| FATAL FRAME 2: Crimson Butterfly REMAKE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Release Date | Gameplay & Story | Pre-Order & DLC | Review |
FATAL FRAME 2: Crimson Butterfly Remake Review Overview
What is FATAL FRAME 2: Crimson Butterfly Remake?
FATAL FRAME 2: Crimson Butterfly REMAKE is a reimagining of the classic 2003 game originally released on the PlayStation 2, now redone from the ground up for modern audiences. Releasing on Steam, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2 on March 12, 2026, it will feature a complete overhaul of the original, improving everything from visuals, audio, controls, and core gameplay systems such as the signature Camera Obscura combat mechanic while still being faithful to its source.
This thrilling horror adventure follows twin sisters Mio and Mayu Amakura as they find themselves lost in an abandoned village that was supposedly wiped off from the map, after Mayu is led astray by a mysterious crimson butterfly. Mio aims to escape the village together, but their very presence and actions unknowingly revive the horrors of the past and the reason for the village’s downfall, caused by a forbidden ritual.
Players will take on the role of Mio, the younger twin sister, who possesses the ability to see spirits. Armed with the ghost-exorcising Camera Obscura, Mio will explore different areas of the village in search of a way out and, while doing so, discover the truth of the horrifying incident that transpired years ago.
For more gameplay details, read everything we know about FATAL FRAME 2: Crimson Butterfly Remake’s gameplay and story.
FATAL FRAME 2: Crimson Butterfly Remake features:
⚫︎ A Gripping Tale of Twins
⚫︎ A More Immersive Minakami Village
⚫︎ Chilling Ghosts To Meet
⚫︎ Camera Obscura Action
⚫︎ Stunning Audio-Visuals
⚫︎ Multiple Endings
| Digital Storefronts (Standard Edition) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Steam |
 PSN |
 Xbox |
 eShop |
||||
| $49.99 | |||||||
FATAL FRAME 2: Crimson Butterfly Remake Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
 Enhanced Visuals and Audio Upgraded, More Engaging Gameplay Deeper Lore |
Combat Can Feel Clunky Some Things Felt Shoehorned In |
FATAL FRAME 2: Crimson Butterfly Remake Story - 9/10
The Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly Remake takes its early foundations and elevates them to new heights. The core of the haunting and gripping story mostly stays the same, but the remake builds upon it and adds new bits of lore and perspectives from different characters that weren’t present in the original, allowing for better appreciation and understanding of the game’s premise and concept. There are a few things that may need to be explained better, but they’re pretty minor.
FATAL FRAME 2: Crimson Butterfly Remake Gameplay - 8/10
Its survival horror gameplay is done well, with exploration and combat mechanics pretty polished to a T. The added exploration features, larger map with more areas, and more complex Camera Obscura mechanics lend themselves to a more engaging experience than ever before. However, as enjoyable as it is in general, there are times when the combat and some mechanics end up being more tedious than they should be, owing to Mio’s own weaknesses and sluggishness.
FATAL FRAME 2: Crimson Butterfly Remake Visuals - 10/10
The visuals are simply immaculate—high-resolution textures and environments, subtle lighting, and well-made models and assets really breathe life into the otherwise desolate village setting. The environments are distinct and memorable, just like the character designs themselves. Most of the game is shrouded in darkness, but all the details come through nevertheless. Moreover, it all runs on a smooth 60 FPS setting that feels more than enough to add to the immersion.
FATAL FRAME 2: Crimson Butterfly Remake Audio - 10/10
The audio goes hand in hand with the visuals to really create the game’s signature haunting atmosphere. There is no background music to speak of for most of the game, but that doesn’t dampen the experience too much—in fact, it enhances it. The rather silent but ambient sounds of nature blend well with the environmental sound design, whether it be Mio’s cautious footsteps or the accidental kick of a wooden bucket. Additionally, there is full voice acting, and it’s decent enough to add to the experience.
