Random Ghosts: Bound Man and Broken Neck
Random ghosts start in this chapter. Random ghosts are ghosts that will attack you if you linger to long in an area sometimes. It doesn't usually happen often and they aren't that bad until the third night.
Entrance
No hidden ghosts here this time. Head up to the right where Mafuyu found the film to get some HERBAL MEDICINE, then walk to the door leading into the Rope Hallway. If this is your second or more time through, prepare for a vanishing ghost. Otherwise, just skip the next ghost.
Man at Partition 300 pts.
As soon as your open the door, a ghost will appear to your right near the save thingie. Just bring your camera up and I'm pretty sure it aims itself. This is pretty simple to capture.
Instead of continuing into the Rope Hallway, go beside the save thingie to see a wisp and gain OGATA'S NOTES 4.
| OGATA'S NOTES 4
Sept. 12th Now there's another rope! And another rope...! |
Now just continue into the Rope Hallway.
Rope Hallway
Walk towards the evil mirror to see a cutscene. After that's over with, you'll get CAMERA, MAFUYU'S NOTES 1, OGATA'S NOTES 1, 2, 3, and 5, and "STAR MYSTERY NOVELIST MISSING". Be ready for a vanishing ghost as soon as you're done reading.
| MAFUYU'S NOTES 1
Himuro Mansion Investigation Himuro mansion was once the home of a large landowner that controlled vast areas of land. They also say that the site held some special significance that had to do with Shinto rituals of the region. (I couldn't find any detailed books about these Shinto rituals, though.) The last master of the Himuro family line massacred his entire household. Later, another family that tried to live there disappeared. Because of incidents like these, nobody visits the mansion today, and it lies in ruins. Maybe that's why there aren't any accounts of the Shinto rituals, and why the exact location of the place isn't recorded anywhere. September 24th I've had a bad feeling ever since I came to this mansion. I'm leaving notes in this notebook just in case anything happens to me. I've got to find Mr. Takamine and the others fast...I hope it's not too late! |
| OGATA'S NOTES 1
Aug. 20th Mr. Takamine needs some background material for his next work. There's a book about Himuro mansion by a certain folklorist, and I'm supposed to look for it, a book about Shinto rituals and legends from every part of the country. Author: Ryozo Munakata. Title: Unknown. Aug. 22nd I can't find the book, but I did some checking on the folklorist. I found out he moved into Himuro mansion to do research on it. But after some certain event, he and his whole family disappeared. I couldn't find the book, but I found a news article from that period about it. It's a small missing persons story, but it might be helpful as background material. |
| OGATA'S NOTES 2
Sept. 10th: 11:00 a.m. It looks like the earthquake last month and the murders in that village have something to do with Himuro mansion. This stuff is probably all going into Mr. Takamine's next book. He really seems to be into this subject matter! His output rate should be good. Sept. 10th: 4:00 p.m. The entrance door is broken. When in the world did that happen? It won't open. I'll have to find another way out. |
| OGATA'S NOTES 3
Sept. 11th I haven't been feeling well since two nights ago. Actually, it's more like ever since Tomoe took my picture...What in the world does the rope in this photo mean, I wonder? |
| OGATA'S NOTES 5
Sept. 10th: 1:10 p.m. There seem to be a few devices in this mansion that are ingraved with old characters. When I asked Mr. Takamine about them, he said they correspond to numbers. I understand the first few. They're old characters of the numbers 0 through 3. But I don't get the rest. They're characters that have the same readings as 4 through 9, but mean something different. Characters are shown here. Sorry I don't have that screenshot. I guess each one has a special meaning. I'll figure out the rest later. |
| STAR MYSTERY NOVELIST MISSING
There was a report yesterday that a star novelist, Junsei Takamine (age 42), has been missing since the 8th of this month. Mr. Takamine's assistant, Tomoe Hirasaka, and his editor, Koji Ogata, are also missing. Mr. Takamine last made a phone call to his publishers on September 8th, regarding his research trip, and has not been heard from for 14 days. The publishers first assumed that the research was taking longer than expected, but since there were no calls from Mr. Ogata, they decided to file a missing person's report. |
Man on a Beam 200 pts.
As soon as you're done reading (and I mean THE INSTANT you're done reading), hit the triange button to do a 180 and then look striaght up. He'll be laying on a beam looking down at you.
Now go through the right door to the Fireplace Room.
Fireplace Room
Pick up the blinkie right next to the lion mask for an HERBAL MEDICINE. Search the tall dresser near it to get TAKAMINE'S NOTES 1 and "QUAKE BREAKS HOLY MIRRORS". Be careful not to pass the fireplace in the center until you're ready for a vanishing ghost.
| TAKAMINE'S NOTES 1
A series of murders in a country village. Dead bodies turn up one after another. Murders that resemble cruel Shinto rituals of legend in the area. The acts of a man sworn to revenge, and the strange correlation between those acts and the folklore. The man is gradually more and more influenced by the legends. The work will be the story of this man, proceeding in parallel with the tales of local lore. Records of the past discovered after and earthquake. The story gradually blurs the boundary between the present and the past. July 24th Himuro mansion is known as the home of a large landowner who controlled this region. But they say it was origionally the place a shrine was built for performing a certain Shinto ritual, passed down through the generations. But the people of that time kept the ritual a deep, dark secret. They were even forbidden to speak its name aloud. Today, almost no accounts of the ritual exist, aside from a smattering of folklore legends. |
| QUAKE BREAKS HOLY MIRRORS
An earthquake the other day destroyed all five mirrors (the Holy Mirrors) which were artifacts kept for centuries in the five shrines. These mirrors represent the five gods' protection over this region. Most commonly known for the "Five Gods' Festival" held every 10 years, when all five mirrors gather in one shrine. The priests of the shrine hope that this isn't a bad omen. |
Bro's Shadow 400 pts.
