impossible to make it through in time without knowing in advance exactly which path to take and exactly where and when each obstacle is going to come crashing down. Thankfully these scenarios are few and far between compared to the parts where you're relying on strategy and skill, and, perhaps most importantly, teamwork between Fiona and Hewie. One minus is the fighting system. Fiona has few attacks of her own, which isn't inherently a bad thing, but the way it works sometimes is. In kicking, for example, there are times when you connect with the enemy when it clearly looks like you're missing; other times you're right in position but miss anyway. The most frustrating part of this is the way you can acidentally sock it to Hewie when he looks to be well out of range and it seems safe to flail all-out at your common enemy. Other attacks, such as using various concoctions you can throw at your enemies or plant in landmine fashion, tend to be free of these glitches.

Another plus is the whole alchemy-based nature of the game, with element transmutation, golems, mandrakes, and all kinds of cool concepts cropping up. A major shortcoming was that in making your way through the game you end up allying with different characters, and some of the time there seems to be literally no way to progress without assisting these characters in some ethically questionable (to say the least) pursuits of their own. I'm looking forward to going through it again and seeing if I have better luck finding a way around certain tasks.

The graphics are very well-done, and utilize an unusual color look - generally a tad on the pale side - to give it a unique feel. Sound is great and so is the design of the characters. Fiona goes into 'panic mode' (similar to Alicia in "Clock Tower 3"; in fact there are several elements in here reminiscent of that outstanding title) and you have to use certain items to restore her stability. Also, realistically, both Fiona and Hewie get tired if they run around endlessly, and need to rest or recover through other items.

"Haunting Ground" isn't perfect, but overall it's another highly successful entry in PS2's roster of horror games, highly recommended for fans of games like "Clock Tower" and "Silent Hill".

Haunting Ground

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: January 14, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I really like this game. It sorta reminds me of resident evil.I havent finished it yet. So far its captivating,good story,a few good scares. Its not real gory. Good puzzles too. Her,and the dogs movement is a little off,but ya dont really notice it after awhile playing it. I recommend this game to people that like puzzle based games solving how to get into next area, ectra. No weapons used not really violent. Enjoy

Haunting

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: February 16, 2008
Author: Amazon User

This game is alright. It is fustrating and yet exciting to. Its this i wish i could do more , yet glad you dont kind of game. The dude chasing is fustrating and makes one angry to rid the world of him . Yet the castle and walk around is pretty good. And the Dog attcking the enemy and using him to get things you cant reach is a great concept . Over all its pretty good . And its exciting at times .

ICO meets Resident Evil! MUST PLAY!!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: August 08, 2008
Author: Amazon User

One of the gaming mags I read a while back named this as the underrated games of the year and I think that pretty much hits the nail on the head. I believe it was originally slated to be a Clock Tower game thus I've heard similar to that series. I found the game to be very enjoyable with nice controls, good graphics, etc. I felt that the game gave off a heavy Resident Evil feel to it's atmosphere but I enjoyed the game because it reminded me a bit of the game ICO- but if you were playing as Yorda- which gave the game a very unique feel. Unlike the feeling of many games where you play the hero saving someone else- I felt as in this game you were instead playing the role of the person needing the saving. Fiona (the main character) is pretty worthless on her own but once you meet the dog (Hewie) that you really do bond with- work together to try to escape the castle- kinda reminiscent of the Ico/Yorda feel for fans of ICO.

The negative comments I've read are often really complaints of the fact the game is too realistic in it's gameplay. I've heard complaints of people saying that the character is pretty worthless as far as fighting(she is) or that the characters chasing the dog are beating the dog and it's disturbing. My response to those are they are both true- and they both enhance the game. Being so helpless in the game makes you come up with a better strategy to fight your opponents- being that as you bond with the dog you are able to use your character as bait while instructing Hewie to attack or to attack while you hide- basically figuring out the best way for the characters to leave you alone. Since you are only fighting 4 different people throughout the game- getting progressively harder you will have to change your strategy as you progress I found. Meaning that Debilitas (your first boss) is pretty easy and not smart so you can often outrun and hide from him fairly easily. Daniella was much quicker and if you continued to use the same hiding spots you would be discovered, until the final two guys you really couldn't hide from at all and you in return have to also take care of Hewie as he can be damaged- but again I feel that as much as you hate to hear him being hurt in the game- unless you mistreat him yourself you won't get a bad ending (there are 4) and I feel that the bond you form with the characters is enhanced by the fact they are working together to protect and take care of one another.

