This was followed up with Spirit Camera: The Cursed Memoir, a spinoff released for the Nintendo 3DS in 2012. It eventually proved to be a modest commercial and critical success, making it all the more unfortunate that it didn't hit the international market.
It does things a little differently, supplementing the Camera Obscura with a much faster flashlight that stuns hostile spirits. Nintendo had at this point purchased shared rights from Koei Tecmo, releasing the fourth entry, Zero: Tsukihami no Kamen ( Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse), for the Wii in 2008. It is often compared to Silent Hill 2 as a sequel that truly builds on the shoulders of its forerunner.ĭespite warm reviews, Fatal Frame III: The Tormented (2005) didn't experience the same commercial success as its predecessor, causing its sequel to be released only in Japan. Overall, it refines the strengths of its predecessor while improving on many weaknesses, all while delivering a strong story.
#FATAL FRAME 6 REVIEW SERIES#
The second entry, Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly was released in 2003, and is considered by many to be the strongest in the series (and by some as one of the greatest survival horror titles of all time). This is what truly sets Fatal Frame apart.Ĭentral characters Mio and Mayu Amakura gaze up at a cloud of crimson butterflies, floating but fragile. While these elements aren’t lacking in Fatal Frame, it offers us the rare example of a game that is built around a mechanic, rather than one of these other elements. Horror games tend to be carried by things like narrative, setting, enemy design, and general atmosphere. This mechanic is the foundation upon which the series is built. In order to combat these specters, the player must take their photo using the Camera Obscura, a mystical camera that neutralizes spirits by capturing their essence on film. The player encounters a variety of ghosts, many of which are hostile.
There is one specific element, however, that sets it apart from other horror titles: the camera mechanic. Many consider it charming and reasonably executed, with a competent setting and narrative. It was a time many consider the golden age of survival horror.įatal Frame saw a fair degree of commercial success upon release, both domestically and internationally. Resident Evil had already released three installments, and the first Silent Hill had hit the shelves just a couple years prior. The first Fatal Frame, known in Japan as Zero and in Europe as Project Zero, was released on the PlayStation 2 in Japan in late 2001, receiving American and European releases the following year. A Brief History of Fatal Frame Fatal Frame often involves exploring long-abandoned spaces filled with restless spirits. In order to cover the nature of this potential, we’ll need to discuss the ground covered by the series so far. However, despite the overall decline of the genre, Fatal Frame has the potential for a powerful resurgence.
If not for the perseverance of Resident Evil (which fought through its own decline, rallying with the successful releases of RE7 and the RE2 remake), one would be forgiven for thinking survival horror has all but withered away.
Siren hasn’t had a new entry since 2008, and even the iconic Silent Hillfranchise hasn’t had a new installment of any kind since P.T. Other series from the heyday of survival horror have seen similar (or greater) lapses in activity. The most recent title, Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water, was released in Japan in late 2014. Unfortunately, it’s been a while since we’ve seen a new entry. Fatal Frame is considered by many to be a classic among horror games.