FATAL FRAME 2: Crimson Butterfly Remake Value for Money - 9/10
It’s inching on the slightly pricer side at $49.99 and has a rather short runtime at around 20 hours for the first playthrough (rather short for today’s standards), but it does have replayability with multiple endings to acquire and other difficulty levels to try and clear, as well as the incentive for 100% completion in terms of collections. It’s a decent price for what its worth.
FATAL FRAME 2: Crimson Butterfly Remake Overall Score - 92/100
Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly Remake is the best form of the original 2003 classic and is definitely something that should be experienced by any gamer out there. It boasts the whole package with high-quality visuals, captivating and chilling audio, engaging gameplay mechanics, and a more fleshed-out storyline, culminating all together to provide an intriguing and emotional adventure that surely will haunt you (in a good way) for days.
FATAL FRAME 2: Crimson Butterfly Remake Review: Just As Haunting As It Was The First Time
Anyone who knows me knows that I will not willingly touch any (visual) horror-themed media, not even with a ten-foot pole. I’m a coward through and through; I immediately skip anything horror on social media, or if forced, I watch it with my hands over my eyes, peeking in through the tiniest gap between my fingers—hell, I’ve barely made it past the first part of Silent Hill 2, nor have I properly tried out any title in the Resident Evil series. Saw? Final Destination? Never saw them, probably never will.
But the Fatal Frame series? I have a completely different relationship with it. It’s a series that has rooted itself in my heart since my high school years, and boy, was I pretty obsessed with it. Delving deep into the lore and characters of the four games (this was way before the fifth game, Maiden of Black Water, was released) was my hobby for quite a bit.
There was something about the Japanese style of horror it presented and the concepts behind each of the rituals that was macabre and disturbing but wholly intriguing. It may have been several years since I last played the original three games of the series, but it has really cemented itself as one of my favorite video game series to date, one that I do think of fondly.
So, imagine my surprise when the Crimson Butterfly Remake was first revealed in September last year. My heart soared, my soul was reignited, and it shot up to be one of my most anticipated games for 2026. And here we are now, blessed with the opportunity to jump right back into Minakami Village in a whole new perspective that 13-year-old me wouldn’t have imagined. Did it live up to my hype and expectations? It most certainly did—in more ways than one.
The Crimson Butterfly and the Twins
Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly Remake (will be referred to as simply FF2R moving forward) is set in the mysterious Minakami Village, a long-abandoned settlement that was supposedly wiped off the map. Keyword is supposedly—this very village is where our twin protagonists, Mio and Mayu Amakura, find themselves trapped within its confines after Mayu is led astray by a mysterious crimson butterfly.
In their attempt to escape, they scour the town for clues, only to be pulled deeper and deeper into its history and discover more about its high regard for twins in the Crimson Butterfly ceremony. They also find out about their uncanny resemblance to the Kurosawa twins, the central piece to the last Crimson Butterfly ritual ever performed. The present entwines with the past…in ways that they never expected.
A Deeper Storyline
In terms of the plot, the core story revolving around the Crimson Butterfly ritual remains the same, just more fleshed out and more detailed than ever before. There is more context on the ritual’s history and whatnot, perfect for those who like digging deep into the lore of their games. I’m having extra fun with it because I’m a fan, but newbies to the series or the game will surely enjoy it just as much without needing to feel like they have to play the original.
Aside from the main plotline, the developers took this time to also flesh out the lore for the side characters as well. In a new addition to the game, several side characters now get their own side quests, allowing you to explore more of their history within the village and what happened to them during its events and enriching your own understanding of the game. One of the first people you’ll have the opportunity to get to know early on is Miyako Sudo, a young woman who went looking for her missing boyfriend, said to have been spirited away by the village. Her tragic tale is definitely heart-wrenching, and seeing it all play out the way she experienced it was a lot to take.
However, despite that, there appear to be a few things that do feel like they were just put there for show. For instance, the Eikado Temple. It’s an entirely new area on the map—pretty huge too and has a modestly large pair of twin statues inside—but so far, nothing in my notes has mentioned or even alluded to it at all. In that regard, it’s a little puzzling as to why it exists in the first place when you have the Kureha Shrine anyway.