The other complaints I've heard about the game is that Hewie occasionally will not listen or one of the other reviews noted that the game would occasionally tell you the coast was clear when in reality the boss would be wandering around outside the door. I actually felt these two things were positive as well if you were looking for a REAL experience. For instance- if Fiona is hiding under a bed and Debilitas is chasing her- once he has left the area the coast does look clear because from your characters point of view the coast is clear- however if you actually go out the door the enemy just went through- he will still be out there- which I feel gives a realistic feel to the game- which I think to some gamers who don't realize that there is a strategy to getting the enemies to leave you alone for a longer period of time- like if Hewie attacks them to the point where they either collapse or retreat. As for Hewie not listening- (or Fiona for that matter when she has her panic attack moments) as irritating as it was I still found this to be true to life as well for anyone who has tried to get a pet to do something they don't want to do- yet again adding to the element of feeling like it's a real dog instead of just a video game dog programmed to do only a set list of actions.

I felt the game was pretty perfect in length being that I was still having fun during the final fight and I replayed it again even to get the different endings. By replaying it you will also get different costumes for Fiona and Hewie. and unlock extras including a minigame where if my memory serves me correctly you play as Hewie instead of Fiona. I would also like to point out that this is a game where I would advise not to judge by first impressions. As I noted from some of the other reviews that they didn't get a dog in the game- which is because often they quit playing the game before they actually get the dog. When I had initially tried the game I actually had done the same thing only going back to it at a much later time and discovering that it's easy to have a bad first impression of the game. Needless to say I was glad I went back to it because it's a truely fantastic game if you can appreciate it for a less hack and slash feel and approach to strategy from a different perspective. Although I haven't played most of the series- I've heard fans of Silent Hill, Clock Tower, and Fatal Frame will find in comparable.

My daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarling.

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 1
Date: March 31, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I love Capcom, always have.
The premise of the game is a bit sketchy thats to be admitted but the boogeymen of the piece are sheer terrors.
The first stalker, a big dum pudding that just wants to molest you then eat you, avoid at all costs. The second is a lady puppet type thing that goes off the rails and cackles wildly while wielding a piece of glass at you, after those two you have the various incarnations of monks each trying to steal your Azoth, as much as I could make out that was some life essence that kept them immortal.
While it was somewhat hard to make out plot at times I enjoyed the mangled castle and its rooms of torture equipment etc.
Some atmospheric soundtracks make this one a winner.
I know story can be all important - but you get a dog to set on people! Come on! That's gotta be worth it!

Thoroughly enjoyable!! =)

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 1
Date: December 25, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I've completed this game 3 times, with 3 different endings. Still trying for the last ending. It's quite addictive! The only thing I don't like about it is Hewie. The dog is just so damn whiny. And he always strays, then HOWLS because you're not there with him or he can't find you. I just couldn't get him to keep up and he's a dog for pete's sake! LOL...it's puzzling how I still managed to get an A rating for relationship with the silly dog as a result.

This is why you rent games first

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 2 / 61
Date: December 12, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Man, am I ever missing something here! I came to review this game, and save you some money, and I was shocked this had anything over 1 star. Haunting Ground SUCKS, plain and simple. The woman you control (if she has a name, I never caught it) is horribly slow, even for a frightened girl. And for some reason, she has a British accent. (Dear Capcom, when releasing a game in the U.S., make sure the characters have American accents. Leave the British accent for the PAL version, please) You have one action, a weak kick that does next to nothing, except open doors a little faster. There is a dog on the cover that I guess is supposed to help you, but I never found him in the game. Maybe I would've played it longer if every door in the castle wasn't locked, with no keys, or anything else for that matter, to be found. Basically all you do is wander around aimlessly. Nothing unique, no reason to play, its that simple.

A twisted game of hide and seek

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: July 27, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I really enjoy this game. I love having Hewie around he really helps alot. The game has good music and a great storyline, But the best thing is panic mode I like panic mode even if it does almost always get you killed. It gives the game a life-like sense Fiona will stumble and fall and it makes you really want to help get her up and moving. The enemies are creepy and psychotic (especially the maid) but not that scary, Im not that creeped out by them as in compairison to the zombies in Resident evil where the enimies and gameplay made it really scary and I would not reallly want to go on playing. I guess thats a good thing though because I can play all the way through this game. All in all if you like survival horror games then you HAVE to give this a try.

Awesome Game!!! Not for younger players!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: July 02, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I bought haunting gronud because I wanted a little spin off of Silent Hill. This game is much like Silent Hill with the same creepy feel.
Because of the very mature themes expressed in the game I would not recommend this game for younger players. Suggestive themes, and violence. Also the characters that chase Fiona are pretty scary too.
For the more mature gamer this is a very fun game to play and allows you almost complete control over the plot of the game. Depending on the relationship you make with the dog companion, Hewie and the choices weather to show mercy to some of the characters makes this a fun game to play over again and explore the diffrent options you have.
Also after completing the game the first time through you are rewarded with the "Secret Room". I wish all video games were as rewarding when it came to completion! "Secret Room" gives you little extras about the game, mini games and a chance to look over the cut scenes you had seen while playing the game.
This is a very fun game to play and is fun to play with a partner (which I myself had done) with you.

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