Fatal Frame 2: Be Afraid...Be Very Afraid

Game: Fatal Frame 2:Crimson Butterfly Console:PlayStation 2 Game Type:Survival Horror Developer: Tecmo Publisher: Tecmo Rating: M for Mature TORONTO (djc Features) — Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly is so scary that, after finishing it, I fully expected to get a phone call telling me I would die in seven days. The game serves as a prequel, telling the story of twin sisters Mio and Mayu, who go playing in the forest one day. Mayu sees a strange glowing red butterfly, and follows it deep into the woods. The protective Mio goes to look for her, and soon the two girls find themselves lost in a deserted village shrouded in darkness. Escape becomes a priority when the two girls realize the village is full of tormented and downright homicidal ghosts. Oh, and it used be the site of a horrific ritual that just happens to involve twin siblings. You mostly play as Mio, with Mayu tagging along, though there are brief sequences where you control Mayu as well. It's a third-person adventure where you wander around darkened, creepy environments. It’s pretty standard Survival Horror stuff. But unlike games like Resident Evil, you don’t carry guns. Instead, your only weapon against the ghosts is the Camera Obscura, which takes pictures of the ghosts, gradually draining their energy. To do battle, you enter “Finder” mode — a first-person view where you peer through the lens trying to line up the spirit before it gets too close. And battles can get quite intense — some ghosts can disappear and teleport, the whole time muttering and moaning about their pain. The camera is also used to capture hidden and wandering ghosts. The wandering ghosts appear briefly, but if you happen to catch a picture of them, they’re worth points that can be used to upgrade the camera. These ghosts can be particularly freaky too, as they pop up in some devilish places. The “Peeping Child” ghost will have you reaching for your heart medication. Having played Fatal Frame 1 I am happy to report they toned down the difficulty. For the most part, anyway. You still shouldn't expect the game to be simple, as the final boss is capable of killing you with one shot and the developer elected to place the last save post well back of that encounter. I wasn’t too pleased with that. But for those of you who like challenge, there are extra difficulty modes and a Battle Mode to unlock. Complete these and you can unlock art, and extra costumes. In addition to being scary, the game has a very intriguing plot with a lot of genuine emotion portrayed in each character. Oddly enough, I thought the most powerful moment wasn’t a scare moment. There’s a point where the twins are about to confront some twisted and psychotic horror, and they instinctively intertwine their arms in a show of strength. Tecmo really offers up characters that you can connect with. But, Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly is horror game that is truly scary, in the way crossing a cemetery at midnight is scary. Even if nothing happens, it always feels like something might. Take a look at our rating of this game — the scare factor gives it its edge and makes it fun. It also represents the number of clean pairs of shorts that gave their lives while I was reviewing it.