Welcome to the haunted world of Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly. In this chilling survival horror game, your only defense against vengeful spirits is the Camera Obscura. You'll explore the lost village, collecting film to use as ammunition, and snapping photos to exorcise the spectral inhabitants. Master the art of the focused shot, upgrade your camera, and uncover the dark mysteries that bind the spirits to this cursed place.
This guide will help you navigate the terrifying encounters and hidden secrets of the lost village. We'll cover how to find all the lore-filled Documents scattered throughout the environment, explain how to use the Camera Obscura effectively against specters and twin dolls, and detail the requirements for unlocking different endings and achievements, which may necessitate multiple playthroughs and varying difficulty settings.
| | All shots are incredibly strong. | your Ghost List. | SP |
Learn about the powerful Fatal Frame shot in Fatal Frame games. Discover how to achieve it, its benefits, and its variations across different titles like Maiden of Black Water and Crimson Butterfly REMAKE.
Hey there! So, you're diving into the world of Fatal Frame and want to know about those super-effective shots? Let's talk about the Fatal Frame shot. It's basically your ultimate move with the Camera Obscura!
You'll get a Fatal Frame shot when you manage to snap a picture right as a ghost is in the middle of an attack, and you see that little orb at the top of your camera glow bright red. This isn't just any shot; it's the one that'll deal the most damage and rack up the most points compared to a regular shot or even a Shutter Chance. Plus, it'll blast the ghost back, giving you a precious window to chain more hits together, creating what's called Fatal Time. In Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water, they even added a timer to help you keep track of how long you have to pull off those combo shots.
If you're looking to extend that Fatal Time even further, keep an eye out for power-ups like the Fatal Lens. It can really make a difference!
Now, things get a little tweaked in Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly REMAKE. Here, Fatal Frame shots are more like counter-shots. You'll know you've got one when the target reticle on an enemy flashes red. When an enemy is stunned and you get a Shutter Chance, you can still combo your Fatal Frame shots like in the older games. Just a heads-up, though: any follow-up shots in this version will automatically use Type-07 Film.
A little trivia for you: The name 'Fatal Frame shot' actually shares its name with the American release of the first game, 零～Zero～. Also, there are a couple of ghosts, like the Stroller Grandma and certain dolls such as the Watashi, that won't get knocked back by any shot, including the Fatal Frame shot.
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Learn to identify and capture Hidden, Non-Violent, and Attacking Ghosts in Fatal Frame. Master ghost encounters to progress and earn Spirit Points.
The main premise of the game is based around the existence of ghosts that only certain people can see. Your character, Miku, is one of them. However, not all ghosts in the mansion are out to get you. Some of them watch silently from the shadows, waiting to be found. Some are trying to show you something. And, yes, others want to kill you so that you, too, can become an evil spirit.
Below is a list of the different kinds of ghosts that can be found, and how to recognize them.
HIDDEN GHOSTS
Hidden ghosts can be identified by the filament turning blue. You may also hear static or see distortion in the air. The best way to find a Hidden Ghost is to follow all of the above signs - when they are all at their strongest, chances are you're right next to the Hidden Ghost. Go into Camera Mode, wiggle the camera around a bit. When the Capture Circle goes blue, it means the ghost is in your sights. Snap it!
Hidden ghosts can be worth quite a lot of spirit points, so I recommend seeking them all out.
Some Hidden Ghosts are completely invisible until you capture their spirit. However, certain Hidden Ghosts can be seen even before you've captured them. These ghosts are Seal Ghosts. If you take their picture, a door somewhere in the mansion will become unsealed. These ghosts are essential to making progress in the game.
NON-VIOLENT GHOSTS
These ghosts will not attack Miku, but will disappear after a certain amount of time. You need to capture them quickly in order to add them to your ghost list. These ghosts are here to guide you to your next objective. They also reward you with Spirit Points - if you can capture them.
You will know when one of these ghosts has appeared because the screen will become grainy. You can hear Miku's heartbeat, and also feel it through the vibrations in the controller. Any ambient music is replaced with silence. And the filament will go orange.
Remember that the ghost's head must be in the Capture Circle in order for the shot to count.
It is advised that you save often during this game, as some of these ghosts are incredibly difficult to capture. Some will definitely take more than one try, so you will have to reload saves often if you want to capture them all.
