Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Director's Cut

"Nothing remarkable, but a good, solid game."

Fatal Frame is a landmark game in the survival horror genre. Instead of fighting enemies with weapons, you fight enemies with a camera called “The Camera Obscura.” Also what made this game unique was it's very deep, very Japanese story. But what I thought was most unique about the game was it's RPG elements used to “level up” your camera.

Fatal Frame II: Director's cut expands on the first game in several ways. First of all, the game is much larger and has more main characters. New ghosts are everywhere, and will keep your blood pressure high throughout the whole game ><. There are several more upgrades to your camera, and plenty of scares to make you survival horror fans satisfied. I should also note that this game is a director's cut of “Fatal Frame II: Crimson butterfly” which came out earlier this year.

So, how do these new features add up? I think they add up very well. Unfortunately, this isn't the perfect game and it still has its problems.

Gameplay (8)

The controls are very fluid, and adaptation from the Playstation2 controller to the Xbox controller is good. The game is fun and scary, but maybe not as scary as the first. The game, while slightly repetitive, will keep you hooked until the end. Several difficulties include normal, hard, and others, which are secret ><. Several new modes of play enhance gameplay including “FPS Mode”, “Survival Mode”, and “Mission Mode”.

Story (9)

This is what sets the Fatal Frame series apart from the other games. The story is compelling, scary, and will keep you hooked until the end. With 4 possible endings, you will be playing this game over and over to see what the best possible ending you can get will be.

The story is based on old Japanese myth and legend. Basically, sacrifices of twins are made. The end of the game ties all strings and cuts others. You will find out the purpose of the crimson butterflies and other important story points.

Graphics (7)

The game is very Playstation2-ish. It does not play like a port, but it looks like a port. The movies are pretty blocky and some textures look very blurry. Even though the game has pretty good modeling, the graphics still look a bit old.

Sound (8)

Wonderful music (When there is any..) ghost sounds will send chills down your spine. Ambience is excellent. English dub is (surprise, surprise) lacking. No option for original Japanese dub. Great ending theme.

Replay Value (6)

The game will take around 9 hours to complete on first try. 4 Possible endings and 3 difficulty levels. Several play modes, but I think like most survival horror games, this one leaves you hungry for more.

Final Recommendation (Not an average)

This game is a definite 8. Nothing remarkable, but it is a good, solid, game. Buy it if you are a fan of survival horror games or a collector. Or just rent it if you are unsure.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 12/06/04