Explore a haunted mountain in Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water

Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water is an atmospheric survival horror game that pits three protagonists against a mountain inhabited by vengeful spirits. The fifth entry in the Fatal Frame series shares its predecessors’ emphasis on jumpscare elements and a spooky atmosphere. Like Amnesia and other classic survival horror games, Maiden of Black Water doesn’t focus on combat.

A lack of combat doesn’t mean that the game’s protagonists don’t have any way to defend themselves. Ghost-fighting in Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water uses the Camera Obscura, the magical camera that appears throughout the series. Taking pictures of ghosts with the Camera Obscura can weaken or even banish them. Unlike systems in other perspective-shifting games like Outlast, the Camera Obscura changes the player’s view from third-person to first-person.

A haunting atmosphere

This remastered version of the original console release of Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water succeeds at creating an eerie, tragic atmosphere. The rainy, damp environment of Mount Hikami actually plays a part in the game’s mechanics. Immersion in water boosts a character’s connection to the spirit world, making them more able to affect ghosts but also more vulnerable.

This game does include some connections to previous Fatal Frame games. For instance, one of the protagonists is the daughter of a character from an earlier game. However, there’s no need to play the earlier games in the series in order to understand the plot of this installment.

More experience than story

Like other games in the Fatal Frame series, Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water presents eerie environments, memorable images, and great jumpscare moments. The camera system is complex but rewarding. However, by the later part of the game, dealing with ghosts can start to seem repetitive. The story can also feel frustrating at times, with awkward pacing and unanswered questions.