Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly

"A rehash of Fatal Frame 1"

As I play Fatal Frame 2, I am disappointed that there is absolutely no improvement of any gameplay elements from its predecessor, Fatal Frame 1. Even the story plot is awfully similar to Fatal Frame. Has Tecmo runs out of story plot ideas? Here, I will explain it to you step by step at the below synopsis of Fatal Frame 2.

Graphics:
8/10

The game has beautiful gorgeous FMV graphic, definitely is better than FF1 FMV. The visual of the layout and texture is definitely entertaining and nicely done. It has vast improvement over Fatal Frame which has poor texture.

Environment setting:
4/10

Geez, what is up with this game? The whole place is so dark, I can't see anything at all. The torchlight doesn't even help. I have to set the bright setting just to see the surrounding. Yes, the place outside is freaking dark, but not the building on the inside. At least, there's still some decent lighting.

Music/Sound:
9/10

I love the music and the eerie ambience sound inside the building. The sound is enough to motivate me to continue to play this game despite its many flaws.

Gameplay:
3/10

I feel absolute disgusted in the gameplay. All the power-up in FF1 returns once more in FF2, with no new power-up at all. Just the rehash. The only thing different is that you have to look for those power-up that is scattered around in the village, unlike in FF1 where you have to beat the certain ghost to get it.

Oh, no more refilling of films at save point, instead the camera starts with the infinite ammo type 07. But it is so weak, I don't see any reason to use it, other than capturing non violence ghosts.

Oh, and be prepared to run back and forth, retracing the steps to previous area, it is going to be one boring trip since Mio slow running speed doesn't help at all.

Enemies Difficulty:
2/10

The enemy AI is so poor. Most of them are slow, so you mostly would have kill them before they approach you. Of course, there will be fast teleporting ghost, but if you play FF1 before, defeating the teleporting ghost strategy still works here. And the one hit kill ghost is definitely over-used.

It is just me or does the ghosts in FF2 look like the cheap imitation of the ghosts in FF1? Floating ghost, teleporting ghost, groppling ghosts, one hit kill ghost are rehashed from Fatal Frame.

Scariness factor:
3/10

It is even less scarier than in Fatal Frame. No random ''boo'' spookiness at all. I can play through the entire gameplay and not see anything suddenly pop out to scare me. Wait to go, Tecmo, for dumbing down the scare factor.

Storyline:
Well, it is about Mio looking for her sister Mayu, just like in FF1, where Miku is looking for brother, Mafuyu. Same old dull plot, just like in FF1 about the ceremony to stop the malice typical stuff. But the cutiness and likeable characters is enough to keep the gamer going. But does anyone find it strange that the protagonist doesn't seem to be paranoid and afraid of the ghosts they see?

Replayability Value:
6/10

You definitely to beat the game twice just to fill up those ghost list to unlock stuff. There are plenties of stuffs to unlock.

Collection of different costumes, unlocking of gallery, seeing different ending and do the mission modes. But I don't forsee any reason to collect the costumes. It does nothing at all, and who will play the game again, with different costume?

The game has only 2 ending, just like Fatal Frame. But at least the Fatal Frame 2 ending is more satisfying than Fatal Frame ending.

Definitely the rental at best.

Reviewer's Score: 3/10, Originally Posted: 04/19/04