Project Zero 4 translated to English

By Robert Purchese Published 19 January, 2010

Fans do what Tecmo didn't.

Japanese Wii horror game Fatal Frame IV (Project Zero 4) has been translated into English by a determined group of fans.

What's more, the language patch enables the game to run from an SD memory card and so becomes region free.

Fansite Beyond the Camera's Lens (via Joystiq) did the legwork and deserves a big hug and kiss. You can also donate, should you wish.

Play-Asia should fulfil your import needs.

Fatal Frame (Project Zero in the West) is an excellent survival horror series that revolves around taking photos of ghosts. To find out more, catch-up with Eurogamer's reviews of Project Zero, Project Zero 2: Crimson Butterfly and Project Zero 3: The Tormented.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (25) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • hardtech #1 2 years ago

    I've never played the games but wow, that is one dedicated group of fans. Truely they deserve to be worshipped for providing such a service ^_^

  • mkreku #2 2 years ago

    Huh? Is this news? Could you please cover White Gold too then? It's an action RPG, made by Deep Shadows, that was released in Russia a year ago, but it never seems to find a publisher in the west. It is currently also being translated by a very small but determined group of fans.

    And while you're at it, feel free to find out what's happening to The Precursors fromthe same company. Another game that looks excellent but doesn't have a western publisher.

    http://www .youtube.com/watch?v=9WqGNSuws08

  • BabyJesus #3 2 years ago

    Wow, thats dedication. Kudos.

  • JohnnyWashnGo #4 2 years ago

    Whilst I admire their efforts to bring this to english speaking countries, I really do wish that this game would get an official release.

    I enjoyed the previous games in the series and played the fourth in Japan last year. Why it wasn't released in the UK is anybodies guess and a crime considering nonsense like Ju-On got an official release.

  • PlugMonkey #5 2 years ago

    @ mkreku: Why isn't this news? The three previous games were all released in the UK, presumably meaning there is some sort of fanbase who would be interested in the fourth.

  • siro #6 2 years ago

    mkreku: The translation of Project Zero 4 is already finished, while the game you are referring to is currently under translation. See the difference? That makes it news.

    I'm astonished this works with any Wii. Are those patches available for other games as well? Would love to buy Japanese versions of my games.

  • FogHeart #7 2 years ago

    It's a shame I'm at work cos I'd be running around the room cheering. I've been waiting to play this since I've had a Wii. Project Zero is undoubtedly the scariest, most unsettling of all the big Japanese survival horror series (followed by Siren, then Silent Hill). And Crimson Butterfly is the scariest game I've played. And Camera Obscura using a Wiimote? Oh boy!

    So now I just need a reliable source to get the import. I suppose it's these PlayAsia guys? I should be buying Demon Souls too.

    EDIT: Could a kind soul at EG give us a review? Pweeeeeaaase?
    Edited by 1 at 19/01/10 @ 14:25

  • siro #8 2 years ago

    Also, make a patch for the 428 Shibuya game. Don't need translations, just that it works here. :)

  • Zebula77 #9 2 years ago

    Hope we'll see a PS3/X360 Fatal Frame some time in the not too distant future. Definitely one of the best survival horror series.

  • chicknstu #10 2 years ago

    Amazing stuff! Has anyone tried it, and does it work?

  • Malek86 #11 2 years ago

    squarejawhero: I find PZ4 to be the worst one, and not because of the camera or the controls (both are not good anyway). There are many problems with the game. I find it peculiar that the fans would have to make so much work for what is arguably the least deserving game in the series... well, I guess if you're a fan, it's at least worth playing. It does make a few things well, so it's not a failure overall. Also, their translation job is pretty awesome overall, so it's still something to be glad about.

    But damn, next time Tecmo better publish the game themselves, like they always did. And maybe let Koei handle it in Europe.
    Edited by 1 at 19/01/10 @ 14:52

  • captain_Carl #12 2 years ago

    I donated despite the fact that i do not own a Wii

    Good effort these people...You rock

  • Skinme #13 2 years ago

    Great effort guys, this is what I love about open internet & it's free exchange of ideas.

    Only have one question though.... How long before Ninty sue them for bypassing copy & region protection?

    I hope they don't, as it'll stop/put off people from translating other Japan-only gems.

  • INSOMANiAC #14 2 years ago

    Nice one ! been waiting a long time for this patch, shame the game itself is inherently broken buts thats certainly not the fault of the translating fans !

    hooray for fandom !

  • kangarootoo #15 2 years ago

    A friend of mine has tried this, and it works fine for him. Menus are translated as well as dialogue.

    It works using legitimate SD card functionality that was intended for something else (I did know more, but the discussion I had with some knowledgable people was ages ago, and I've forgotten most of it), so it requires no changes to your Wii to work. It is indeed damn clever.

  • kangarootoo #16 2 years ago

    "What's more, the language patch enables the game to run from an SD memory card and so becomes region free"

    You still need the game disc on import. This tech just intercepts and replaces certain data that would be loaded from the disc with data of its own from the SD card.

  • Hobo #17 2 years ago

    "You still need the game disc on import. "


    Thanks for that Captain Obvious. I'm quite sure no one expected the game was on the SD card.

  • schnide #18 2 years ago

    This is awesome - I love the internet :)

  • el_pollo_diablo #19 2 years ago

    I do hope they took the opportunity to make some silly subtitle substitutions.

  • adhuin #20 2 years ago

    Eurogamer just broke the play-asia website!

    Way to go. Where can I now order the project zero 4 ?

    EDIT: and now you've gone and bought them all up :p
    Edited by 1 at 19/01/10 @ 18:26

  • Phishfood #21 2 years ago

    lol the playasia website is down. 502 Bad Gateway.

    Nevertheless I will wantt o import it now, though I didn't play the previous 3 because I didn't have a PS2 I am a fan of horror.

  • Malek86 #22 2 years ago

    Word. There used to be a few copies available on Ebay, but now there's none. Looks like the patch was quite successful. However, maybe Yesasia still has some left.

  • mkreku #23 2 years ago

    Oh wow, -22 for asking an honest question. New personal low for me! Yay :p

    And I still would love to see them cover Deep Shadows projects too. So there.

  • Rewind #24 2 years ago

    Wow, that's a great job those people did!
    Will buy it on the way home from work :D

    It seems quite a popular game where I live, as it is out of stock :(
    Edited by 1 at 20/01/10 @ 06:16

  • acmilan1899 #25 2 years ago

    what else have serious Wii gamers got to do with their time? There's hardly any games for them to play.

    Project Zero 2 was F**ing brilliant though - no doubt this will be top drawer - shame its only on the $hittest money-grabbing machine known to man

    F**k the Wii and F**k Nincompent - cynical F***ers

    Today's disillusioned Wii Kids will be 2morrow's hardcore gamers cos theres so much dissing a man can take from his fellow Xbox and PS3 homies - in turn they will not want to put their kids through the same Hell that they went through - death of casual gaming in 20 years - Hooray
    Edited by 1 at 20/01/10 @ 16:34