User Reviews (1 - 11 of 30)

Show these reviews first:

Highest Rated
Lowest Rated Newest
Oldest Most Helpful
Least Helpful

Are you tough enoughto play Fatal Frame?

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 47 / 48
Date: November 27, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Ghosts are pretty scary.

I'm not talking about your "Casper the Friendly Ghost" spirits. I'm talking about your "corner-of-the-eye ethereal image" ghosts, the ones we all talk about in hushed voices over a cup of hot cocoa on stormy nights. Despite what scientists, religious fanatics or your mother may say, "ghosts can be very real ... and very scary." While fans of the horror genre may find their Resident Evil's or Silent Hill's staling, it'd be a hard press to find a single individual who wasn't disturbed, nerve racked or swear-to-death frightened of what Tecmo has done with such a simple concept as a ghost house. Fatal Frame mixes RPG gameplay with eeriness to create an experience like no other you have come unto before.

The story behind Fatal Frame is as follows: A young girl named Miku Hinasaki has ventured into the mysterious Himuro Mansion, the last known whereabouts of her missing older brother, Mafuyu. Mafuyu had ventured inside to investigate the mysterious disappearance of a certain renowned author named Junsei Takamine, who is Mafuyu's idol. Takamine's aim was to study the mansion's mysterious and bloody history, and, as you've imagined, neither him nor any of the members of his research team have been heard from since. You take the role of Miku, who, in the search for her brother, manages to learn all about the craziness going on at the Himuro Mansion and find out a bit more about Takamine and company than she probably wants to know.

As the game's main character, Miku, you will journey through the bowels of a haunted mansion in search of your lost brother with only a camera as protection. But not just any camera, mind you. Through an Onimusha-like upgrade system, you will be able to transform your poltergeist-friendly camera into a finely tuned spook-busting machine. Each ghost that you capture via your camera will net you a certain amount of spirit points, which you can spend on adding or improving functionality to your camera. Fatal Frame also delivers a very gripping psychological freak fest. The scenes of murder and ritualistic sacrifices are eerie and disturbing. The mansions long dead residents revealing themselves in grisly fashions at the most opportune moments (I swear they must monitor your heart rate through the controller) will keep your pulse racing at an unhealthy level, unless of course you're one of those jaded gamers made of stone who never flinches.

The graphics in Fatal Frame are just short of astounding. Interactive backgrounds, freaky grain-film filters, impressive Luigi's Mansion-quality dynamic lighting effects. Every object casts a realistic shadow on the background resulting in an almost frightening level of immersiveness. You'll see shadows moving as you walk, which adds in to the realism. However, don't expect to see everything in daylight or something; everything is dark and you'll have to look around with the flashlight. Also, while each character has an almost manga look to them and may not be uber-detailed like in Silent Hill 2, they still look sharp and contain elements of realism. The atmosphere is just breath-taking and although some areas within the mansion do look the same, the feeling of deja-vu is rarely noticeable. The whole package is pulled together really well to create a grisly environment. Excellent texture maps and a well-detailed environment immediately draw you into the game.

But what really stands out is the design and look of the ghosts. In fact, the ghost effects are awesome to behold. They fade in and out, and the visual effects when they are "invisible" is well done. You will find yourself shocked and horrified by what turns up when you least expect it.

The sound in Fatal Frame is anything but clunky. Using 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound, it is composed mainly of an organic-ambience and strange ritualistic chanting music that would scare your little brother to death, if you were to record the samples onto a mini-recorder, put the device under his bed and hit play at full volume ... while he is sleeping. Ghosts will scream in agony as you film them and taunt you in the instances when they have the upper hand. Supernatural objects will resonate with a spooky hum as you close in on them, faint voices can be heard through long corridors, footsteps sound suitably different depending on the composition of what your walking on; all this equates to an audibly impressive, realistic experience that reverberates with resounding effect. But it was some of the voices that got my skin crawling the most. Whispers haunt certain corners while low demonic murmerings haunt others. Some spirits will taunt you while others will cry out in their torment, "It hurts ... It hurts ..."

Fatal Frame is a wonderful game that takes quite a lot of courage to play. You seriously do not know how scary this game is, and if you'll be able to handle it. Only buy it if you can stand in a pitch black haunted house screaming satanic verses in real life. It's a great game, but it makes most gamers run home crying to their mommy. Intense, but a definite classic. Buy it if your tough.

DO NOT PLAY WITH LIGHTS OUT!!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 13 / 14
Date: December 17, 2002
Author: Amazon User

I consider myself a pragmatic person. The line between reality and fiction firmly grasped; premises behind movies and games easily established ... but Oh My God this game is scary as hell. First off it's based on a true story, so that kind of sticks in the back of your mind as you begin playing. Coupled with the dynamic soundtrack and your game pad shaking like crazy anytime a ghost comes near you, it's a great psych out.