GASP! It's Mafuyu! As soon as you walk past the fireplace, put your camera up and aim towards the stairs. He should be walking up them. He's kinda fast, so be quick about it.
Search the drawers for more Type-14 film, and even more when you pick up the blinkie in the mini-library. Go upstairs and check the door to your right. It'll be locked and you've gotta find the key. An interesting little tidbit: sometimes when you go up those steps, you'll see the shadow of a man plaing a koto behind the screen directly in front of you, but he'll suddenly disappear. Continue along to the top of the broken staircase, ignore the blinkie, and walk to the edge to get a vanishing ghost.
Hallway Man 200 pts.
You have to have checked the locked door at the top of the stairs for this ghost to appear. He'll appear in the mini-library below you, so bring up your camera and aim down immediately. He's kinda speedy though.
Now pick up the HERBAL MEDICINE at your feet and go back down the stairs. Guess what? There's ANOTHER vanishing ghost as you're walking down them! ^_^ I suggest walking very slowly down them to make this capture easier.
Man at Screen 1250 pts.
About halfway down the stairs, this ghost will appear to your right. As soon as your filament makes the slightest flicker, bring it up and swivel (hold down the square button to make it faster) to the right. You have to aim through the rungs, but if you're quick, it shouldn't be that bad.
Continue walking down and examine the wall the ghost walked into. A cutscene will happen and then you'll get TUTORIAL 2. You're filament will glow blue when you're done, so take a picture of the screen to see a door. Check the wall again and a little cutscene shall reveal a door. Ooo! Magic! Before continuing, you may want to run back to the entrance and save. A few battles are coming up.
Lamp Hallway
This room makes me wonder...just which ghost finds it necessary to spend all its time lighting all these friggin' lamps? Anywho, there's a wisp just inside the door. Go up to it for a message from Ogata from beyond the grave...*insert ghostly 'WOOO!' here* Continue down the hall after that. At the very end of the hall there is an HERBAL MEDICINE blinkie and locked doors. Get it and then head to the door at the corner.
Library
Some library, huh? Go straight and examine the dresser for "DEAD BODY FOUND ON MOUNTAIN". Be ready for a vanishing ghost as soon as you round the corner into the main room.
| DEAD BODY FOUND ON MOUNTAIN
Late yesterday, a human body with no limbs was found on Himuro Mountain, located in the southern region of the prefecture. The body's hands, feet, and head were all torn off. The police are investigating the case as both a murder and an accident. The body has not been identified, but it is believed to be a man around the age of 30. The police are also taking into consideration the fact that a body, mutilated in the same manner, was found in the same location 15 years ago. |
Wandering Man 300 pts.
By now, you've probably figured out that this is Ogata's ghost. Just bring up your camera and shoot. Simple, eh?
If you have your sound up, you can now hear scary demon-esque voices coming from the closet... And guess what you're gonna do? Yup, go towards them. Pick up the Type-37 film under the window before investigating the closet. There's going to be a very fast vanishing ghost immediately after the cutscene, so be ready.
Dead Man's Body 1000 pts.
Ah, how I hate this ghost...The very moment you get out of the cutscene, pull up your camera and aim down and a little right I believe. Good luck on this one.
As soon as that's over with (you most likely got a totally clear picture of him, but no points, right?), pick up the TAPE RECORDER for another cutscene, after which, you'll recieve the WHITE TAPE 1. Go into your item menu and pick the tape to listen to the most god-awful voice acting in the history of gaming.
| WHITE TAPE 1
"September 9th 5:40 p.m. The mansion was nowhere to be seen on the map. So we finally had to ask the locals how to find it. The told us that Himuro mansion has been empty for several decades now. The same one who told us where it was also warned us not to come here which was quite disconcerting." |
Now leave through the door that mysteriously opened behind you.
Kimono Room
Prepare for another annoyingly difficult vanishing ghost as soon as you pass a few kimonos!
Man at Window 500 pts.
Stay as close to the kimonos as possible and quickly aim through the gap at the window to get this picture.
Now walk around the room grabbing blinkies. To the right of the door you came in is an HERBAL MEDICINE. Well...I should have said blinkie...Now for a hidden ghost.
Woman in Kimono 1500 pts.
Walk to the two kimonos in the corner and aim through the gap to capture this ghost. Don't you wish all ghosts were this simple to capture?
Walk towards the window to initiate another cutscene and then a ghost battle. Looks like Ogata got bored with just leading you places...
Editor's
This battle is pretty easy. Ogata has really low health, and one good zero shot should kill him...for now at least...
You shall now be capable of upgrading your camera! Yay! Those points have a purpose now! You'll also recieve TUTORIAL 4. Start upgrading your camera, then pick up the WHITE TAPE 2 by the window.
| WHITE TAPE 2
"September 9th 9:40 p.m. It seemed dangerous to walk the mountain at night. So we decided to spend the night here and continue our work. I've been through several rooms already, and unlike the exterior, the interior is still in quite good shape. A little earlier, I thought I saw the white, shadowy figure of a woman in the hallway near the entrance. I'll keep track of such sightings and publish them in a later account." |
Start to walk back and your filament will glow blue as you pass the mirror stand. Take a picture and you'll get the ORNAMENTAL LION MASK picture.
That's back in the Fireplace room, so start heading back there.
Library
Just run through this room to the door leading to the Lamp Hallway. As you open the door, prepare for another battle against Ogata.
Editor's
This one, while not too difficult, is a little harder than the last considering he appears directly behind you and you have to fight him in a smaller area. As soon as he appears, you can do one of two things: instantly bring your camera up, hit the triangle, and get a shot as he lunges for you (you'll probably get a good shot if you can pull it off), or run for your life into the Lamp Hallway for some more room to fight him in. He's slow, but he'll move stright through the wall to get to you if you turn the corner. Try to charge up and get an orange shot for the most points. Two good shots should do it.
