Fatal Frame 2 Walkthrough

When fighting a ghost, let it catch Mayu. The ghost will grab Mayu and you will have a chance to take a Fatal Frame shot.

If you play the game in easy or normal difficulty settings the final boss is a powerful ghost, but if you instead play in Hard or Nightmare, there will be an extra chapter of the game called Chapter Zero, after defeating that ghost.
Once you have beaten the ghost, proceed down to the abyss, you'll find the 'last letter' file, after reading it, keep going down, once you reach the hellish abyss a custscene will trigger. When you are able to control Mio again, be sure to pull out the Camera Obscura, now proceed forward to the person who is there, as soon as the filament glows (showing that there is a ghost) go a few steps back and be ready to perform a zero shot/fatal frame to the attacking enemy, if you fail to do so, you'll die, and having a stone mirror WON'T help you at all, so focus on the aim circle and press the shutter button once it glows. Now another cut-scene plays, after it, you'll face the extra final boss. The 'blood field' that surrounds it, will protect this boss from normal attacks, the only way to finish it is using zero shots and fatal frames, in other words you can only counter attack it. It usually does the same pattern, it stays there laughing like crazy, then disappears and appears behind you and attacks you, unfortunately you cannot use a zero shot or fatal frame against such attack, you'll have to wait until the 'blood field' that protects the boss disappears in other to deal some damage with your camera. So be patient and be sure to evade all of this attacks, fortunately if you have herbal medicine and sacred water you'll be able to heal yourself and keep going even though you were hurt. Yup, that mean its attacks aren't lethal, even in nightmare mode it won't kill you in 1 hit.
After you deplete its energy a short cut-scene will play and this boss will stand near the abyss, pull out the camera and deal the final blow and enjoy the True or alternate ending (if you are playing on hard you'll see the True ending, and in nightmare the alternate one)

After defeating the final boss (Kusabi Ropeman)in easy or normal mode, you run towards the Abyss to trigger the final cutscene. Mayu will be waiting there. When you see her, photograph her with the camera obscura to get the picture ' Hellish Abyss Mayu'. This will add to your spirit list. However photograph her as soon as possible-if you step to close to Mayu, the final cutscene will be triggered and you will loose your opportunity to snap this shot.

It is recommended that in every chapter that Mayu is with you, you should use her as a human shield against ghosts, why do this? First she won't die and you can even perform zero shots or ,better, fatal frames to ghosts when they attack her.
In order to use her as a human shield be sure to push her in front of the aggressive ghosts you will start targeting her, quickly pull out the camera obscura and aim at the ghost, when the ghost launches its attack to Mayu you'll be able to perform a zero shot or fatal frame if you time right when you press X or R1. The best part if you messed up with the timing the ghost will attack Mayu hurting her, but it doesn't matter how many times she is attacked because she won't die.

There are 2 ways to defeat the boss Kusabi Ropeman. The first is to time the Fatal frame shot when he swoops towards you, and after getting the shutter chance, exit view finder and run around until he reappears. However there is an alternative way, which can prove much easier. As soon as you become active after the scene were kusabi begins to appear, head to the centre of the candle lit area (the spot were you snapped the shot of 'Eternal Ritual') Imediately raise the camera and when you see the kusabi, snap a shot of him, which has to be a fatal frame. When the kusabi dissappears from the attack, do not leave view finder mode, instead spin around in a complete circle while in view finder mode and repeat this untill the Kusabi reappears. Shutter cahnce shot him each time he swoops towards you while in view finder mode. Repeat this until he is defeated (usually 5 Zero film shots).
The benifit of this is by constantly circling while in view finder mode, you will spot the kusabi before he is fully materialised meaning he is very unlikely to get a sneaky attack on you.

So, you know how there is that hallway before the caves in which you find millions of mourners? Well, here is a very good glitch. Because you are likely to die at the final boss, using up health items and film is a bad idea. You do not want to waste your film on mourners. But there is a solution!
When you enter the cave, let the mourners see you, then run back into the hallway, run back out and the ones that saw you will be gone. You must repeat this process untill all of the mourners in the cave see you. Save after making them all dissapear. It's a time consuming process, but helpful when you have to go back and fight the boss again after dying.
I reccomend saving after each mouner is gone incase you somehow end up being killed by one so you don't have to start over again.

Finish the game on Nightmare difficulty to unlock additional Album options.

Finish the game on Hard difficulty to unlock the true ending.
Finish the game on Nightmare difficulty to unlock the alternate ending.

Finish the game on the Normal difficulty level to unlock two bonus kimono costumes, as well as a pair of glasses for Mio. The glasses can be used with the Accessory - Mio option at the Bonus Features screen with your End Game loaded data.

Successfully complete the game under the Hard difficulty level to unlock two more bonus kimonos.

Successfully attain an 'S' rank on Mission Mode to unlock two extra costumes.

Complete every mission in Mission Mode successfully to unlock a maid costume, as well as glasses for Mayu. The glasses can be used from the Accessory - Mayu option at the Bonus Features screen with the End Game loaded data.