Revamped, Upgraded Exploration
Aside from a gripping story, the gameplay is also a huge factor in a survival horror game. FF2R’s gameplay revolves around a focus on exploration and combat with minimal puzzle-solving. Exploration is much more fun this time around, given the larger map to explore, the added stealth mechanics, the dynamic camera angle, and the added thrill of slow-paced door-opening and item-picking.
Larger Map
One of the things you notice right off the bat is that the map is much larger than it used to be back in the PS2 version, and it’s not just because everything is now rendered in 3D. Gone are the days of the fixed camera angle perspective that limited the game’s world, and in comes the day of the modern era, where fully explorable maps are now the norm.
Aside from expanded maps of the original explorable locations, FF2R added several new areas that were never seen before in the original, such as the Eikado Temple and, most importantly, the Kayano and Okunohara parts of the map where the rest of the villagers supposedly lived.
For context, in the original, the only houses you can explore and see on the map are the Osaka, Kiryu, Tachibana, and Kurosawa homesteads, the four head families. It’s always got me thinking—where the hell are the rest of the villagers living? You encounter them everywhere else in the village, but where did they actually reside? Well, that question is now answered more than a decade later with the addition of the new areas, and I really do appreciate the attention to minor details like that.
On that note as well, with a bigger map, they’ve also taken the liberty to change things up a little. For example, they’ve made use of the residential Okunohara area as a combat area for one of the keys you need to retrieve to open a gate. Originally, this was a battle done in the Osaka House’s Kimono Room, an extremely narrow space for picture-themed combat. Now, perhaps to utilize the new spaces (and to make sense lore-wise, I suppose), the small house you fight them in is much bigger and has more room to dodge and crouch.
Stealth In A Creepy Ghost Game
One of the newest additions to the game’s exploration loop is the inclusion of a stealth and hiding mechanic. There was nothing like this in the original, and its presence in the game amps up the ante for more horror flair. You’re either hiding behind a sliding screen from the roaming villagers, or you’re cooped up in a tiny cupboard trying not to get noticed by the ghost that caused mass destruction all those years ago.
The adrenaline rush you get when running away with the speed of a snail from a seven-foot vengeful ghost up a flight of stairs and ducking into the nearest open cabinet was honestly an amazing experience the first time. Terrifying, yes, but also insanely fun—as much fun and satisfaction you can get from a horror game, anyway.
Free Moving Camera
With the removal of the PS2’s locked angle perspectives, the free-moving camera makes exploring just that much more fun. No more relying on the Camera Obscura to look at things from a better view!
There’s more to observe, more to interact with, and more details of the bleak but fascinating village to appreciate. All these new things I’ve never gotten to see before really painted a better picture of the setting for me, delivering a wholly new experience despite having played through it before. Same, but different—in an entirely good way.
Slow-Paced Interactions With Doors and Items
Oh boy, this was one of the things that got me simultaneously excited and terrified. A feature originally found in Fatal Frame 4: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse, this makes the controlled character reach out to an item or open a door…painfully slowly. When I say painfully slowly, it really is painful—slow enough to the point that a ghost can come up at any time to grab your hand or to leer menacingly at you.
It’s a small thing, maybe a cheap way to get some scares in, but it sure got me closing my darn eyes every time I had to pick up a shiny object from the ground or even just head to the next room. There was this tiny sense of dread every time I saw Mio begin her sluggish interaction…then a sigh of relief when nothing happened, or a scream of terror for when a ghost wanted to end my life right then and there. It definitely keeps you on your toes while exploring.
Your Main Weapon is…A Camera?