ATTACKING GHOSTS
Most attacking ghosts in the game are scripted battles that you must win in order to progress. A couple of the scripted battles can be skipped by fleeing several rooms away. However, most of them are forced as the doors in the room will be sealed so that you cannot escape.
There are also random encounters that occur whenever you spend too much time without making progress. These can be fled from, although I recommend fighting most of these ghosts to gain Spirit Points.
| | requires one stone. | |
Need a stone for a puzzle in Fatal Frame? This guide walks you through finding it in Himuro Mansion, detailing every step to ensure you don't miss this crucial item.
Alright, so you've found yourself in Himuro Mansion, and it looks like you need a specific item – a stone – to progress. Don't worry, it's not too tricky to find. We'll walk through exactly where you need to go and what to do.
- 1
Where you are: You'll start in the ENTRANCE area of Himuro Mansion, right after the opening cutscene. It's in black and white to show it's a flashback, so don't freak out about the colors!
What you see: Mafuyu is your character here. You'll see the entrance doors and a latticed fence to the right. In the bottom right corner of your screen, you might see a filament turn blue – this signals something important nearby.
What to do: Turn Mafuyu back towards the entrance. Go to the fence on the right. Enter Camera Mode (press the O button). Aim your camera at the fence until the capture circle glows blue. Take a picture to capture the Hidden Ghost: CHILD BEHIND.
Why this way: This is your first chance to use the Camera Obscura and get a feel for how it works. Plus, capturing ghosts gives you Spirit Points!
- 2
Where you are: Still in the ENTRANCE area.
What you see: Opposite the entrance, there are steps leading up. In the northeast corner of this area, you'll spot a mask on the wall and a sparkling object on the floor.
What to do: Ignore the mask for now. Examine the sparkling object on the floor to get a box of TYPE-14 FILM. This is your camera's ammo, and Type-14 is the basic kind.
Why this way: You need film to use your camera, and this is the first batch you'll find. Film is essential for fighting ghosts.
- 3
Where you are: In the ENTRANCE area, near where you found the film.
What you see: On the northwest side of the room (to the left of where you found the film), there's a camera icon on your map. This is a Save Point.
What to do: You can use this Save Camera now if you want. When you're ready, head through the door located near this save point.
Why this way: Saving your game is always a good idea, especially before heading into new areas.
- 4
Where you are: You've entered the ROPE HALLWAY.
What you see: As you walk down the hallway, the filament in the corner of your screen will turn orange. This means a ghost is nearby, either Non-Violent or Attacking.
What to do: This is a Non-Violent Ghost: Rope Hallway Man (the ghost of Koji Ogata). He walks slowly in front of the mirror at the end of the hall and will disappear after about five seconds. You need to be quick! Enter Camera Mode and take his picture before he vanishes.
Why this way: Non-Violent ghosts disappear quickly, so you need to capture them fast to get their Spirit Points and add them to your collection. Missing them means missing out on points.
- Always keep an eye on your FILM. If you're running low, head to a Save Camera – they give you 30 rounds of Type-14 FILM.
- Don't skip out on Hidden Ghosts; they give you a good chunk of SPIRIT POINTS, which helps with camera upgrades.
- Your health regenerates at the start of each Night, so don't stress too much about minor damage.
- If you're ever lost, check your map! The room names and compass directions are your best friends.
- You can usually escape random ghost encounters by moving through about three rooms. However, fighting most random ghosts is a good way to rack up SPIRIT POINTS.
- On New Game+, some environmental scares might pop up, and you won't get points for ghosts you've already captured.
OPTION 1 - THE QUICK WAY:
Fatal Frame Cherry Atrium quick route guide. Learn the steps to reach the Entrance, including prerequisites like unlocking doors and defeating Long Hair Woman.
- Unlocked the Burial Room and Grand Hall doors via the walkway earlier on.
- Defeated Long Hair Woman in the Grand Hall earlier on.
- 1Return to the Cherry Atrium via the north door.
- 2Go to the Burial Room through the west door.
- 3Go to the Walkway through the south door.
- 4Go to the Grand Hall through the south door. (If you didn't fight the Long Hair Woman here earlier on, you will have to do so now.)
- 5Go through all of the partitions and through the door at the other end to enter the Rope Hallway.
- 6Go through the south door to find yourself at the Entrance. (A rope may swing down and scare you on the way.)
- If you encounter the Long Hair Woman in the Grand Hall for the first time during this route, refer to the guide's Optional Grand Hall box for tips.
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