Sinuyan's Forum

(I think I'm going to do small "reviews", though more just telling you about the game. Probally both portable games and "retro"/cult games that few of you may know about.)

What is it?- Spirit Camera (心霊カメラ ～憑いてる手帳～; Shinrei Camera ~Tsuiteru Techou~ if you wanted the Japanese name... some people do) is a game for the Nintendo 3DS created by Tecmo Koei and Nintendo. If you've ever played Fatal Frame... well, this is a spin off of that.

How does this play?- This is an AR game, and it comes with a book! It is called the Diary of Faces, and one look at it... well, it's weird. But it's supposed to be, it IS a cursed book after all. It's needed to play the game, though if you find this used or someone gives it to you without the book, there are scans of the pages online.
The 3DS itself during the game becomes the Camera Obscura. If you've played other Fatal Frame games, you know what this is, as it's the main "weapon". If you haven't, it a camera that takes pictures of ghosts, and in some instances can actually help you battle and defeat ghosts and evil spirits. Using the gyroscope controls, you look around the area you are in for things, and well as dealing with any nasty spirits that come your way.

What is the plot?: You, as the protagonist, receive the cursed diary and using your Camera Obscura try to uncover the secrets of it. Soon you find yourself dragged into the book. While you explore the strange house inside, you get to a door. Before you open it, a girl in white tries to stop you... then you get kicked out of the book. (Very nice.) But now someone else is with you...
The girl in white tells you that her name is Maya (Fey?) and she has been trapped in the book and the house for as long as she can remember. She then tells you why the book is cursed: it is haunted by the "Woman in Black" who steals people's faces who try to find out the secrets of book, those people becoming trapped themselves. Maya is a nice ghost, and doesn't want your face stolen! She decides to help you out and find out what the book hides, and for Maya to regain memories that she has lost.

Is this game good?

~Music: The music and sounds effects in the game are pretty good for a 3DS game, and definitely set the creepy tone. With any portable game, the sound is better with headphones (especially noise canceling ones). There could have been more tracks though, but the ones used are alright.

~Graphics: For AR graphics, they are surprisingly well done. Even while moving around, they stay very detailed and clear. Maya's not bad looking herself, or any of the other ghosts, and the backgrounds in the house are very pretty. That being said, most of the time, the area you are in becomes your graphics... and because of the medium quality 3DS camera, sometimes it can become blurry.

~Story: The story's pretty straightforward, but gives you some surprises. I saw Maya's connection to this early, but how it was set up somewhat surprised me. All the ghosts haunting the book have different stories and fates as well. And the boy ghost creeps me out ;_; Damn kids.
Besides the main story line, there are also some mini games. These involve taking pictures of other and battling the ghosts possessing them, playing a memory game, and others. These are fun, but the novility wears off quickly.

~Length: This game is short. You can probably beat it in one sitting. Would have been nice to have been longer.

~Gameplay: The problem here comes with the AR itself. Getting the book to work in the right light can be a hassle. Sunlight always works, but why would you want to play a game like this in the sun? I've found a lamp directed directly at the book works best, though sometimes the story makes you fold pages and such and the light can annoy you. once you find that sweet spot though, it works perfectly.
Battling ghosts is pretty fun, but PLEASE make sure you have a full 360 degree space to move. They tend to move around a lot XD

~Horror Factor: This game is more creepy and unsettling then scary. You get more of the "ugh that's awful" or "o_o That's going to happen to me?" then the "AHHH THE GIRL IS GONNA KILL ME!" The music really helps with this, and one of the ghosts and what happens when you try to help him really made me creeped out (and feel bad). The only problem here is the light for the AR book, which may take you out of the experience.


Is it worth it?: For a game that is pretty much a tech demo of what the AR is capable of on the 3DS, it's good. Very short and some AR light issues, but if you can find a copy it's worth checking out!


Now Koei, can we have the other Fatal Frame games here that we don't now? Please?

_________________
~An Infinite Paradox~
Currently Playing:Pokemon HeartGold (random playthrough), Mario Golf: World Tour

Always looking for new games to play! You can always suggest one to me.

_________________

This is a fairly nice review :3 Although would you mind if I give you some tips on how to improve it? You don't have to accept if you don't want to, of course.

_________________
Technically, we're all half centaurs.

_________________

WEll, it could have been longer tbh... the storyline just seems so short. They could have added a few more ghosts in. Plus the light issue, but I have no idea how to fix that.

_________________
~An Infinite Paradox~
Currently Playing:Pokemon HeartGold (random playthrough), Mario Golf: World Tour

Always looking for new games to play! You can always suggest one to me.

_________________

And this was a double post but fixed.

_________________
~An Infinite Paradox~
Currently Playing:Pokemon HeartGold (random playthrough), Mario Golf: World Tour

Always looking for new games to play! You can always suggest one to me.

_________________

Well, I'm also wondering about the music, you never gave a reason as to why it was good. Was it the style, the timing that it played? Was is more instrumental or was there a singer? I think the music really makes the horror game, so you should include this :3
Also how long did it actually take you to play it? Because one sitting could mean an entirely different length to one person than to another.

_________________
Technically, we're all half centaurs.

_________________

Way to rush myself xD

Like it's about 4 or 5 hours.

And the music is just creepy, like loud booms or music that sounds like a dark night in the woods.

_________________
~An Infinite Paradox~
Currently Playing:Pokemon HeartGold (random playthrough), Mario Golf: World Tour

Always looking for new games to play! You can always suggest one to me.

_________________

That cheetah picture is the cutest thing ever XD
Only 4 to 5 hours? That's really short, wow O.o

_________________
Technically, we're all half centaurs.

_________________

Like I said, it's more of a showing off of the AR on the 3DS.

_________________
~An Infinite Paradox~
Currently Playing:Pokemon HeartGold (random playthrough), Mario Golf: World Tour

Always looking for new games to play! You can always suggest one to me.

_________________