The extra yard of skin on Strom Thurmond's neck, Justin Guarini's burgeoning career, and contract negotiations with Suge Knight: these are things that are genuinely frightening. You can add Tecmo's Fatal Frame to that terrifying list. Originally released for PlayStation 2 in early 2002, this under-appreciated game featured a rich setting that was truly eerie. Rather than eliciting cheap thrills a la Resident Evil, Fatal Frame dared to be different with its fastidiously-woven atmosphere and unique gameplay. Tecmo is bringing the game to the Xbox this Halloween, giving Xbox owners something to be scared of other than their console's heft.
For those of you not familiar with the game, here's a brief synopsis: Fatal Frame is a survival-horror title that's loosely based on a true story involving a cult in Japan. The action centers on Himura Mansion, where the cult performed all sorts of sordid acts. A journalist name Mafuyu investigates the mansion to uncover the mysteries behind some of the deaths that occurred in it. He disappears under strange circumstances and his sister, Miku, attempts to find him. You play the game as Miku, a very cute young girl that isn't exactly formidable.
|