Fatal Frame II Crimson Butterfly Remake Review, Gameplay Impressions, Videos and Features

Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake from developer Tecmo brings a survival horror classic to modern times. 

Originally released in 2003, Crimson Butterfly continued the innovative run for the series that featured horrifically immersive stealth and photo-taking-centric gameplay. 

A legitimate remake, not a remaster, this effort overhauls visuals, audio and gameplay systems, as the highlights. 

As always with remakes, the line between remaster vs. remake and how the changes impact the spirit of the original will weigh heavily on the reception. 

Graphics and Gameplay

Terrifyingly immersive in the presentation department way back in the early 2000s, this remake effort matches that energy by modernizing in key ways. 

Visually speaking, while it's not top of the medium, Crimson Butterfly looks really good for what it's trying to do. Players aren't going to fret all that much over say, texture detail, while fleeing in terror after opening a door to a jump-scare from a wraith. 

Overall, the lighting and shadow work really stand out, which is important, given how stealth plays into the gameplay experience.

The environments are harrowing, if not horrific, no doubt. But what seems to really demand attention the most is the surprisingly in-depth flickering of the shroud that surrounds the wraiths encountered. It fittingly matches the general feel of unreality that surrounds them as they float between one realm and the next. 

Audio gets a revamp in the most next-gen-feeling way, too, with spatial, directional sound design providing an immersive experience that will leave players spooked. 

Stealth is one major part of the equation for the tense experience. Some wraiths simply can't be evaded. Part of hiding (surviving) successfully is turning off a flashlight and remaining in the dark, if not holding a sister's hand to recover willpower. 

The innovative Camera Obscura mechanic, which freezes wraiths and permits player survival, returns. 

It's smartly enhanced all these years later, too. Additional features like focus, zoom and filters enter the gameplay loop in pretty compelling ways. 

Zooming in, for example, adds another fun layer of stealthy strategy to the game. Taking shots from farther away will help, but at the cost smaller attack area. 

The addition of manually controlling focus introduces a bit of a skill gap between players, too, as manually adjusting rather than waiting for the auto-adjust feature could be quicker in the right hands. 

Filters might be the best addition to the mechanic, though. They have different recharge rates and ranges. But it's all about player choice: One filter can shove wraiths around, creating wiggle room to escape, while another serves as a scouting feature that lets players see baddies through walls. 

Of course, it all leads to the Fatal Frame, the game's namesake. It's a chance to deliver serious damage, or several high-damaging shots via Fatal Time, when executing the snapshot attacks at just the right time. 

Players manage not just a health meter, but one that measures the character's willpower, too. This specific meter drains when coming into contact with wraiths or while fleeing during an encounter. 

Naturally, a fully diminished willpower meter leads to a complete breakdown for the character, where they get one last chance to take a special snapshot of a wraith. Otherwise, they take heavy damage to the actual health meter. 

An overall thrilling experience, Crimson Butterfly makes smooth tweaks to an unforgettable experience that enhances it in great ways.

Story and more

All these years later, the backdrop story for Crimson Butterfly is survival horror goodness. 

Twins Mio and Mayu return to the area of Minakami Village, a place of fond childhood memories set to be destroyed by a dam project in the region. 

Naturally, the two get captured in the village itself, which has a little bit of a horrific local legend of being a trap about it, and things spiral from there. 

This remake takes the opportunity to let players dive deeper into the world and lore, too. There are new locations with some smooth environmental storytelling, plus little side stories that flesh out the world-building. 

From a progression standpoint, players will earn beads that help unlock certain filters and other camera features. 

There are charms to find out while exploring, too. Considering some charms can boost things like health recovery, finding them and general charm bag expansions makes exploration feel really rewarding. 

Generally, Crimson Butterfly runs well and there's a nice list of options tucked into the menus. 

Conclusion

The last few years have been stacked with fantastic remakes and a fun resurgence for horror-aligned games. 

Crimson Butterfly is another great addition to the list. 

There aren't many experiences as intimate as the survival horror aspects here, something only reaffirmed yet again by the immersion factor. 

Expected upgrades aside, the smart expansion of the classic, unique gameplay elements here help the Crimson Butterfly remake firmly stand as one of the best horror experiences in video gaming.