Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly
So, I started playing Fatal Frame II last night. Oh man, what a game. Thus far, my one gripe is that a lot of what seems to be the main plot basically spoils itself if you watch the "wait a long time on the 'New Game' screen without doing anything" intro movie. Which of course, I did. Even so, I guess that's forgivable, as I don't think much of what was spoiled would have been too hard to figure out. But still. =/
In any case, the self-spoiling plot is also forgivable in that, from what I can tell, the plot is NOT the reason to play this. It's the ATMOSPHERE. First off, this game is really beautiful. Great art direction and dramatic camera angles. You can also first-person look at everything, and can even move around in first-person, too. They did a good job on rendering everything, and there are all kinds of nice details. Also, music. Very creepy, very pretty. Serves very well as the suspense-aid it's supposed to be, both during actual ghost encounters and simple, "the music just got creepy oh god what now... D:" moments.
There are also a lot of well-placed scares and startles that manage to do their job without feeling cheap, and expecting them to come at any moment is also a nice suspense-raiser. Also, the various ghosts and apparitions are legitimately creepy. They aren't bloody, misshapen masses of gore, they're pale, disappearing-and-reappearing, and often unnaturally-moving figures. (Lady in the Box, oh god-asdafdgsdh- *click click...CLICK CLICK CLICK* "I DON'T THINK THIS FILM IS STRONG ENOUGH... D=")
Finally, the way you have to actually "fight" the ghosts. You don't physically fight them, you must exorcise them, and your only weapon...is a camera. This is both original and extremely effective in adding to the scariness, as you have to HOLD STILL and actually watch these creepy things coming toward you in first person until they're close enough for you to get a chance at a clear shot (and thus do more damage to them). It's very nice. The Kimi approves. And when you DO have to run, your character, I might mention, cannot move very fast. >_> This was originally another gripe to me, but as it does it's own bit to add to the "ohgodohgodohgod D: D: D:" factor, it doesn't bother me as much anymore.
Overall, even though I'm not very far in yet, I'm already pretty impressed with this game. After I finish it, I'll have to track down and play the others. ^_^
In any case, the self-spoiling plot is also forgivable in that, from what I can tell, the plot is NOT the reason to play this. It's the ATMOSPHERE. First off, this game is really beautiful. Great art direction and dramatic camera angles. You can also first-person look at everything, and can even move around in first-person, too. They did a good job on rendering everything, and there are all kinds of nice details. Also, music. Very creepy, very pretty. Serves very well as the suspense-aid it's supposed to be, both during actual ghost encounters and simple, "the music just got creepy oh god what now... D:" moments.
There are also a lot of well-placed scares and startles that manage to do their job without feeling cheap, and expecting them to come at any moment is also a nice suspense-raiser. Also, the various ghosts and apparitions are legitimately creepy. They aren't bloody, misshapen masses of gore, they're pale, disappearing-and-reappearing, and often unnaturally-moving figures. (Lady in the Box, oh god-asdafdgsdh- *click click...CLICK CLICK CLICK* "I DON'T THINK THIS FILM IS STRONG ENOUGH... D=")
Finally, the way you have to actually "fight" the ghosts. You don't physically fight them, you must exorcise them, and your only weapon...is a camera. This is both original and extremely effective in adding to the scariness, as you have to HOLD STILL and actually watch these creepy things coming toward you in first person until they're close enough for you to get a chance at a clear shot (and thus do more damage to them). It's very nice. The Kimi approves. And when you DO have to run, your character, I might mention, cannot move very fast. >_> This was originally another gripe to me, but as it does it's own bit to add to the "ohgodohgodohgod D: D: D:" factor, it doesn't bother me as much anymore.
Overall, even though I'm not very far in yet, I'm already pretty impressed with this game. After I finish it, I'll have to track down and play the others. ^_^