Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly

"One incredible experience. Easily one of the greatest survival horror games ever made."

The most frightening game of all time gets a sequel that lives up to it in every way, shape, and form. Simply put – Fatal Frame 2 is survival horror at its very best. The constant tension, twisted story, the gameplay, the atmosphere…every single aspect of this game was meant to frighten you. And every single aspect succeeds.

First – the Gameplay - Everything about the unique gameplay in Fatal Frame is designed to draw the player into the world. You’re not running around with a big shotgun or grenade launcher – all you have is an old camera, a simple, everyday object. To survive, you need to explore haunted houses, taking pictures of the ghosts you find. The only way to harm those ghosts is to go into “Viewfinder mode”, which is when you look directly through the camera, resulting in a first-person perspective. Lining up the ghosts in the viewfinder lens is the ONLY way to harm them – and what’s more, you need to try to keep the ghost in that all-important circle so the camera gains power, dealing more damage when you finally snap the photo. Some of the ghosts are truly horrific looking, and the fact that you need to wait until they’re JUST about to grab you to get maximum damage – pure genius. The camera can be upgraded with special lenses that give it unique abilities – either permanent (such as displaying how much life a spirit has left), or an affect you trigger yourself – very helpful abilities that you’ll definitely appreciate as you face the trickier ghosts in the game. You also come across different types of film – from a very weak type that never runs out, to a much more powerful type of film that does extreme amounts of damage.

Every photo you take awards points, which you can use to upgrade the camera – improving its abilities, or simply making it stronger (giving it a wider range in the viewfinder lens, for example). The better a photo you took, the more points you’ll be awarded. If you panicked and take a photo of a ghost just as it appeared on the other side of the room, you’ll get less points than if you waited until that ghost was right in your face, a split-second away from grabbing you. This really gives you an inventive to play the game well, and, consequently, make it scarier and even more horrifying. Even better, every photo you take is stored in an album, making it a thrill to flip through the photos you take after every battle. You can save all the pictures you want to a memory card – but be warned, it does take up a lot of space.

Although the game does have its fair share if fetch-the-key puzzles, it’s presented in such a way that it never feels old, or boring. Picture yourself walking down a deserted hallway, flashlight in hand, shadows flickering off old storage boxes lining the walls…and suddenly having the ghost of a little girl appear at the end of the hallway, giggling as she runs through a door. Not only did you just jump a foot, but now you’re bound to investigate that door she just ran through. See, not every ghost in the game attacks you – some of them actually appear to give you hints, to guide you on where to go next, although it’s done in such a way that it feels natural. It’s these apparitions that truly make the game feel “real” and alive. It’s exactly what you would think a ghost sighting would be like in real life (if you believe in ghosts, that is). Appearing for only a few seconds, and without warning, you’ll constantly want to be alert, ready to snap a photo of them - you’ll often be awarded with a lot of points.

Another important aspect is the Atmosphere, arguably one of the most important aspects of any good horror game. As always, the atmosphere in Fatal Frame 2 is always believable, always drawing the player in. You’re not exploring a top-secret government compound, or a town populated by fleshy monsters. You’re just in a normal, rural Japanese town – albeit a deserted one - and you’ll find yourself spending the bulk of your time exploring each deserted house, reading old diaries left behind by the residents, learning about their lives, who they were, and what terrible tragedy has befallen them. There’s something truly chilling, reading about these people, what they went through…and then having their mournful ghosts appear – many times in truly startling ways. If someone committed suicide, expect to see that same suicide replayed in some form or another. Sometimes, the opposite will occur –you’ll see a ghost with a crooked neck, for instance. Later, you’ll find that the woman who lived in this house had something so terrible happen to her that she hung herself.

The game really awards exploration, as well. There are ghosts in the

See, every single enemy in Fatal Frame 2 is there for a purpose. It’s not just “Zombie ‘A’, ‘A’, and ‘C’” in the Living Room”. You’re fighting something that’s been a part of human beliefs for hundreds – thousands – of years. Whether you believe in the supernatural or not, these ghosts are very real, very believable – they’re not fantastic monsters that attack you for no real reason other than they like to eat flesh. Each ghost has a tragic past, a reason for being there…and when they appear, they’re acting as you might expect a real ghost to act – confused, or angry, or sad. The sound effects when a ghost appears are incredible. They’re moaning their last words – sometimes just for affect, but many times the things the ghosts say help advance the story – especially if they’re the ghost of an important character.

The graphics are top notch, with superb lighting effects, and some very nice animations for the ghosts and main characters. It makes very clever use of black-and-white footage, as well.

The voice acting is much improved over the first game, although the difficulty has been greatly toned down. I hardly ever died in the entire game, and finished with more than enough film.

The storyline is, as expected, twisted and horrifying. It starts off simply, but becomes more complex as you discover what, exactly, happened in this village so long ago. Because most of the main characters are already dead, it’s a surprisingly heart-wrenching tale.

All in all, if you’re looking for a great survival horror game, or if you have even a passing interest in the supernatural, or if you’re simply looking for one incredible gaming experience…Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly simply cannot be missed.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 01/07/04