The Real Traditions Behind Fatal Frame's Horrors

[@Qeisama]

Fatal Frame, specifically FF2, is the only horror game that sent me into hospital because of sudden heart attack called Stress-induced Cardiomyopathy (IIRC) in 2005. It doesn't help that I haven't sleep while playing it with friends. But then there's one jump scare scene that terrified me the most, I suddenly couldn't breathe and there's this extreme pain in the chest. My friends rushed me to the hospital and I was under supervision for a week. They put ECG and run tests to see if there's something wrong but nothing could be found. When I went back to class a week after, apparently there's a rumor that I was dead in the hospital because of Sudden Cardiac Arrest. One positive note is that there will be no recurrence of Stress-induced Cardiomyopathy. However, because of this, horror movies and games don't scare me anymore, to the point of borderline boring even. I mean, what's scarier than the possibility of dying? There would be no adrenaline that can top that experience 😅

[@AvalancheReviews]

I see I'm not the only one getting bit by the Fatal Frame bug lately. Hell yeah!

[@SheeshFr]

crossover vid when

[@willisrose9756]

Didn’t expect you to be here.

[@ihaveaplan.ijustneedmoney.9777]

Glad it's getting celebrated~ Fatal Frame's my favorite in the PS2 horror era because upon replay I got to realize its a pretty fun game. 😂

[@solosagara6940]

I played FF religiously as a teen. One of my fav games of all time. Even got and excited and tried to research the "true events" it was supposedly based on. Thank you for putting this info together! Subbed for sure.

[@MrNetWraith]

I'd heard before that Fatal Frame was basically built around the idea of taking the holy precepts of Japanese Buddhism and Shinto and inverting them, to create a kind of "Japanese Satanism". Thank you for going so in-depth into the actual specific details.

[@raphaelledesma9393]

I read that too and for the most part I agree, but strangely enough Japan has a history of human sacrifice particularly in entombing people as human pillars of a structure. This was thought to strengthen the building (and this was explored in Fatal Frame 3). So IDK if this was an exception to the rule or isolated incidents stamped out when Shintoism became more centralized by the Emperor.

[@Fyrsiel]

Ooooh, I'm hopeful that there will be videos like this for FF2 and FF3 as well! I'd be fascinated to know what folklore exists about twins and red butterflies.

[@fattiger6957]

Thank you for videos like this. There are a million videos here on YT about Japanese games and their development, but so few of them actually get into the cultural background of said games. Japanese culture is unique and fascinating, but too many people just look at Japan's pop culture from their own (American or Western European) worldview. If you truly love something and want to do a proper analysis of it, you have to research the cultural context of the time and place it was created.

[@necrodancy]

This was such a great video! It really uncovers the way the developers drew inspiration from within their traditional culture after having spent time on projects centred around western themes. It’s hard to believe it’s been over twenty years since this game has been released with the way it still manages to captivate its audience. Shedding light on the themes and significance of the traditions and cultural background makes me appreciate that much more the work that went into Fatal Frame. Thank you for the work you put into this video!

[@Edouble72]

Thank you for making this video. This also helped me to understand Noroi: The Curse better as well.

[@BullyPop]

So basically, when the four mirrors were shattered, in order to keep the protection against the calamity, they devised the rope shrine maiden ritual wherein the Buddha-fied woman’s limbs acts as a stand in for the four holy mirrors, which also represented the limbs of the kami. Wow. I’ve known this game for decades and I never knew this facet.

[@lewisaino]

So they got Quartered ? In order to reemplaze

[@maureenbouterse]

I adore the indept analyses you do of Japanese horror and culture, Muse, and I thank you for giving us deeper insight into the rituals and themes of these games. Since Maiden of Black Water was re-published, I wonder if you'll do an indept analysis of that one too. Of all the Fatal Frame games, I especially loved the lore and themes of this particular Fatal Frame, and the Bride is still my favorite of the antagonists.

[@MadamFoogie]

Great video, super informative! Can't wait to see your deeper takes on the other FF iterations.

[@rhast57]

Oh I really hope you go into all the games rituals. I think these are so interesting and incredibly important for preserving Japanese culture

[@WhitneyDahlin]

So happy to get this video! Thank you for explaining the real life inspiration behind it

[@limbytes]

Super cool! Was always curious about this!

[@Cass3Nope]

A hannya is not an onryo, an onryo is a yuurei (ghost) of someone who died filled with great negative emotions. A hannya is a live woman who is transformed by her negative emotions towards a love interest into a demon (typically through ritual or prayer).

