Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake
This review contains spoilers
Alright, I have to drop a massive disclaimer here before I even talk about the game itself, but it's important in order to have context for my experience.
I'm a gigantic wimp. I can handle horror movies, novels, and music. Because of the interactivity, horror video games give me trouble because I have to actually do the surviving myself instead of watching it. Outside of Parasite Eve, F.E.A.R. is my favourite horror game. Those games have something in common: you're not weak. You don't hide. I hate hiding or being chased, even in games that aren't horror. It stresses me out. But occasionally I like to try horror games, knowing that even if I like them, my body will eventually get to the point where it's telling me that I no longer want to play. Horror's actually the only genre where I don't mind watching someone play, because I want to experience it (if it's good), but can't necessarily play through it myself. But that doesn't mean I don't enjoy them... they just do their job too well for my wimpy ass. Also, I played this on story mode, like I do most horror games. So, know that I played it on the easiest difficulty and that obviously changes the experience quite a bit. And since I've never played the original--or any Fatal Frame--I have no comparisons to make and am judging this game on what it is as a standalone.
Even still, I expected to bounce off of this in a couple hours like I always do. But I didn't. Even in Chapters 3 and 4 (I think) when Kusabi was pimping around and I felt my anxiety growing, I powered through. And then when the Woman in White--who actually creeps me out more because of her stupid creepy smile--starts hunting you later on, I almost quit again. I was like, "Nah, I can just watch a playthrough for the rest." But unlike almost every single horror game where you have to hide sometimes, I felt this urge to continue, and that's basically the biggest compliment I can give it.
Because I love this game. It might have taken the place as third favourite horror game after F.E.A.R. It's because everything felt doable for me. And yes, again, I played on baby mode, but the hiding sections aren't long. Most of the time Kusabi or the Woman in White just walk by you after you hide and then go away for a bit, only stopping to patrol I think twice total (between the two of them). And even still, those sections are over quick. Hell, there's a part at the end where you open up the path and Kusabi appears and the screen goes funky as it always does and I just ran forward a couple steps and that was that. I didn't even see the dude. So that's nice for someone like me.
It helps that the camera is a gun. I'm going to be completely honest: I avoided Fatal Frame partially because it's horror, but partially because the idea of a camera being your gun is... kind of a hard sell. But this year I decided to do it anyway. I love the camera. Once it explained early on that the user "bonds" with the spirits that they take pictures with I thought it was cool. That's neat lore. And then the game works that into the gameplay by giving you points, which is not a unique video game thing, but the mechanic makes sense within the lore, which is another neat touch. On a side note, holding hands with Mayu to recover health is also a neat touch that fits in with both the plot and the themes. Anyway, I enjoy that there are different filters, though I was happiest once I got the radiant filter (which is basically the shotgun).
It's not that the combat is amazing, but it's serviceable. At first I found it frustrating but I'd rather have that than a game where I'm hiding all the time. Once I upgraded the thing, figured it out a bit, fights became less annoying. I imagine though that on a harder difficulty I'd probably get mad.
Developers also understood release and power fantasy. For most of the game you're completely capable, though occasionally have to run away, and then the end of the game happens and you remove the Holy Mirror (safety mechanism) and you can suddenly hurt Kusabi. The first time he grabs you and you blast him in the face felt so satisfying. The rest of the game was power fantasy at that point, honestly. The music even gets dramatic at one point, and it switches more to an action title than any time before. I was fine with all of this. Good progression.
I won't go on about the story because it's best to just experience it, but all the production surrounding it is great, as I say in my mini-review. Always felt on edge, though I admit that there are scarier games (even on story mode). I'm fine with this as well because I enjoy creepy atmosphere and I have an affinity for horror imagery over jump scares or feeling powerless.
Basically, this is the exact type of horror game I enjoy and can actually manage. And although I know this remake was done by a different company, I still look forward to whatever comes next. I might go back and play some older games eventually.