Lamp Hallway
Just continue on along to the Fireplace Room.
Fireplace Room
Walk over and examine the lion mask for the RED HANDMIRROR. Again, you might want to save the game while you're near the entrance; a big fight is coming up.
Lamp Hallway
Two more vanishing Ogata's will appear here this time through, so be ready.
Man in Closet 250 pts.
Just as you turn the corner, Ogata will appear in the previously locked closet at the end of the hall. He's directly in front of you, so it's an easy capture.
If you want to see a cutscene, go down an examine the closet he was in. There aren't any blinkies though. After that, open the door at the corner for another vanishing ghost.
Standing Man 800 pts.
This ghost freaked me out the first time I saw him. Ogata appears directly in front of you as soon as you open the door. But just bring up your camera and shoot and you should get him without any trouble. He disappears pretty fast though, so be quick.
Continue into the library. There's nothing here, so just breeze through to the Kimono Room.
Kimono Room
Walk up to the mirror stand and examine it and you'll be asked to use the handmirror. A lock will click and the drawer will open, letting you get the EDITOR'S PHOTO and the BRASS KEY. Be ready for a vanishing ghost as soon as you're done looking at the stuff.
Man Behind 1500 pts.
AS SOON AS YOU'RE DONE pull up your camera, hit triangle, and snap a picture. Ogata will be directly behind you, and he's only there for a split second before the battle begins.
Boss: Editor's
This is the hardest (and thankfully last) battle against Ogata. He's got a lot more health than last time. This time around, the Editor will teleport every once in awhile. That's when your filament will suddenly go completely dark and the ghost will disappear. If he does this, quickly hit triangle and start backing up because he'll most likely appear behind you. He's still pretty slow, so you can probably use the same strategy as before, just watch out for his occasional teleports. This is the easiest boss battle in the game.
Congratulations. As you saw, the Editor's spirit got sucked into the camera; you'll never have to battle him again (though his ghost will still appear once or twice later). You'll get a SPIRIT STONE as soon as the battle is over with. Now just continue back to the Fireplace Room to unlock the door.
Fireplace Room
When you walk in, a short cutscene will show Mafuyu running up the stairs. Go upstairs afterwards and unlock the door. There's a save thingie up there, so don't worry about saving at the Entrance. Just walk into the room.
Tatami Room
There are blinkies scattered around this room. Go towards the little shrin looking thing to Miku's left to get MUNAKATA RESEARCH SCRAP.
| MUNAKATA RESEARCH SCRAP
Secret Rituals of the Himuro Family Many rituals and customs have been passed down through generations of the Himuro family. Most of them are lost. The only things we have left now are some documents that record these rituals as a legend. Hardly any of the oral history remains. This is because all Himuro family members are dead, and those who were close to the family have kept quiet about the ritual. One ritual in particular, performed on December 13th, is shrouded in mystery. People who lived near the mansion stayed inside on that particular day, and even now, it is considered bad luck to leave the windows open on that date. I can only assume that this is due to the cruel nature of the ritual, but the truth remains unknown. |
An HERBAL MEDICINE is in the opposite corner, and near one of the table legs is a hidden STONE MIRROR. STONE MIRRORs will resurrect you if you die, but unless you have an Action Replay (an extremely cool cheat system that I used to easily beat the game...^_^ yes, I'm a cheater), you can only carry one. Go back and open the big doors in the very back of the room.
Observatory
You get a great view of the Cherry Atrium from here. Prepare to hate the Cherry Atruim; some tough battles occur there later. If you move quickly toward the side with the screen, you can see the shape of a man, but other than that, just pick up the blinkie, an HERBAL MEDICINE, and leave. Staying too long can attract a random ghost.
Tatami Room
Go back toward the door you came in and you'll see a lattle room off to the side. Go here to find the save thingie and some blinkies.
Anteroom
Like I said, the save thingie's here. If you go to the little doll stand, you can pick up the RED TAPE 1. This is the first of Tomoe Hirasaka's tapes. Her tapes are kinda cool because if you have good ears, you can hear ghosts in the background. Hers are the only ones that have this. I'll put the ghost voices in bold.
| RED TAPE 1
"September 10th 10:20 a.m. We discovered some disturbing photos in a chest of drawers. Could these be the folklorist's children mentioned in Koji's notes? The photo is quite old, and shows some kids playing tag. In the corner of the photo there's a faint image of a young girl in a white kimono. Her finger is pointed this way and she looks as if she's making some silent accusation. Save us..." |
In one of the back corners, you can find HIRASAKA'S NOTES 1, and some Type-14 film is in a drawer there too. That's all there is here, so just save if you haven't already and head back.
| HIRASAKA'S NOTES 1
August 20th It seems a folklorist named Ryozo Munakata was studying about the various rituals passed down at Himuro mansion. He supposedly left a book of research, but I can't find it anywhere. I wonder if there's a copy in a library somewhere? August 30th I still can't find the book. I'll have Koji Ogata from the editing department do a search for it. I doubt he'll be able to find it, though. |
Tatami Room
Go off to the side alcove and you'll see two doors. Go through the one that isn't boarded over.
Walkway
First things first: there WILL be ghosts here, both attacking and vanishing, so go to the closet that you'll see as soon as you enter for some Type-37 film. A vanishing ghost will appear as you continue down the hall.
Woman at Mirror 300 pts.
The name says all. She'll appear just in front of the mirror for a few seconds. She appears right in front of you, so it's an easy catch.
