The story was great, but the backstory was really weird. They were throwing so many terms and names and folklore tales at me, all at the same time, I could barely gather what "blackwater" or "immortal flower" were by the end of the game.
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Fatal Frame / Project Zero: Maiden of Black Water |OT| Pokémon Snap U: After Dark
- Thread starter TheMoon
- Start date
The story was great, but the backstory was really weird. They were throwing so many terms and names and folklore tales at me, all at the same time, I could barely gather what "blackwater" or "immortal flower" were by the end of the game.
That's always been the case for me with these games outside of the enemies you can't kill. Those are always my favorite moments since can't use my magic fuck up everything camera.
Sumio Mondo
Member
I must say that I'm really getting a lot out of the story as a long term fan. They're answering a few of the mysteries from previous games (such as what happened to the protagonists).
TheMoon
Member
Nevermind the info being right there among the first things in the OP
Wow, you're right!
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=184149314&postcount=247
Spieler Eins
Member
The last two chapters were definitely good again, after several lackluster ones. Even more so because of the increased fighting. The combat with traditional controls might be the best part of this game.
Also, I thought the bonus chapters were going to be dumb fun, but right now it seems like they could be more tense than several stretches of the main game :lol
I think there's two points to summarize why this game is in many parts not very scary or atmospheric at all (i.e. boring and also frustrating, since it could have been much better based on the other parts that were good):
First, it's way too easy. You usually have at least 40 healing items, even if you don't particularly search for more (as they keep respawning) - ridiculous. Also, the core game structure has been severely dumbed down. Saying that criticism like backtracking is equal to older titles is stupid, because old survival horror games like FF1 and Resident Evil or FF2 and Silent Hill basically had a Metroidvania structure.
They had puzzles, they had you exploring a connected map, they had hidden key items to progress and find new areas by yourself.
This game doesn't have any of that. ,,Backtracking" in here is running on the same linear line over and over again. Areas are mostly interesting only once, because it's not like you'll ever find new stuff on the second or third run, since the simple game structure doesn't feature anything beyond.
Secondly, the story is rubbish and prevents an overarching dread. There's a decent amount of legitimately spooky images, scenes, etc. within this game, but they aren't connected by a proper narrative. It's obvious if you compare it to the fan favorite of the series.
FF2: You fall into an inescapable village, whose undead residents are hunting intruders like yourself for demon sacrifice. Through an increasingly gruesome chain of substories of other sacrificed victims, you find out that your only way out is to literally approach an open gate of hell that has caused everything. Easy to understand and to be spooked by.
FF5 on the other hand is all over the place. At first it's about suicides, but also about ghost busters with sixth sense syndrome, then there's ghost photos, a super dumb killing ritual with boxes, then everything's about ghost marriage and oh, this is all supposed to make you scared of... water? what? It's super incoherent, plots barely evolve and the connections between them feel forced at best. You barely know what the real evil is.
Also, an important thing about other horror games is the fact that you are trapped in a scenario. In this game, the characters just casually leave the haunted place whenever they want. With that, the backtracking not only becomes boring gameplay-wise, but goofy and non-threatening atmosphere-wise. It doesn't help that
. I'm not sure whether the story ambitions of 3 characters and too many themes is the result or the reason for the flawed game structure, but lots of shit needed to be cut.
Also, I thought the bonus chapters were going to be dumb fun, but right now it seems like they could be more tense than several stretches of the main game :lol
I think there's two points to summarize why this game is in many parts not very scary or atmospheric at all (i.e. boring and also frustrating, since it could have been much better based on the other parts that were good):
First, it's way too easy. You usually have at least 40 healing items, even if you don't particularly search for more (as they keep respawning) - ridiculous. Also, the core game structure has been severely dumbed down. Saying that criticism like backtracking is equal to older titles is stupid, because old survival horror games like FF1 and Resident Evil or FF2 and Silent Hill basically had a Metroidvania structure.
They had puzzles, they had you exploring a connected map, they had hidden key items to progress and find new areas by yourself.
