FATAL FRAME / PROJECT ZERO: Maiden of Black Water

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FATAL FRAME / PROJECT ZERO: Maiden of Black Water is a horror adventure game where you explore a haunted mountain filled with vengeful spirits. Armed with only a camera, you must fight off the supernatural enemies and solve the mystery of the cursed mountain. The Digital Deluxe Edition includes a digital artbook and costumes of past protagonists from the FATAL FRAME series.

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,128 reviews

story154 positive mentions

stability21 negative mentions

Engaging story with deep lore and interesting characters.
Unique camera combat mechanics that add depth to gameplay.
Atmospheric visuals and sound design that enhance the horror experience.

Poor PC port with no mouse support and clunky keyboard controls.
Repetitive gameplay with excessive backtracking through the same areas.
Technical issues such as crashes and frame rate problems, especially on high refresh rate monitors.

story
416 mentions
37 % positive mentions
57 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The story of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its depth, emotional resonance, and connection to Japanese folklore, while others criticize it for being convoluted, poorly paced, or lacking coherence. Many appreciate the character development and the intertwining narratives of multiple protagonists, though some feel that the reliance on notes and journals detracts from the overall experience. Overall, while the story has its strengths, it is often seen as the weakest aspect of the game compared to previous entries in the series.
- “Wonderful characters that are well-voiced and a solid story.”
- “The story is horrifying, the deep lore, and how each world interconnects with each other is unique.”
- “The story is dark; however, as you play further, the meaning behind it changes the darkness of the story.”
- “To me, the reason why they had multiple endings is because the writers are too incompetent to figure out how to wrap up everyone's story together.”
- “The story feels disjointed.”
- “The story is just, mwah.”
gameplay
210 mentions
35 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water" is a mixed bag, featuring innovative camera mechanics for ghost encounters that many players find engaging and unique. However, it suffers from clunky controls, slow item interactions, and repetitive gameplay loops that can detract from the overall experience. While some appreciate the atmospheric elements and the blend of story and gameplay, others criticize the dated mechanics and lack of polish, making it a challenging recommendation for newcomers to the series.
- “Gameplay is unique; you use a camera to banish ghosts, and there are different ways to deal damage and many upgrades for you to collect.”
- “The gameplay is enjoyable but is the easiest in the entire series, but this was ported from the Wii U and is the most recent in the franchise, so I won't fault anything there.”
- “The camera obscura mechanic is as enjoyable as ever, allowing you to capture and fight off hostile spirits.”
- “Very slow and repetitive game, both in gameplay and narrative sense, with a weird story and atrocious controls on PC.”
- “Gameplay loop gets boring so fast after you play for 1 hour.”
- “Gameplay first and foremost revolves around walking extremely slowly down one-way corridors with terrible controls until you run into a door that takes 1000 years to open or an item that takes 1000 years to pick up, plus the corny ghost hand from Fatal Frame 4 returns to grab you if you reach for it.”
atmosphere
131 mentions
59 % positive mentions
39 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its chilling and immersive qualities, effectively creating a sense of dread and unease through sound design, environmental details, and thematic elements rooted in Japanese horror. While some players note that it may not be the scariest title, the haunting ambiance and rich lore contribute significantly to the overall experience, making it a standout in the horror genre. However, a few reviews mention that gameplay issues and repetitive elements can detract from the atmospheric impact.
- “The game manages to create an eerie and otherworldly atmosphere that you can’t quite find anywhere else on the market.”
- “I was hoping for some improvements in gameplay and atmosphere, but this almost feels like a back step.”
- “The atmosphere is appropriately moody with an underlying tension and unease as you navigate through derelict houses and remote shrines; character designs are beautiful and the concept is original.”
- “The eerie and unsettling atmosphere really gets under your skin and keeps you on edge throughout the entire game.”
graphics
130 mentions
32 % positive mentions
63 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the modernized visuals and atmospheric design that enhance the horror experience. However, some players note that the graphics can feel dated, reminiscent of older console generations, and criticize the limited graphical options and occasional technical issues. Overall, while the aesthetics and character designs are appreciated, there are concerns about the game's graphical fidelity and performance on certain systems.
- “The graphics are amazing.”
