The Fatal Frame Thread

5 is probably the worst in the series. Though I not especially big on 3 either. It's still a decent game though. At least the series isn't 100% dead yet.
The trouble with 3 is the reused areas from 1 and 2, it was clearly a case of a budget cut, what's new in 3 is fantastic but revisiting locations from 1 and 2, while kind of nostalgic and kind of adding to the surreal vibe, was also clearly just filler.

I don’t recall if the Xbox version of 1 has any differences, but 2 added an ending where you can save Mayu and the twins’ spirits are reunited. You have to beat the game on Nightmare, I think, but it’s worth getting and is probably the happiest (albeit non-canon) ending in the series.
The Xbox version of 1 has at least 1 new ghost and a new ending.
 
I don’t recall if the Xbox version of 1 has any differences, but 2 added an ending where you can save Mayu and the twins’ spirits are reunited. You have to beat the game on Nightmare, I think, but it’s worth getting and is probably the happiest (albeit non-canon) ending in the series.
First person mode.
 
Had some PlayAsia coins that were about to expire so took a punt on the Asian PS4 version, which arrived today. After performing the update everything was still in Chinese, and a quick search was bringing up results of KT deciding not to release the English patch. so thought I'd wasted my money. Luckily, it's only the Japanese version they don't seem to be patching (well, not lucky if you bought that one), it's that you have to change the language manually, but English option is written in Chinese.

Now I just need to play it and see if I've wasted my money.
 
Heads up, I checked out of curiosity and the PS2 versions of FF 1-3 are now all expensive, I bought them for a song in 2014/2015 which shows either how rarer everything has gotten or how bullshit the used games market has gotten, but either way I was pretty appalled to see that and glad I bought what I did when I did.
 
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Mask of the Lunar Eclipse is coming out in March, anyone grab it?
 
I completely forgot that this comes out soon. I'm not planning on getting it right away but at some point I am going to play it as I quite enjoyed playing the first three games in the series last year.
 
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How did it compare to previous games? I might try it. I haven't played one since FF3.
 
I liked 4 more than 3. I found 3 to be especially slow and I hated the miasma gimmick in the second half. 4 has a creepy hospital and probably the most complicated story of the series that requires more piecing together info from the notes you find, though that might have been the slightly wonky translation patch. Also remember it being easier than the first three due to an auto lock on mechanic, which may have been because the game required you to use the wii-mote and nunchuck. Not the most fluid way to swing the Camera Obscura around.

Probably rank them 2, 1, 4, 3, 5
 
I liked 4 more than 3. I found 3 to be especially slow and I hated the miasma gimmick in the second half. 4 has a creepy hospital and probably the most complicated story of the series that requires more piecing together info from the notes you find, though that might have been the slightly wonky translation patch. Also remember it being easier than the first three due to an auto lock on mechanic, which may have been because the game required you to use the wii-mote and nunchuck. Not the most fluid way to swing the Camera Obscura around.

Probably rank them 2, 1, 4, 3, 5
I know a lot of people rank 2 as the highest. I went through the trilogy once so I can't quite remember clearly since it's been like a decade.

But I personally really liked 3 and found the home sections the creepiest parts, especially in the later part of the game since you start to see shit in the house and it's eerily still and quiet.
 
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2, 1, 3, 5, 4

I watched a playthrough of 4 with a translation patch years ago and the story was a mess from what I can remember. Characters were also flat and I barely cared about any of them. I'll give the benefit of the doubt that most of the story issues were because of the patch, so hopefully it'll be clearer this time around. As it is now, though, I think it's the weakest overall.

3's gameplay can be frustrating, especially the miasma gimmick. It's the hardest for me by far. But atmosphere-wise, it's pretty good. The house sections are nice little breathers and have some good subtle scares.

I've also changed my mind since actually playing 5 last year and don't think it's that bad aside from janky controls.
 
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Haven't played 4 yet so I'll grab it when it comes out, but I'd rank the ones I have played like this:

1 > 2 & 3 >5

1 had a great made for TV horror movie vibe and any ghost being able to pop up anywhere was really cool. I liked the little chart of events and characters, and it really felt like being alone in a haunted mansion.

2 was good, but only gaining meter from proximity just meant all the time I spent waiting for a shutter chance felt wasted. Also found the respawning ghosts more tedious than scary. I liked the cast and hub world design though, and the twist was kino.

Hated 3 at first, but the creepy apartment segments and the whole grand finale vibe grew on me. The story about grief was really good, and I liked the lore.

5 is hilarious. It feels like Fatal Frame: Xtreme Beach Volleyball. Fun combat, but the lore kinda sucks and it's too HD booba to be scary. Levels are too long too. Don't hate it, but really hope 4 is better.
 
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