The game's premise is similar to the Pokemon game (if you ever played that on N64) ... except it's cranked up 100 notches for adult play. You walk around this haunted house armed with only a camera which captures the ghosts and prevents them from harming you .... but it's not only the capturing of them that makes this game enthralling, it's the visual and sound effects, along with the physical vibe of your game controller that really creeps you out.

It's also really challenging; a good combination of dextrous play and puzzle solving. And the endings for this game differ from the PS2 version to the XBOX version, which is unique.

But it's not for the faint of heart.

If you're looking for spectacular graphics, a great story line and wonderful almost cinematic combinations of sight, sound and feel, do yourself a favor and pick up this game. It hasn't left my XBOX since the UPS guy delivered it from Amazon.(com)

Terror reveal itself Frame after Fatal Frame

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 6
Date: September 03, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Fatal Frame is hands down the BEST series in the survival horror genre. While Resident evil goes for jump out at you scares and Silent Hill goes for demented gore, Fatal Frame pulls you in with its creepy ambiance,bizarre rituals and a great story.

Essentailly you are Miku, a young girl searching for her missing brother at the haunted Himuro mansion. Armed only with special camera and a 6th sense, it is your job to discover what events unfolded at Himuro mansion that caused the massacre of nearly all who lived there and find your brother.

Fatal Frame looks really great and the Xbox version looks particularly excellent with its rich textures. Tecmo really did a great job making the game lighter than the PS2 version which was at times was too dark. The sound is also great with the dolby 5.1 sound. While fatal frame doesnt have music per se it does have lots of little eerie voices amd noises in the background that really come out in the dolby sound.

The game itself has great gameplay but the Xbox version doesn't control as smoothly as the PS2 version. Unfortunately at times the chracter does get "hung up" on geometry which sucks if you are playing a boss. The hang-ups dont happen very much and are a trade off as the PS2 version was hard to see in areas (particularly the hell mouth).

Either version is great and I cannot recommend Fatal Frame or its sequal Fatal Frame 2: Crmson Butterfly enough.

OH! Goodness Gracious!!!!! Lights ON PLEASE!!!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 6
Date: March 25, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Yeah I brought this game and it scared the living daylights out of me. I love this game alot! Would Highly recommend it to anyone who is a gamer and don't mind that the antique camera is your only weapon. This game will keep you up at night and wonder about ghosts and such. I love searching for haunted houses and such so I love scary games and yet still afraid of playing this game at night. Overall, GREAT GRAPHICS!!!!

Reminds me of J-HORROR, in a GOOD way !!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 2
Date: March 18, 2006
Author: Amazon User

In the beginning of the game, you play a teenager who is looking for his favorite author in an isolated, and creepy mansion. Then, he goes missing. Then, his big sister comes to find him and uncovers a few things she didn't expect.

Imagine crossing a game with the eeriness of RINGU, the disturbingness of THE RING,the scares of THE GRUDGE, and an old camera that takes pictures of spirts. This is exactly what you get.

The scariness of this game just doesn't end. If you are playing it alone, your probably going to turn it off after the first 45 minutes of game play. It can sometimes get down right unnerving, especially in the numberous cut scenes.

The game is also somewhat difficult, for you can get lost very easily, and you may not be taking your "pictures" fast enough.

If you play this game, do the following......................

1) Turn off every single light in the house (Makes for a good atmosphere)

2)Turn volume up really high, or use a surround-sound system if you have one.(Or use headphones)

3)If possible, turn the ringer on your phone to the highest volume.

4)Make sure you have something funny to watch afterwards......

Scariest Xbox game yet

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 2
Date: March 16, 2003
Author: Amazon User

wow, this game will keep u up at night!! if u haven't tried this yet, i highly recommend that u do!! No wonder this game has caught the eye of hollywood, it's scary. but just to let u know, the mansion and the rituals are the only tru things about this game, the people are made up. but still, this game is great

Terrifyingly Good

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 1
Date: March 22, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Fatal Frame is probably one of my favorite Survival Horror games.
Techmo has done it again... this is the third game released by techmo that is my favorite, other two are DOA series and Ninja Gaiden... The visuals and sound on Fatal Frame are extemely haunting and great for the scare factor. The story is superb in every way, shape, and form... I never got to finish playing Fatal Frame, but my buddy Matt, played it for hours and beat it several times... Acording to him... Kirie is really hot in human form... Is it just me or does Miku kinda look as if she could pass for Kasumi's younger sister... Either way, Fatal Frame is definatly a highly neglected game, all because you can't blow stuff up, but in reality, it's one sweet game.

Truly Twisted

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: October 15, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I initially played 'Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly' before I tried out the original game. I was a little disappointed at first, because the gameplay seemed to go slower than in 'Crimson Butterfly'. Soon, however, I realized that the plot might even be creepier than its sequel. You're in a much smaller area in the first game than in the second which means that you have to retrace your steps a lot, but I don't fully understand the people who say that this aspect makes the first game "more boring" than the sequel. Worrying about when another screaming, headless ghost was going to materialize and wrap its hands around my throat managed to keep ME occupied, but hey, that's just me...