She leaves a wisp, so listen to it and then pick up HIRASAKA'S NOTES 2.
| HIRASAKA'S NOTES 2
August 27th The more I find out about Himuro mansion, the creepier it gets. I'm sure it's the perfect subject matter for Mr. Takamine's next book but, to be perfectly honest, I don't like this assignment one bit. It gives me a bad feeling... There's no way I want to go to that mansion. But it's my job, right? I guess I'll have to go. And I wouldn't want to waste the chance to work with Mr. Takamine just because of a little bit of uneasiness, either. It doesn't help that I have this sixth sense for the supernatural, either. There's such a thing as knowing TOO much sometimes... |
Don't go down the stairs yet; go down the branch across from the mirror first. You can pick up an HERBAL MEDICINE here. The door down here is locked, so go down the stairs now to be introduced to another persistant attacking ghost after a short cutscene. You may want to go back and save first though.
Man with Long Arms
In the immortal words of my big sister...OH MY GOD, IT'S MARALYN MANSON!! This isn't too hard of a battle if you know what to do. The convenient thing about fighting him here is that, if you check the map, you'll notice it's one giant loop. Don't pull up your camera yet. Instead, run back to another corner where you can still get a clear shot, but you have plenty of distance between you and him. Use this distance to charge up a shot. He's pretty slow, but speeds up the closer he gets. If you want a zero shot for maximum points, wait till he gets close and attacks, just like with Ogata. But be careful with Mr. Long Arms...he'll swing his head side to side when he get's close, making it hard to stay focused on him. When you get a shot, use the time when he's stunned to run to another corner and continue this same tactic till he disappears.
Now proceed to walk around and examine things. First off, walk around the loop until you find a crevice in the wall. There you can pick up the article "TAKEN BY GHOSTS?"
| TAKEN BY GHOSTS?
On the night of the 3rd, the police recieved a report that four children failed to return home after 9 p.m. There is an old superstition in the surrounding villages about children being snatched away by ghosts, and some villagers indeed suspect that this is what has happened to the four kids. |
There are three doors you can go into: one (the Storehouse) is locked, another (the Grand Hall) is optional and leads to extra items and a ghost battle, and the last (the Burial Room) will continue the story. I prefer to go to the Grand Hall for the items and the ghost battle gives you more points to upgrade your camera with.
Grand Hall
As soon as you walk in, go pick up HIRASAKA'S NOTES 3 across the room. Don't worry about the attacking ghost I mentioned. She doesn't appear until you open all the doors in here.
| HIRASAKA'S NOTES 3
September 10th 8:00 p.m. I clearly saw the image of a woman in front of the mirror near the entrance. She had long hair and a white kimono. There were ropes tied to her arms and legs, and she dragged them along as she walked. I think I heard Koji talk about something like that, too. There's something VERY wrong about this mansion. |
Open the first of the large doors. This little area is empty, so open the next one. Here you can get Type-14 film. Open the next (three?) doors to the last section to get a SACRED WATER and MUNAKATA RESEARCH SCRAP.
| MUNAKATA RESEARCH SCRAP
Mystery of the Rope Maiden Amoung the few document I found on the ritual, mention of the "Rope Shrine Maiden" is made many times. Her arms, legs, and neck are bound by five ropes. However, no documents discuss the role she plays in the ritual. One theory is that she is a sacrificial lamb, but I find it hard to believe that such a cruel ritual was practiced. |
If you check the door in the back you'll notice that the door is locked...with hair...that apparently Miku can't just pull off...so start heading back to the Walkway to have that ghost battle I mentioned.
Floating Woman
As said in her name, she floats around the ceiling. You don't want to try to get a zero shot with this ghost because she's pretty quick and she swoops around and behind the partitions, making it difficult to keep up with her. Just fully charge a shot and snap the picture rather than letting her close enough to turn the capture circle orange. She doesn't have very high health if I remember right, so a few fully charged shots should do it.
After this battle, just head back into the walkway and proceed to the only other unlocked door: the Burial Room.
Burial Room
Ignore your now-glowing filament for now; it's a clue in the main part of the room. Look to your right to find a blinkie: Type-37 film. Now walk into the main area of the room to see a vanishing ghost.
Wandering Woman 300 pts.
As soon as you walk into the main part of the room, face the door to your right, to catch her. It's Tomoe Hirasaka if you haven't figured it out by now. She walks towards the door. It's a straight shot, very easy.
You can take a picture of the door she was walking towards if you want to to get the STOREHOUSE? photo.
Now to pick up stuff. Go to the table with all the candles knocked over that you saw when entering the room. There you will find the STRANGLING RITUAL.
| STRANGLING RITUAL
On the 13th day of the 12th month, a maiden, cut off from the outside world for 3669 long days, shall be torn apart to provide power to the rope. |
The plot thickens...O.O Any white numbers (red in the game, but that wouldn't have stood out in this walkthrough...) are combinations to locks. Before going back to unlock the locked door, though, search along the big table to find HIRASAKA'S NOTES 4 and a SPIRIT STONE.
| HIRASAKA'S NOTES 4
September 11th 6:30 a.m. I saw that woman in the white kimono again. She's trying to tell me something. She knows I have this special sense for ghostly things... The woman's name is...Kirie. So, it's Kirie, huh? I shouldn't get any closer than this. I don't want to get any closer...I'm scared. |
Now that you've finished with those, go into the other room that you haven't examined yet to find a save thingie and some blinkies.
Rubble Room
No ghosts are here, so pick up the blinkies first before saving. Next to the huge, currently unopenable, door in the back is FIVE STONES DOCUMENT. Near that is TAKAMINE'S NOTES 2, and next to the save thingie is an HERBAL MEDICINE. Save and return to the Walkway.
| FIVE STONES DOCUMENT
Give thanks to the five gods' protection. Place the stone, representing the five mirrors, in the correct location. |
| TAKAMINE'S NOTES 2
Sept. 13th 9:30 a.m. We found Ogata's body. His head, hands, and feet were strangled off. What happened to him is just like the strange deaths that occured here long ago. There was a photo of Ogata near him. In it, there was something that looked like ropes on his neck, arms, and legs. I wonder if it has anything to do with the Rope Shrine Maidens in the legends around here, the girls that head ropes tied to their neck, arms, and legs, too...? Sept. 13th 12:10 p.m. Tomoe is acting strangely. She's been mumbling nonsense all morning. Something about ropes... And mirrors... I can't blame her for going to pieces, though, after seeing what happened to Ogata. |
Walkway
...Anybody else notice the horrible pun in Takamine's notes? Anywho, go to the locked door in the Walkway. You've got the code now, so you can open it. You can memorize Ogata's notes on the numbers, but basically it's just the numbers 0 though 9 going counterclockwise starting with 0 at the top. The code for this door is 1312. Be ready for a vanishing ghost as soon as you open the door.
