Fatal Frame or Project Zero as it is known over here in Europe was Japan based Tecmo’s foray into the survival horror genre. Choosing to go with a slower paced game compared to Capcom’s Resident Evil series, Fatal Frame brought a new concept into survival horror as it threw away the usual guns, rocket launchers and the like in favour of a special camera that when used correctly could exorcise spirits which roam this world. This novel approach certainly worked wonders for the original game as nothing like it had been done before.

A few years have passed and Tecmo have produced the sequel to the popular first game with the appropriately titled Project Zero 2. This time round players take control of twin sisters Mayu and Mio as they enter a spooky village filled with intrigue, nightmare and plenty of strange goings on linking past to present.

Gameplay:

As mentioned earlier, Project Zero 2 is fixed into the survival horror genre as the player unravels the dark history and mysteries of the spooky village. What is new this time round is the option to play in first person mode, which was something absent from the original. However this mode seems to differ from the standard first person mode in some way because the two files are separate, meaning you simply can’t change views on the fly. Playing the game with whatever viewpoint you decide consists of the usual survival horror fare which as I’m sure you are aware is a heady mix of exploration, puzzle solving and combat.

Looking at the combat and an area in which Project Zero attempts to be different, you are faced by many apparitions or ghosts. Whilst displaying some characteristics of zombies these ghosts are tricky to beat especially when playing in confined areas of the game world or against fast moving opponents. Armed with the “Camera Obscura” (a camera that can exorcise the spirits by taking pictures of the ghosts) players will find that the ghosts are not as spooky or intimidating as they first appear. Simply aiming at a ghost and charging up the shot to get the optimum picture will result in damage being caused to ghosts. Do this enough times without getting grabbed and you will have succeeded in defeating these unusual enemies. What is more the camera can be loaded with various types of film, each having its own power and reload rating. Taking out ghosts with the best shots will net the player many points which in turn can then be spent on upgrading the camera once the player has found special spirit orbs, which are easily found anyway. The real tension within the combat lies in the fact that ghosts are not predictable in their movements so unlike zombies who simply make a beeline to your neck, the ghosts will appear and then disappear only to re-appear behind you all of sudden. This is also especially frustrating if you have powered up your shot only to find that your target has moved at the last second and thus leaving you vulnerable to counter attack. This approach works well within the context of the game and makes for some challenging encounters.

The story and atmosphere of the game is produced at an extremely high standard as many cut scenes show the fate of the two sisters during play. The subject matter is very Japanese and based on folklore from the region, as was the first Project Zero game. There are quite a number of text documents to find that will give players clues and other information regarding the games deep and spooky storyline.

Project Zero remains a very engaging game yet in my opinion has one glaring flaw which could in fact hurt the game in the long term. What really annoyed me the most was not the game’s forced pacing, but the speed of the characters movement. Whether using first or third person modes the controlling of your character is more akin to three toed sloth racing or simply watching slow motion in motion. With the likes of Ninja Gaiden being of such fluidity and even the latest Resident Evil being fast paced, Project Zero really does crawl at a snails pace and quite frankly I cannot see the reason why. Sure, this is not an all out action game however a balance should have been struck where playability and enjoyment should always remain a factor. Whilst the game is so slow I fear many might simply not have the patience to fully enjoy something that is needlessly so slow. Why bother having a run button if run means, walk a little bit faster than a one legged blind man?

Graphics:

The graphics in Project Zero are quite detailed yet have their own distinct grainy, chilling look and combined with the flat colours used throughout the graphics do a grand job of conveying a spooky atmosphere. The character models for the ghosts look as authentic as you could imagine ghosts to be, however their design is of the highest calibre with all manner of chilling looking apparitions that you face. If I were to make any complaints here then it would have to be that there is perhaps not enough variety in colours used throughout, but as I said earlier the muted colours are used to good effect in creating the atmosphere here. Either way for Xbox the graphics aren’t necessarily as good as they perhaps should be as the game does look very much PS2 quality.

Sound:

This is one aspect of the game that is perhaps the games most prominent features, as it was with the first game. The sound used is amazing and fitting of every scene and encounter. With a mixture of grating music to eerie voices Project Zero 2 is not one to hold back. The leading characters are all voiced with conviction and make for a believable experience throughout. Shut the curtains and turn the volume up to the max for best results here as the sound is truly awesome.

Longevity:

Project Zero is of reasonable length, made longer by the fact that your character has the speed of a sleeping elephant. With a lot of extras to tinker with once the main game has been beaten and then those extra ghost captures to acquire in the main game there is enough to keep fans and those that get into the game happy. Sadly there are no multiplayer modes yet this game type does not really require it.

Overall:

Project Zero 2 is not that different to the original game, which is not a bad thing at all. Those new to the series will do well to have a look so as to experience something different from other more action orientated titles. With its supernatural element and intriguing method of disposing enemies makes Project Zero 2 pretty unique. As I mentioned earlier the overall speed of the game might just annoy some people but I feel those with more patience will definitely be rewarded. A solid title full of scares and one that should be investigated if you are unfamiliar with the series and looking for something different or are a fan looking for more horror Project Zero style.