Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water review | Technobubble

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Ruh-roh.

That was my initial reaction after loading up “Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water for the Wii U.”

As a bonafide horror genre scaredy cat with an overactive imagination, I’m particularly freaked out by creepy Japanese films, which Maiden of Black Water appears to be emulating. Right off the bat, the game filled in my personal horror checklist. Eerie music? Check. Creepy singing voice. Check. Ghost women with long hair. Check. Adult Depends diapers (for me)? Double check.

On the surface, the game certainly oozes frightening potential. There’s the backdrop of the fictional suicide mountain, Mt. Hikami, which appears to draw inspiration from Japan’s real-life suicide forest of Aokigahara. Then there’s the water theme, which can be creepy in its own right but gets even scarier for yours truly because I almost drowned twice as a kid. So far so good. Or bad, depending on your point of view.

Early in the game, however, the game commits the cardinal sin often seen in Western slasher films, which is sensory overload and showing too much. The best horror films, at least for me, do their best work with what’s not shown onscreen, causing your own imagination to work against you. After seeing my umpteenth ghost lady rising from the waters in the opening minutes, I pretty much got desensitized and lost all fear.

Fortunately, the game slows down again after that and regains its balance. In Maiden of Black Water, the story unfolds through the eyes of three protagonists, who players alternate with as they go through the plot. The tale starts with your investigation of Mount Hikami and the mysteries behind its spate of suicides. In addition to self-inflicted deaths, there’s also the question of people being spirited away, a phenomenon known as “kamikakushi” in Japan.

The visuals have a very Japanese feel to it, particularly with its well-done character models. Personally, I have a soft spot for this style so it worked out well for me. At the same time, it might not float for folks who prefer a more Western look as seen in “The Witcher: Wild Hunt,” instead of the pretty girls and even prettier boys seen in many Japanese media. Admittedly, some of the characters’ fashion choices can be, uh, curious to say the least, looking more befitting of Japanese idols. You can even say that they can be unnecessarily distracting and feel out of place in the game’s grittier environs. Speaking of environs, while I like their look and style overall in this game, some of the textures lack detail, especially when compared to the character models.

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The gameplay, meanwhile, has an old-school feel to it that reminds me of the heyday of the PlayStation 2. It’s actually charming in its own way though it also comes with the clunkier character movements and environmental camera associated with that era. This can be a bit annoying when you’re trying to interact with your surroundings. The use of the Wii U tablet with respect to the series famed “Camera Obscura,” on the other hand, is pure money. I consider the camera controls the main strength of the game and a key mechanic that distinguishes it from other titles in the genre. For the uninitiated, combat in Fatal Frame is done via a special camera that allows you to inflict damage on ghostly foes by taking their picture. In that sense, it replaces the firearms typically seen in horror-survival games.

Proper framing, and patience, is key in pulling off the perfect shot. By including more ghost fragments, you can take what’s called a “fatal frame,” which does even more damage to your target. This works especially well with the Wii U tablet, which makes using the Camera Obscura feel more natural. It’s arguably the best implementation of the series’ camera mechanic to date, though it also comes at the expense of having to deal with more aggressive ghosts. The inclusion of water and dampness also adds an element of risk vs. reward, empowering your main weapon but also making you susceptible to more foes and ailments.

The merits of the story, on the other hand, are mixed. While the overarching plot involving shrine maidens and a tragic event from Hikami’s past provides a solid, promising foundation, its implementation is somewhat uneven overall. You do get good and bad endings for the different protagonists depending on what you do, though, which makes players feel like they have a stake in the story.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water is a unique entry in the horror genre that provides players with a different experience from the norm. Admittedly, certain aspects of the game feel dated and the storytelling doesn’t quite bring out the full potential of its promising plot. The game’s combat mechanics, however, are stellar with the Wii U providing the best implementation of the series’ camera controls to date. If you’re itching for a classic horror game that’s different from the norm, this one’s worth a shot — pun so totally intended.

• Rating: 4 out of 5
• Cost: $49.99, Wii U (Nintendo eShop download)
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