Storehouse
Girl Pointing 300 pts.
It's the helpful ghost again. As soon as you take your first step into the room, she'll be right in front of you, pointing the way to a hidden ghost.
Recognize this room? This is what appeared in the picture you took of the door. The ghost holding the door shut is here. Walk to the back of the room next to the ladder to find her.
Seductress 500 pts.
I still haven't figured out what's so seductive about her... Look through your camera at the area behind the ladder. You should be able to actually see this ghost before you even take the picture if you have good eyes. She's sticking out from behind the big dresser.
Now to pick up some items. Be careful not to linger too long here though, because a random ghost can attack. First, go up the stairs, and use this LONG time to marvel at Miku's Sitting- Duck-ness as she climbs. When you FINALLY get to the top, a SPIRIT STONE will be in the corner, and MUNAKATA RESEARCH DOCUMENT will be in the dresser in the back. There's some Type-74 film behind one of the smaller dressers.
| MUNAKATA RESEARCH DOCUMENT
The Disaster Called The Calamity Long ago, a great tragedy struck this region. One legend calls this event "The Calamity," but reveals no details regarding the disaster which unfolded. A brief discription of the event is as follows: "The mirrors kept in the five shrines broke and the dead returned from Hell." I wonder what sort of disaster it must have been, because the passage can't be literal. |
In the boxes stacked at the bottom of the ladder is a SPIRIT STONE. In the desk thing along the same wall is an HERBAL MEDICINE and the news clipping "GIRL, THOUGHT TAKEN BY GHOSTS, FOUND".
| GIRL, THOUGHT TAKEN BY GHOSTS, FOUND
The girl who has been missing for three days in the Himuro Mountain area, and rumored to have been snatched away by ghosts, has been found by a local man. She is fatigued, but in good health. The police plan to wait for her recovery and ask her about the other three children. The girl's parents have also been missing since the day after her disappearance. The police are looking for a foster home for the girl. |
Near the suit of armor in one corner is some Type-37 film. That's all that's here, so just return to the Burial Room.
Burial Room
When you walk into this room, you'll notice that your filament doesn't glow like last time; the seal on the door is gone. You can run into the Rubble Room and save if you want, then exit out the now unsealed door into the Cherry Atrium that you saw earlier.
Cherry Atrium
First thing you should notice when you walk out here is the lovely trail of blood. Doesn't that just make you feel Oh-So-safe? *sarcasm dripping off voice* Follow it around the corner to see Tomoe's vanishing ghost again.
Woman on Porch 450 pts.
As soon as you turn the corner, you'll see her appear and begin to walk away. Snap the picture quickly, because she'll walk behind the corner after a few seconds.
Okay, don't worry about your glowing filament for now; it's just more sealed doors. Instead, follow Tomoe's ghost and you'll find a wisp. Whn the wisp disappears, you can pick up TAKAMINE'S NOTES 3.
| TAKAMINE'S NOTES 3
Sept. 13th 3:00 p.m. Tomoe's condition is getting worse and worse. She can't stop shaking, and she keeps mumbling the same words over and over. I don't know if what's happening is anything supernatural or not. But in any case, I think we'd better leave as soon as possible. Tomoe is in such bad shape, she can't even move. I guess I'll have to look for a way out of here myself. Even if we waited for help, I doubt anyone would ever come looking for us. |
Now walk back to the door you passed. Also, does anybody else notice you can see the doors moving without the camera up sometimes when they're sealed? Just a random question. Take a picture of that door to recieve WATERWHEEL IN PHOTO picture.
After taking that one, go to the other door along the porch, ignoring the stairs heading down into the yard, and take a picture to recieve the JAPANESE DOLL SHELF picture.
First off, do not try to approach the door in front of you unless you want to see a vanishing ghost. We'll get to that later. Let's grab some blinkies and hidden ghosts. Right after you go down the steps, go to Miku's left (I think) and get a SPIRIT STONE hidden in one of the corners. Go straight to the Moon Shrine, and pick up the blinkie on the steps to get the RED TAPE 2.
| RED TAPE 2
"September 11th 8:16 p.m. We looked all over the mansion, but we still couldn't find Koji. While true that this mansion is huge, I'm certain we would have found him by now... Could he have already left? It's too late for him. Too late for us. *laughs* He's been saying something about 'more ropes' since we took some photos yesterday." |
Near one of the pillars is a STONE MIRROR. Finally for that hidden ghost I mentioned.
Woman in Pain 750 pts.
Go to the corner of the stairs to the Moon Shrine and the wall and you'll hear a cracking, static noise. Aim down in the corner to find her.
That's all there is here except for that vanishing ghost I spoke of earlier. Start walking towards the door near the tree to find Tomoe again.
Woman in Atrium 300 pts.
Tomoe walks straight towards the door I told you to walk to, so just lift your camera and snap a shot. It's a straight shot.
Now just walk through the door into the Abyss...which oddly enough, isn't as creepy as it sounds...
Abyss
You'll see a cutscene as you walk in. Pick up the blinkie right in front of you, the RED TAPE 3, to initiate another cutscene. Then you can listen to the tape and take a picture of a hidden ghost.
| RED TAPE 3
"September 12th 9:00 a.m. Curse his soul! I found Koji. His death was just like the one in the mountain village! His hands and limbs were severed! I can't believe what's happening!" |
Woman Pulled In 500 pts.
