Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake (PS5) Review: Horror Classic Reburn

Originally released for PlayStation 2 in 2003, Fatal Frame II has a deserved reputation as one of the scariest horror video games ever made. It was remade once before on the Nintendo Wii, which added motion controls to the mix, and now it’s received a lovingly crafted remake from Team Ninja. Accurately named Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake, the survival horror game receives several major updates and additions, plus a graphical overhaul that makes it as creepy as ever.

The first thing that is immediately striking about the Fatal Frame II remake is that it looks gorgeous. Team Ninja has done an excellent job of keeping the game’s art style intact, while also adding a ton of details to the environment and using much higher-quality character models. Sometimes this can lead to the atmosphere being lost in a remake, but thankfully, the game is just as creepy as ever, which is helped by some superb audio design that always keeps the player on edge, especially if you take advantage of the 3D audio.

Gameplay is largely faithful to the original’s essence, as you’re still using a camera to combat deadly wraiths. However, a host of upgrades, most of which are from newer Fatal Frame games, have been added, such as the ability to focus, zoom, and switch filters, plus you can hold hands with Mayu to regain some health. It all creates a more satisfying combat loop, although the controls do feel a bit stiff at times, especially when trying to dodge out of the way of attacks. It isn’t helped that the game is capped at 30 fps, even on a PS5 Pro, which is one of the few disappointments.

What really makes Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake my favorite version of the game to play is how much work has gone into making Minakami Village come to life. Exploration is a tense, exciting venture, as there are new side stories and locations to discover. These go even deeper into the game’s lore and characters’ pasts, so fans of the franchise will really get to bite into what was already the best story in the series. You can also crouch and use a flashlight (which regularly flickers, so don’t expect it to lessen the scares), so there’s more control over how you interact with the world.

Fatal Frame II is also quite replayable, thanks to multiple endings being available (including some new ones). Sadly, the Wii-exclusive endings didn’t get remade, but the new content is more than worth experiencing. There’s also a trio of difficulty modes, so players can test themselves or have more relaxed replays if they want to.

Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake Review: Final Verdict

Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake is a remake done right. Not only does it allow a new generation of fans to enjoy one of the best horror game stories ever, but it’s also faithful in the right ways while expanding the lore and modernizing the gameplay. A beautiful game that is often chilling, any horror game fan will want to check out Team Ninja’s remake.