Another part about the first game that I thought was more authentic than in 'Crimson Butterfly' was the fact that you collect audio tapes that were recorded by the more "recent" victims of Himuro mansion to piece together the intricate mystery of why the old house is haunted. From these warped tapes, you also get a glimpse into the minds of these poor, doomed fools and can document, much to your chagrin, their individual descents into insanity. It just seems more realistic than the recordings you're given to work with in 'Crimson Butterfly'. You see, in the sequel, there's a similar manner in which you gain these aural clues in order to figure out your predicament, but instead of audio cassettes, you're given precious stones that are left behind from the various ghosts you fight. Since you're also conveniently carrying along a little altered radio from the 20's that is designed to pick up on "otherwordly sounds", you place the stones that the ghosts leave you into the radio and, the thoughts they were thinking before their untimely deaths having been transmitted into the stone, the ghost's last thoughts are heard in all their staticy, hard-to-understand glory! Wow! Perhaps I'm being too picky, but that method just seems a wee bit cornier than the eerie, real life appraoch of dead journalists unfortunate enough to be studying Himuro mansion recording their final thoughts onto tape.

Thoroughly unsettling and quite tragic and moving by its end, Fatal Frame is a fantastic game that I'd advise anyone to play, as long as they appreciate good writing and a good mystery.

From the terrified audio cassettes, to the paranoid, demented pages from old diaries, to the vengeful spirits moaning for help, these little bits of terror stacked up in this incredibly effective manner made it so that I couldn't possibly play Fatal Frame alone. Every time my boyfriend would leave the room, I'd pause the game and get up to follow him around until he'd get fed up with me and agree to go back into the room where the game was. So, to say the least, it helps to have someone supportive around while you're playing it. Just try to not play it around your meaner friends, who will take advantage of your vulnerability by grabbing you from behind and screaming "RRRARRH!!" every time you fight a ghost.

...not that that ever happened to me.

Wickedly horrific game. . .

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 3
Date: June 14, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I love this game. It quite simply terrifies me.

I pondered buying it in Blockbuster because it was in the used section and I was looking for a cheap game, but because so many horror games turn out to be flakey I opted to rent it first. After the first ten minutes of gameplay, I did not plan to buy it. In fact, I wanted to stay as far away from it as I could get, it creeped me out so much. But I kept playing, and got so wrapped up in the storyline and cut scenes that I decided to buy it despite the fact that every time I play it, I get achey from being all tensed up.

Although some people have described Fatal Frame's plot as "mediocre," I think it's absolutely fantastic. Here we have a Japanese teenager walking into a dark, isolated mansion in search of her missing brother. Immediately, a ghost shows up. "The ropes," he groans. "There are more ropes. The ropes..." And we open the door into the Rope Room (which is one of the creepiest, in my opinion) and learn later that the ropes swinging from the rafters were being slowly added because the house ghosts had Koji's death in mind. As the story is unraveled, we learn about the evil rituals the Himuro family participated in, and meet Kirie, who is an intriguing "villain." It's strangle proper that when her two selves separate after death and the Calamity comes, it is the child-like half, who understood the necessity of the ritual and her terrible role in it, rather than her adult self who longs to be free, who remains good. I haven't beat the game yet (I am stuck, I think I am going to have to start over, and I am on the third night), but I am still quizzical about the purpose of the gruesome Blinding Ritual, and who it was who takes part in it. Although I pity the Blind Maiden, her ghost is incredible annoying. Every time I hear someone say "My eyes" I cringe. And I like how the storywriters played with the fine line in good in evil - although the Demon Ritual is cruel and horrifying, the player also understands the need for it to be done.

The graphics are also great. Not very interactive, but I never noticed because I was more concerned with other things. I found them very smooth. The controls weren't the best (every time I entered a room I would always turn around automatically and face the wall) but you get used to them. The sounds were FANTABULOUS. More perfect than anything I have ever encountered in videogames or movies. The music seems to come right out of a nightmare - the whole games does, really. It's like the creators knew what your deepest fears looked like and sounded like, and put them onto a game.

BUY THIS GAME. It is hellishly scary. I already have the sequel, and I can't wait to play it too.

Say Cheese........AHHHHHHHHHH !!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: January 28, 2005
Author: Amazon User

[Edited] June 12 2005 ~
I have read so many reviews where people are confused by the fact that the main character uses a camera so I thought that I would explain. In some Asian cultures some people believed that when you take a picture it captures a part of your soul.

I played this game when it was first released so I'm going to give a general review of the game and how it has held up after the few years that have past.

I didn't know what to expect when I got this game and boy was I scared and impressed by it. This game is very well made, the story is truly twisted like nothing I have ever seen. The gameplay is great and never gets boring and the suspense and horror is very intense.

IMO, nothing since has topped this game in terms of being the most atmospheric and disturbing.

I recommend this game to anyone who enjoys movies like "The Ring" and "The Grudge". Imagine being in those movies, the creepiness/scary factor is even stronger!

ENJOY =)

Review Page: 1 2 3 Next 

Actions