Walk around the waterwheel until your filament glows. Take this picture to unseal one of the doors in the Cherry Atrium.
Now to item hunt again. Go towards the water and on part of a broken bridge, you'll find a STONE MIRROR. Check the little area off to one of the sides to find some Type-37 film. Now you should have noticed your filament glowing when you passed one of the stone lanterns. Snap a picture of it to get the LIT GARDEN LANTERN picture.
Go back into the Cherry Atrium to go through the now open door into the Doll Room. You may want to run back to the Rubble Room and save, because a ghost battle is coming up.
Doll Room
Woman Turning 500 pts.
Tomoe will appear as soon as you open the door. Take a few steps into the room and pull up your camera to get her. She doesn't disappear quite as fast as most vanishing ghosts, so catching her shouldn't be hard.
No go listen to her wisp, then get stuff before the fight. In one of the boxes on one of the shelves is a SPIRIT STONE. Pick up the blinkie on another shelf for another SPIRIT STONE. Last, HIRASAKA'S NOTES 5 is in one of the corners.
| HIRASAKA'S NOTES 5
September 12th 1:45 p.m. My sixth sense is telling me some children are playing here. I can't see them, but they keep calling to me. Are they playing tag? Or hide-and-seek, maybe? They might be the children in that photo. September 12th 4:30 p.m. There were human heads in that room...so many of them! They were cut off by the Himuro family master... They are all trying to tell me something. I never should have come here. I should have trusted that sixth sense of mine. |
Now you need to take a picture of the hidden ghost that's sealing the other door in the Cherry Atrium. After this, a ghost will attack.
Child Onlooker 500 pts.
This ghost is in one of the corners of the room. Your filament should guide you to it. Take the picture then watch the cutscene before your first battle against...
Crawling Girl
The thing that makes this battle annoying is not only the fack that you must aim down all the time, but also you must navigate around the hole in the middle of the floor. This little girl will, just as her name suggests, crawl around on the floor trying to grab at your legs. As soon as she appears, run to the other end of the room before bringing up your camera. The Crawling Girl also likes to spontaneously turn completely invisible sometimes. One of her attacks is where she'll stop crawling and start to sit up. Hit her when she does this, otherwise she'll paralyze you for a few seconds, giving her the advantage. She's annoying, but if you've powered up your camera some and are careful during this battle, she shouldn't be too hard to beat.
Now you can enter the other door in the Cherry Atrium, but you may want to save first. An annoyingly difficult vanishing ghost appears in the Cherry Atrium, along with two more battles.
Cherry Atrium
As you walk past the grating by the Doll Room towards the other room, an EXTREMELY fast vanishing ghost will appear.
Woman Who Jumps 1500 pts.
As you walk along, the perspective will suddenly change, and this ghost will fall from the roof into the Cherry Atrium directly beside you. To ctach her, you actually have to face the Cherry Atrium as you walk along, so angle Miku so you can do that. The very second the perspective changes, bring up your camera and take a picture. With a helluva lotta luck, you faced the right direction and got her. If you saved right before this, you can keep trying till you do. Now you get to fight her.
Broken Neck
This ghost will float around you relatively slowly before charging at you. The thing about this ghost though, you can only hurt her if her head is facing you. Just follow her and as soon as the capture circle turns orange, hit her to knock her back. This isn't a difficult battle, and her odd-ness actually makes her one of my favorite ghosts to battle.
Go to the end and enter the now-open door.
Stairway
Man Turning 300 pts.
Yep, yet again as soon as you open the door, there's a vanishing ghost. But instead of Tomoe, it's Mr. Takamine now! *ominous music* He'll be right in front of you near the mirror in here.
He'll leave behind a wisp, so go up to it. Afterwards, you'll get TAKAMINE'S NOTES 4 and a LIGHTER (for that lantern back at the Abyss).
| TAKAMINE'S NOTES 4
September 14th 10:00 a.m. The woman that Tomoe called Kirie looks just like the discriptions of the Rope Shrine Maiden in the legends. And there's a strong resemblance, too, between the way Tomoe and Ogata died and the manner of the deaths in the folklore. So that woman is the Rope Shrine Maiden, is she...? |
Ignore upstairs for now. Instead, head back towards the corner and be prepared for Tomoe... again...God, she's persistant...-_-;;
Woman At Corner 300 pts.
Tomoe will be right at the corner, and will walk back away from you. She's fairly easy to catch, but be quick just to be careful.
Pick up HIRASAKA'S NOTES 6 before heading back to see Tomoe again...but this time, she ain't a vanishing ghost...
| HIRASAKA'S NOTES 6
A mirror is breaking...Smash! A broken mirror...People on the floor, all over the mansion. So many people. All those people! What are they running from? And at the end, with such desperate looks on their faces...! Something's coming this way! From deep within the mansion...A coldness...It's colder than anything I've ever felt! I don't know anymore if this is a dream or real... |
Fish Tank Room
Go across the first 'bridge' (and trust me, I use that in the loosest sense of the word) and pick up the HERBAL MEDICINE. Continue on and halfway through crossing the second one, a cutscene will begin.
Assistant's
This is a horrible place to have a ghost battle...There's hardly any room to maneuver in, but at least you can't fall off. Tomoe has very little health and she's slow, but she likes to hide in the walls, making it difficult to charge a shot. I prefer to just either stay where I am, or move to the center of one of the stones, away from the walls. Always keep an eye on your filament and remain extremely vigilant and you should win this one without too much trouble.
