In every horror movie/game it usually starts with the main character entering a place that they shouldn’t be and ending up making the spirits that are haunting it mad or falling prey to the demonic forces plaguing the area. Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake, is such a game that is almost guaranteed to cause you to jump a few times while playing. This game is a perfect remake of the original. It updates the graphics and fine tunes the gameplay allowing a new generation to experience the horror we all had experienced during the early PlayStation era. You will constantly be on your toes, looking around every corner and hesitating picking everything up due to the fear of something coming up to scare you. I can definitely tell why people call this franchise, one of the scariest games out there, after playing through it and getting jumped scared multiple times.

The game starts with two friends, Mio and Mayu, as they explore the haunted and abandoned Minakami Village, a town that is full of ghosts and not the friendly kind. The only way to defend yourself is with a special camera, which can reveal things that the naked eye can’t see, and can repel spirits that are trying to kill you and your friend. Mio and Mayu now have to try and solve the mystery of the village, while trying to escape with both of their lives.

The gameplay can get kind of wonky at times especially when it comes to combat. When you go to pick something up the character moves very slowly, and while it makes sense considering the circumstances of their situation, gets annoying after awhile, but i will admit it adds to the suspense since you won’t know when you will get jumped scared. During combat with ghosts you have to take pictures with your camera to deal damage to them. The better the quality of the photo, the more damage you do to the ghost. You can even upgrade the camera to make taking photos easier and get better quality photos. The camera controls, however, is where the issues come in. After a while you will get used to it, but trying to keep the cameras steady while maintaining your willpower, which will drop if you get attacked or dodge the ghost, makes it harder to get good enough photos to damage the ghost. If the ghost gets a hold on you, the only way to get the ghost off is to take a photo of it, which is easier said than done when it’s on top of you.

You also have to make sure Mayu is safe during combat since the ghost will occasionally go after her as well. The last thing I need when trying to survive, is a permanent escort mission with someone who can’t defend themselves. I’m not saying she has to take down the ghost herself, but at least not make it so i have to constantly keep an eye on her while trying to take a decent photo of the ghost.

The atmosphere of the game is perfect for this type of game. The village looks exactly like what I would expect a haunted and abandoned village would look like. The lighting adds to the suspense of the unknown. As I’m playing I’m constantly cautious that the moment I open a door or turn a corner, I’m about to get attacked by a ghost and usually have my camera ready. This can slow down the gameplay since this game is filled with jumpscares and makes it hard to get into the game unless you’re into this genre of media. I can constantly feel my heart pounding as if I’m actually in the village trying to solve its mystery and survive to return home to my loved ones.

There are a few lows in the combat that allows you to recover and get your bearing straight. This also allows you to feel how the characters feel in their situation. A great game will always make you feel the same way the characters feel and make you want to help them in any way you can.

In conclusion, Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake, is a faithful remake to the original and gives you a horrifying experience. The atmosphere, setting, characters and creatures, will keep you on your toes the whole time. I recommend this game if you like a good horror experience, and with the lights on or during the day time.

Score 8 out of 10

Reviewed on PlayStation 5