I search for my sister's hand in the Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly remake even when I know I'm alone in the dark with dolls. Their hair is dark and eyes are wide like Mayu's, but they can't press their palms into mine the way I wish she would. So I keep playing with an incurable sense of melancholy, and it's this dusty rose mood that makes me sure the Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly remake will become my favorite, most fragile gaming experience of the year.
"Of the year" is a small loophole I'm using – developer Koei Tecmo initially released the Fatal Frame sequel in 2003, but the remake launched on March 12, completely rebuilt, while retaining the original's gentle dread. It tells the standalone story of twins Mio and Mayu, who've wandered into the cursed Minakami Village the way a bunny hops into a comfortable-looking wire cage. Mayu soon went missing among the romantically decaying houses while I, as Mio, have to use the enchanted Camera Obscura to fend off an army of wraiths and find her. I'm only about 10 hours into my completionist playthrough, but every minute I spend under the twilight moon in Minakami Village is like another sip of wine, and now I've joined Mayu in not wanting to leave.