You'll get the RED TAPE 4 after beating Tomoe, and HIRASAKA'S NOTES 7 is just a little ways away from it. After getting those, start heading back towards the door you came in for a hidden ghost.
| RED TAPE 4
"Since I met that girl, I've seen many strange visions. All the ghosts in the mansion howl and scream at me...Just LEAVE! I don't think they'll ever let me out of this mansion. I don't even know how long I can hold on to my sanity. Anyway...I'm leaving this tape. If ever someone listens to this...Please! Tell me what has happened to me! Suffer! *something I can't hear well* Still...I hope it's just a dream..." |
| HIRASAKA'S NOTES 7
A little girl in a white kimono keeps pleading to me. I can't keep my mind focused, but her voice rings in my head and won't leave. But what does she want me to do for her? I can't even get out of this mansion anymore... Broken. Five pieces. The mirror...! Tell Mr. Takamine... ...the way to break the curse... |
Now for that hidden ghost. Turn you're volume up and listen for static as you walk back.
Monk into Dark 1000 pts.
Once you hear the static (should hear it on the second to last ledge) look up and search near the rafters to find him.
Now go back to the abyss to use Takamine's lighter and get an item you'll need soon.
Abyss
Examine the lantern that you took a picture of before and light it with the lighter. You'll see a short cutscene and Miku will get a stone carving, the BLACK CARVING. Now head back to the Cherry Atrium.
Cherry Atrium
Woman Hanging 300 pts.
As you walk by the tree, this ghost will appear. You'll start to learn more about her in later chapters. As soon as she appears, bring up your camera and Miku will aim for you. Just snap the picture.
There's a wisp left behind if you want to talk to it, but you won't get anything. Now go back to the Rubble Room to save and get another vanishing ghost.
Rubble Room
Go ahead and save, then begin to walk towards the large doors in the back for a vanishing ghost.
Blinded Woman 1600 pts.
Ah, how you will come to hate this ghost later! As you walk towards the doors, she suddenly appears in front of you...oddly reminiscent of Ogata, huh? Just like with him, you must bring up your camera and snap a shot quickly. She's creepy, but worth it.
You can save again if you want before making your way back to the Stairway. You should get there without any more trouble, but be ready as soon as you enter the room.
Stairway
There's another vanishing-then-attacking ghost here, and this one's kinda creepy, so be ready.
Female Head 500 pts.
This ghost is just what the name suggests: a severed head. When you enter the room. It'll suddenly roll up the stairs. Hopefully, you've upgraded your range, making aiming easier. She isn't lightning fast like some others, so it's not too hard.
Female Head
This battle is so easy compared to most of the others. It floats towards you, but you generally have enough time to charge a shot. It'll suddenly rush at you, turning the capture circle orange and letting you get a good hit in. One really good hit, or a good hit and a weak one, will finish her easily.
Now you can go upstairs to get the stuff up there. Go to the right fo the MUNAKATA RESEARCH DOCUMENT, and left for the article "MISSING GIRL'S NEW HOME FOUND". Now go back to the Fish Tank Room.
| MUNAKATA RESEARCH DOCUMENT
The Legend of the Holy Mirrors (The Mirrors of the Five Gods) The Holy Mirrors, held in the five shrines of this region, are most commonly known as "the Mirrors of the Five Gods". The legend tells that the five gods, before leaving this land, created these mirrors as a means of protecting the village. Some legends mention another mirror. The story is that all five mirrors were used together in a ritual to fend off a huge disaster (whether this was the Calamity of not is not known). It is not known whether the ritual mention above is related in any way to the one performed by the Himuro family, but there is the correlation of the mirrors. However, the actual existance of the legendary Holy Mirror, one complete mirror, has not been confirmed, and it is not known what the legend is based on. |
| MISSING GIRL'S NEW HOME FOUND
The girl, who has been found after three days of mysterious disappearance, has been adopted. Mr. Hinasaki, a close friend of Mr. Ryozo Munakata (also missing), will adopt the girl. The girl's parents were missing even after she returned, so the police were looking for a foster home or adoptive family. The girl does not remember anything from her disappearance, and the three other children are still missing. |
Fish Tank Room
Nothing interesting is left here, so go to the back door. It's another coded door, so enter 3669 to unlock it and make it into the Backyard.
Backyard
Hug the walk and walk to the little shed to your right when you make it in the main part to find a save thingie and a SPIRIT STONE. This place has a few ghosts of all types, so be careful. Once you've saved, head toward the well (I think there's a path, but I can't remember exactly...) to get a vanishing ghost.
Man in Backyard 250 pts.
Mr. Takamine will appear right in front of you, walking slowly away. Ignore the freaky well (...I had memories of The Ring looking at that...); sometimes the lid will spontaneously pop up. Just take the picture and be ready for another the moment this is over.
Girl Pleading 750 pts.
As soon as you're done with Mr. Takamine, DON'T MOVE FORWARD. Turn around, bring your camera up, and look up. See the barred window? Remember it! Make sure your sound on your TV is up too. That'll be a big clue to this ghost. Turn back around and begin walking SLOWLY toward the wisp. The moment you hear the chimes, bring your camera up, hit triangle to do a 180, and take a picture of that window.
Breathe a sigh of relief if you got that. Talk to the wisp and pick up the blinkie on the well for the BLUE TAPE 1.
| BLUE TAPE 1
"September 12th 3:20 p.m. I know this sounds crazy, but there's something her besides us in this mansion. I've seen it myself; it was a woman in a white kimono. Something is definately happening here. Have we unknowingly awakened something? Or perhaps we've been lured here to die?" |
Now to capture a hidden ghost.
Girl Turning 750 pts.
Walk to the back side of the well to find this ghosts. Gotta love hidden ghosts...they don't move...
There's a STONE MIRROR where the ghost was. You MAY need it for a battle coming up...Now for
a boss battle with Tomoe. Feel free to save before starting this.
Boss: Assistant's
She attacks just like in the Fish Tank Room, but you have a helluva lot more room to move around in now. She'll still hides in walls sometimes, she can teleport, and she has more health, but it's still an easier battle. She double over just before a rushing shot, giving you the perfect opportunity to get an orange shot in. Just watch her and be careful and you should be fine.