This game doesn't have any of that. ,,Backtracking" in here is running on the same linear line over and over again. Areas are mostly interesting only once, because it's not like you'll ever find new stuff on the second or third run, since the simple game structure doesn't feature anything beyond.
Secondly, the story is rubbish and prevents an overarching dread. There's a decent amount of legitimately spooky images, scenes, etc. within this game, but they aren't connected by a proper narrative. It's obvious if you compare it to the fan favorite of the series.
FF2: You fall into an inescapable village, whose undead residents are hunting intruders like yourself for demon sacrifice. Through an increasingly gruesome chain of substories of other sacrificed victims, you find out that your only way out is to literally approach an open gate of hell that has caused everything. Easy to understand and to be spooked by.
FF5 on the other hand is all over the place. At first it's about suicides, but also about ghost busters with sixth sense syndrome, then there's ghost photos, a super dumb killing ritual with boxes, then everything's about ghost marriage and oh, this is all supposed to make you scared of... water? what? It's super incoherent, plots barely evolve and the connections between them feel forced at best. You barely know what the real evil is.
Also, an important thing about other horror games is the fact that you are trapped in a scenario. In this game, the characters just casually leave the haunted place whenever they want. With that, the backtracking not only becomes boring gameplay-wise, but goofy and non-threatening atmosphere-wise. It doesn't help that
no one dies except that hipster from flashbacks
Reached the final chapter, but I'm keeping that bad boy for tomorrow.
As for the past few chapters...
I do think the game is easier. Certainly easier than expected. Leaving out my first try on chapter I've never scored beneath an A-rank. I'm not complaining, but it's surprising to see. As for chapter 12...
As for the past few chapters...
So... Miku has been asleep for 14 years? Man they weren't kidding about being neither dead or alive. At this point they could be sisters.
I do think the game is easier. Certainly easier than expected. Leaving out my first try on chapter I've never scored beneath an A-rank. I'm not complaining, but it's surprising to see. As for chapter 12...
First time in the game that gave me chills. It has some fun scare moments like the ghost under Yuri's bed, but the best one is the Tall Woman. Earlier in this thread I was somewhat disappointed by the ghost design, but I will say that the tall woman is legit. Her appearance is far better, more creepy than any other ghost. Especially when she stares in the security camera during Hojo's stakeouts. Excellent.
You must mean 13 and that's one of the best!
I feel like they went all out with it I felt legit dread from it! I agree on the Tall Woman she's one of the best things from this game.
man, reading these reactions after finishing the game
unless my remaining pick ups of the year surprise me
Call of Duty: Black Ops 3
Rise of the Tomb Raider
Rodea and the Sky Soldier
Stella Glow
Xenoblade Chronicles X
Fatal Frame V is going to end up being my #2 in the 2015 voting thread >_>
unless my remaining pick ups of the year surprise me
Call of Duty: Black Ops 3
Rise of the Tomb Raider
Rodea and the Sky Soldier
Stella Glow
Xenoblade Chronicles X
Fatal Frame V is going to end up being my #2 in the 2015 voting thread >_>
All done I got the good endings for everyone and the last boss was pretty cool. Now time to try out my girl Ayane! I am a bit disappointing that I don't just get the Nintendo alts from simply beating the game. Having to play that hour and half again two more time would burn me out.
Ulysses 31
Member
Think you have to do each phase at least once and then you can do the fatal glances... >.>
I tried that and it didn't work. I died so many times waiting for the overwater glance that I just did it underwater and watched the other ending on Youtube.
Ulysses 31
Member
I recall the prompt never showing up for me and I just held down ZR when I was real close the 2nd time I was above water.
You need both endings for that ZZS. =)
After putting the game down for about a week between drop 2 and 3. I found myself stuck on synch shots for about 20 minutes, helplessly trying to focus on the note. I had quite a laugh when I realized I had to hold ZR.
Does the game get scarier later on? So far I've been loving the atmosphere, but none of the encounters have really left a lasting impression on me.
I will try to be brave...
Does the game get scarier later on? So far I've been loving the atmosphere, but none of the encounters have really left a lasting impression on me.
I will try to be brave...