- “The graphics are wonderful, and though the mechanics are a bit different from previous ones, they seem to work well.”
- “The graphics have surely improved, not to mention moving from fixed camera angles to over-the-shoulder while moving.”
- “The graphics are grainy and muddy.”
- “Graphics are so dated!”
- “The graphics, gameplay, and game mechanics are way better.”
music
29 mentions
28 % positive mentions
62 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising the eerie ambient background that aligns with the series' atmosphere, while others criticize the lack of variety and repetitive tracks throughout gameplay. Although the soundtrack features a haunting ending theme and some nostalgic elements from previous games, many players noted the absence of music in key moments, which detracted from the overall experience. Overall, while the sound design is generally well-received, the limited musical variety has left some players feeling disappointed.
- “Another positive aspect of the game is the fantastic soundtrack (Tsuki Amano).”
- “Excellent sound design, by the way—panning, indecipherable voices in pain, analog audio distortions, drizzling rain, droning soundscapes, all washed down with a melancholic pop song at the very end, just like always.”
- “The sound design is also all around very good - the voice acting is probably the best yet in the series, and the music does a lot to lend to an eerie atmosphere.”
- “Why they opted for no music in this game, I don't know.”
- “There is no music that I can remember, other than one 'song' in one chapter; in its place is a constant droning sound that simultaneously fades into the background and drills a hole into the psyche.”
- “Soundtrack, if you heard it in the first 2 missions, you will hear it throughout the rest of the game...no variety whatsoever.”
emotional
25 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its heartwarming storytelling and the exploration of deep themes such as loss, regret, and nostalgia. Players appreciate the touching mechanics that allow them to connect with spirits and experience their memories, although some feel that the emotional impact varies compared to previous entries in the series. Overall, the blend of gameplay and narrative creates a memorable experience that resonates with many, evoking a range of feelings from warmth to heartbreak.
- “The storytelling is heartwarming and touching.”
- “The game explores deep and emotional themes, such as loss and regret, adding depth to the narrative.”
- “The story of this series is always nice and interesting, and the ending makes me so emotional every time, especially with the songs.”
stability
23 mentions
9 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
91 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing frequent freezes, crashes, and various glitches, particularly during specific gameplay moments. However, others report a smooth experience with no significant issues, especially when using a controller. Overall, while there are notable bugs and performance inconsistencies, some users have managed to enjoy the game without major problems.
- “At least using a 2080 RTX, the graphics are good and there are no glitches.”
- “Luckily, I've not had any of the FPS/timing issues others seem to have had. The game runs great on my computer, and the graphics and audio are amazing and delightfully atmospheric so far.”
- “The game doesn't work for me at all unless I play with a controller; it just freezes on the title screen and I can't do anything, including closing the game without using Task Manager.”
- “Now I'm softlocked as it crashed for something else this time, and the last save I have was a cutscene that freezes every time I load it.”
- “Aside from the constant crashing, it did bizarre things to my stream including freezes to the cam and cutting the mic out.”
optimization
22 mentions
14 % positive mentions
41 % neutral mentions
45 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received largely negative feedback, with players reporting frequent stuttering, frame drops, and poor mouse and keyboard support, indicating a lack of proper adaptation from its console origins. While some patches have improved performance for certain setups, many users still experience significant issues, suggesting that the game remains poorly optimized overall. Overall, the consensus is that the game struggles with stability and control responsiveness, particularly for PC players.
- “Either way, I know everyone says that Koei optimized this game.”
- “I don't even want to begin to imagine what this game was before the optimization.”
- “If you notice the negative reviews about tech performance, they were all posted around the first day when the game was first released.”
- “The game froze quite frequently, even though I am playing with a bunch of supposed 'stability patches.' Frequently, I thought my computer was stuttering and dropping frames, but the game itself still said 60fps... I think it's just the game engine itself causing the problems.”
- “But the optimization of this game is really a mess.”
- “No mouse support, framerate tied with the speed of the game, performance changed based on USB connection.”
humor
14 mentions
