PS4

Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water

PuzzleStrategyAdventure

Time to beat: about 13 hours
Plays offline: Yes

Overview

Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water is a survival horror video game developed by Koei Tecmo and originally published by Nintendo for the Wii U. The fifth main entry in the Fatal Frame series, it was released in Japan in September 2014 and worldwide in October 2015. A remaster for eighth and ninth generation consoles and Windows, this time published by Koei Tecmo, was released worldwide in October 2021.

As with previous games in the series, players navigate areas filled with hostile ghosts which must be fought by taking photographs using the Camera Obscura. A post-endgame story featuring Ayane, a character from the company's Dead or Alive series, also features altered gameplay mechanics. The story, which is set on the fictional Hikami Mountain, focuses on three protagonists who are drawn into supernatural events revolving the area, including an ancient ritual to seal away the Black Water, a malevolent force corrupting the surrounding spirits that is tied to the fate of the titular shrine maiden Ose Kurosawa.

Planning for the game began in 2011, during production of the Wii remake of Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly. Series co-creator Keisuke Kikuchi proposed the project when he saw that the Wii U GamePad could be used as the Camera Obscura. Kikuchi and fellow co-creator Makoto Shibata returned to their respective posts of producer and director, together with both new and returning staff. The cast underwent several revisions during development, while the staff experimented with the capacities of the new hardware. Japanese singer Tsuki Amano returned from earlier entries to produce one of the theme songs. The Wii U original was greatly praised its use of the GamePad and dark atmosphere, while opinions were mixed on its story, pacing and controls. The remaster also saw mixed responses, with the main criticisms being its controls and a lack of frightening elements.