Myria’s been playing a new game and I want to tell you, it is seriously unsettling. This comes at the end of a string of things that ranged from not too interesting to downright annoying (“The Hobbit”, “The Bard” and “Fable”).
The game is Fatal Frame...
Fatal Frame, X-box
...and it’s really something. It certainly uses every trick in the book - strange sounds, barely heard whispers, dilapidated surroundings, low light, etc. - to create a spooky atmosphere and it succeeds admirably. I am not really a horror-survival type game fan but even I have to admit how cleverly this game works at getting the hairs on the back of your neck to stand up. Even Myria, who does like this gaming genre had to turn it off (the first time she played) after about half an hour because she was so creeped out.
Wear your Depends for this one :)
Basically this is a ghost story involving a haunted mansion, ancient rites and rituals and a missing boy. The ghosts are plentiful and malevolent and the rites horrific. An author and his team came to the mansion to gather material for a novel. They disappear and are never heard from again. A teenage boy is next as he tries to find out what happened to the novelist. Finally there is you, a young girl. You’ve come to look for your brother since he’s been gone for two weeks with no word.
The device of a camera is used to conquer the ghosts and to the extent that it lends a whole new interpretation to the term “shoot” it’s a cute idea. Film is your ammunition and you find it in various places all over the mansion. A well taken photograph can exorcize a spirit though some of the stronger ghosts will require that more than one photo be taken before they are completely gone.
In, what I am beginning to feel is typical fashion, things are somewhat vague and unclear. Nor do I have any real hope of achieving clarity by the time it’s over. However, the game really isn’t about telling a story in a coherent and cohesive way; it’s about atmosphere, creating an environment that’s unsettling, disconcerting and unnerving. In this respect Fatal Frame is…erm…dead on target.
As you may suspect, when we’re through with this game, we often want an “antidote”. And here, I’m about to divulge a secret that involves an old game console and what is usually considered to be a kid game. When we’re completely keyed from having the wits repeated scared out of us, we pull out the old Nintendo 64 and play Pokemon Puzzle League.
Pokemon Puzzle League
Right, I can hear you all snickering :) What can I tell you? It’s fun! Yet another version of the old arcade “Tetris attack”, it’s done up very well with lots of variety, lots of characters, and competitive modes in both 2D and 3D. It also doesn’t take itself too seriously.
We sit there, juggling both falling and rising blocks and trash talk one another. Sometimes we wind up laughing so hard that everything has to stop until the tears are cleared away and we can see the screen again. It really is a lot of fun and well done fun at that.
There are a couple of caveats, unfortunately. Neither the N64 nor Pokemon Puzzle League are made any more. A place like Gamespot may carry the console but the game will be harder to track down for a couple of reasons. First, as already mentioned, N64 game production has been over for years. Second, and more to the point, it’s a puzzle game and has, essentially, infinite re-playability. People tend to hang on to these kinds of games so you don’t often see them in the used market and when you do, they tend to be relatively expensive. The last thing is the controller for the console - way too big and clunky. Don’t plan on spending a day doing this; your fingers will never forgive you. But, for an hour’s entertainment - definitely do-able :)
Go for it!
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When we’re playing Tetris, PacMan and adventure video games, it’s nice to know there are other folks our age out there doing the same!
Hi guys - yep, we’re gamers too. It’s hard to imagine enjoying this at my age, but I do :) And I especially love the ones we can play together!
For a puzzle game I cant go past PAndora’s Box by MSoft. Not that i get to do this kinda stuff anymore
Nat - I love Pandora’s Box - one of the best games ever :) Exactly my kind of thing a beautiful to look at, long-lasting and nicely conceived and executed puzzle game. Really, really enjoyable!
You have good taste!
