#MacabroGamers: The Cursed Lens: The Scarlet Butterfly Ritual and Fatal Frame II

By: Mario Ayanami

At the turn of the 21st century, Japanese horror cinema emerged as a genuine alternative for those seeking strong emotions and a new outlook on the world of the supernatural; pale entities of unpredictable nature whose sole purpose is to destroy anyone who dares intrude on their space. Thus was born this wave of films such as Ringu, Ju-On or Dark Water, setting the tone for how the genre would look over the following five years, both in America and in Japan.

Film wasn't the only medium marked by this trend — horror video games would also show a darker side by drawing on Japanese legends. Under this influence, Fatal Frame (Project Zero in Asia and Europe) hit store shelves in 2001, a title whose marketing billed it as “based on true events” and that put you in control of Miku Hinasaki, a young woman who must find her missing brother in a writer's mansion. To face each obstacle, she has the help of the Camera Obscura, an antique camera used to capture spirits. The spiritual experience was something novel, in contrast to Resident Evil's B-movie plot or Silent Hill's twisted psychology. Even with its technical flaws and poor sales in its home country, the game managed to gain a foothold in the United States thanks to the successful remake of The Ring, a film that many critics cited as its biggest influence.

The biggest hit came in 2003 with its sequel, subtitled Crimson Butterfly, regarded as one of the scariest games of all time. Released first on PS2, it arrived on Xbox a year later with polished graphics, an extra ending, alternate costumes, and faster loading times. In fact, this is the most recommended version to get.

Mio and Mayu Amakura are twin sisters who decide to visit their favorite childhood spot in Minakami Village. Upon arriving, Mayu is drawn away by a scarlet butterfly that leads her straight into the village, where they discover that everyone has vanished… The story begins when they learn that this place fell victim to the Crimson Sacrifice Ritual, a failed ceremony that wiped out the entire population. However, their souls have remained trapped in the forest, and anyone who crosses into its territory… can never leave. The main antagonist: Sae Kurosawa, the tormented spirit of the sacrificed maiden who seeks to reunite with her sister, Yae. To do this, she hunts the Amakura sisters down with the goal of completing the ritual and returning to life. It's up to you — and how you use the Camera Obscura — to seal these specters away for good.

Packed with scares thanks to the ghosts' unpredictable nature, gloomy settings drawn from classic Japanese architecture, four possible endings, a high-contrast art direction leaning more toward red than the typical shading, and a gripping story, Fatal Frame II remains a benchmark of horror to this day. It's always striking to see these ghostly Asian figures, with their sudden movements and hellish wails. The saga continues today, with its fifth installment released last year as a Wii U exclusive, though without the same commercial or critical impact, partly due to the current dip in popularity of Asian horror, killed off by its own clichés. Despite this, Crimson Butterfly is a title no genre fan should miss. Just follow the scarlet butterfly…