The editorial team obviously doesn't care that I'm afraid of horror, so they decided to send me another one. Nothing like a little old school Japanese ghosts looking for revenge, eh?
This time it's the turn of the remake of the cult classic Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly, one of the most famous games in the Fatal Frame series and a title that is mentioned in the context of "the scariest games ever made". Unlike Western horror films that often rely on guns, action and lots of blood, Fatal Frame has a completely different idea: your only weapon is the camera. And not just any camera.
Twins, rituals and a very dark village
At the center of the story are two twin sisters, Mio and Mayu Amakura. During a seemingly ordinary trip, they end up in an abandoned village deep in the forest - a village that, according to legend, has disappeared from the map and is only revealed to those who get lost in the forest. Of course, as in any good horror story, it soon becomes clear that this is no ordinary abandoned village, but hides a dark past.
While Mio slowly explores houses, shrines and various ruins, the story of an ancient ritual that was repeated for centuries to keep the village "protected" is revealed. And that ritual always includes - twins.
I don't want to spoil the details too much because part of the charm of Fatal Frame lies precisely in that gradual unfolding of the story through records, photos and ghosts that appear throughout the game. I can say that the story is constantly pushing forward and has that classic Japanese horror touch - lots of sadness, tragedy and ghosts who are not necessarily evil, but often victims of something much bigger than themselves.
The remake also brings a new ending and additional side stories that give additional depth to the characters and the village, which is a welcome plus for those who already know every corner by heart in the original.
Paranormal camera as a weapon
The Fatal Frame series is known for one thing – the Camera Obscura mechanic. This means that you don't kill ghosts with guns, but you photograph them, and instead of ammunition you have different types of film.
When the ghost appears, Mio raises the camera and you have to aim it in the frame. The closer the ghost is to the center of the frame and the closer you let it go, the more damage the photo will do. If you manage to hit the perfect moment, signaled by the lighting of a red light, you get the so-called Fatal Frame, a photo that deals enormous damage and often completely changes the course of the fight.
The camera can also be upgraded. During the game you find different filters and movies that allow stronger attacks, additional effects or special abilities against certain spirits. This gives the fight a bit more depth and encourages experimentation.
Remake also introduces a willpower bar that functions as stamina, and you can also use it during special attacks. An element of stealth has also been added, as some ghosts in the early stages simply cannot be harmed and you have to hide from them until the story progresses far enough.
In theory, it sounds like a genius idea. In practice… at least at first it can be quite frustrating. I have to admit that in the first hours of the game I was quite lost. The ghosts move fast, the camera turns slower than you'd like, and hitting the right moment for a Fatal Frame is not easy at all.
The result often looked like this: I try to aim the ghost, miss the moment, waste a few photos, the ghost sticks to my face and suffocates me on the floor. After a few such scenes, I had to concede defeat and lower the game's difficulty to Story. Purists may roll their eyes, but honestly… it allowed me to enjoy the exploration and atmosphere more, and the frustration less.
Exploration and puzzles
A big part of Fatal Frame is exploration, and the slower, more tense kind. In some moments, it builds great tension, but when you have to run over the same ruin for the seventh time because you missed an item, you think: "Come on, Mio, go a little faster!".
The village of Minakami is almost a character in itself. Each house has its own little story, with scattered objects, dried bloodstains, photographs of families that are no longer there. The game never explicitly takes you by the hand, but lets you discover for yourself what actually happened there, step by step.
Camera Obscura isn't just for combat. New filters are integrated into puzzle solving and exploration. Some puzzles involve taking photos of clues that reveal hidden doors or codes, making the camera a detective tool rather than just a weapon.
Mayu, your sister, accompanies you throughout most of the game and walking alongside her has both a mechanical and an emotional component. Holding Maya's hand restores health without using healing items – a small detail that perfectly captures the bond between the sisters.
Atmosphere and sound
There is not too much action, explosions or spectacle in the game. Instead, the game relies on a slow pace, eerie music, and a very careful build-up of tension. The remake also brings spatial audio that, with good headphones, completely immerses you in the atmosphere - creaking floors, distant footsteps or the sound of wind through broken windows sound terrifyingly convincing. You often have the feeling that you are not alone, even when there is no one on the screen.
The game is definitely creepy and uncomfortable, but I wouldn't call it scary in the classic, western sense. Partly this is because the ghosts are stylized and have a bit of that "anime" touch, so they seem less realistic, and partly because Fatal Frame puts more emphasis on atmosphere and tension, and less on classic jumpscares.
There are certainly unpleasant moments. Every time Mio slowly opens a door or bends down to pick up an item, I automatically brace myself for the worst, but the game builds more of a sense of discomfort than pure shock.
Graphics and performance
Since it's a remake of a game from the early 2000s, it's clear that you shouldn't expect a graphical miracle. The game runs on Katana Engine, which powers both Rise of the Ronin and Nioh 3, and looks solid visually.
Character models have been improved, textures are cleaner, lighting has been modernized, and ghosts look better than ever. However, you will spend most of your time in dark corridors, forests and abandoned houses, so spectacular scenes are not the focus of the game. In other words: the remake looks decent and functional, but doesn't try to impress with graphics.
On Switch 2 it works stably and without major problems, although I noticed slightly longer loading times. For some reason, the game is locked at 30 fps (which is true for all consoles, without the performance mode option), which is, to put it mildly, an odd decision for a "remake" title.
Conclusion
Fatal Frame II Remake is an interesting return to one of the most famous Japanese horror films. Its biggest strength is still the unique Camera Obscura mechanic that completely changes the way you approach confrontations. Ghost photography may sound strange, but in practice it creates tense and unpredictable encounters that force you to be patient rather than shooting automatically. The remake builds on that mechanic with new elements that provide additional depth.
On the other hand, the slow pace, somewhat sluggish character movement, initial frustration with the controls and the locked 30 fps may turn some players off. The atmosphere of the village and the whole story about the twins' ritual are very interesting, and the game manages to maintain tension and curiosity until the very end. It may not be the scariest horror you'll play, but it's certainly one of the most special.
If you like slower horror movies with a strong atmosphere and don't mind a little old-fashioned design, Fatal Frame II Remake is definitely worth a try.
Rating: 3.5 / 5
A copy of the Nintendo Switch 2 version of the game was provided by Koei Tecmo for review purposes
