Project Zero II: Crimson Butterfly (aka Fatal Frame 2) – Review

What’s the story? Well The story is simple enough, you play twin sisters Mio and Mayu Amakura as they become embroiled in a mystery involving spooks galore. You don’t want me to give it all away do you? Of course you don’t, far better to work these things out for yourself and let the gameplay section shed a little light but not so much that it will spoil it for you.

Gameplay is your usual third person survival horror affair but with a twist, it’s not all about guns and brawn but far more psychological in nature. Because of its roots being in the third person horror genre however it still falls afoul of the same problems that plagues various other title in this genre, the main one being the dreaded camera woes which can at times leave you banging into walls since the camera can be a bit of a nightmare but all in all it is smooth and enjoyable despite the flaws the camera problems bring. What is great about the Directors Cut is that you can also play it in First Person mode which certainly adds something new to the genre overall and for the most part removes any camera problems that may have irritated you whilst playing in third person. This is a clever addition to the Xbox version of the game. As with the first Project Zero (Fatal Frame) title, the protagonist has no guns and grenades at their disposal but instead is merely armed with an old camera (the Camera Obscura). Like some strange paparazzi you photograph ghosts and it is this that harms them (captures or exorcises them). You also have the usual items to collect that have now become second nature to the survival horror fan, there are paper clippings and books which feed you the background stories, herbs and potions that will heal you etc. It’s a search and solve style of gameplay as you unravel the story. It’s not an easy title though by any means and the ghosts even in the early levels can be tough foes to beat, but it’s very forgiving in this respect which means you can take a fair bit of damage before dying.

Graphically speaking the title is atmospheric and has a very Japanese horror feel to it in a similar vein to that of Ringu (the Ring), colors are dull and faded other than crimson which appears now and again in the form of butterflies and as the butterfly styled ribbons on the girls dresses. Cut scenes have an eery old crackly film look and feel to them which just adds to the style of the title. Cut scenes and gameplay meld seamlessly together to make for one hell of a ride. The title also has some nice lighting touches such as moving shadows whilst using the torch, flowing fabrics that billow as you brush past and dark and eery corners that scream there’s something there but don’t look!!!

The sound in Project Zero II is wonderfully orchestrated and extremely ambient, from the frightened voices of the main character(s) to the spooky musical score and various other sound effects it’s beautifully woven together in a tapestry of fear. The title also makes use of some cinematic audio tricks such as a sudden loud noise after an intense and quiet period which definitely adds tension and atmosphere to your gaming experience. For the deaf gamer the title has subtitles throughout and items like news clippings etc are clearly written on the screen but with the lack of the horrific sound effects etc that permeate throughout the game in glorious 5.1 surround, the deaf gamer may not feel the all encompassing horror as much of the mood of the game is carried over by the sounds. What may add to it for the deaf gamer however is the use of the controllers rumble feature which reacts at various moments of tension or horror.

Female Gamer Angle is an interesting one because the main character (s) are female and it is this factor that actually makes the title more compelling along with their apparent young age. Because the characters are not gun toting soldier types, but are instead innocent young girls, it all seems more frightening somehow and for this reason this title is going to appeal to everyone, particularly survival horror junkies.

Overall it’s difficult to fault Project Zero Crimson Butterfly because it is a beautifully crafted title with a lot of spooky atmosphere. Those of you with a surround sound system would be hard pressed to find a creepier title than this to play in the dark, since it’s atmospheric sound and moody graphics really encompass the player. Fans of Japanese horror such as Ringu or Dark Water will love this title since it uses many of the same visual effects and plot tools to its advantage. If you’re a survival horror fan you should really own this title, if you’re a Japanese horror movie fan, again, you should own this title. If you’re a gamer who wants to see what good survival horror is like, buy this title. If you’re a Silent Hill fan, buy this title. Basically… buy this title. It’s not for everyone (gun toting action fans beware), but will make most happy they purchased it including non fans of the genre. Remember it had a predecessor that’s just as cool, so why not get that too. Superbly and lovingly crafted with evil delight. Nice one Tecmo.

Review by Angela

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