The survival horror genre appears to have hit a roadblock in terms of innovative gameplay, so it's a welcome surprise to find that a company, in this case Tecmo, has further pushed the envelope in the genre with "Fatal Frame." It's especially surprising that this game made it here in the first place. Its distinctly Japanese look is something not all American gamers will fully appreciate. The game is yet another sign that the US gaming community is warming up to such titles. "Extended Play" reviews this strange game with camera in hand.

A powerful camera
You play Miku Hinasaki, a young woman who's in search of her missing brother, Mafuyu (whom you also play, but only in a brief introduction). He was last seen entering a mysterious mansion in a secluded area near their home. Upon entering this abandoned residence, Miku quickly discovers that this house is cursed, ridden with restless spirits and life-threatening apparitions. Meanwhile, Miku comes across a camera Mafuyu left behind and learns that it has the power to capture and defeat ghosts. As she hopes to save her brother, she must also survive this investigation and maybe even lift the house's curse.

"Resident Evil" meets "Pokemon Snap"
Perhaps the scariest thing about "Fatal Frame" is that it looks like "Resident Evil" meets "Pokemon Snap." You move around in front of backgrounds determined by the game's camera angle. More often than not, the camera will follow along with you, allowing the background to morph and adjust. Seldom do you actually walk in front of a frozen, prerendered background. At times, the camera angle will suddenly change to reveal a nearby ghost. This usually succeeds in startling the gamer.

"Fatal Frame" also eliminates the much-hated loading times between rooms that have become common with survival horror games. As you progress though the mansion, you'll be given dozens of "Resident Evil"-style puzzles and a moderate number of items to fetch. Fortunately the overall environment is relatively small, so you won't be running around aimlessly.

Capturing souls on film
Where the "Pokemon" element comes in is in the battle system. Obviously inspired by the superstition that taking someone's picture captures his soul, "Fatal Frame's" weapon system relies not on firearms -- a survival horror staple -- but on Miku's camera. As one might deduce, all the fighting is done in the first-person mode. There are two categories of ghosts: nonaggressive spirits that roam the halls and spirits out to kill you. You're more than encouraged to take pictures of both types since the more ghosts you capture, the more powerful your camera becomes. In addition, some ghosts will help reveal your next course of action, sometimes hinting where to go or what to find. You discover these hints by watching what direction they walk or examining clues you can see only in the exposed photo.

Control: Simple
Controlling Miku is much like controlling any survival horror character and the game conveniently provides a number of control options. You move with the left analog stick and point the flashlight with the right stick (though the latter is just a superfluous cosmetic touch the gamer will soon ignore). In camera mode, you have a good deal of freedom of movement as you can move your view around 360 degrees, move up and down, and even execute instant 180-degree turns via the triangle button. Moreover, you can still walk in camera mode, which is very helpful, especially when you're trying to back off from an approaching ghost in the middle of a battle.

Graphics and sound: Detailed and frightening
Undoubtedly, the two stars of "Fatal Frame" are the graphics and the sound. Both work in seamless harmony to keep the gamer on edge. It helps that this is one of the most poorly lit games ever. This in turn allows for some beautiful lighting effects when light cuts the gloom. Not since "Metal Gear Solid" has a game mastered the use of gray tones and not since "Silent Hill 2" has a game mastered the use of the rusty "Se7en" look. "Fatal Frame" blends both styles to create a disturbing and often frightening experience. The mansion also has an incredibly detailed Japanese look. The amount of work done in getting the architecture just right is astounding. Most of the rooms are also decorated with various distinct Japanese furniture, a legion of creepy kimono-clad dolls, and other items that add to the eerie charm of this troubled abode.

"Fatal Frame" is one of those rare titles that benefit from being played loud. All the background noise (or lack thereof) will play with your mind to the point that you'll be taking frequent breaks to collect yourself. You'll be taunted by random koto playing, weeping, disturbing baby noises, and Shinto chants. If that isn't enough, atmospheric soundscapes will come and go, making you think that a ghost is right around the corner (or is it?). The sound is so effective it easily makes up for the strangely matter-of-fact voice acting that runs throughout the game.

Getting through "Fatal Frame" will take you about six to eight hours, a sufficient length for a scarefest such as this. Completist gamers will have their share of incentives to make them go through the game again. This includes higher difficulty settings, more ghosts to collect, and new costumes.

"Fatal Frame" is bound to be one of the year's sleeper hits. Its scare factor alone is reason enough to check out this game. Just seeing it on a demo screen at your local game retailer won't be enough to get a true feel for what this game delivers. "Silent Hill" comparisons are inevitable, though comparing these two titles opens up another pointless "apples vs. oranges" debate. Admittedly, there's one thing both games have in common: These two titles have to be played in the dark for maximum effect.