Ugh... I don't want to go back to the game just for that costume.
Both for Yuri and Miu, and 3 of the 4 for Ren. I wouldn't care if this was just the bikinis but I really went to run around with the zero suit.
Oh well, let's just do a write-up now...
First, I enjoyed Maiden of Black Water. Overall it's been a weird experience, but that's FF/PZ franchise in a nutshell. This is the second In the series I've played (The Wii version of PZ II being the first) and I'm allready sure I prefer the Wiimake over Maiden of Black Water. There is no shame in that though. II is a great game with a lot of tense moments and it's defintely up there with the best horror games ever made. Still, while not on par with PZ II, I find MoBW to be an enjoyable, but flawed adventure.
- I think my biggest "disappointment" would be the ghost design. When I first played PZ II I got spooked by the horriffic designs of the ghosts and the details they had. The broken neck lady (with her head dangling in front of her chest) is the stuff of nightmares. The ghosts in MoBW are... safe. Not as out there or creepy. Most ghosts felt like something calming or even soothing. Well almost. They're trying to kill me.
- Yes, the controls are clunky. If you don't like those, well that's part of the charm. Not a big fan on this of gameplay? Well you need to skip this. A quick turn option would be nice.
- Regarding the story... it's okay. Yuri and Ren are nice, but...
- Graphics are sweet. Especially the character models are fantastic. Yes there's some recycling going on there but I don't care
- Zero Suit Samus here to save the day.
First, I enjoyed Maiden of Black Water. Overall it's been a weird experience, but that's FF/PZ franchise in a nutshell. This is the second In the series I've played (The Wii version of PZ II being the first) and I'm allready sure I prefer the Wiimake over Maiden of Black Water. There is no shame in that though. II is a great game with a lot of tense moments and it's defintely up there with the best horror games ever made. Still, while not on par with PZ II, I find MoBW to be an enjoyable, but flawed adventure.
- I think my biggest "disappointment" would be the ghost design. When I first played PZ II I got spooked by the horriffic designs of the ghosts and the details they had. The broken neck lady (with her head dangling in front of her chest) is the stuff of nightmares. The ghosts in MoBW are... safe. Not as out there or creepy. Most ghosts felt like something calming or even soothing. Well almost. They're trying to kill me.
The best designs for ghosts in this game are the Tall Lady (oh man Ren's stakeout in the last chapter: nightmare fuel), the hanged lady and that one guy with cracking bones and stuff. Everything else felt... too... calm.
- Yes, the controls are clunky. If you don't like those, well that's part of the charm. Not a big fan on this of gameplay? Well you need to skip this. A quick turn option would be nice.
- Regarding the story... it's okay. Yuri and Ren are nice, but...
they could have done without the girl. It's a real small plot and she didn't have anything of big stuff going on.
- Graphics are sweet. Especially the character models are fantastic. Yes there's some recycling going on there but I don't care
- Zero Suit Samus here to save the day.
I agree on Miu she didn't add much to the story other than
As for ghosts
Fatal Frame 2 is right behind REmake as one of my favorite horror games I really need to play that remake! I think I'm going to play that next month once I can pull myself away from Fallout 4.
yay Miku is back still stuck on her brother! Would have been nice if they went into her gravure idol backstory more.
the one who got ran over by the car was really creepy especially at the end of 6 where he's screaming don't leave me!
Sumio Mondo
Member
Yes. I found Drop 4 and Drop 6 the most tense so far. There'a couple of ghosts and encounters in Drop 6 that were...unsettling. And weird.
Sumio Mondo
Member
Love the VHS tape effects during the Fatal Glances. The ghost's deaths in this game are just brutal.
indigo-cyclops
Member
I was reading your post then realized you broadly spoiled some things for me in the game. Be careful with that.
-shadow-
Member
Drop 4 spoiler:
The man who went mad and started murdering the maidens and than hack into their eyes
I absolutely love it!
