Fatal Frame as a series has been quite a roller-coaster of emotions. From its highs as one of the most interesting horror games within the PS2 library during that generation, to a lackluster showing within the Nintendo Wii U during its death call.
This is why perhaps this remaster might help their case to their developers, Koei Tecmo, in making more of this camera obscura classic. Though its transition from big Wii U game-pad to the controller isn’t exactly as smooth as intended.
Presentation
The game looks more atmospheric than its original counterpart thanks to the sharper details from its original Wii U counterpart, combining it with the noise filter makes the trip to Hikami Mountain all the more frightening and depressing.
Although Its storytelling is quite mixed within the three playable protagonists, each with their own motives to visit the Maiden within the thick forest filled with angry souls but not really have any impact besides their own cutscenes bringing in their backstory and why they are in this Mountain in the first place.
Besides the story portion, its UI side is rather clunky. With important items stored within a section where you would think the index would be, and not where it is easy to access when in a pinch. Perhaps a remnant of the Wii U clunkiness is still there in spirit.
But you can’t discredit the audio design, which helps submerge the player within the eerie forest with minimal sfx music, all making a big crescendo when the ghost arrives to make your night a bit harder. Which makes this side of the review quite of a mixed bag in general, kind of a theme of this series too.
Gameplay
The gameplay side is the star of the game. Its camera combat is an iconic staple of the series and its transition from gamepad to the controller is mostly intact. The PlayStation versions have gyro-controls that players can use (thanks to the Dualshock 4/ Dualsense) but it’s more finicky than playing it the old-school way via the right thumbstick.
At times, the gyro controls kinda clip an angle instead of focusing on the ghost, which might make the camera obscura attacks rather difficult with this new way of camera movement. Same with the game’s rather weird choices of button placement, a design choice I presume to make the game harder to play.
But all in all, it is a good challenge for both veterans and newcomers to the series as you juggle camera film types and the good angle to ward off ghostly spirits, sometimes more at once.
Content
Maiden of Black Water is quite a long horror experience, even with a single character out of the three, so you might be seeing a runtime of 14 hours.
It’s quite a substantial length for a horror game and it could satisfy your horror cravings for the rest of the year, albeit it is quite flawed at times. The story isn’t something to write about but it is just the basis for your character to get their hands on the camera obscura and capture some ghostly pictures to eliminate them.
Personal Enjoyment
It has been quite some time since I’ve had a proper horror experience and although I wasn’t really a fan of this series (Silent Hill 1 to 3 being my go-to choice), it’s nice to see some 6th Gen horror classics being in the limelight once again.
Though it has its quirks with its gameplay designs and controls, it could be a good pickup for a sale if you want to get scared by a bunch of pixelated ghosts and very atmospheric set designs.
Verdict
Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water won’t exactly light up the horror genre once again with a game that’s quite flawed at times. But it is a nice nostalgic trip to the simpler times where horror games have creativity, and this game embraces its old routes rather well, for good or bad.
Fatal Frame: Maiden Of Black Water
It won’t exactly light up the horror genre once again with a game that’s quite flawed at times. But it is a nice nostalgic trip to the simpler times where horror games have creativity, and this game embraces its old routes rather well, for good or bad.
- Presentation 7
- Gameplay 6.5
- Content 8
- Personal Enjoyment 7