• Publisher: Tecmo
  • Release Date: Dec 10, 2003
Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Image
Metascore

Generally favorable reviews - based on 40 Critics What's this?

User Score

Universal acclaim- based on 56 Ratings

  • Summary: (Also known as "Project Zero II: Crimson Butterfly") This time the terrifying journey takes you to a whole new creepy setting, an abandoned village, where you play the role of Mio Amakura, a young girl who is gifted with a strong sixth sense and her twin sister Mayu, who notices a crimson butterfly faintly glowing in the sky. Mayu, feeling mysteriously compelled to follow the butterfly, chases it into the dark forest. Mio unwillingly follows her sister into the forest's depths. After chasing the crimson butterfly to a clearing in the forest, the two sisters stumble upon a deserted village. Unknown to either sister is that this lost village will become the spooky setting for yet another horrifying tale guaranteed keep you up at night. [Tecmo] Expand
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 33 out of 40
  2. Negative: 0 out of 40
  1. I waited several days after finishing the game before writing this review, so that the initial enthusiasm would subside and I could be objective. Now I can honestly say that with Fatal Frame 2 we are presented with what is probably the scariest, most haunting and most unsettling of survival horror games!
  2. It may be a lot easier than the original, but in almost every other way--graphics, sound, atmosphere, storytelling, sheer style--it's a drastic improvement.
  3. 85
    Bigger, longer, and scarier than the original, Butterfly not only manages to do exactly what it sets out to do, it also succeeds in becoming one of the best pure adventures on the PlayStation 2 thus far.
  4. So genuinely terrifying, you can't help but appreciate its incredible art direction. [Feb 2004, p.114]

See all 40 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 28 out of 32
  2. Negative: 0 out of 32
  1. 10
    This game is made out of pure nightmares. I had to fear quit more times than i can remember as everything in this game just hits a home run to bring you one of the most terrifying experiences you'll ever have. Playing this game at night in the dark is how it was ment to be played. Me and four of my friends di this and were all freaking out on multiple occasions. Excellent story for a horror game, great use of music and sound, and the best atmosphere i have ever seen in a horror game. This game deserves the number one spot for horror games. Just great. Expand
  2. AnitaAndersen
    10
    ...one of the creepiest and greatest games I have played so far. The story is well-created and depressing...you just want these girls to be happy no matter what. You feel the fear of the loss they have, and the horrible things which happened before their time to surface again...The battle itself is okay, it does not feel as if upgrading your camera really makes a difference, but since the story-line is so great and touching, it does not really matter. Play it, if you dare. But beware: You will see/hear things and be scared for life. A wonderful japanese folklore shinto horror game... Expand
  3. JohnnyB.
    8
    This is one scary game. I refused to play it at night and even during the day there had to be someone else in the house. The ambience is bone chilling and the camera obscura is great choice for a weapon because you have to look directly at the ghost to kill it. The ending is very difficult, but that may be the only setback to an otherwise great game. Expand
  4. Controlling you're character and getting that camera to work just how you want it are in fact more nightmarish than the game itself. Yes it is plagued by Resident Evil syndrome wherein you have predesignated camera angles in rooms that add frustration to the clunky movement of you're character. Thank god the game is incredibly easy and I mean its really just running around-bump into ghost (or wall)-simple attack pattern-click-flash-fatal frame-dead-dead ghost. Thats the game outside of some pretty average puzzles and tracking down keys along finding some cryptic clues have yet to explain many things in full about the ultimate plot. I'm guessing thats not the focus here though. The camera is an excellent concept, the upgrading is cool and customization is fantastic. It is however, overpowered and dispatches those pesky ghosts pretty quickly especially when you find the more powerful film soon after the beginning. The unsettling details of terrible deaths and even "replayed" said terrible deaths are more intense then the combat alone though. You will quickly start asking yourself: "why are the rooms up until the ghosts creepier than my fights with ghosts?" Its also not very scary, but the atmosphere is quite good and enjoyable if you like that sort of theme in you're horror genre. Another thing that I found odd was- exactly how are you killed by a ghost? I mean when a ghost touches my ankle how exactly do I take damage from that? When a ghost gives me a hug- how exactly did that detract from my health? It also doesn't establish why some ghosts are just neutral. Like the many apparitions you take snapshots of or clues that require you to "exercise" a ghostly spirit for some reason they aren't harmful? Oh, but restless ghostly spirits are though! Right. It kind of just makes up these pre-established rules, but its not a huge deal. Its still great if you enjoy this series. It does a lot of things right and its fun too. The village is quite linear though and the game is a bit on the short side although over-all its a great experience. Expand

See all 32 User Reviews