Welcome to EXPlay, (Explain & Play) the review series where we care not for scores, but tell it how it is when it comes to every game we get our hands on, all whilst including some lengthy gameplay, to give you, the reader, the chance to form your own impressions and views while reading and watching.
In this explanatory review, we’re covering Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake by developer, Koei Tecmo:
Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake (Nintendo Switch 2)
Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake takes the classic Japanese Horror game that was originally released in 2003 for PS2 and Xbox in 2003, and gives it a modern revamp with improved visuals, lighting, additional content, camera adjustments, and quality of life features. The game was revered as one of the most terrifying of its time and has seen not one but two remakes: Project Zero: Wii Edition, released in 2012, and now this remake for modern consoles, including the Nintendo Switch.
The story of Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake follows twin sisters Mio and Mayu Amakura, who find themselves trapped in the secluded Minakami Village, lost in time and forever shrouded in perpetual darkness. If that wasn’t bad enough, the village is haunted by vengeful spirits who are cursed to relive their final moments after a sacred ritual involving human sacrifice went terribly wrong. Upon entering the village, the twins become separated. Mayu succumbs to possession by a spirit and is led away deeper into the village, leaving Mio desperately searching for her sister whilst hiding from the tortured souls that will attack her on sight. During Mio’s search, she will find letters, notebooks, and photographs that shed light on what exactly happened to the village and the impending fate awaiting her and her sister.
The Fatal Frame/Project Zero games are well known for having very dark themes depicting violent deaths, suicides, and horrific scenes. Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake is no different, and its story aims to shock and unnerve the player at every turn. The dark history of Minakami Village takes inspiration from Japanese folklore and urban legends involving twins and the superstition that their birth brings bad omens to their families. It is all intricately woven in a way that makes the story very deep, and you can’t help but want to learn more, even when you are too terrified to keep going.
Much like the other entries in the Fatal Frame/Project Zero series, Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake tasks the player with exploring dark, abandoned areas whilst exorcising spirits with a special device called the Camera Obscura. You can harm aggressive spirits called wraiths by taking photographs of them until they eventually perish. Unfortunately, the ghoulish ghosties won’t go to rest so easily and will attack you when they get close. Taking their photograph just before they land the attack (the screen will display a red border indicating an imminent attack), you can deal extra damage whilst potentially staggering the wraith and even initiate a Fatal Frame instance where you can take multiple photos in quick succession, dealing more damage.
If you think of the Camera Obscura as a weapon, then its film would be considered its ammunition. Film comes in different calibres, with some being stronger and/or quicker to load than others, and can be found throughout Minakami Village. The camera can also be upgraded so you can make it load film quicker, do more damage with each shot, manually zoom, and other features. To upgrade the camera, you will need to find Prayer Beads that are scattered throughout the village, as are other helpful items in the form of Herbal Medicine for healing purposes, and Lunar Incense that can be used to refill your willpower.Â
Willpower is a new mechanic that was not available in the original game. It serves as a kind of stamina bar of sorts and will decrease when you run or dodge a spirit’s attack, or when taking special shots with the Camera Obscura. It can be replenished slowly by taking photographs of ghosts, by interacting with a butterfly lantern, or by holding hands with Mayu (another new mechanic in the game), which will also replenish health as well.Â
Much of Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake’s gameplay involves exploration as you complete story-based objectives. This includes finding specific keys that will unlock certain gates and doors, solving puzzles using the exposure filter on the Camera Obscura to reveal hidden objects, escorting Mayu to a designated area, etc. There is some backtracking that will force you to explore previously visited areas so you can find a key item that will allow you to progress forward. It can be a bit of a pain having to go back and forth, but I soon learned to appreciate it as I now had the opportunity to pick up items I had to leave behind previously because I was at full capacity.
One key additional feature that has been implemented in Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake is the ability to crouch and hide. While not all spirits are easily avoidable, as you are often forced to confront them so you can progress into the next area, you can avoid some wraiths by turning off your torch and crouching to reduce the noise your steps make. It adds a stealth element to the game that I found quite welcoming and gives me Dead by Daylight vibes. It allowed me to conserve my precious film without needing to waste it in unnecessary combat. That said, there is one particular spirit that can’t be defeated with the Camera Obscura initially, so you are forced to run and hide from it. The crouch mechanic allows you to hide in low, covered areas so you can avoid detection from the spirit. Bear in mind, though, that if you don’t run away quickly enough and hide while still in its line of sight, it will find you in the hiding place and immediately end you.
Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake is a game that can be generally beaten in about ten hours if you are solely focused on the main story and probably a bit longer if you get lost a lot, as I did. The new side story content that runs parallel to the main story will add a few more hours to playtime, and full completion will take over 20 hours or so. The side story content mainly expands on the lore of the game by providing additional backstory to other visitors of Minakami Village who have fallen victim to its curse, as well as encounters with the accursed spirits and fending them off with the Camera Obscura.Â
If you are looking for a horror game that will keep you on edge from start to finish, Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake should definitely fit that requirement. The visual style looks incredible, and the game’s OST is peak. No matter how many times I told myself, “It’s just a game,” the music and ambience would work their magic on me to unsettle my nerves, causing me to jump every time there was a tonal shift and definitely think twice about whether I should pick up an item or open a door as an unsuspecting jump scare lies in wait.
With all the additional features and mechanics (as well as a photo mode that Koei Tecmo has made a staple in their games as of late), there is one adjustment that fans of the original game may not welcome. The adjustment in question is the change of camera. In the original game, the camera would be in a fixed position and would change angles in relation to where the player is in the room. Much like that of the early Resident Evil games. The Remake, however, has opted for a more modern camera perspective, much like that used in later Fatal Frame/Project Zero games and modern third-person games in general. I personally find the modern camera much more immersive. However, I will admit that the fixed camera angles of the original do make it all the more terrifying as you never know what lies in wait around the corner.
Wrapping up, Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake lives up to its beautiful horror moniker and takes you on a terrifying journey with restless spirits through disturbing locales and an oppressive atmosphere. I can see why series fans revered the original game so much, and this remake provides the perfect opportunity to revisit this iconic horror title.
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Game Specifications:
Developer: Koei Tecmo
Publisher: Koei Tecmo
Platform: Nintendo Switch 2 (Physical)
Genre: Action, Adventure
No. of Players:Â 1 (Single System)
Release Date:Â March 12, 2026
Price:Â $49.99
File Size: 27.3 GB
Nintendo.com Listing
