Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly

AKA- The wonder twins go to hell

Console: Playstation 2/X-box
Game type: Horror/Mystery/Puzzle
Developer: Tecmo
Number of players: 1
Languages: English dubbed Sad

Presentation:
80/100

Introduction/Demonstration
75
Spooky introduction that sets the begining theme and layout for the games story. Nothing spectacular, but some pleasing eye candy.
Menu
85
Direct, nothing shabby but nothing spectacular either.

Visuals:
95/100

Detail
100
Fatal Frame as a series hangs on the details. While you are indeed in a broader more deeper imagrey, its the details that make or break the experience. Crimson Butterfly is more traditionally themed than the other versions of the series. That is its backdrop of course. The eye for lil things in the way ghosts appear, the clothing, dialouge. All of it lends to your gaming experience very well. Fatal Frame never fails to deliver in this regard.

Animation
90
Good eyecandy. For a mid generation game to hit the console you can definately see an improvement over the first of the series. And yet it is clearly not pushing all of the consoles buttons(considering its time in the market this is not a big harm though). The game runs smoothly, no major stuttering in the animations of moves or ghosts that somewhat marred the first game.

Frame Rate
100
A speedy improvement over the original(which only suffered very little in extreme encounters or animations). All in all perfect, the only stuttering frames you will see are those intended as storytelling devices.

Audio:
90/100
Not forgetting the game comes from its core horror roots, it has a ear for the same. Dramatic and tense moments punctuated by the appropriate sounds turn what could be just another “ghost fight #100″ into a frightening fight or flee one. The english is par for the course. It actually shines in some moments between Mio and Mayu, but otherwise is just humdrum. In a series where you spend a good deal of time reading or looking for visual clues onscreen and in your menus i never understand why an option for subtitles and japanese wasnt included.

Playability:
90/100

Controls
95/100
A simple setup, anyone familar with the first game will know. Your menu will become a familar face as you peice together evidence and clues to find out whats going on as you progress. The battles are simple affairs, and the powerup system is identical to its incarnation in the first game with lil new.

Single-Player
100
Alone and in a strange village. You peice together the going on’s of the former inhabitats(who in most cases are now not so peacefully resting spirits you will face), and your twin sister. She pulled you into this mystery and then began to act even stranger, pulling you farther along into the game. The main story will not keep your occupied forever. However multiple endings and settings will keep you returning and retreading the familar paths of the All-gods Village.

Multi-Player(Extras)
No multiplayer, but enough extras to keep one happy and content in your purchase. The familar mission mode returns, as well as the usual “extra” parts to your camera. Earned through your “Ghost list” completion, Mission earnings or defeating the game in “nightmare mode” will keep you occupied for some time.

Loadtime
Minimal loadtime accounting for mostly album/ghost list work and the occasional door to a new area.

Lastability:
100/100

Concept
100
An original and thrilling concept of a series that rings true in its second incarnation, just as well as it did in its first. Enough said

Story
100
Crimson Butterfly takes the continued idea of superstitions and folklore to a new setting. The story actually takes place before the events of the original game(explaining why the twins have/use the Camera Obscura since it was “destroyed” at the end of the first game). You play the role of twins, who share a similar pyschic bond/gift as did the brother and sister of the first game. While out in the forest the twin Mio follows a crimson butterfly on a whim as it leads her deeper into the greenery. Following her out of a sense of guilt(you were partly responsible for an accident years earlier which has left Mio partly lame), you soon find yourself in a village that seems misplaced out of time. The story quickly escalates into confrontation and exploration of the spirit world which seems overly prevalent here. As the horror of what happened in the village starts to mirror the horror of what is happening now you are faced with a crisis…

Addiction
100
Just as wonderful and addictive as the first game. Its testament to being a sequal is enough.

Secrets
100
Unlockables, multiple endings. Whats not to like? How bout throwing in key plot points and other small tidbits which begins to link/clarify the happenings of the first game…and you have a winner.

Total: 90/100

Final verdict:
Take the success of the first cult hit, and crank up the creepy factor a bit. The game takes all the tried and true bits of the first game and makes it scream in glorious horror. Expanded ghost list, improved graphics and a truly gripping and disturbing plotline. Crimson butterfly has all the workings of a great game. Some could argue it as a pretty retread of the original with new graphics…but then again Final Fantasy as a series has followed that for how many years with how much commercial success?
This game is a sure buy. Its best aspect is its availabilty. While the original Fatal Frame was somewhat hard to aqcuire(and has only done better through a X-Box port), the 2nd in the series made enough of a bigtime splash to make finding it much easier than getting the freaky images out of your head from the game itself.

DZ0’s thoughts and spoilers:
While im a huge fan of the first game, and clamored a bit more for a male lead(men are seemingly thrown in as “macho” with no spiritual sense or powers it seems) i couldnt have enjoyed this game more with the twins. Though of course there was many…offcolor comments made about the relationship(wont say what, but i will say there is ACTUAL pornography “starring” these twins/game setting….), it was very fitting. The plottwists and turns were beautiful, and it was really really creepy to think that the “good” ending involves you killing your own sister…
All in all, a great game in a great series.

By Darknight Z0

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