""Another great addition to the series and this time its better then before.""

Fatal Frame 3: The Tormented for the Playstation 2 is the continuation of the survival horror series that takes the genre for a spin in a whole new way. Fatal Frame 3 is back with new game features, some new gameplay mechanics as well as new characters, both new and old to play as.

The gameplay is similar to the first two games in the series, but this time the gameplay has some new features that make the game experience a whole lot better. The Camera Obscura is back again, but this time there are some upgraded features and added installments that make this Camera Obscura the best in the series. Another feature is the ability to play in two worlds, the real world and the dream world. This is a great thing, but as you keep playing, the worlds eventually bind together and the horrors in the dream world start to become real.

Another addition to the series is the ability to play as different characters. You can choose to play as Rei, the main character, Miku, and Kei. Each character has their own special abilities and weaknesses, which adds for depth to the game. The gameplay is improved on by spirit points, upgraded lens, and equipment. They were all successors in the previous games, but Fatal Frame 3 increases their value in the game making the gameplay a better experience.

The graphics in the game are better than the previous two games, but the character models are something not to complain about. The graphics are as good as some of today's best graphical games for the Playstation 2. The environments, the manor of sleep, and even the house you live in are all done with great detail and you can tell they put a lot of detail into making this game look beautiful.

The storyline is something that will not be easy to understand. Of course, the Fatal Frame games were never easy to understand. Memos, clues, and even spirits will give more detail and information on the storyline, so paying attention will be big in this game. You start playing as the main character Rei Kurosawa where you find out that your boyfriend died in a car accident while you were with him. You then start having dreams about him and eventually you try to explore and find your boyfriend while going through the many other mysteries and evil the game has to offer.

Overall, the game is a great addition to the series. Fans of the series and genre will not be disappointed, but if this is your first time to the genre, I would recommend Silent Hill or Resident Evil to be your first survival horror game. Fans of the series and genre will be playing for a while since there are numerous difficulty settings and lots of extras and costumes to unlock.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 08/01/06