I've played this game many times before, back when I was way younger. It was one of my mom's favorite games and I used to help her with puzzles and fights. This was my first time finishing it solo.
Fatal Frame 2 is an amazing game and a nice improvement over its predecessor. From how it looks to how it plays, this should definitely be your first game in the franchise. The setting of the lost village is quite disturbing and the incredible sound design, weird voice acting and haunting (or sometimes beautiful!) soundtrack helps to create a sinister atmosphere from start to finish. It is undeniably unique in what it sets out to do.
The game is way less frustrating than its predecessor as well. They polished the combat a bit more, made movement a bit less stiff and gave you more room for improvisation, with a tiny bit of customization mixed in. Replayability is very much encouraged, as well. A step into the right direction, without a doubt.
One thing that I didn't like at all, however, was how Zero Shots/Fatal Frames work here. It made more sense in the first one. Now you have to get too close to the ghosts and the windows for the shots are quicker than they should be. Also, I'm glad that the game is more puzzle-light and less punishing than before, but did it need to be that easy?
And while the village and some VERY creepy places left quite an impact on me, I also feel like the mansion worked a bit better. Don't get me wrong, this game can get quite scary, but the first one did better, I guess. I blame that, especially, on the bad map design.
In fact, this may be the one true bad aspect of the game. Again, the scenarios are great and the game is hauntingly pretty, but when you're inside the houses, it all looks the same! It's easy to get lost, hard to know what to do, sometimes. And item placement is a bit iffy. Some crucial items to understand the story or tweak your camera can only be found by randomly interacting with everything, everywhere, with little indication.
And then there's the story... I'm not gonna lie, but the ending always brings me to tears. Both PS2 endings do, in fact. The story is a bit tricky to piece together at first, but when you're close to the end, it flows amazingly well. You understand what's going on and the writing makes everything seem dire, urgent and bloody. Mio and Mayu were also great simple protagonists. Their bond, Sae and Yae's ordeal and the village's wicked fate brings the story to a perfect conclusion.
I did not play the other Fatal Frames, but after this ending, it could all stop here and it would be perfect. Fatal Frame 2 is a fantastic overlooked survival horror game, with a unique approach to the genre's cliches and a lovely story.
I do hope they rerelease it, someday.
Fatal Frame 2 is an amazing game and a nice improvement over its predecessor. From how it looks to how it plays, this should definitely be your first game in the franchise. The setting of the lost village is quite disturbing and the incredible sound design, weird voice acting and haunting (or sometimes beautiful!) soundtrack helps to create a sinister atmosphere from start to finish. It is undeniably unique in what it sets out to do.
The game is way less frustrating than its predecessor as well. They polished the combat a bit more, made movement a bit less stiff and gave you more room for improvisation, with a tiny bit of customization mixed in. Replayability is very much encouraged, as well. A step into the right direction, without a doubt.
One thing that I didn't like at all, however, was how Zero Shots/Fatal Frames work here. It made more sense in the first one. Now you have to get too close to the ghosts and the windows for the shots are quicker than they should be. Also, I'm glad that the game is more puzzle-light and less punishing than before, but did it need to be that easy?
And while the village and some VERY creepy places left quite an impact on me, I also feel like the mansion worked a bit better. Don't get me wrong, this game can get quite scary, but the first one did better, I guess. I blame that, especially, on the bad map design.
In fact, this may be the one true bad aspect of the game. Again, the scenarios are great and the game is hauntingly pretty, but when you're inside the houses, it all looks the same! It's easy to get lost, hard to know what to do, sometimes. And item placement is a bit iffy. Some crucial items to understand the story or tweak your camera can only be found by randomly interacting with everything, everywhere, with little indication.
And then there's the story... I'm not gonna lie, but the ending always brings me to tears. Both PS2 endings do, in fact. The story is a bit tricky to piece together at first, but when you're close to the end, it flows amazingly well. You understand what's going on and the writing makes everything seem dire, urgent and bloody. Mio and Mayu were also great simple protagonists. Their bond, Sae and Yae's ordeal and the village's wicked fate brings the story to a perfect conclusion.
I did not play the other Fatal Frames, but after this ending, it could all stop here and it would be perfect. Fatal Frame 2 is a fantastic overlooked survival horror game, with a unique approach to the genre's cliches and a lovely story.
I do hope they rerelease it, someday.