Topic: Zero/Project Zero/Fatal Frame Official Thread

@Banjo Oh Thanks for the heads up man. I guess we need to get some of these games if we want to see more of them . Not least does Fatal Frame seems to be such good franchise (which is like a resson why I have got a copy of one of the previous games in the series).

@Banjo Now also do you think there is anything else we should know about the upcoming remake or Fatal Frame in general ?

Do we for exemple know how Koei Tecmo got the camera mechanic work so well in the game ? Its someone thing I have been thinking about . Not sure that is so many ohter games with such well developed camera mechanics.

@oliverp We discussed a little about what could be gathered from the video on this thread, so if you check the previous pages you can find it. We discussed the engine, the use of the Wii remake as a base and more, but not so much is known and part of it is speculation. The other two remasters look so good because the original art is amazing and the originals were carefully crafted, but I'd say that the most important benefits from remaking one of the games with today's technology will be smoother controls and camera compared to previous entries in the series. I can't wait to read players' impressions!

@DeadSpace I played the demo of Tormented Souls II, but I didn't finish it. I liked the puzzles and its obvious classic Resident Evil inspiration, but it doesn't have maps and I missed a lot of progress because of the saving system in the normal difficulty. That saving system makes Resident Evil Remake so thrilling and replayable, but I thought the early enemies of Tormented Souls II in a room that looks like a courtyard were way too resistant, fast and overwhelming, kind of cheap difficulty. I don't know if I'll go back to it, but the lack of map bothered me the most. I understand why you like it, though, and I'm not writing it off.

After Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake, I'd like to get and play the latest Silent Hill releases, Silent Hill 2 and F, but right now I'm looking forward to Crimson Butterfly and curious about what the other users here will write. It's the favourite entry of @EvilSilentFrame, so he'll have a lot to say, I hope. 😁

@Banjo Oh thanks for the *info man. Just maybe Koei Tecmo could share something about the tech some time.. Even if game companies seldom seem to de doing it..

*Your backlog seems to be great btw
*Managed to beat Sh2 two times last year. A very impressive title to say the least imo.

@oliverp
I don’t think Koei Tecmo is going to share much about their tech, unfortunately. It would be really cool to see what they did to improve the camera though—maybe as a behind-the-scenes extra or something in the game’s extras. I thought the fighting mechanics in 4 and 5 were already pretty solid, so if they can carry that over into the Crimson Butterfly remake, we’re in for something special.

The second game is my favorite in the franchise, with the first one right behind it. I’m extremely excited for this release—I already have my preorder locked in. Horror fans have a lot to look forward to this year, and this is easily my personal highlight.

⸻

@Banjo-
I haven’t played Silent Hill f yet—I’m waiting for it to come down in price—but it’s definitely on my radar. I did play and finish the Silent Hill 2 remake, though, and I think they did a really solid job with it. Bloober was the right choice for the series; they absolutely nail atmosphere, and you can see that carry over from their previous games.

That said, while I really enjoyed the remake, I still think the original Team Silent version is superior overall. There’s a creepiness and tone in the original Silent Hill 2 that the remake doesn’t fully capture. The remake has its moments, but the original just hits differently for me. There was a sense of dread in the original and I didn’t have in this one. However, I do think Bloober did a really nice job and I wish much more success for them in the future as I think they have a bright future for them in horror.

If we off the Xbox thing, Luigi's Mansion is pretty impressive . Guess its like one of few games where Nintendo like experiment with horror and Dark Elements . Would be so cool to learn about the tech behind that game/franchise.

the tech might of few games

@EvilSilentFrame Have you played the Xbox version of Silent Hill 2, the one that some fans say is slightly marred? I have also pre-ordered the digital deluxe edition of Fatal Frame II Remake. I hope to start playing it in March, as soon as I have enough time to fully enjoy it.

@Banjo – I’ve played SH 2 on Xbox and then the HD collection that came out later. Honestly, I didn’t think it was as bad as people made it seem. I went in expecting it to be terrible, so maybe because my expectations were low, I wasn’t disappointed. Sure, some of the textures were flat and blurry, and the fog was more mist-like, but I still enjoyed running through SH 2 again in the HD collection. Maybe one needs to play them back to back to notice just how bad the HD version is.

I also finally got to play part 3 since I never had a PS2 back then, which was a nice experience too. If you keep your expectations low, the HD collection is fine. If you’re thinking you’re getting a “true” HD upgrade as the title suggests, you might be disappointed. Either way, they’re playable, and I didn’t have any issues.

On a side note, my preorder is also the digital deluxe version of FF 2 Crimson Butterfly, and I’m so hyped for this game! I normally don’t wish time away, but I really wish March would get here already. The file is small, so I know it hasn’t fully downloaded to my Xbox yet, but I keep checking and trying to play it—only to be reminded it’s not time yet. 😅 Maybe I need to temper my expectations so I’m not disappointed in this remake, but I can’t help it. It’s one of my favorite games of all time. SH 2 was up there as well for me. Might be why I think the original is better than the remake.

@oliverp I love Luigi’s Mansion. The first game I thought was really good. I played it back on the GameCube and loved it. It came out this past October on Nintendo Switch Online and I think it still held up pretty well. The second game is probably the weakest in the series. Being more mission based, I just wanted to play through. It felt too choppy for me. I didn’t beat it, one day I’ll have to get back to it. I just fell out of it. The third game I thought was really good and thought they did a great job with the graphics on what the Switch was able to put out. Next Level Games somehow pulled more out of that game than what I thought was possible. Nintendo made the right choice scooping them up to keep them on board. Hopefully we hear about a 4th installment sometimes soon.

