Hands-onFatal Frame
From what we've played of the Xbox version, the game seems to bring all that and more to Microsoft's console, which is a bit thin in the horror game category. Aside from Silent Hill 2 there's little on the Xbox to appease horror gamers, who should take to Fatal Frame. While our build of the game still needed some polish and tweaking to its graphics, it already showcased the atmosphere and playability of its PlayStation 2 cousin. One enhancement that caught our eye was the improved graphics, which were evident in the game's level of detail and rich color. The look of the game was a bit crisper than the PS2 version because it doesn't use a grainy filter in the flashback sequences. The improved detail also made the ghosts we encountered even more disturbing, because we were able to make out even more of their twisted bodies. However, the biggest improvement in the game lies in its sound. The game's newly implemented Dolby 5.1 sound takes the game's already disturbing audio effects to a whole new level of creepiness. It was bad enough to hear the various moans in the PS2 game, but playing the game with a 5.1 setup is asking to be unsettled.
From what we've seen so far, Fatal Frame is shaping up nicely on the Xbox. The game's disturbing elements translate well onto the Microsoft console. Fatal Frame is slated to ship on Halloween, October 31, for the Xbox. Look for more on the game soon.