Sumio Mondo
Member
Yeah him and Drop 6 spoilers:
the guy who was driving his car who sees a young women standing by the road then a weird corpse falling into his car causing him to crash then trying to crawl away from the wreckage only for his own car to run him over. I thought the camera would pan away he was about to get hit but nope, you see the poor bastard get crushed. The dude was fucked even if he managed to get to the tunnel anyway since the ghosts who died in the cave in would have had him. There was a bunch of other ghost backstories during Drop 6 that featured that VHS aesthetic and a weird droning/distorted scream sound in the background which was really creepy.
TheMoon
Member
shadow2810
Member
Well if you can deal with no sounds, then I guess you can.
TheMoon
Member
Yea, it's technically not impossible but it's not intended or fully supported due to their weird "no sound during certain parts" decision.
flatearthpandas
Member
Just started this up, on Drop 1. Horror games are always really difficult for me first time through, not sure why I'm such a baby. One thing I've noticed so far is checkpoints seem pretty few and far between and there are a lot of easily missable pictures. How important is grabbing all the pics?
This is my first FF game so I'm no expert but I think the ghost photos are mostly for replayability. Missing them isn't going to block your progress as far as I can tell.
flatearthpandas
Member
Thanks. Seems like maybe points for ranking each drop and maybe chapter percentage?
Enjoying it quite a bit, on the first interlude now. Fear seems to have dropped out of the equation as I get more used to combat. Mostly just edgy trying to grab photos quick enough and not get jumped by ghosts while trying to sync. Had some difficulty in Drop 2 but started locking on in Drop 3 and had a better time, not to mention the 4 shot is pretty nice. Which leads me to my next question.
Upgrade paths. Which cameras, what functions? I'm thinking Yuri first and loader followed by output.
foxuzamaki
Doesn't read OPs, especially not his own
So there is something interesting to point out, about a week ago I watched the best friends play the demo for the game, in a part which they meet the actual myuri and not a shadow in which they didn't know at first and attempted to take a photo a ghost pops up suddenly when this happens and gives a bit of a really good scare plus fight, I didn't make it to that part yet so when I sat down and played it I kinda tried to replicate it but there was only like a shadowing wavy ghost figure to my right that kinda just disappeared, I didn't get the scare nor did I Had to fight the ghost, I just found that interesting.
Oh god, I just finished Drop 2. Those freaking kid ghosts scared me good, I didn't really understand what was happening at their fatal glance though.
I have some questions though. When dodging, can I dodge while I have the camera up? I didn't really get that. And I can't either seem to evade those hands when picking up stuff, any tips on that?
Lastly, how does the wetness thing actually work?
I have some questions though. When dodging, can I dodge while I have the camera up? I didn't really get that. And I can't either seem to evade those hands when picking up stuff, any tips on that?
Lastly, how does the wetness thing actually work?
I have some questions though. When dodging, can I dodge while I have the camera up? I didn't really get that. And I can't either seem to evade those hands when picking up stuff, any tips on that?
Lastly, how does the wetness thing actually work?
For dodging with the camera
you unlock one extension for the camera early on)
For evading the hands, the timing is quie tricky, but doable.
For wetness, I think you can attract more ghosts if you are wet. You can get it from ghosts touching you, or going through wet areas.
fabricated backlash
Member
Just finished drop 6. So far my favourite chapter. This game is incredibly dark and depressing, like some of the background lore about
I kind of feel sorry for the ghosts, can't remember when a game last did that for me.
the maidens and how they're basically nothing more than living dumpsters for peoples sins being locked away to rot in those boxes.... uah I'm getting shivers again just thinking about them.
I kind of feel sorry for the ghosts, can't remember when a game last did that for me.
Sumio Mondo
Member
Drop 8 was certainly refreshing. I'd honestly wouldn't mind an entire game built around that mechanic of
Yeah, I'm tending to feel sorry for most of the ghosts in this game, unlike in past games where a lot of them just remained mysterious, they're going all in this time to let you know pretty much what happened to all of those ghosts in the past.
CCTV ghost surveillance.
Yeah, I'm tending to feel sorry for most of the ghosts in this game, unlike in past games where a lot of them just remained mysterious, they're going all in this time to let you know pretty much what happened to all of those ghosts in the past.