@EvilSilentFrame I love Luigi's Mansion 1 in spite of the short length. The second title kind of broke the foundations and, for several reasons, I didn't really like the third entry, although I completed it eventually, all gems and ghosts included.

More good news, the Code Veronica remake rumour is apparently true.

Back to Fatal Frame II Crimson Butterfly Remake, I'm sure that you'll love it. Just make sure to turn the lights off and have some time for yourself, but maybe you have planned that already. 😊

@Banjo — out of the three, I still think the first Luigi’s Mansion was the best. Yeah, it was short, but it was a launch title, so I give it a lot of credit for that. If I’m not mistaken, it was also the only one developed directly by Nintendo, which probably explains some of its charm.

I’ve been hearing the Code Veronica remake rumors for a while now too. Rumors are fine, I just really want to know if it’s actually happening. I’ve also heard talk about Zero. I’d honestly be happy with either, but if I had to choose, I’m definitely leaning more toward a CV remake. Let’s hope that article is true. He has a good track record when it comes to Resident Evil leaks.

And yeah, I’m pretty sure I’m going to love this new version of Crimson Butterfly. I’m covering for someone at work who’s out for about six weeks, and by the time they’re back I’ll have plenty of vacation time built up. I’m already planning to take some time off and really dive into it. I’ve got a really good feeling about this one—super excited!

@EvilSlientFrame Oh I hope you got to play Crimson Butterfly in a good way.

@EvilSilentFrame Yes. The first Luigi Mansion was made by that old-school Nintendo that was so charming and full of talents, while the sequels were made by Next Level Games, that have a good sense of humour, but carry through counterproductive design and gameplay choices.

Back to Fatal Frame, it's also exciting thinking that this potential success could lead to remakes of the first and third entry, joining the second, fourth and fifth titles on modern platforms. The only doubt I have now about the upcoming remake is if my first playthrough is going to be in English or Japanese (with English subtitles). I think that the English voices in Maiden of Black Water are all good, but I'm not sure about this remake. I didn't mind having to read the subtitles in Mask of the Lunar Eclipse, so probably my first playthrough will be with the Japanese voices. It's not like they talk much during gameplay. anyway.

@Banjo — I honestly haven’t given the English voice acting much thought yet. I’d like to think they’re going to go all out on this one, especially since this is probably their best shot at pulling in people who’ve never played a Fatal Frame game before and getting them interested in the rest of the series.

I know I’ll be playing this more than once, so I’m sure I’ll end up trying both the English and Japanese voices. Like you said, there isn’t a ton of dialogue during gameplay anyway.

And I really do think we’ll eventually get remakes of 1 and 3. The fact that they brought over 5 and then 4—a game I honestly never thought I’d get the chance to play—already felt like a small miracle. Now we’re getting Crimson Butterfly, which I still consider the best in the series. All of that makes me pretty confident that 1 and 3 will come in time. I do wonder if they went straight to 2 because of its broader appeal and sales potential, or if it was also a practical choice since 3 is so closely tied to the first game that it wouldn’t make as much sense without remaking 1 first. I want 1 & 3 for selfish reasons and of course because it would be nice to have the whole series available on modern consoles. I also wouldn’t say “no” to a new one in the series.

@oliverp I think we will all get the chance to play Crimson Butterfly in a good way. This is considered the best in the series for a reason. I don’t think they are going to mess this one up.

Series directors Makoto Shibata and Hidehiko Nakajima revealed details in a new interview with 4Gamer. Basically, they decided to remake the second entry because it has more content than the first, indirectly hinting at the possibility of a remake of the original game with additional content, which would make sense, considering that the upcoming remake has, nevertheless, new side stories, and that future remakes would run on the same engine. After their comments on level of content and modern standards, it is likely that the first game will get the expanded remake treatment, or that I and III could be remade together, making the most of the connections between them in the latter scenario.

@Bajo Now will we dare reading any *reviews ?

*I think I will not to .. Maybe just the *score (which can be hard to avoid by just browsing the web).

@oliverp I won't really pay any attention to reviews or scores. Eurogamer wrongly advised to avoid Maiden of Black Water 🤣. I'd be nice if it was extensively reviewed for visibility, though.

@Banjo – really nice interview you shared. I’m looking forward to seeing some of the new content they mentioned. Things like Mio and Mayu holding hands probably won’t affect how I play much (if at all), but I’m curious to see how those changes are implemented and whether they meaningfully add to the experience.

As for a remake of the first game, I get the concern that it would be short by today’s standards, but I also think that’s something players could forgive given when the original released. I don’t mind added content, and I’m definitely curious about what they’re expanding on in 2, but I’m a little hesitant about overhauling 1 to the point where it may no longer feel recognizable. If anything, leaning into the rumored “true events” and adding a few locations could be a great way to expand it without losing its identity. Honestly, I don’t think it would feel that short even as-is.

I’m also unsure about combining it with 3. Personally, I’d prefer the games remain separate — I think they’re strong enough to stand on their own. That said, if combining them was the only way it could happen, I’d still take it.

@EvilSilentFrame I completely agree. I would prefer the first and third game to be developed separately. I don't think that they need a bigger story or a bloated version. Your idea of adding content separated from the main story instead of overhauling it is the best way to preserve the original experience. It could be new content based on the "true events", a side story... Anything, really.

@Banjo- actually I am playing TS2 right now. It's great, atmospheric, addicting, oldschool, etc. You get the map later as well. Just need to find it somewhere.You get better weapons later on.
@EvilSilentFrame you might like it. It has early SH, RE vibe. I love this kind of camera. It changes everything...