I figure that the word on this fantastic video game needs to be spread, so hopefully this'll help in some way. I send this recommendation to anyone who enjoys playing video games like Resident Evil and Silent Hill and also enjoys being frightened really badly.
Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly is hands down the scariest game I have ever played. The combination of murky graphics, fantastic 5.1 surround sound and a story guaranteed to give you the creeps make this one of the best games you can buy. The game is available on both the Xbox and the PS2 but if you had to pick one or the other I'd say go with the Xbox version as it gives you more bang for the buck with cleaner graphics, full surround sound and more unlockable features. PS2 owners need not worry as the game is still worth a purchase.
The game revolves around twin sisters who become trapped in a spirit infested village deep in the forest. You find a mysterious camera early on that allows you to exorcise the spirits when you take their picture. It may sound silly but it works very well in the context of the game. The game has its roots in Japanese culture so if you enjoy Japanese horror films like Ringu, chances are you will really dig this. There are many frightening moments in this game and a lot of it is due to the sound setup in the game. The game manages to keep you unnerved through out with its subtle use of ambient sound. This has to be the one thing in the game that makes it an instant classic. It's a hard feeling to describe but just imagine sitting alone in your house with dim lighting and you're playing the game, feeling a little spooked by the sound of creaking boards all around you from the house that you've just entered to investigate. From behind you, you suddenly hear the sound of a child giggling. Not a nice kind of playful giggling but more the kind of giggling that you hear from someone who wants to do you harm. That's the kind of game this is. Ghosts come out of nowhere to grab you, crying out endlessly of the pain they are in. The design of the spirits is very impressive also. The spirit of one woman in the game, who happens to be the victim of a suicide attempt, comes at you as a sliding, twisted mess of broken arms and legs, her eyes dead white as she reaches for you.
The story in the game is really well told and is actually quite large if you factor in all the little tidbits of info you get from finding journals and notes along your path. The history of the village is one of horror and pain and every spirit in the game serves to add to the story of what exactly is happening behind the doors of the empty houses.
The only negative thing I can say about the game is that the controls take a little bit to get used to but with practice, becomes second nature when you need to whip that camera out in a hurry. At any rate, you can't let this one slip by you, especially if you like the feeling of being scared because this one will definitely do it to you.
RATING: ***** out of *****.

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Let me start off by saying I am a huge fan of the first game and this game doesn't pass the original. They are both equal in terms of gameplay, scariness, and story. Fatal Frame improves on the camera a little bit. The camera being your main weapon just like in the first game.
Like I said before this game has an excellent story and acts as a prequel to the first game. You play as two twins. Well you only get to control one of them while the other follows you. While playing the first game there was some ghost that creeped me out. This game hasn't had that effect yet, but I have jumped at a few parts.
The first game had four long nights. This game has eight short chapters as far as I can tell. It doesn't matter though this game is still great. The scenery and graphics are some the most beautiful I've seen in a game. Especially the opening cut scene in the forest. This game passed my expectations and then some. It doesn't let the original down.
The gameplay is a little easier. The ghost don't attack as hard as they did in the first. The puzzles are not as hard. In fact I've hardly encountered any puzzles 7 chapters into the game. I've had to do 3 puzzles so far.
Maybe if there is future games this series could grow to be a successful horror game series.

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I am a veteran fan of horror movies and games. In my humble opinion this game is the BEST if you have any interest in horror gaming. The atmosphere and music is some of the best I have ever heard. There were times when just the tone of the music and the surroundings would make me tense and jumpy, not knowing what might be around the next corner. Although in parts it moves rather slowly (looking for keys,etc.) but only adds to the whole ambiance. The voice acting is superb and the *bloody laughing twin, Sae*,truly terrifying. Not a game to be played alone at night. There were times when I would jump when you catch a flash at the corner of the screen. *The crystal radio was also very creepy (especially with surround sound)*. If you have any interest in the horror gaming genre I would highly recommend this title.

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I have played all games from this trilogy in order of their dates of creation: 1-3.
I have to say, that only Silent Hill itself managed to scare me equally as Fatal Frame did. And you know what - Fatal Frame scares you even more - I mean, to the maximum. I guess Fatal Frame has reached the maximum - video games or movies just can't scare you more, especially if you have phasmophobia or healthy dose of fear from ghosts. I have the healthy dose of fear from ghosts, but Fatal Frame made me shout 'holy sh**' and 'OMG', even 'aaaaa' all of the game-play time. And this is just AMAZING - I love when video-games manage to scare me so much. Unforgettable. Fatal Frame can scare you so much, that you will even feel sick or exhausted because of the fear! And the ending - OH, such a fantastic beauty which simply cannot be put into words to share. You must see and enjoy it by yourself.
Not recommended to play in dark? Fu**, no. I played entire trilogy in complete darkness, with some candles lit and in night + volume turned way up, of course. And I managed to survive this pure caviar of fear.
Survival Horror should be played in the right way, to extract all the beauty within it. The recipe is, as I mentioned before, as follows:
1) You MUST be alone; 2) You MUST play in darkness (nighttime is preferred); 3) You MUST play loud (5.1 equipment preferred); 4) You MUST be with clear mind - no alcohol, please.
Only if you follow this recipe, you will manage to extract all the power out of the Survival Horror genre.
And Fatal Frame - well, it is the most powerful game of the genre - I can guaranty that. You just can not go wrong with sepia, Japanese setting, past, archaic photo cameras as weapon, ambient sounds, ghosts and fears in general. Combine all these aforementioned elements with the essence of Survival Horror genre, like the darkness itself, mystery, feeling of abandonment and isolation, need to survive and find the answers, feeling of pursue, limited ammo and supplies and you will get the raw formula of Fatal Frame, which is made into a perfection by the creators of game.
Pure set of emotions, pure set of mystery and pain, even larger and purest set of fears, extra large dose of love and trust and Japanese setting on top of it all - this beauty just flows on you, while you play this masterpiece.
Recommended for all strong-nerve based Survival Horror fans out there, especially for those seeking alternative Survival Horror, you know - without those mind-and-flesh-blowing weapons and stuff found in Resident Evil, Dino Crisis, etc.
You shall love this peace of art.

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This game was rather good and scary hampered by an insanely difficult stretch near the end of the game and a story that never really makes much sense in areas especially the ending. Still, it had good atmosphere and a good premise as two twin girls wander into a village that is apparently deserted. Well it is not to long before the one twin runs off while the other one follows after her (get used to this, she runs off a lot). Pretty soon she ends up in one of the houses of the village and before you know it you begin seeing the spirits of those who once inhabited the village. These spirits are deadly, so when push comes to shove you use a camera you find to fend off the attacking ghosts. So that is about all there is to it, the camera fighting is rather tough and tense at the same time as you have to wait till the right moment to really do some damage. Unfortunately, some times you have only a split second to take an opportunity to do real damage. You get power ups for said camera, but it is rather limited in the power it can get. You have to have your twin following you at times and while she is slow she is good bait to snap some good and deadly photos of the spirits. The game has to many flaws though to put it in the horror/survival elite class with games such as 'Dead Space', 'Resident Evil 4', and 'Silent Hill 2'. It is very dark in some parts of the game to the point the flashlight does virtually nothing, during the last part of the game there is a lot of backtracking to be done where you go through levels you have already passed through fighting the same enemies, and then the last level has you fighting through a really tough set of caves where they have way to many enemies and not enough power ups such as health and film (there are different films each with more power and such). However, thankfully the last enemy was relatively easy to get by and was a welcome change of pace after that walk through the cave hell. So while not great it is a rather good scary little game.

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