[@Tardisntimbits]

I adore these games so much. I love how much my taste seems to intersect with yours, you always cover stuff I love!

[@kelath5555]

I got Fatal Frame installed on my computer and was not ready for how terrifying it was. Now knowing more... it's going to be MORE terrifying!

[@miniseams]

Such a good video! I would love to see the rest of the game's real world parallels or even Kuon's!

[@B.coffin]

Super informative and easy to follow! Thanks so much for this!

[@Mankey619]

It is very interesting that how much the developers have taken so much research in their own religion. Just to make one of the best survival horror games ever. That's why I enjoy Japanese horror so much. They always have interesting supernatural stories in them, and how much they bring so much scare into us. Japan alone are very superstitious people when it comes to stuff like this. I mean a weapon you use to fight ghosts is a camera. In which they believe it captures their souls. That's how awesome this game is. I just hope they make a remaster trilogy.

[@michaelb8176]

I had a very faint knowledge of how the story of FF matched up with Japanese culture but having it all explained like this really drives the nail home (heh) about how entirely horrifying and almost plausible/relatable it is for that culture.

[@francescavitali7252]

I am literally crying; was born in 1990, so slightly too late to see Rockafire, but as animatronics are one of my hyperfixations, I've always been obsessed with them and Chuck E Cheese. I made a pilgrimage to see the very last CEC animatronic show four years ago, and I thought I'd never see the RE in person. I cannot believe this is in my home state! I'm already making plans to visit the museum. Ps. I have a photo of me on the Kiddie land ferris wheel from 92. I'm so happy they've preserved it.

[@candybuzzbomb2555]

Why is it that a gaming streamer has created the best explanation of Shinto on YouYube? 😂😂😂

[@good.goshjosh]

Oh hot damn, new thegamingmuse video just dropped!

[@Xammie98]

I can’t wait to see your silent hill 2 new trailers reactions. I understand all the hate but I like ur videos because u also see the positive side

[@elyonum]

Me when gamingmuse releases another BANGER about my favorite game franchise 🍿🍿🍿

[@la912]

This analysis was great!

[@metaldesi]

Great video! Very informative!

[@TheSushiandme]

saw a 50 minute video of fatal frame. instant clicked

[@nicolaartemissteelesmith9305]

I found this quite insightful. Thank you

[@Klapaucius_]

Wow, what an incredible video! Awesome!

[@rhast57]

I first found out about kegare through a Silent Hill 2 video. It was a wonderful explanation of kegare

[@jav13erven0mous7]

Amazing job you did here.

[@schwarzwelt6803]

great vids hope you also cover the rest of the series my favorite is MOBW

[@willisrose9756]

This is cool. Glad to learn more about FF.

[@oroontheheels]

I love your reviews so much! ❤❤❤

[@Eyrae]

Another banger. Thank you. =)

[@xavierwilliams4722]

Ever since I had discovered your channel through your videos analyzing the story and themes of Devil may cry; I always find myself intrigued by your videos diving into thematic or cultural background in video games. Also I was just curious, what is the name of the music piece that plays during the Shinto explanation part of the video.

[@thegamingmuse]

The songs are in the credits, in order, so it should be the second song I think. And thank you! I"m glad you like my videos :D

[@thelongerthebetter]

I am waiting for your take of recent SH 2 transmission.

[@Beeyo176]

28:38 "A reference to BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER! *cue theme music*

[@yzoooon]

Waiting on your thoughts regarding the new SH2 trailer gameplay and character design video 🙏

[@cringesuperhell]

Forgot i was watching a FF video halfway in, I'd been enjoying the history 😂

[@Kaminiisama]

I love love behind games especially horror game ❤

[@Ghost7065]

Avalanche Reviews and Muse uploaded on the same day. Both fatal frame videos 😂😂

[@EsperElves]

This reminds me so much of my Japanese studies at university or more so what I wish my studies were about. The culture, history and religious traditions and backgrounds were what actually fascinated me the most. But of course, as pretty much always inside of educational systems, you don't get to follow your passions. Videos like these are such a great work. Muse, you nurture us with knowledge. Many still might think "this is just a video game meant for pleasure" however the inspirations are deeply rooted in our human experiences (in this case from a Japanese perspective). Religion and spirituality are still important for everyone, for non-practitioners at the very least because of intricate symbolic meanings that help us to further our understanding of existence. And it would be ignorant to see these different perspectives and not respect them.

[@Spacecorgi]

The first three games I loved, two in particular, but as they moved further and further into fan service territory I just couldn’t bother staying interested.

[@ghostlightningboi5618]

Let's fucking GOOOO!!.... 🤍❤️🖤