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Tecmo’s foremost survival horror series makes another appearance on the PS2. The previous versions of the game had commanded quite a following, with Fatal Frame II making for a great experience. Fatal Frame III: The Tormented follows that path very well and makes for another fulfilling experience.
In Fatal Frame III: The Tormented, you’ll be introduced to Rei Kurosawa who is feeling a bit down because her fiancé, Yuu Asou, dies in a car accident. She doesn’t feel ready to work so she has her assistant, Miku Hinasaki, do most of the work. One of these assignments has Miku going to a haunted mansion where she thinks she sees Yuu. This causes for some dreams that have Rei arriving at the ghost-filled mansion looking for her dead fiancé. We later learn that the dreams are part of a bigger curse, forcing Rei to learn about this curse as she tries to fight it. The game’s story ties back to previous Fatal Frame games, which is a plus for longtime fans of the series. They’ll recognize that Miku was the star of the first Fatal Frame game, and that Yuu knew Kei Amakura, whose niece starred in the second Fatal Frame game. If you haven’t played either games, don’t worry, the game does a good job of filling you in.
The gameplay is similar to that of previous games. You’ll once again use the camera to get rid of the nasty ghosts that populate the mansion. In The Tormented, you’re able to shoot while moving, upgrade your camera, and get better film (which causes more damage). You’ll also be more effective if you have careful timing for the shots; the better the timing for the more damaging it will be. The better the shoots – i.e. having the ghost in the center and close – will also cause more damage. You’re also able to score a fatal frame – an optimal shoot time where the shutter turns red – for the most damage. The combat system is actually very satisfying though some ghosts put up a difficult fight before letting you take a picture of them.
When you enter one of these dream stages, you’re usually well prepared since the game gives you a decent amount of health and film to take are of the ghosts. This means that you don’t have to spend a lot of time looking for items and can concentrate on getting the job done. Additionally, you can save the good film between various visits, making these visits more effective. Though a lot of your time is spent in the dream world, taking pictures of ghosts, you’ll also spend some time awake in Rei’s home. In her home, you’re able to develop the pictures in your camera, research items, and learn more about the curse and situation you’re currently in.
The game’s graphics are impressive. It does an amazing job of setting the mood since you’ll see immaculately detailed levels with plenty of mold and must going around the decaying rooms. The colors are grim except for stuff like blood, which only further calls your attention to it. The character models are pretty good with plenty of detail although the animation and facial expressions are a bit stiff. The ghosts are very unique and range wildly, further allowing you to get immersed in the game. The progressive scan support only makes the game look better.
The game’s audio very nicely complements the visuals. The sound effect are simply amazing with the subtle noises, moaning, whispers, and ambient sounds all making the atmosphere feel just right. There is little music in the game but what is there is used effectively. Even the moments of silence are well executed.
Fatal Frame III: The Tormented is an appealing game for the 13 or so hours that it lasts. The storyline and atmosphere is perfect and the gameplay is solid for the most part. If a few of the little gameplay issues were resolved, The Tormented would have been firmly in “amazing” territory. -- Jose Liz, PGNx Media
---- Nov 30, 2005
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