With a couple of exceptions, the PlayStation 2 has been starved of good quality survival-horror games. That's changed with the arrival of Project Zero, which mixes Japanese mythology, atmospheric graphics and freaky sound effects.

Project Zero is the European version of the Japanese title Fatal Frame, and tells the tale of a young girl searching for her missing brother in a cursed mansion--all fairly straightforward stuff. Fans of the genre will feel right at home as the background story is quickly filled out, allowing the business of ghost-hunting to begin. In contrast to the comic lunacy of the GameCube's Luigi's Mansion, the spooks and spectres here are very adult in nature. The ghosts arrive to the sound of screaming and moaning and they don't shut up until they're "killed"--an act that requires a camera.

Project Zero eschews pistols and shotguns in favour of a celluloid-death approach, which makes sense given that the opposition are well beyond the living to start with. In camera mode, the heroine's faithful Box Brownie pops up in a first-person style and it's necessary to keep the ghoul within the focusing reticule in order to drain maximum power from it. This process may sound a little lame, but in operation it works well.

The plot development is nicely done and there are numerous puzzles to solve that are well balanced and never get too tough; but it's the graphics and sound that really make Project Zero special. Cut-scenes are rendered in a variety of styles that are designed to increase the tension and the sparse soundtrack works wonders. While this isn't the strongest title in the PS2's gaming arsenal it'll certainly keep survival-horror fans busy until the next instalment of Silent Hill. Remember though, it's best played with the sound up, in the dark, and on your own... --Chris Russell

I originally bought this game to try something new. What a great game. A lone young woman goes into a desserted mansion to find her missing brother armed only with a mystical camera which used to belong to their mother. With some good puzzles to solve and spirits to exorcise this game has a dark atmosphere and a great soundtrack to go with. There isn't anything I didn't like about this game. Some of the puzzle I found a bit confusing until I got the hang of them. But that isn't going to stop me awarding this game 5 stars. A great game and highly recommended.

Okay, I admit, I like guns and shooting things and in this game you don't get a gun and don't get to shoot things. But of all the games in which that is the case... this has to be the best.

This is SOOOOOOOOOO creepy. And hey, I'm no wuss! It really is the scariest thing I've ever played (more then Res Evil and Silent Hill), but that's where the pleasue (can comparisons) end. Yep, it's scary. Yep, it's incredibly atmospheric... but after a while, I got sick of running away cos I didn't have a big enough weapon, or enough 'ammo' to take on the monsters. And that really bummed me out. It reminded me of Clocktower or Siren - a little girl constantly running away instead of battling her way out. Okay, you do get a weapon and can fight, but as weapons go... well. jees, does it suck. Some will say that's the beauty of the game. That's as maybe, for them. For me, and I'm sure for many others, you want to be scared and creeped-out, but you also want to blast the hell out of the thing doing it.

In the end, this is simply too subtle a game for me. A pity, cos it really is CREEPY. Honest. I'm not shooting you a line here. so, you want creepy, here it is in buckefulls.

This game is a great game not only does it have the supsense and horror techiniques of a Japanese horror movie it has the game play of an RPG or Silent Hill.
The game is also unbelivebly scary so be prepared.

If you liked Juon or ringu you'll love this game ^_^

...play this game with the lights out, like being involved in your own horror film - brilliantly creepy and packed with scares, i loved it

A great looking game, the first thing you say to yourself when you see it running, because you dont expect it to look that clear. Lightings wonderful.
This game is a horror adventure, with good shock moments. Controls good, everythings great but the let downs.... the puzzles are your typical sterotyped puzzles, pick up weird object put it in weird hat with bells on, opens magic beard blah blah thing.
Ok i'm exageratting but you get the point, but its the only thing which could potentially stop you playing or making you reach for a guide.
If you can stomach that, or you love puzzles then this really is the subtle shock game for you.