Tecmo’s Project Zero 3: The Tormented is one of SPOnG’s most anticipated betwetting-scare-em-up’s for 2006. You can see a recent mini interview we conducted with the game’s producer Makoto Shibata here http://news.spong.com/x?art=9423
The game’s characters and storyline develop and unravel the deeper you get into the game. As Mr Shibata pointed out the PZ3 storyline “has been designed … to make it interesting for the player, and this drip-feeding of information helps increase the fear he or she feels”. It sounds positively Hitchcockian to SPOnG, if you'll pardon our oh so clever film referencing. It also sounds like PZ3 is going to be a serious contendor to knock Silent Hill off the top of the unofficial scare-em-up chart.
This style of drip-feeding info to develop the storyline is a key feature of PZ3 and, as Mr Mayota goes on to explain, the style fits nicely into the Project Zero concept: “Invoke the fear in the player’s own imagination, because we believe that even the greatest computer graphics cannot create greater fear than that created by the player’s mind”.
The player gets to use three main characters, Miku, Rei and Kei, and each character approaches the story from a different point of view. Check out the new screenshots showing each of the three characters in action, along with loads more PZ3 goodness, on SPOnG at http://spong.com/x?vid=11040193
Each of the three characters also demands a different type of gameplay: Rei has a flashlight, which makes ghosts hesitate to attack; Miku has an item with which you can make time go slower, and she also has the strongest spiritual power and can charge the most powerful shot. Poor Kei, on the other hand, does not have much spiritual power, and cannot charge the camera as much. However, he can make a blaze away shot. Kei has to progress by hiding from ghosts and it gives a different play style to the user.
Here’s a little more detailed info on each of the three:
Rei Kurosawa
The protagonist of the main story, Rei is a freelance photographer. Since her boyfriend was killed in a car accident, Rei has found herself drawn to the mysterious 'House of Sleep', something she sees every night in her dreams. She is desperately trying to solve the puzzle connecting the House of Sleep to the tattoo that mysteriously appeared on her back and is spreading across her body. As a playable character, she has a good balance between attack strength and speed. Her large capture circle when using the Camera Obscura makes it easier to damage opponents during battle. Rei also has a 'Flash' special ability that knocks back ghosts which can be upgraded to increase the number of times it can be used.
Kei Amakura
Kei is a non-fiction writer conducting research into folklore and urban legends. Also drawn into the House of Sleep, he is able to provide Rei with various kinds of information.
While his Spirit Power is weak, and he finds it difficult to fight off the ghosts that attack him, he relies on his wealth of background knowledge and superior health to help him confront the restless spirits in the House of Sleep. He can move quickly, is able to hide from ghosts rather than fight them and can also move obstacles that other characters cannot.
Miku Hinasaki
The lead character from the original Project Zero, Miku returns to the series as Rei's assistant and house mate. Lured by a vision of her dead brother, Miku is also drawn into the nightmare world of the House of Sleep and in doing so, has regained her previously lost spirit powers. These enable her to use the Camera Obscura to the utmost of its abilities, though she is unable to upgrade its lenses. She has a strong attack, but her capture circle is small, making battles harder.
While not as physically strong as the other characters, due to her slight build, she is able to crawl under floors and squeeze into areas that the others cannot. Her spirit stone amulet has the power to slow down ghosts' movement and her double charge attack enables her to inflict huge damage by holding down the shutter button longer.
SPOnG will be bringing you our first look at PZ3 very early in the new year. Watch this space. And prepare to be scared witless.
The game’s characters and storyline develop and unravel the deeper you get into the game. As Mr Shibata pointed out the PZ3 storyline “has been designed … to make it interesting for the player, and this drip-feeding of information helps increase the fear he or she feels”. It sounds positively Hitchcockian to SPOnG, if you'll pardon our oh so clever film referencing. It also sounds like PZ3 is going to be a serious contendor to knock Silent Hill off the top of the unofficial scare-em-up chart.
This style of drip-feeding info to develop the storyline is a key feature of PZ3 and, as Mr Mayota goes on to explain, the style fits nicely into the Project Zero concept: “Invoke the fear in the player’s own imagination, because we believe that even the greatest computer graphics cannot create greater fear than that created by the player’s mind”.
The player gets to use three main characters, Miku, Rei and Kei, and each character approaches the story from a different point of view. Check out the new screenshots showing each of the three characters in action, along with loads more PZ3 goodness, on SPOnG at http://spong.com/x?vid=11040193
Each of the three characters also demands a different type of gameplay: Rei has a flashlight, which makes ghosts hesitate to attack; Miku has an item with which you can make time go slower, and she also has the strongest spiritual power and can charge the most powerful shot. Poor Kei, on the other hand, does not have much spiritual power, and cannot charge the camera as much. However, he can make a blaze away shot. Kei has to progress by hiding from ghosts and it gives a different play style to the user.
Here’s a little more detailed info on each of the three:
Rei Kurosawa
The protagonist of the main story, Rei is a freelance photographer. Since her boyfriend was killed in a car accident, Rei has found herself drawn to the mysterious 'House of Sleep', something she sees every night in her dreams. She is desperately trying to solve the puzzle connecting the House of Sleep to the tattoo that mysteriously appeared on her back and is spreading across her body. As a playable character, she has a good balance between attack strength and speed. Her large capture circle when using the Camera Obscura makes it easier to damage opponents during battle. Rei also has a 'Flash' special ability that knocks back ghosts which can be upgraded to increase the number of times it can be used.
Kei Amakura
Kei is a non-fiction writer conducting research into folklore and urban legends. Also drawn into the House of Sleep, he is able to provide Rei with various kinds of information.
While his Spirit Power is weak, and he finds it difficult to fight off the ghosts that attack him, he relies on his wealth of background knowledge and superior health to help him confront the restless spirits in the House of Sleep. He can move quickly, is able to hide from ghosts rather than fight them and can also move obstacles that other characters cannot.
Miku Hinasaki
The lead character from the original Project Zero, Miku returns to the series as Rei's assistant and house mate. Lured by a vision of her dead brother, Miku is also drawn into the nightmare world of the House of Sleep and in doing so, has regained her previously lost spirit powers. These enable her to use the Camera Obscura to the utmost of its abilities, though she is unable to upgrade its lenses. She has a strong attack, but her capture circle is small, making battles harder.
While not as physically strong as the other characters, due to her slight build, she is able to crawl under floors and squeeze into areas that the others cannot. Her spirit stone amulet has the power to slow down ghosts' movement and her double charge attack enables her to inflict huge damage by holding down the shutter button longer.
SPOnG will be bringing you our first look at PZ3 very early in the new year. Watch this space. And prepare to be scared witless.
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