Fatal Frame II (Aug 18, 2003 prototype)

As part of Project Deluge, an early build of Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly was released on 20 March 2021. This demo, which predates the Japanese retail release by just over two months, has some differences from the final version of the game, and gives an interesting glimpse into the late stages of the development process.

Content

The demo was only designed to include the first four chapters, which are fairly close to their final form, although lighting, textural details, character facial expressions and sound effects are still incomplete. Each chapter also uses its original name as described in a plot outline. Much of the flavour text is different, as are some camera angles. Ghost models lack the grainy, wavering textures that overlay them in the final version and appear noticeably clearer and more solid during fights. Some character animations, such as Mio getting up from her faint at the beginning of Chapter 2, have yet to be added. The Spirit Stone Radio is introduced later in the game, in Chapter 3, but there are no spirit stones to collect during the demo.

At the end of a normal playthrough, a text box pops up saying, "This concludes the demo version of Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly. Thank you for playing! The Code Word is The Ritual of the Crimson Sacrifice." It is not known what function this code word served. It is also possible to access the rest of the game through debug menus. More technical glitches and content placeholders are present in later chapters. A playthrough of these chapters may be viewed here.

Gameplay

The player begins with 99 shots of Type-14 film, six Herbal Medicines and one Stone Mirror in their inventory. The Stone Mirror is not functional, and though the total number of medicines will not drop below 1, they will no longer restore health upon use once all have been consumed. Aside from the lantern on Misono Hill, models for save points are either incomplete or absent and cannot be interacted with, meaning that the player may not save or load data during the demo. It is possible to select "Options" in the menu after pressing the select button, but it does not function, and is only available via the main menu in the final game.

While the blue bar on the right side of the filament displays the player's physical health, as in the final game, there are two bars visible on the menu screen: a long blue bar representing spiritual strength (精神), and a shorter orange bar representing the player's health (体力). Spiritual strength depletes when the player takes photographs of hostile spirits or is hit by attacks, and rapidly refills when outside of combat. Once the meter is empty, being attacked by a ghost will instead begin to deplete the player's health, which can only be restored using standard healing items. This is likely a remnant of a mechanic that was ultimately scrapped close to release, as Moon Grass and Moon Incense, two items that affect spiritual strength, are still present within the files of the final version.

The Camera Obscura comes already equipped with the "Slow" Lens. Rather than being activated by a single button press, the currently equipped lens is instead toggled on and off using the ▲ button, which zooms the camera in slightly. It is possible to upgrade the camera to a degree, although Spirit Orbs (called Level Up Crystals) are scarce.

There is no spirit list, although some vanishing ghosts do appear and can be photographed. The only ghosts encountered in battle are Miyako Sudo, Man in Dark, Seeker, Pole Bearer, Sunken Woman, Woman in Box and Veiled Priest. Most of the ghosts' unique attack patterns are not present. There are also no special camera shots recorded. Crosshairs appear over ghosts' heads rather than circles.

Mio's Memo will not update, but when you select it from the menu, it is divided into four categories: People (人物), Places (地名), Events (事象) and Customs (風習). These categories are not present in the final version of the game.

Language

As the game had not yet been localised, the demo used the original Japanese audio, although dialogue was subtitled in English (not the same as the final translation) and a few documents were translated. Even in this early translation, the term "Camera Obscura" was in use.

Differences from the final version

Prologue

• In the opening cutscene, the bandage around Mayu's knee is missing, and in the flashback to young Mayu lying at the bottom of the cliff, her injured leg is in a different position.
• Lip movements have not yet been added to most cutscenes. The butterflies flying away from Mayu on Misono Hill show an earlier design.

Chapter 1

• Items appear as flashing glints, like in Fatal Frame, rather than glowing orbs
• Miyako Sudo appears at a slightly earlier point on the path from Misono Hill.
• Miyako's vanishing ghost in the entrance of the Osaka House is walking rather than standing.
• The Hanging Twins do not appear in Mayu's vision upon entering Osaka House. The long-haired twins at the Sacrificial Altar from the trailer and US PS2 box art are shown instead.
• Most of Mayu's dialogue during gameplay appears in text boxes rather than as audio.
• The door leading to the Osaka House entrance from the Fireplace Room is not locked until after Mio obtains the Camera Obscura. However, upon trying to leave the house, the following dialogue will appear: "屋敷の中に、この村について何か手がかりがあるかもしれない。外を歩き回るより、 まずは屋敷の中を探索した方がいいだろう。" ("There may be some clues about the village inside the house. We should probably explore this place first, rather than wandering around outside.")
• The door to the Family Altar Room is still locked after Miyako's ghost walks towards it, but trying to leave the area will trigger a short cutscene with Mayu saying someone was there, after which the door will be open. This cutscene is in the final version, but only occurs if the player walks past the Family Altar Room towards the Sunken Fireplace Room, so many players never encounter it.
• Masumi Makimura's vanishing ghost does not appear on the verandah after taking the Slashed Man file photo.
• The Ginger Key and lock are said to bear a family crest featuring a paulownia instead.

