Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly
9.8
10
9
9
Wonderful Game
(Note, the first game is not needed to understand this game. One and two are needed to play if you plan on getting Fatal Frame 3)
I've been a fan of the Fatal Frame series for a long time now and I just love this game to death! It is a wonderful game for those who enjoy the horror genre, but note, while it is like Silent Hill in a number of ways, it is very different. Fatal Frame isn't like other survival horrors. Instead of guns or other weapons, you get a camera, which sure adds to the scare factor. However, it also limits your view during the fighting which can be frustrating. The story is just as dark and terrifying as you'd expect from this genre of gaming, but is difficult to understand unless you collect the notes inside the game. The music and background noises is a very nice touch to the horror gaming style, and can be really terrifying. The graphics are beautiful and it makes the game very pleasant to look at (unless your looking into the ugly face of a ghost which will keep you up all night for at least two weeks... hehe...)
Overall, it's a great game for someone looking into a different take on the survival horror genre. However, if you want something to play over and over again, this can be good for that but isn't necessarily the best for more than one play.
So, give it a shot!
9/28/11
Amazing.
Fatal Frame 2 was the first horror game I had ever played. And I have yet to find it's equal. To this day, I still tell everyone who asks that this series is the best line of horror games out there, and the people that I've talked to that have played them before have never had a single bad thing to say about them.
The story is amazing, the characters are well developed, and the environment was executed spectacularly.
Now probably because it was the first Fatal Frame that I played, 2 is the one I consider the best, but that in no way means that you shouldn't play the others. Despite revolving around the same basic game play mechanics, each game manages to be an entirely new experience from beginning to end.
4/19/11
One of the best and terrifying games I have ever played!
I found this game by mistake. I saw it advertised on the internet about a year ago. I looked more into it. I decided I had to have it. I bought it of the internet. I played it as soon as I got home from the post office. I got so scared because my light bulb in my room blew out while I was playing it so I had to stop.The story is pretty much two twin sisters get lost in the forest and discover "All God's Village", the setting. Becoming trapped they have to escape the ceremony where one sister kills the other. You uncover clues to the ceremony, and try to save your sister Mayu, who always runs off.Ok, enough about me playing it, lets get down to business. The story is incredible. I am like totally in love wit it. The twins seem so innocent. It is so scary. There are ghosts when you least expect them that you have to fight off with your "Camera Obscura". The setting is so spooky. A lost village. The rooms of the houses are very detailed. The graphics are amazing for a 2003 game. It is a pretty long game, I am still playing it. It has a few puzzles, but there not very hard.Overall, I think its is an amazing game. I would recommend it entirely. You should get it.Jamie
7/19/09
Still one of the best games I've ever played
I originally brought this game when it 1st came out because I heard so many great reviews about it including from Game Informer which gave it 10 out of 10. Anyway, I loaded it in & I was soon on my journey to what I still call one of the best video game experiences of my life. I would play this game day in & day out after work and at the time college. It took me 3 months, but I had so much satisfaction when I finally completed this game, along w/ some sadness of not coming home another day waiting to see the final credits roll & the complete story to unfold. You become attached to the twins in the story plot. The storytelling and graphics are 2nd to none, and for a moment you almost feel like your sucked into this small Japanese Village that has now become a haunting ground for the undead. My only disappointment w/ the series is that the 3rd did not match the standards of this series. but I hope rumors of a 4th Fatal Frame will make up for that mistake. If you like the Silent Hill Series, then you will love the Fatal Frame series.
7/11/09
Twisted Beauty.
Sometimes, ideas for original Survival Horror games surface. However, most of the time, the overall game fails to meet expectations. Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly does not. It's eerie atmosphere sucks you into the game; immersing you into the fear of paranormal occurrences. You take on the role of twin sisters, but you always feel alone. There is not one moment of safety present in this game. The feeling of being watched is constantly hanging over your head, adding to the tension of the creepy, demented areas you slowly creep your way through. Things will never jump out at you; Instead, the enemies you face prey on your fear, making you sweat with anticipation of the next time you'll come face to face with the game's many twisted foes. Now, for the soundtrack. This is the most unnerving, emotionally distressing, demented music that you will ever hear. The already terrifying feeling of the game if further amplified by the music. In fact, if you have an option, I'd say buy the soundtrack along with the game. The game looks great; it has some of the most realistic graphics of the "last-generation." Though, the character models and screen are often distorted, to add a fear factor. The few times you see a plain character model, you'll see the realism, especially in the facial expressions. Though, to say "few times" is an insult to the game's overall length. The game lasts a good few hours, depending on your ability to solve puzzles, combat ghosts, and back-track through certain areas -None of which are too incredibly difficult. The story is absolutely original. It revolves around two twin sisters Mio and Mayu Amakura, a camera called "Obscura", and a ritual that involves the murder of one twin sibling. The two twin sisters are absolutely realistic. Not to mention, very cute. They both have a sense of realism, and you can feel the fear that they are faced with. They're the perfect set for transferring the many emotions in the game, straight to the player. The camera Obscura is your only weapon against the paranormal. But that doesn't mean it has no variety. You can upgrade the camera, increasing it's power, range, and more. When a picture is taken of a "ghost" properly, it will deal spiritual damage, sometimes knocking the ghost back. You see through the lense in a first-person perspective, which can be kind of awkward, sense you use the right analog stick to move, and the left to aim to camera- the exact opposite of the way most first person games are designed. Though, getting used to it is fairly easy. Now, if you're a fan of the Resident Evil series, then this probably isn't for you. But that's not to say that you won't like it at all, it's simply that the two focus on two different themes. If you liked "Haunting Grounds", "Siren" , or the original "Fatal Frame" , then this is a buy. Once you pick up this game, I can almost guarantee that you won't want to put it down... Unless you get too scared. But you'll end up picking it up again. This is one game you won't want to miss.
