FATAL FRAME / PROJECT ZERO: Maiden of Black Water

About FATAL FRAME / PROJECT ZERO: Maiden of Black Water

Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water was made by Koei Tecmo and first published by Nintendo on Wii U, in Japan in 2014 and in North America and Europe in 2015. Koei Tecmo remastered it for the series' 20th anniversary and released it on October 28, 2021 for Windows, PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One and Series X|S, and Switch. It was the first time the game came to Steam. The remaster has higher resolution, new outfits and accessories, an updated Ghost List, updated controls and a Snap Mode where you place characters and spirits freely for your own shots.

The story is split into missions, each led by one of three protagonists: Yuri Kozukata, Miu Hinasaki and Ren Hojo. Mt. Hikami was once a spiritual place whose religion worshipped water as a god, and shrine maidens there guided people to a peaceful death. Today it is infamous for suicides. With Shadow Reading, the characters sense the memories of people who disappeared on the mountain and follow them through ruined buildings and dark forests.

You explore in third person, and switch to first person when you raise the Camera Obscura. The camera reveals hidden things and lost items, but mostly it is how you fight. Ghosts come at you and can grab you; you can dodge or break free. Framing more of a ghost in the shot does more damage, and the strongest shot, a fatal frame, comes when you hit at the right moment. Different film types trade damage against reload time, and waiting for a reload while a ghost closes in is where much of the tension lies. After a spirit is beaten, a Glance shows its final moments.

Water matters throughout. A wetness meter rises in the rain: being wet makes your shots stronger, but it brings more ghosts and makes their attacks hurt more. Dark ghosts can leave an ailment that cuts your vision and defence and drains health until you clear the area or use an item that removes the wetness.

After the main story, extra missions let you play as Ayane from NINJA GAIDEN. She cannot use the camera, so she hides from and avoids the ghosts instead.

GamingBolt praised the combat and its tension but found the textures muddy, while noting a steady 60 frames per second. Other critics faulted the controls and felt the remaster was not frightening enough, and it holds a Metacritic score of 69 on PC. Players on Steam have been kinder. The store page warns of frequent violence, self-harm and suicide. It suits players who want slow, sad Japanese ghost horror built around a camera rather than guns.

How to play FATAL FRAME / PROJECT ZERO: Maiden of Black Water

1. Buy the game on Steam, PlayStation, Xbox or Switch.
2. Play each mission as the protagonist it gives you, exploring Mt. Hikami in third person.
3. Use Shadow Reading to follow the memories of people who disappeared.
4. When a ghost attacks, raise the Camera Obscura, keep as much of it in frame as you can and shoot at the right moment.
5. Collect film and healing items, and finish the story to unlock the Ayane missions.

Tips

• Wait for the right moment before a ghost strikes; a fatal frame shot does far more damage.
• Being wet makes your shots stronger but draws more ghosts; dry off when you need to play safer.
• Weaker film reloads faster; keep the strong film for tough spirits.
• Use a controller on PC; the port launched without mouse support.

Questions