Gameplay
Gameplay in Fatal Frame II has some changes and updates from its predecessor. For most of the game, the player controls Mio Amakura, except for some short segments involving her twin sister, Mayu. Mayu's scenes show Mayu wandering somewhere in the village, hinting where the player must go next. In normal gameplay, Mio's health is shown as a bar in the lower right corner, although only during combat and/or in Finder mode. If Mio's health runs out, the game will end; the player can replenish their HP using different healing items scattered throughout the game. Shortly into the game, Mio will obtain a flashlight, which can be aimed in different directions, although the flashlight will not work in all areas.
Mio's only weapon is the "Camera Obscura", an antique camera that can photograph and dispel spirits. The Camera uses different types of film as "ammunition". Type-07 film is the weakest, but is unlimited; other types have to be collected throughout the game, the strongest ones being the rarest. The player can upgrade their camera special functions and lenses using Spirit Orbs found in the game, and points earned from photographing ghosts. The points earned from each picture depend on the accuracy of the shot and, during combat, the timing and damage caused, as well as the types of shots used. The camera also includes a Ghost Filament, which is displayed in the lower right corner. The filament glows red when a hostile ghost is present, serving as an indicator of both its direction and proximity to Mio; it will also glow blue when a benign ghost is nearby.
During the game, Mio must explore the village and its central buildings, finding various objects and solve puzzles in order to advance. Throughout the game, Mio encounters different kinds of ghosts, each with different attack methods. In addition to hostile ghosts, Mio can photograph benign spirits for points. These ghosts often provide some backstory or hints to the player; one ghost, Itsuki, will directly give Mio (and the player) clues to find Mayu and proceed through the game.
The game is divided into nine chapters, each related to certain areas Mio visits as she chases her sister. In Chapter 7, Mio briefly loses both the flashlight and Camera Obscura, leaving the player with no means to fight back. In addition to the main story, there is a special tenth chapter only available in Hard and Nightmare difficulties. The tenth chapter (known as chapter zero) can be played in any difficulty in the Wii version, but only if certain requirements are met in chapter 8.
The player can save their progress at red lanterns scattered throughout the village. There is no limit on how many times one can save their game; however, the game cannot be saved during combat - the lamp will go out when a hostile ghost is present, and will not relight until the ghost is defeated. The game has a "new game plus" feature, allowing the player to start a new game while keeping all their inventory and camera functions, lenses and upgrades from their previous save file. Over multiple playthroughs, you can unlock various bonus content, including a Mission Mode, different outfits, gallery features, and special camera lenses. In Mission Mode, the player is presented with a challenge, usually to defeat certain ghosts as quickly as possible, or getting the highest points possible, either overall or with a single shot.
Read more about this topic: Sae Kurosawa