Tecmo Koei continues to remaster horror gems from another time. Recently the studio offered us Project Zero Maiden of Back Water, a very exciting remaster that set the basis for the series. And now, we finally have the title released in 2008 only in Japan. And I must say that I waited a long time to get my hands on the title. Too much waiting… So expected that we will see if the wait was worth it or if the title has not aged well.
15 years of waiting…
As said in the introduction, the title was released in 2008 on the most popular console of the moment and was unfortunately not the expected success. Of course, the fact that the title is for Japan only doesn’t help. So this remaster comes at the right time, because the previous one was very well received.
To say, the studio has done a lot of work here to not just give us a 4K compatible title with a different controller. We are entitled to totally reworked visuals, finer 3D models, details everywhere. Basically, the title has been totally modernized. As if the previous remaster had confirmed, the studio that the sequel should be entitled to additional work to please the market again. It is especially in its gameplay that the title has aged badly.
It is again the same delirium. We find a young student who wants to find his past by going on an island … And will discover the Camera Obscura and to you the survival horror camera in hand to hunt ghosts. As always, the title offers us to visit the island from level to level all in maze mode. And so it is up to you to find various clues, do puzzles and face ghosts.
This is also where the game becomes hardcore. We are on a title that is much more aggressive with many more ghosts than in the past. There is less tension because of all this, the title is much more arcade and less based on constant tension. Especially since the confrontations are often a source of frustration. The slowness of the character makes some confrontations just impossible.
If the gameplay and the title as a whole remain for many people the worst opus. Its very arcade side remains however a good release. Succeeding in making Fatal Frame are a little more fun. And what is a pity is that the title has one of the best art direction with one of the best bestiaries.
Finally, this episode is mostly there for the fans. And opens up to the world with its subtitles finally in French. (We took a great pleasure to finally do this episode that we never had the opportunity to do. Even if we advise the new player to go through the previous remaster first.
