Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly (Jon D)

For a sequel to a game that was hyped as one of the scariest around, FF2 strikes me as something of a spookiness letdown. Sparse apparitions lingering in the halls and appearing from thin air startle successfully, but the feeling of impending danger I'd get with a Resident Evil or Silent Hill just isn't there. Some ghosts are armed, but many simply use some sort of vague, inappropriate touching to whittle away my easily replenished stamina. Not too scary, really.

But the beauty of FF2 is that there's still plenty there without the scare. I fell in love with my job as a photographer of this beautifully bleak environment. A chilling atmosphere and intentional sensory limitations (only what's seen through the viewfinder defines your offensive and defensive scope) magnified my feelings of insecurity and uncertainty really well—if I were actually afraid of these spooks, it'd be especially potent. Take it for a spin, at least as a rental—not everyone's the thick-skinned horror veteran I am.