I also don't like how bad the maidens had it in this game. They're either massacred by that psycho serial killer, commit suicide to avoid the ritual or are thrown into those tiny black boxes and either drown from it or get their limbs twisted thr wrong way. Talk about a shitty existence.
So am I just ****ed in drop 9 because I carelessly wasted my mirrorstone early in the drop? I can't believe this ****ing ending. I don't want to start the whole drop over from the beginning.
UPDATE: Finally got through it (after dying dozens of times) by using strategic delays and undoubtably a huge amount of dumb luck. If I replay this drop I will restart from the last checkpoint if I get stuck between the scenery and an obnoxious ghost who practically one-shots me (which is how I lost my mirrorstone early in the drop).
UPDATE: Finally got through it (after dying dozens of times) by using strategic delays and undoubtably a huge amount of dumb luck. If I replay this drop I will restart from the last checkpoint if I get stuck between the scenery and an obnoxious ghost who practically one-shots me (which is how I lost my mirrorstone early in the drop).
Finished drop 3 and 4. Seriously this game really gets under my skin. Feeling uneasy almost all the time. That
. I really have hard time understanding how so many reviewers consider this game boring and not scary at all. I guess I am just really bad with horror.
edit
I guess I will check them out if I enjoy this game once I am done with it. 1-3 seems to be relatively easy to find with 'decent' price but is 4 worth the hassle of bypassing region lock etc?
Shrine part especially was hard for me to go through and those hanging corpses outside didn't really help either
edit
I guess I will check them out if I enjoy this game once I am done with it. 1-3 seems to be relatively easy to find with 'decent' price but is 4 worth the hassle of bypassing region lock etc?
Sumio Mondo
Member
Supposedly all you need is a Wii, the game disc and an SD card to put the patch contents on to then click a couple of things on the SD card once you boot up the Wii to install the patch and the game will run directly off the disc on the Wii with no hassle (no hacking required). I thought it would be harder then that. I've just bought 4 the other day after hearing how damn easy it sounds to play in English.
get all endings. might as well list how to get 'em
Yuri, I still don't know if it's time based
good - beat final boss above water, glance
bad - beat final boss underwater, glance
Miu, dawwwww
good - take a pic of Miku while she's staring at the shore
bad - don't take a pic at the end
forgot if you need to take pics of her while she's walking there. just take them all just in case for her good ending
Ren - Ose
good - run up to her and glance
bad - take a picture
Ren - Shiragiku
good - beat her with your camera
bad - let her push you into the box
no Rui option lol
good - beat final boss above water, glance
bad - beat final boss underwater, glance
Miu, dawwwww
good - take a pic of Miku while she's staring at the shore
bad - don't take a pic at the end
forgot if you need to take pics of her while she's walking there. just take them all just in case for her good ending
Ren - Ose
good - run up to her and glance
bad - take a picture
Ren - Shiragiku
good - beat her with your camera
bad - let her push you into the box
no Rui option lol
Cool thanks! Will go for it when I try Nightmare
TheMoon
Member
This doesn't work anymore on the current Wii firmware. You need to install the homebrew channel.
Astral Dog
Member
Just finished playing the demo, the controls are a bit clumsy and take awhile to get used to :/ that Gamepad..
The visual design is A m a z i n g, creepy atmosphere like old school horror games, lots of water and i like the old diaries and weird cutscenes. Im just worried about the supposed repetition of the missions and environments from impressions, but im considering buying first timé playing FF.
The visual design is A m a z i n g, creepy atmosphere like old school horror games, lots of water and i like the old diaries and weird cutscenes. Im just worried about the supposed repetition of the missions and environments from impressions, but im considering buying first timé playing FF.
Okay how the hell does ranking work in this game? Did drop 5 and took my time with it and almost died many times yet somehow I got S+.
Still really liking the game but playing same areas all the time feels rather lame. That shrine makes me really nervous everytime though. Fuck those dolls.
Still really liking the game but playing same areas all the time feels rather lame. That shrine makes me really nervous everytime though. Fuck those dolls.