"Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly" (2003) Game Review
"Twins, Basil. Twins."
I spent the first chunk of Fatal Frame 2 not really knowing how to feel about it. The combat lacks the tactile fun of the first. Fights often boil down to waiting around for the ghost to open their very narrow attack windows or charging them headlong which feels counter to the intended tone. The play area being more spread out makes the backtracking feel less like the thoughtful interlocking puzzle piece of Himuro Mansion and more like we're missing a location that got cut somewhere in development.
Gripes aside, Fatal Frame 2 really grew on me by the end. The atmosphere and dread is oppressive from the start. Multi-ghost combat is introduced earlier and used more often than the first Fatal Frame, and the visual design of certain enemies is impressively ghoulish. Lots of little details and optional encounters encourage wandering off the story path as the game progresses.
I think the biggest improvement here is on a narrative level. Mio and Mayu feel more like characters than Miku and Mafuyu did. The themes of guilt, resentment, identity, and duality comprise a subtle undercurrent to an experience that is impactful, thought-provoking and ultimately greater than the sum of its parts.
While I enjoyed the minute to minute game-play of the first Fatal Frame more, I think this one quietly edges it out as my favorite so far. I'm excited to see where this series goes moving forward.
4/5
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