Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water

The new version of Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water comes with improved graphics and some new content, but it would be a game worth playing even without them. Although it’s occasionally more frustrating than scary, the clever gameplay and its dedication to tone and story make it one of the best survival horror games available for the Switch.

Project Zero: Maiden of Black Water isn’t scary so much as haunting, and that’s an important distinction. Where plenty of horror games begin and end with trying to scare the pants off their players, this one looks for something much deeper, and turns to the long, rich history of yūrei folklore to find it. That’s what I missed when I first played it five years ago, but a remaster is a perfect opportunity to revisit and reassess—and I’m so glad I did. This is a game that deserves a far better reception than it originally got, and I just hope I’m not alone in giving it the benefit of the doubt a second time round.

The setting and combat in Maiden of Black Water sets it apart from anything else in the genre, something just right for anyone looking for a break in tradition. However, certain aesthetic choices and movement issues prevents it from reaching higher levels of enjoyment.

Project Zero: Maiden Black Water is a good survival horror game, despite the fact that its new contents are not too abundant. However, its great setting and interesting plot make it a highly recommended title, now also in portable mode.

Overall Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water is a fun action horror adventure to play through, with the specters of Mt. Hikami providing an interesting backstory and a fun combat experience. While the characters are more bland than I had hoped, this doesn't necessarily take away from the story all that much. Some control issues do get annoying over time, but even they couldn't stop me from continuously returning to the beautiful and creepy environments of the mountain. If you're a fan of horror games with a bit more of an action feel, you could certainly do a lot worse than Fatal Frame, and now might just be the perfect time to dive in.

There's a lot to like about Maiden of Black Water; while we didn't find it overly scary, it is very good indeed at being eerie. You'll see ghosts out of the corner of your eye and when you check, they'll be gone. It's oddly cosy and non-stressful for a horror game, because your camera is such an efficient weapon and the combat it propogates is too action-packed to really let any dread sink in. That's not necessarily a bad thing, though we found the earlier PlayStation 2 instalments of the series were more interested in actively frightening the player. If you get absorbed in the storyline — which is easy to do as the episodic structure makes "just one more area" a compelling prospect — you'll find a good 15 or so hours of game here, and much more if you decide you need to get higher ranks as you improve your Camera Obscura with upgrades and other boons. Performance problems aside, this game's a real winner and worth snapping up if you're a horror fan who missed it on Wii U.

If you don’t mind a horror game that doles out its frights at a snail’s pace, then you’ll find plenty here to enjoy.

Maiden of Black Water is a twisted and engaging experience. Though it has shortcomings, they never diminish the powerful storytelling and atmosphere. I might be too squeamish to comfortably endure the title’s cathartic terror, those brave enough to venture forth will surely be rewarded with a suitably haunting adventure.

Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water on Nintendo Switch is a great-looking conversion of an excellent horror adventure game that only falters on the performance side of things. It remains one of the better horror experiences on the system and a great game to play this Halloween.

Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water is a very good throwback to the weirder survival horror games found on the PS2. It features a looming horror atmosphere I really enjoyed, and a unique gameplay hook with its motion controlled first person camera. While it’s not going to win any game of the year awards, I would think that Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water should be a must play for all survival horror fans, especially with its budget price.

Project Zero: Maiden of Black Water is a remaster that does a lot of things right, and which shows that the series still has the ability to deliver a good amount of frights. While the opportunity to implement a more functional control system was not taken and there are some technical performance issues, the overall effort is a work that's very satisfactory to explore, especially thanks to its high quality level design.

Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water should please fans of the franchise who missed out on the game due to its previous Wii U-exclusive status, but not everyone is going to be pleased with some of its clunkier elements. While you aren’t helpless enough to make the game as terrifying as it could be, it’s certainly an unsettling and fascinating experience with plenty to offer those who want a hearty meal of fear on their Nintendo Switch system.

Maiden of the Black Water is a game that I would recommend to any fan of the genre. While the awkward controls and deadpan voice acting may detract from the experience, the world building and design are second to none.

Ultimately the premise of ghost hunting using your camera to defeat them is much better than the execution in Maiden of Black Water. At first, it's easy to get caught up in the dark dread-filled environments, keeping the spirits at bay with your Camera Obscura. Then you're returning to the same places, with long drawn-out moments broken up by ghost fights that go on too long when they get stuck in a wall. If you're not already a Project Zero/Fatal Frame fan, this game might not be the one to get you into the series.

Those who love the genre and will be able to forgive its many pitfalls.

Fatal Frame Maiden of the Black Water in 2021 is just a port of the 2015's game, with nothing more than a few outfits and a Photo Mode. If you want some scary experience before Halloween, or are a fan of the franchise, you'll get exactly what you are looking for, with the same camera issues and a few technical hiccups.

So much of Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water holds promise. Ultimately, its execution and lackluster story lets it down. Just like how I wanted to love this game upon its initial release, I want to love it now. But there is just so much that prevents it from being a great entry in the series. And it’s a shame that the future of the series hinges on what remains ultimately one of the worst Fatal Frame titles to date.