Project Zero 2 (Wii)

I loved the original Project Zero 2 on the PS2, and this version manages to improve on it.

Project Zero 2 on the Wii offers (a lot!) sharper visuals, a new game mode, some new endings, and many added creepy details such as the fantastic new world interaction mechanism, where you have to keep the button pressed while your main character slowly reaches her hand out to pick up an item, open a closed door or investigate a crack on the wall, the camera often moving into some dramatic position accompanied by an unnerving sound effect and a random chance of a ghost attacking you just when you are about to reach the object.

The camera is now more naturally positioned than it was in the original game, and even though the Wii controls feel clumsier than in the PS2 version, I actually grew quite fond of them, as they work to drive in the fact that you ain't your generic Mr Shooter McBiceps in this one.

The English translation seems (from memory) better now, and the voice acting (with British accents) is better and less cheesy than you usually get in horror games -- the quality of the in-game writing seems to actually be another improvement they made when porting the game.

This game was very much worth the price, even after playing through the original back in the day. It's the creepiest game so far in the genre making its living off of creepiness.

I am a huge fan of survival horror. The early Resident Evil and Silent Hill titles are easily among some of my favourite games ever. True survival horror games are proper mature experiences. Not just because they usually include high levels of blood and gore, but because they require you to make difficult decisions at nearly every turn. Do you save your ammo for later and risk being torn to pieces by the monsters in the next room, or do you go in guns blazing, even though you probably won't have enough ammo to get past the tougher monsters later on? Their not just games about scaring you as often as they can. They contain puzzles, action, atmosphere and some great stories. Survival horror is easily my favourite game genre, which is why it's so dissapointing to see resident evil and dead space drop the ball recently. (although I have to admit, I did enjoy Silent Hill Downpour.)
The same can not be said about the Project Zero series, which has never abandoned it's roots. Originally released on the playstation 2 and Xbox, Project Zero 2: Crimson Butterfly as it was then known, is widely considered the best in the series. Words can't accurately describe how truly terrifying this game can be at times. It honestly feels at times like the developers couldn't care less how uncomfortable your feeling because they just keep piling on the terror. The new over the shoulder camera doesn't help things. It always feels like their is something behind you, just waiting for the right moment to show itself and scare the life out of you. But as long as you have your trusty shotgun and pistol everything will be fine, right? Wrong. Since all the enemies in this game are ghosts, they can't be killed by standard weapons. Instead your only ally in protecting you from these demons is your camera.
That's right. You have to take a picture of the ghost in question to banish them. Doesn't sound so bad, does it? How about having to take the picture in first person, with the ghost only inches away from you? What's worse is that many of the ghosts have some tricks up their sleeve, and will happily teleport all over the room, making it harder to get a clear shot of them. (and nearly giving you a heart attack when they reappear right in front of you.) The wii version is probably the best way to experience this horror classic, but it is still far from perfect. For one, the haunted house mode is total rubbish and becomes predictable way too quickly. Think those ghost train rides you used to go on but less scary and you've got the idea.
The 'multiplayer' is beyond pointless. A second player can pick up a second wiimote and help you banish monsters by pressing the A button at the same time you take a picture of a ghost. If successful, you will do a little extra damage to the ghost. And...that's it. Oh and a second player can also make annoying noises while your playing haunted house mode, for what that's worth.
Other problems are minor and were present in the original version too. The graphics are pretty poor to be honest. CG cutscenes are beautiful but in game graphics aren't much better than the ps2 version. Another annoying niggle is that your sister can't walk very fast so you must wait constantly for her to catch up.(The story revolves around two sisters, Mayu and Mio, who discover a creepy and seemingly abandoned japanese village. To say any more would spoil things.)
To be honest though, that's what survival horror is all about. It's about the awkward camera angles,(mostly removed in this version.)unforgiving gameplay and infrequent ammo.(or film in this case.) If you want this game to hold your hand and let you fly through it's story mode without any major complications, you can forget it because that's not the kind of game this is. Everyone else however, should pick this up as soon as possible. It isn't my favourite horror game, (That goes to silent hill 2.)but it's easily the scariest. The wii's has nearly reached the end of it's lifespan, but it's so nice to see it bowing out in style, with this absolute cracker of a game.
A quick note on the whole "doesn't work in standard definition" argument. The game does indeed work in standard definition. However, the previous reviewer must not have a standard definition tv that outputs in 60hz, as the game does not actually support 50hz. Hope this helped.

I am only twenty minutes into this game, but i can certainly say that it is terrifying. I'm jumping frequently and these ghosts are properly haunting me. Now scared to pick up my own camera again!

If you're into frights, pick this game up!

Only complaint I have about this game so far is the sister keeps getting in my way and scaring me even more because I keep thinking she's a ghost.