As big of a deal as exploration is in this game, arguably, its most defining gameplay mechanic (and of the series itself) is the use of the Camera Obscura, a special spirit-exorcising camera, in battle against hostile ghosts. Perhaps in an effort to appeal to the newer generation of games and players of today or to simply broaden the scope of its battle system, FF2R employs a more action-oriented approach to its picture-snapping combat. In the original, it was a more simple point-and-shoot mechanic where you time your shots just right, kite the enemy a little bit, and rinse and repeat.
But…modern hardware comes with modern gameplay mechanics, and the ghosts this time around aren’t here to play. In the remake, there’s much more to think about. While the point-and-shoot controls are still there, the combat encapsulates much more now.
There is now the need to use the proper filter for maximum efficiency, the importance of centering of shots for bigger damage numbers, knowing when to crouch and run away while also eyeing your Willpower (or MP) management, and even the equipping of charms that give different benefits such as health recovery when damaging a ghost or increasing damage output for certain filters.
Wraiths (or what they call the hostile ghosts) also have differing attack patterns, with most of them just lunging right at you, and several of them employing ranged attacks by throwing torches, flying masks, or even…um, chopped-off arms at you. They also have the skill to heal up slightly and become frustratingly stronger when angered and the ability to leer threateningly at you even during battle. It’s a horrifying scare, but it definitely adds flavor to the whole combat system.
Combat Can Feel Clunky At Times
As fun as that all is, there are moments where Mio’s actions make the combat portion more tedious than it should be. There’s the sprinkle of realism in it—after all, she’s an awkward teenager trying to survive in a cursed village, not an experienced warrior with years of experience under their belt. It reflects in her movements; her way of evading is strange, and there’s a slight pause after it, and it all adds to the fact that she runs as slow as hell too (something that definitely hasn’t changed).
This is most evident when you’re battling against more than just one ghost. These ghosts are faster and have more variety to their attacks, needing you to constantly be aware of your surroundings. It gets frustrating quickly when you’re jumped by several swift ghosts attacking you from all directions, and Mio can’t keep up with it all.
Running and dodging takes some of Mio’s Willpower or MP, but wraith attacks also deplete Willpower (and Health as well). It can be pretty tedious the more it piles up. It doesn’t help that there seem to be more random, non-scripted encounters with the wraiths than there used to be. They really played on the "vulnerable little girl" trope a bit more for that horror feel, but it can be a hit or a miss.
Is FATAL FRAME 2: Crimson Butterfly Remake Worth It?
Will Visit The Minakami Village, Again and Again
Nevertheless, as a whole, Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly Remake is definitely one that you would not want to miss. It is, in my opinion, the best way to experience the Crimson Butterfly saga. Of course, the original still has its charms, but the modern remake still captures its very essence and elevates it to new heights with its solid audio-visual presentation, deeper story, and more engaging combat.
The remake has only made an already memorable game even more memorable for me now that I’ve gotten to experience it in a more immersive manner. Even years later, I find myself coming back to the Minakami Village more times than I could count. Perhaps even you might find yourself ensnared by its tales, whether you’re a newcomer to the series or a knowledgeable veteran.
| Digital Storefronts (Standard Edition) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steam |
PSN |
Xbox |
eShop |
||||
| $49.99 | |||||||
FATAL FRAME 2: Crimson Butterfly Remake FAQ
Who are the characters of Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly Remake?
The main twin protagonists are Mio and Mayu Amakura, who eerily resemble the Kurosawa twins, Yae and Sae. Other characters include Itsuki Tachibana, the Kusabi, Miyako Sudo, and Masumi Makimura.
Game8 Reviews
You may also like...
FATAL FRAME 2: Crimson Butterfly Remake Product Information
 |
|
| Title | FATAL FRAME 2: Crimson Butterfly Remake |
|---|---|
| Release Date | March 12, 2026 |
| Developer | Team NINJA, KOEI TECMO |
| Publisher | KOEI TECMO |
| Supported Platforms | Steam, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2 |
| Genre | Action, Adventure, Horror |
| Number of Players | 1 |
| ESRB Rating | ESRB M |
| Official Website | FATAL FRAME 2: Crimson Butterfly Remake Official Website |