I'm a gigantic wimp. I can handle horror movies, novels, and music. Because of the interactivity, horror video games give me trouble because I have to actually do the surviving myself instead of watching it. Outside of Parasite Eve, F.E.A.R. is my favourite horror game. Those games have something in common: you're not weak. You don't hide. I hate hiding or being chased, even in games that aren't horror. It stresses me out. But occasionally I like to try horror games, knowing that even if I like them, my body will eventually get to the point where it's telling me that I no longer want to play. Horror's actually the only genre where I don't mind watching someone play, because I want to experience it (if it's good), but can't necessarily play through it myself. But that doesn't mean I don't enjoy them... they just do their job too well for my wimpy ass. Also, I played this on story mode, like I do most horror games. So, know that I played it on the easiest difficulty and that obviously changes the experience quite a bit. And since I've never played the original--or any Fatal Frame--I have no comparisons to make and am judging this game on what it is as a standalone.
Even still, I expected to bounce off of this in a couple hours like I always do. But I didn't. Even in Chapters 3 and 4 (I think) when Kusabi was pimping around and I felt my anxiety growing, I powered through. And then when the Woman in White--who actually creeps me out more because of her stupid creepy smile--starts hunting you later on, I almost quit again. I was like, "Nah, I can just watch a playthrough for the rest." But unlike almost every single horror game where you have to hide sometimes, I felt this urge to continue, and that's basically the biggest compliment I can give it.
Because I love this game. It might have taken the place as third favourite horror game after F.E.A.R. It's because everything felt doable for me. And yes, again, I played on baby mode, but the hiding sections aren't long. Most of the time Kusabi or the Woman in White just walk by you after you hide and then go away for a bit, only stopping to patrol I think twice total (between the two of them). And even still, those sections are over quick. Hell, there's a part at the end where you open up the path and Kusabi appears and the screen goes funky as it always does and I just ran forward a couple steps and that was that. I didn't even see the dude. So that's nice for someone like me.
It helps that the camera is a gun. I'm going to be completely honest: I avoided Fatal Frame partially because it's horror, but partially because the idea of a camera being your gun is... kind of a hard sell. But this year I decided to do it anyway. I love the camera. Once it explained early on that the user "bonds" with the spirits that they take pictures with I thought it was cool. That's neat lore. And then the game works that into the gameplay by giving you points, which is not a unique video game thing, but the mechanic makes sense within the lore, which is another neat touch. On a side note, holding hands with Mayu to recover health is also a neat touch that fits in with both the plot and the themes. Anyway, I enjoy that there are different filters, though I was happiest once I got the radiant filter (which is basically the shotgun).
It's not that the combat is amazing, but it's serviceable. At first I found it frustrating but I'd rather have that than a game where I'm hiding all the time. Once I upgraded the thing, figured it out a bit, fights became less annoying. I imagine though that on a harder difficulty I'd probably get mad.
Developers also understood release and power fantasy. For most of the game you're completely capable, though occasionally have to run away, and then the end of the game happens and you remove the Holy Mirror (safety mechanism) and you can suddenly hurt Kusabi. The first time he grabs you and you blast him in the face felt so satisfying. The rest of the game was power fantasy at that point, honestly. The music even gets dramatic at one point, and it switches more to an action title than any time before. I was fine with all of this. Good progression.
I won't go on about the story because it's best to just experience it, but all the production surrounding it is great, as I say in my mini-review. Always felt on edge, though I admit that there are scarier games (even on story mode). I'm fine with this as well because I enjoy creepy atmosphere and I have an affinity for horror imagery over jump scares or feeling powerless.
Basically, this is the exact type of horror game I enjoy and can actually manage. And although I know this remake was done by a different company, I still look forward to whatever comes next. I might go back and play some older games eventually.
Mini Review: See full review, but basically, I have no prior experience with FF and I absolutely adore this game. Atmosphere's great, dug the audio, the village itself. I thought the camera aspect would be lame but it ended up being cool, with some depth to it. Also, Japanese horror is special and this is no different. This would work as a movie. A lot of memorable imagery, and a vague yet compelling, dark (and ultimately emotional at the end) story. Also felt badass in the final chapter.
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