Go pick up TAKAMINE'S NOTES 5, which is the blinkie on top of the gravestone ahead of you.
| TAKAMINE'S NOTES 5
Sept. 14th 8:00 p.m. In the materials Tomoe gathered for me, there's a paragraph about five pieces of mirror passed down through the Himuro family for generations. These pieces were said to seal off the Hell Gate and protect the region from a great disaster. They might have something to do with the current hellish situation. Five holy mirrors in shrines around the area all broke in a small earthquake the other day. When I heard about it, it gave me the idea for this next work of mine. I think I brought a news article about it with me when i came here. It says there were only five holy mirrors in existance. but according to some legends, there is another-the True Holy Mirror. The folklorist also mentions this in his research documents, the one I found here in the mansion (I think I dropped the research when I was trying to escape that cursed woman). Here are my theories. I think that the five mirrors that were destroyed in the earthquake the other day had the role of 'watching over' the True Holy Mirror. I don't think it was the earthquake that broke the five holy mirrors in the shrines. I think it was a signal that the seal on the Hell Gate that the Himuro True Holy Mirror provides had broken for some reason. The five mirrors were trying to warn us. |
Go back and save the game, then return here and open the door leading to the Forest Path.
Forest Path
There'll be a cutscene when you walk in, and then you can walk up to the shrine. But first, some ghosts. You knew that was coming.
Warped Man 1250 pts.
About halfway up the steps, the perspective will shift to where you're looking through the trees. Listen for static and aim between the trees to the right to find him.
A vanishing ghost will appear as you go farther up, so I suggest you move to the left side of the stairs as you go up so no obstacles will get in your way.
Standing Man 200 pts.
The perspective will once again shift as you go farther up, and a ghost will appear. It's Mr. Takamine again. Just draw and take a shot.
Go up to the wisp he left behind, then pick up the blinkies at the top of the steps leading to the shrine. There's a STONE MIRROR and Type-37 film. To open the door to the shrine, you must complete an annoying puzzle lock. You have a set number of moves, and can only move some. But you have an infinate number of attempts. This one's pretty easy, so just complete it to enter Narukami Shrine and battle Mr. Takamine.
Narukami Shrine
Notice the massive blood stain in the center of the shrine as you enter. Isn't that just cheerful (yes, more sarcasm...). Run forward an pick up the BLUE TAPE 2 to start a cutscene with a vanishing ghost immediately after.
| BLUE TAPE 2
"Is she the one causing this disaster? All of those earlier deaths...Koji, Tomoe? All of them? Am I the next to die?...The Rope Shrine Maiden Ritual, as told of in legend...both arms, legs, and the neck. It is said when all five are marked, the curse is complete. Ropes are beginning to appear in my photo-I'm running out of time." |
Crucified Man 400 pts.
Bring up your camera as soon as the cutscene is over, hit triangle, and look straight up to see how Mr. Takamine died...So THAT'S where all that blood came from...
Then comes another cutscene, and now Mr. Takamine's pissed off ghost is after you!
Boss: Novelist's
Remember when I said you may need a STONE MIRROR for an upcoming battle? THIS is what I was talking about. As soon as you can, run to the doors and out into the Forest Path; it has more room than Narukami Shrine. Takamine has lots of health, a plethora (WOOT! multi-syllables!) of attacks, and flickers in and out. But the good think is, he's slow. Just run far away from him, charge up an attack, and hit him with it. Unless you have the convenient immortality code from the Action Replay thing, you may not want to wait for orange shots. He has an attack where he bends over and clutches his head. If he complete's it, it's like the Crawling Girl's sitting-up attack: it paralyzes you, letting him get closer and possibly hurt you. It'll take quite a few shots to bring him down. When you finally beat him, you get the SHINTO GATE photo.
Hmm...Shinto gate...now where could that be? *looks at Shinto gate directly behind Miku* Miku officially wins a "Here's Your Sign" award (Kudos to anyone who actually understood that). Search where you saw Takamine's vanishing ghost near the gate earlier to find the HEADLESS BUDDHA (cheerful, ain't it?) and the FIVE BUDDHAS DOCUMENT.
| FIVE BUDDHAS DOCUMENT
Bury the Rope Maiden's spirit. Place the five Buddhas with her damaged limbs. |
As you head back to the shrine, you'll find TAKAMINE'S NOTES 6.
| TAKAMINE'S NOTES 6
I'm about to go to the shrine deep within Himuro mansion, where they say a piece of the True Holy Mirror is kept. The curse has already left its mark on my four limbs. There's no escaping it. About the only thing left now that I can do is try toreseal the Hell Gate. It's my last hope. I've already found four of the Buddha statues I need to get a piece of the mirror. And I've managed to find an old document that tells the location of the fifth statue. 'Make observance to the Buddha at the base of the large gate so that the souls of the piteous maidens can reach up to the heavens.' If all goes well, no one will ever have to read these notes, and I can use them towards the content of my next book. In closing, I would like to thank my assistant and my partner, Tomoe Hirasaka. If it weren't for the words she left with me, I wouldn't be able to complete this, my final work. If I don't return, please give her a decent burial. Signed Junsei Takamine, Sept. 15th |
Narukami Shrine
Go examine the altar, to see a line of Buddha statues. Put yours with the rest. You can now take a picture of it to see how the statues should fit, but it's extremely obvious when you look. Examine it again to go to the little puzzle. You'll see a 3x3 grid with what looks like a bloody stick figure painted on. Just fit the injured-left hand Buddha in the top left at the stick-person's left hand, injured-right hand in the top right, and so on. When done correctly, the alter will open, and a cutscene will start. As soon as you're out, Kirie will be coming towards you. You can't escape, so don't try. You can take a picture if you just want a picture of her I think, but it won't do anything to her. Just let her catch you to end the first night.