Finish the game on Nightmare difficulty to unlock two additional leather costumes.

(Information courtesy of Neoseeker Member: Mayu Amakura)
ATTACKING GHOSTS
--WANDERER
--SEEKER
--SICKLE BEARER
--POLE BEARER
--SUNKEN WOMAN
--VEILED PRIEST
--MAN IN DARK
--WOMAN IN DARK
--BLOODY KIMONO
--UNREST IN PIECE
--ROPE MAN
--CRIMSON KIMONO
--FALLEN WOMAN
--TWIN'S DOLL
--TWIN'S SPIRIT
--WOMAN IN BOX
--BROKEN NECK WOMAN
--DOLL MAKER
--GIRL PLAYING TAG
--BOY PLAYING TAG (1)
--BOY PLAYING TAG (2)
--THE MOURNER
--LIMBO MAN
--LIMBO WOMAN
--MR. KUROSAWA
VANISHING GHOSTS
--WAITING WOMAN
--WALKS INSIDE
--VANISHES AT ALTAR
--ATRIUM WOMAN
--VANISHES AT DOOR
--MAN ON DECK
--WOMAN BEHIND NET
--STAIR CLIMBER
--STANDING WOMAN
--BECKONER
--STANDS BEHIND
--BUTTERFLY CHASER
--TRAPPED BOY
--BLOODY KIMONO
--FLOATING WOMAN
--PRIEST BEHIND
--TERRIFIED MAN
--2ND FLOOR MAYU
--DRAGGER
--DRAGGEE
--FLEEING VILLAGER
--TURNS HEAD
--TALKING MAN
--CALLING MAN
--BEHIND CLOTH
--CLINGING SHADOW
--HOPES FOR RITUAL
--CURTAIN SHADOW
--CHILD AT DOOR
--FADING CHILD
--CUT-IN CHILD
--PEEKING CHILD
--CAPTIVE MAN
--RITUAL RESEARCHER
--RITUAL PUSHER
--SPEAKING MAN
--WAREHOUSE CHECKER
--WAITING PRIEST
--HANGING HAND
--NO ESCAPE
--CONFINED MAYU
--CORRIDOR WOMAN
--LURED WOMAN
--WEEPING WOMAN
--PULLED SHADOW
--STARING WOMAN
--SEARCHING BELOW
--MAN FACING WALL
--CRYING GIRL
--ENTERING MAN
--MAN IN STUDY
--LATTICE ARM
--GRAVE GIRL
--STOREHOUSE BOUND 1
--PEEKING KID
--DAZED GIRL
--DAZED DOLL
--FLEEING TWIN
--FLEEING DOLL
--VANISHING TWIN
--VANISHING DOLL
--SITTING TWIN
--SITTING DOLL
--HIDDEN MAN
--DOOMED GIRL
--PEEPING CHILD
--CRIMSON KIMONO
--CRYING MAYU
--FLEEING GIRL
--EVIL ARM
--FALLEN MAYU
--STOREHOUSE BOUND 2
--IMPRISONED BOY
--RUNNING CHILD 1
--RUNNING CHILD 2
--RUNNING CHILD 3
--HIDING CHILD 1
--HIDING CHILD 2
--HIDING CHILD 3
--ROAMING DOLL
--PRISONER
--WHITE KIMONO
--ETERNAL RITUAL 1
--ETERNAL RITUAL 2
--HELLISH ABYSS MAYU
--GATE CHECKER
--WOMAN ON DECK
--STATUE CHECKER
--WELL CHECKER
--MAN AT SHRINE
--EXAUSTED MAN
HIDDEN GHOSTS
--GIRL IN HIDING
--FROZEN WOMAN
--FROZEN MAN
--SHRINE SHADOW
--DROWNED WOMAN
--LOOKING DOWN
--DOLL STAND SHADOW
--GARDEN WOMAN
--MAN IN SHADOWS
--WOMAN IN BOX
--MIYAKO SUDO
--SHIVERING WOMAN
--MASUMI MAKIMURA
--FREE FALL
--PINNED DOWN
--CORNER WOMAN
--CRUSHED MAN
--PHOTO WOMAN
--MALE TWIN
--WINDOW WOMAN
--JUMPING WOMAN
--YOSHITATSU KIRYU
--SEIJIRO MAKABE
--RYOKAN KUROSAWA
--SAE KUROSAEA
--FAILED KUSABI
--YAE KUROSAWA
--TRAPPED GIRL
--THE REPENTANCE
--SWALLOWED BY DARK
--JAMES MIELKE
--JOE RYBICKI
--DAVE HALVERSON
--BILL DONOHUE
--CLEANSER
--UNREQUITED

It's generally not a good idea to squander the more powerful film types as soon as you get them, such at the 61, 90 and Zero Types. Budget your film rolls very carefully, saving the more powerful for boss fights and tight situations.
07 Type / This film is unlimited, but very weak. Use this to take environmental shots, key photo shots and to fight weaker ghosts or ghosts you have plenty of space and time to maneuver around.
14 Type / This should be used inside houses for weak to medium strength ghosts, depending on your situation. If you're in a sticky situation, or confronted by more than one ghost, it's best to pick a Type up.
61 Type / Use only in later chapters if there's a particularly strong or clever spirit attacking you.
90 Type / This should be reserved only for the last boss encounter.
Zero Type / This film is extremely rare, so use it only as a last resort for the final boss encounter if you run out of Type 90. If you have none of these last two types left, it will be virtually impossible to finish the game with only Type 07 film.

