Fatal Frame (video game)

Infobox VG
title = Fatal Frame


caption =
developer = Tecmo
publisher = Tecmo
designer = Keisuke Kikuchi
engine =
released = PlayStation 2
vgrelease|JP=2001-12-13|NA=2002-03-04|PAL=2002-08-01

Xbox
vgrelease|NA=2002-11-22vgrelease|JP=2003-02-06|PAL=2003-05-02
genre = Survival horror
modes = Single player
ratings = vgratings|ESRB=Teen|ELSPA-18+
platforms = PlayStation 2, Xbox
media = DVD
requirements =
input =

"Fatal Frame", or nihongo|"Zero"|零～zero～ in Japan and "Project Zero" in Europe, is a survival horror video game for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox consoles. It is the first game in the "Fatal Frame" series.

Gameplay

Plot

On a dark September night in 1986, a young college student named Miku Hinasaki arrived at the Himuro Mansion to look for her missing brother, Mafuyu. Mafuyu went to the mansion to find his friend and mentor, a mystery novelist named Junsei Takamine, who went there previously to research a book with his editor, Koji Ogata, and a friend versed in the paranormal, Tomoe Hirasaka. Armed with only a flashlight, Miku enters the mansion, which has a long history of bloodshed, curses, and horrific rituals. She later finds the mysterious camera obscura that Mafuyu had brought with him, and that the siblings' mother passed down to them, that can kill ghosts when she takes pictures of them. During her time in the mansion she sees various apparitions of her missing brother. She also sees a young girl on many occasions and an angry female spirit, Kirie, who on many occasions tries to kill Miku.

Kirie was chosen to become the rope shrine maiden to guard a portal to another world. After days of exploration, Miku discovers Kirie's final resting place. Miku overcomes Kirie in battle, removing the evil malice from the spirit. Then Mafuyu appears to his younger sister, informing her that he cannot leave as he is a reincarnation of Kirie's true love. The shrine crumbles and the shrine maiden and Mafuyu disappear together.

If the player beats the game in Nightmare Mode an alternate ending plays. Instead of being with the shrine maiden, both Mafuyu and Miku escape and see the souls released.

Development

Reception

Controversy over truthfulness of the plot

Supposedly, the game is based around the true story and legends surrounding Himuro Mansion in Japan. The mansion is rumored to be the gruesome death site of a Japanese family and several of its associates a few decades ago. However, when asked, Makoto Shibata, the series producer, said the game was based on two old Japanese urban legends and ghost stories; he made no mention of the previous tales of the Himuro mansion murders, which brings into question the factuality of this previous 'basis' for the true story. It is also worth noting that the game was not explicitly advertised as being based on a true story in Japan, and that the "based on a true story" tag line was not used until Tecmo released the game outside of Japan.

References

External links

* [http://www.fatalframe.com/ Official English website] en icon
* [http://www.tecmo.co.jp/product/zero/index2.htm Official Japanese website] for "Rei ~zero~" ja icon
* [http://www.tecmo.co.jp/product/ff/ Official Japanese website] for "Fatal Frame" (Xbox release) ja icon