The long-awaited, highly anticipated Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake has finally landed with us. Originally developed and published by Tecmo in 2003, the remake comes to us from Team Ninja, published by Koei Tecmo. Fans of the franchise will know this is the second remake of the iconic game. Project Zero 2: Wii Edition came out back in 2012. But we’re here to talk about the latest iteration, so let’s jump right in!
What is Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake?
Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake is a remake of the second game in the Fatal Frame franchise. It is set two years after the first game canonically. The game follows Mio and Mayu Amakura as they visit Minakami Village. The town hosted the Crimson Sacrifice Ritual, but failure caused the settlement to vanish. This led to it earning the name the Lost Village. An urban legend exists that anyone who becomes lost in the Minakami Forest will be forever trapped in the village.
Mio and Mayu are twins, visiting a childhood spot when Mayu begins to follow a crimson butterfly deep into the woods. This leads to the sisters wandering into the village, discovering the Camera Obscura, and falling deep into the horrors of the town.
Following the Crimson Butterfly
Fatal Frame II Crimson Butterfly Remake is a remake done right. Well, for the most part. But I’ll get to that later. The story holds up beautifully, even after all these years. Team Ninja recreated it with obvious respect and reverence for the team that came before them, and breathed new life into the game. Hopefully, into the franchise also.
Graphically speaking, Crimson Butterfly Remake is a work of art. From the very beginning, it is absolutely stunning. The water in the river looks almost real, the forest itself actually feels real. This all adds to the atmosphere. On top of this, the sound design is top-notch. It blends seamlessly with the surroundings, working with the story to add emphasis without cheapening the scares.
Gameplay is where I personally found the most significant changes to be. Some things are small, like adding the ability for Mio and Mayu to hold hands. This is a mechanic I personally love. The combat in Viewfinder mode has been updated, incorporating a mix of elements from across multiple games in the franchise. Willpower also comes into play here. Willpower works like stamina, serving as knockdown resistance. It can be restored by fighting enemies, waiting, or using Lunar incense. It also serves as a replacement for Spirit Power and Power Up Lenses. There are now different filters for different camera modes, including a filter that lets you see where ghosts are. Willpower also depletes from dodging, running, and being successfully scared.
Western Frame
This is where things take a slight turn for me, although I will admit it is pickiness to an extent. Some of the new additions to Fatal Frame II Crimson Butterfly Remake feel a touch too westernised and almost out of place for me. Specifically, the hiding mechanics and the side questing (which is more RPG, but still a change). In the original Crimson Butterfly (and other franchise entries) you would have running segments to get away from a big bad. The remake introduces hiding spots throughout. While it does fit, and makes sense for what’s happening, it feels almost out of place for a Fatal Frame game in the way its used.
As for the side questing, this isn’t really westernisation, just more RPG. Originally in the franchise, you would just pick up lore along the way and spot harmless ghosts that you could take pictures of. There was always a chance of one turning hostile, but it’s much higher in Crimson Butterfly Remake. Following a side quest to collect lore eventually (in my experience of the game) leads right to what is essentially a secret boss fight. In my playthrough, the odd time I did a side quest that was the result I got. That’s not to say it happens with all of them.
These mechanics aren’t bad, I’m just a bit of a purist with the Fatal Frame series. Physical copies of all the original games sit in a position of pride on my shelf. So such a change was an adjustment for me.
Twin Charm
As a whole, Fatal Frame II Crimson Butterfly Remake is a fantastic game. It can hold its own as a standalone game and would even serve as a great introduction to the series. My own pickiness aside, I really did love Crimson Butterfly Remake. The story beats hit well, and as usual for a game from this series, the emotions came through strongly. It made me feel everything as the story progressed. I cannot recommend this game enough to all horror fans, and I truly hope it’s the start of a new resurgence for the franchise. Team Ninja did a great job and would be a wise choice to continue to helm the franchise.
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