Remastering Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water and Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse was just the beginning. When Koei Tecmo and Team Ninja began crafting a full remake of the survival horror classic Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly, the mission was clear: keep what made the PlayStation 2 original so popular, while elevating it for a modern audience.
Directors Hidehiko Nakajima (action gameplay) and Makoto Shibata (story) took us through their journey of reconstructing Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly’s haunting atmosphere, its new features, and some of the challenges they faced ahead of the game’s March 12 launch on PlayStation 5.
What elements of the original game do you feel made it such a fan favorite?
Shibata: I think it was because it evolved what was introduced in the first Fatal Frame game while placing greater emphasis on the story. By creating an experience that was frightening yet compelling enough to make players want to see what comes next, I felt that many players were able to enjoy its beautiful yet terrifying world through to the end.
In what ways did the power of the PS2 contribute toward the original Fatal Frame 2 design and visuals?
Shibata: We took advantage of the hardware’s specs and rendering capabilities to help depict spirits as semi-transparent and distorted. In addition, being able to apply screen-wide filters — adjusting noise, contrast, and color tones — at a low processing cost was extremely useful for creating visuals reminiscent of old film stock.
What were the essentials of the original that you needed to retain in this remake?
Shibata: Our main focus was the protagonist’s actions and Camera Obscura combat. Since the world and story are maintained, we focused on how players interact with that world.
From a visual standpoint, atmosphere is key. By carefully adjusting lighting, shadows, fog, and effects, we create a humid, unsettling environment where it feels as though spirits could appear at any moment. Exploring within that atmosphere is central to the series. And of course, the background music, filled with sounds that are barely audible or ambiguous, is also a crucial element.
Nakajima: At its core, this is an experience of fighting and exploring by photographing with the Camera Obscura. While we’ve added new features and adjusted rules in combat, the fundamental idea of facing fear directly and defeating it by photographing it, remains unchanged. The simple controls of photographing what you see remains, but players are no longer limited to waiting for enemy attacks; they can now fight more proactively and utilize advanced photography techniques. The same applies to exploration, we’ve designed it so players naturally want to look around and take photographs.
Can you share any new examples of how its gameplay systems are being modernized?
Nakajima: We’ve implemented various improvements to make the game more intuitive and comfortable to play. In the original version, players controlled the character from a fixed camera perspective. In this remake, the camera is positioned closer to the player character, allowing you to freely look around and move throughout Minakami Village. This closer perspective significantly enhances the immersive feel of the game. Of course, we didn’t simply change the camera and controls—we also restructured the gameplay itself to suit these updates.
Shibata: The series has previously received feedback that the controls weren’t so good, so since this title is developed by Team Ninja, we decided from the outset to make major improvements. One particularly time-consuming element was motion matching. It was a trial-and-error process where we refined responsiveness while giving character movement greater variety and believability.
Can you tell us more details about the added Camera Obscura features?
Nakajima: To make the Camera Obscura feel more like you’re using an actual “camera” or gadget, we introduced new mechanics such as focus, zoom, and filters. Focus and zoom function much like they do on a normal camera, while filters change the Camera Obscura’s offensive properties when switched.
For example, during combat, the Paraceptual Filter offers a longer attack range and allows players to obscure the enemy’s vision, while the Exposure Filter enables faster shots and can slow enemy movement. During exploration, the Camera Obscura can also be used to follow the shadows of missing people or restore things that have disappeared.
How does the new Willpower system work?
Shibata: Willpower decreases when the player runs during combat, or comes into contact or is attacked by spirits. When Willpower runs out, the protagonist collapses, and spirits swarm over her, creating a critical situation. So you can recover it by holding hands with Mayu or by using items.
What are some ways characters can now interact with the environment?
Nakajima: We’ve introduced physical behaviors and environmental interaction, so as the player moves through the environment, background objects may be touched, shaken, or even collapse, creating a more realistic and immersive experience. Spirits may also interact with and move objects.
How has the team used PS5 features to enhance the game’s atmosphere?
Shibata: In horror games it’s crucial that the feeling of tension is not interrupted. Fast data loading enabled by the SSD helps maintain the element of fear. In addition, in the Fatal Frame series each spirit emits unique sounds based on its position. The 7.1.4-channel 3D audio allows players to perceive spirit locations clearly while also conveying the unsettling atmosphere of Minakami Village through sounds such as rustling trees and the faint whisper of wind.
What other new information or clarifications do you want to make sure fans are aware of?
Nakajima: This remake doesn’t simply recreate the original—it expands upon it and goes even deeper with additional side stories and new areas. And as well as the original ending, a special new ending has been added which features a newly written song, “Utsushie,” composed by Tsukiko Amano.
New players will find the game approachable, while long-time fans can appreciate a fresh experience. We hope players enjoy discovering the new ending alongside everything else this remake has to offer.
You’ll be able to see the haunted Minakami Village through this new PS5 lens soon enough when Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly launches on March 12.