Chapter 2

• The door to the Back Room of the Osaka House is locked.
• Mayu's running speed is faster. The invisible walls while she is controlled in the final version have not yet been added, allowing the player to access more areas of the village, and examining objects in the environment will trigger Mio's dialogue boxes to appear.
• Sae Kurosawa is not present at the three-way intersection when Mayu reaches it; instead, the scene shows Mayu continuing on towards Kurosawa House, following more crimson butterflies.
• Invisible walls block access to Minakami Cemetery, Kureha Shrine and the Old Tree.
• Itsuki Tachibana says that the keys to the Kurosawa House's gate are called the "twin keys", and are only used on the day of the festival. ("黒澤家門の鍵は、双子の鍵と呼ばれていて祭りの日にしか使われることはない。") Much of his dialogue is absent from the demo.
• Sae is not present in the grounds of Kurosawa House when Mio arrives there.

Chapter 3

• The door on the right at the end of the entrance corridor (locked with the Butterfly Key) is sealed with a spiritual haze. Photographing it will reveal a picture of the Doll Stand Room.
• Again, Sae is not present in the Great Hall when Mayu reaches it. In her place are three crimson butterflies.
• The Kusabi's design during the Great Hall cutscene is very different from the final version.
• The wall outside the Bloodstained Room has no bloody handprints. The demo's version of the photo Bloody Wall also has no bloodstains.
• The scripted battle with Limbo Man and Limbo Woman in the Bloodstained Room is replaced with a Man in Dark.
• Seijiro Makabe's spirit leaves behind the Spirit Stone Radio in the guest room, rather than Mio finding it in the Osaka House.

Chapter 4

• The Flickering Room is noticeably darker.
• The Twin Doll Heads are not unlocked by fighting Woman in Box, but are hidden in the garden courtyard, next to the dragon statue.
• Taking photos of Mayu causes bloody hands to appear surrounding her in the resulting image even before arriving at the Great Hall.
• There are no lanterns marking the door to the Kurosawa Family Altar Room.
• It is not possible to unlock the second door in the Ceremony Master's Room.
• There is a second Crimson Ball in the entrance to the Cell.
• The signature red lanterns in the Kurosawa Family Altar Room are plain brown and unilluminated, and the altar is surrounded by four tall wooden pillars.
• The Lens Selector can be found on the left side of the altar, and is called 填 rather than 換 on the camera menu screen.
• The door to the Rope Temple is sealed.
• The puzzle with the Minakami Village Tomes is greatly simplified, as each tome is numbered and all that is necessary is to put them in ascending order.
• The words "にげて / マタオイテイクノ" ("RUN / ARE YOU LEAVING ME AGAIN") are already scratched on the wall of the Cell when Mio and Mayu enter it.

Items and Documents

Items

• Black Bag (called "女性のハンドバッグ" or "Woman's Handbag")
• Ginger Key (called "赤銅の鍵" or "Shakudō Key")
• Level Up Crystal
• Enhanced Lens 「刻」
• Twin Statue Key
• Enhanced Lens 「痺」
• Diamond Stack Key
• Twin Doll Heads
• Butterfly Key
• Crimson Ball
• Diamond Link Key
• Lens Selector
• Light Key
• Shadow Key
• Osaka House Map (called "古びた地図" or "Old Map")

Photographs

• Couple (called "若い男女の写真" or "Photo of Young Man and Woman")
• Coal Brazier
• Slashed Man
• Gate Butterfly
• Statue Butterfly
• Two untitled photos:

• 

  Untitled hint photo showing the Doll Stand Room.

• 

  Untitled hint photo showing the door to the Bloodstained Room.

• Note: Only the "Couple" photo will be archived in your file.

Documents

• Red Notebook Scraps
• Old Research Record
• Memorandum on the Camera Obscura
• Ritual Documents
• Mayu's Note

All of these documents except the second Red Notebook Scrap were replaced in the final game.