93 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is largely described as unintentional, with players finding amusement in aspects like exaggerated character physics and awkward voice acting. Many reviewers noted that the game's flaws, such as poor design choices and technical issues, contributed to its comedic value, making it a source of laughter rather than frustration. Overall, the humor is characterized by a mix of absurdity and nostalgia, often evoking fond memories of previous titles in the franchise.
- “Pro/con: the game was not scary at all to me but it was extremely unintentionally hilarious quite often.”
- “Other characters join the fray similar to the third game where they all go through similar locations but never seem to go together or even communicate with each other about what they have seen or anything like it's a perfectly normal thing. Hilarious writing.”
- “The voice acting can be hilarious at times too.”
character development
12 mentions
58 % positive mentions
17 % neutral mentions
25 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is a mixed bag, with some players praising the well-written, melancholic story that resonates with personal experiences, while others criticize the emotional depth of the protagonists, likening their expressions to "porcelain dolls." The character designs are noted for their beauty and originality, but the inconsistent quality of voice acting and the focus on superficial elements detract from the overall development. Despite these flaws, the game manages to create an engaging atmosphere that enhances the narrative experience.
- “The atmosphere is appropriately moody with an underlying tension and unease as you navigate through derelict houses and remote shrines; character designs are beautiful and the concept is original.”
- “By exploring whether the one who goes out, in some cases goes in, to save people needs to be saved herself (all saviors in this story are girls), the game presented a well-written melancholic and resonating story. If you have similar experiences, the good ending contributes to the full character development rather than just being there for the sake of being there.”
- “The pacing was good along with the character development for the first 5 chapters.”
- “From googling, it kind of screws up the character development for some of the older characters as well.”
- “I wasn’t a huge fan of the character designs, either, especially the facial expressions: the protagonists look like porcelain dolls devoid of all and any emotions, and, unfortunately, the poor voice acting doesn’t help, either.”
- “There is also the issue of the protagonists' character designs and costumes unlocked right off the bat.”
replayability
12 mentions
42 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
25 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players find it enjoyable due to unlockable costumes, collectibles, and interesting lore, others feel it lacks depth beyond initial playthroughs. Technical issues and certain mechanics detract from the experience, but for those who appreciate perfectionist challenges, there is still significant replay value.
- “This one is like the previous games: good story with slow pace, a good dose of horror (really enjoyed the game while playing in a dark room alone) and good replayability without boring you to death.”
- “Wonderful remaster of an amazing game, at a good price too, pick it up if you have the chance, it's a great game with tons of replayability.”
- “Still it's a good game, the story is meh, but it's still fun to play, keeps you quite entertained the first time you beat it, but I think the replayability is not its forte, unless you only want to see the female protagonists wearing less clothing. Other than that, not much to offer.”
- “Interesting lore and creepy stories sprinkled throughout, also features unlockable costumes for replay value too.”
- “It's got a ton of replay value, like collecting all the costumes, 100% every collectible, and trying to get the highest score on every level.”
grinding
10 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players consistently find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, particularly due to the frequent ghost encounters and sluggish combat mechanics. The episodic progression and backtracking contribute to a sense of boredom, making the experience feel more like a chore than an engaging challenge. Overall, the game's design choices lead to a frustratingly monotonous gameplay experience.
- “The combat can feel highly repetitive and more tedious than scary after a while; at first when I saw a ghost I was like 'oh f, here we go, ok ok I got this,' then later I was like 'ugh, ffs, I just wanna reach my destination, man!'”
- “Ghosts behave more like transparent zombies and combat is tedious.”
- “This game felt very tedious and boring.”
monetization
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy is perceived as exploitative, with many users feeling it resembles a cash grab rather than a fair approach, indicating that the developers have not improved from past mistakes.
- “This seems more like a cash grab than anything else; the team has not learned their lesson before.”
- “The monetization strategy feels exploitative, prioritizing profits over player experience.”
- “It's frustrating to see so many features locked behind paywalls, making it hard to enjoy the game fully without spending extra money.”