Finish the game on any difficulty level to unlock the 'Feel' and 'Expand' camera abilities.

Successfully complete the game on any difficulty level to unlock the missing items from the Gallery at the game's main menu.

Unlock Hard Mode by finishing the game under the Normal difficulty level.

There are a few hidden ghosts in the game that cannot be seen unless you have your camera drawn, such as the Wanderer's presence in the garden area at the Osaka House. Look for odd distortions in the air that seem to change your appearance slightly when you walk through them. Draw your camera and step back at the appropriate distance to get the ghost to become visible.

(Information courtesy of Neoseeker member - Gods Toenail)
If you let Mio stand still for a couple of minutes in a safe area, a steady stream of ghostly faces will appear on the screen in random patterns. The moment you move, however, they will disappear.

Finish the game under the Hard difficulty level to unlock Nightmare Mode.

To unlock this option, you must complete 100% on your Spirit List, capturing every ghost in the game. This is cumulative, and can be done through several successive games.

This feature is similar to the one in Fatal Frame 1. Simply finish the game once on any difficulty level. Save your End Game data, load it, and start a new game from the Bonus Features menu. At the beginning of the game, after Mio finds Mayu again, but before you head down to the village, you will already have the Camera Obscura in your inventory. The camera will still have all the attributes and bonus features you added to it from the last game, including the Shot Point bonuses you accumulated before you finished the game. Also, having your camera at the start of the game will allow you to capture the two ghosts you missed at the start of the first game, for the Spirit List.

The last ghost is extremely tricky. He cannot be harmed with regular shots, and he will keep regenerating as you fight. You CANNOT let him touch you even once, or you will die and the game will be over. Your Spirit Stone will not revive you in this case.
Keep on the move until he teleports and reappears in a new spot. Turn towards him, draw your camera and keep circling him, taking care not to get hung up on any candles. You don't want to be TOO far away from him, or you won't get a shot opportunity.
An OK shot can be accomplished by staying a medium distance from him while circling until the fog around him thickens and he raises up into the air. This will present to you a chance to get in a Zero Shot, when your camera auto-zooms in on the ghost and turns red.
However, since he regenerates somewhat quickly, you'll want a much better shot. This requires a bit of extra bravery. Keep circling him, staying a bit closer than an OK shot, and when he stops moving, get as close as you can possibly get without being TOO close. Then, he'll raise his arm back and open himself up for a Fatal Frame shot, when a little red plus sign starts blinking at the top of your capture circle.
After you manage to get a hit on him, drop your camera and start running again, because he'll disappear and reappear REAL close to you if you don't keep on the move, and you can't afford to be touched. Also, if you notice that he's sending his little head spirits after you, keep moving no matter what. If they hit you, it will only give him an opportunity to grab you.
If you can keep up a good pattern of Fatal Frame shots, Zero Shots and any extra special shots you can manage, he CAN be defeated (unlike the first time you met him when your camera wouldn't even WORK).
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Freelance_angel adds:
To defeat the Kusabi, it's actually MUCH easier to simply run to the circle where the Eternal Ritual ghosts appeared. Stand there and wait for the Kusabi to approach. Snap into camera mode and let him do either his arm-waving grabby approach or the move where he comes straight at you. Either way, you can simply take a step back to avoid his touch and get in a Fatal Frame. If you're good, you can get a 2 or 3 combo shot. Use your camera upgrades to really rack up the points. (I prefer the Zero/Carve lens.) He'll vanish after you've shot him, but all you need to do is use your quick turnaround to find him again. He'll approach, you Fatal Frame his ghostly rear and it goes on from there. Don't run around. If you do that, he regenerates much more quickly. Standing in place makes him a) reappear close enough for a good shot and b) allows you to shoot him in succession, thusly beating the regeneration process. You have a small space to maneuver in, but the Kusabi's actually not that hard. All you have to do is keep your camera trained on him (use your quick turnaround function and Zoom if you have it) and take a step or two back. Simple.

This mode is just like the Battle Mode in Fatal Frame 1. To unlock it, simply finish the game once on any difficulty level. Save your End Game data and whenever you load it up again, it will go to the Bonus Features screen as a default. In Mission Mode you will face multiple ghosts, all of whom have a minimum Shot Point goal.

The Spirit List is an inventory of all the ghosts you've managed to capture throughout all your games. To unlock it, simply finish the game once on any difficulty level. Save your End Game data, load it and start a new game from the Bonus Features menu. The Spirit List is the same as the Ghost List in Fatal Frame 1. There will be a percentage indicator telling you how complete your list is. The Spirit List appears in your item and photo menu. Completing 100% of the list will unlock other bonus features.