Fatal Frame PS2 Review

So after a rant and a review on what makes a good survival horror game, I have found me one. All I had to do was search numerous Gamestops and reverse back a system. And it appears to be so good that it's still $40 used after 2 sequels, with a 4th in Japan, and for being a 7 year old game. Good thing I had coups.

Fatal Frame has all the elements of what makes a good survival horror game: monstrous foes, puzzles, creepy music and environments, and the fear of having a ghost pop out at you at any moment.

What makes this survival horror game different from it's competitors is the weapon system. Unlike having a gun and knife to fend off evil foes you use a camera to capture the ghosts energy. What makes that so interesting if the fact that it comes from reality or well what some people believe to be reality. The idea that a camera can capture your soul and allow you to see spirits is one deeply rooted in our history all over the world. It may not be your belief, but it's still neat idea for a game.

The first Fatal Frame is also based on a true story or well two. How many videogames out there can claim that? The idea that the game has basis in reality can make the reality of the gameplay more interesting and scary for some. Many people have in fact claimed that Fatal Frame is one of the scariest games out there. I won't deny that it's a scary game, but I believe that Silent Hill is the scariest shit out there. Now that really plays with your mind.

As for actual gameplay and story, I found it interesting and engaging. You first take the control of Mafuyu, a young man in search of his mentor who has gone missing inside of a haunted mansion. You don't control him for long. After finding a special camera know as Camera Obscura, and defeating your first ghost, he too goes missing. You then take control of Miku, Mafuyu's sister, as she goes on a hunt for him. She too finds the camera and searches deeper into the mansion for Mafuyu as she finds out the dark secrets that the mansion holds.

In this game you will not have hoards of ghosts attack you all at once, I think the most I had to fend off was 3 at a time, but that makes it scarier in my opinion. Not knowing when a ghost will appear and even have them move through walls is scary and adds a different bit of challenge to the game.

The controls are a bit clunky, think original Resident Evil as the control system is pretty much the same for walking and camera angles, and sometimes you will run into invisible objects. The system for walking up and down ladders is incredibly slow. You could get into some real trouble if you are heading down a ladder with a ghost chasing after you. What makes it worse is there is no button command to use a ladder, if you walk up close to it you just start climbing. Combine this with the changing camera angles for different areas and you could end up using the ladder 3 or 4 times in a row.

The game has two different endings, 3 if you have the xbox version. Both endings seem sad in their own way to me, but you will just have to play through to figure out what you think of them.

Fatal Frame gets a 4 out of 5 stars for unique weapons, scary situations, and a good storyline. I knocked off a point for clunky controls, but it's still manageable.