12/18/08
Crimson is the color of Love...
This is an amazing game. I am a little behind on my Fatal Framing, but this one makes it even more creepy, because you have your sister following you with a limp. The only annoying part is the fact that she whines and begs you to slow down. Maybe she's unaware that I have these things that are attacking, let's just call them ghosts. One of the girls is silly enough to go frolicking after a beautiful crimson butterfly, hence the name. You and your adoring sibling stumble upon a creepy town that has been deserted and seems eerie as all get out. As you find clues and items and creepy people peeking through doors at you, you will find your heart pounding and blood pressure rising with each anticipated moment. Possibly a change of pants a few times throughout the game! Fatal Frame one was the first game in which you look for your brother. This, on the other hand, does deal with family too, but just two silly little girls who have a hankering for spooky things and delving into other people's demonic rituals! The events that take place as you play the game, the flashbacks mainly, are amazingly told and animated. I am impressed with the way each chapter is portrayed and the graphics for the time were aesthetically pleasing to the eye, and the sounds make me scream a few times though. I have to highly recommend this title to anyone who has not yet had the pleasure of picking it up. Just an FYI... It IS backward compatible with the XBox360.
10/9/08
This Game Is Amazing!!!!
I recently acquired this game a while ago and it's the best horror survival game out there.The sound of the ghosts moaning to find you just sends chills down your spine.The graphics are really well done and the image of the ghosts are so disturbing that you can't take your eyes off of them.The ways that they died are even more unbelievable. If you think that you've seen everything then think again.This game has a horrifying storyline that just grabs your attention right away.These twin girls in this video game will change the way you think of horror survival games.You may not even want to play this in the dark at night because it's so scary.Also, be aware not to have any friends of yours that are squeamish.I was with one of my friends and she punched me in the jaw while i was playing,she also almost broke my eardrum from screaming so loudly at the game.I almost broke my tv screen by throwing my controller at it because the sound was getting to be too much at the time.This truly is one of the most scariest games that you will ever play in your entire life.It's worth checking out for sure.
7/3/08
Amazing.
The classic cult hit, often considered the scariest game of all time, Fatal Frame 2. I picked this game up a few weeks after playing the first one, and while the second one is easily the better game, i DO recommend you play the first one beforehand. Anyway, this game is all about atmosphere, the unsettling icy chill in your spine, and the knowledge that a twisted spirit may come at you at anytime. If you want mass amounts of enemy's, or run-and-gun action, this isnt the game for you. BUT, if you want to be scared so thoroughly that you may not sleep for a week, pick this up ASAP. The controls are the only thing in this game that need a bit of fine tuning. The gameplay is heart-pounding, the sound is exquisite and the graphics will keep your eyes glued the whole time. To ANYONE, that loves the survival horror genre like i do, this is a definite must-have.
6/24/08
one of the rare best surviving horror video games!
I bought this game quite some time ago and it scared the hell out of me. The graphics are good and the storyline is amazing with a terrifying and sad feeling, The only thing that'll keep you alive is a camera that repels ghost. (The controls are a little hard but if you're a Resident Evil fan then, this is no problem to you.) The story is about two twin sisters who is looking for their lost brother and somehow ended up in a ghost village.You'll be playing role of the younger twin sister Mio. When exploring the a house in the village, you found a camera and it's no ordinary camera, it's a camera that excorcise ghost, the camera obscura. After picking up the camera, you'll fight the first ghost. Later in the game, Mayu, the older twin sister will start being possesed by the ghost. You'll have to find her. Explore the village as will as inside the house and buildings. Solve a bunch of puzzles, take pictures of hidden ghosts or hint ghosts to complete your photo album. Upgrade your camera obscura to fight harder ghost oppnents. Time your shots to get the Zero shot or the Fatal Frame for critical hits. The Ending theme "Chou" or "Butterfly" sung by Tsukiko Amano. Though I played it on easy but it stilled the hell out of me. If you want a good scare, then this game is right for you. ([note] when playing this game, please don't let any little children watch. They'll have nightmares...)
6/18/08