FATAL FRAME / PROJECT ZERO: Maiden of Black Water

About

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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

FATAL FRAME / PROJECT ZERO: Maiden of Black Water screenshot

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,256 reviews

story308 positive mentions

stability42 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
832 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
57%
6%
The story of "Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water" has received mixed reviews, with some praising its engaging narrative and character development, particularly the emotional arcs of the protagonists. However, many players found the plot convoluted and disjointed, often requiring extensive reading of notes to fully grasp the lore. While the atmosphere and themes of Japanese folklore are highlighted as strengths, the overall execution of the story is seen as weaker compared to previous entries in the series, leading to a sense of repetitiveness and confusion in the narrative progression.
- “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.”
- “Great storytelling just like the previous 4 installments.”
- “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. Though I like Yuri, I have had other people tell me that because of how disjointed the story is, they couldn't connect with the characters properly, and were not too fond of anyone.”
- “The story is lackluster; this isn't a fantastic jump-out-of-your-seat story that makes perfect sense, it's just been made for the sake of it, I think.”
gameplay
420 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
60%
6%
The gameplay of "Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water" is a mixed bag, featuring innovative camera mechanics for ghost encounters that some players find engaging and atmospheric. However, many reviews highlight issues such as clunky controls, slow item interactions, and a repetitive gameplay loop that detracts from the overall experience. While the game offers unique elements and improvements over previous titles, it struggles with pacing and can feel tedious, especially during backtracking and item collection.
- “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 camera and its gameplay are really enjoyable, especially with the lenses required to make certain ghosts and tricky bosses much easier.”
- “While the game may not be scary, the challenge of the ghosts with these new camera mechanics can make for a tense, yet fun experience.”
- “Very slow and repetitive game, both in a gameplay and narrative sense, with a weird story and atrocious controls on PC.”
- “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.”
- “The ghost hand mechanic is atrocious, detracts from the game, and makes replay value less appealing.”
atmosphere
262 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
40%
1%
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 depth. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke feelings of fear and tension without relying heavily on jump scares, making it a standout in the horror genre. While some note that the gameplay may not always match the atmospheric quality, the overall experience remains engaging and haunting, particularly for fans of Japanese horror traditions.
- “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 game manages to create an eerie and otherworldly atmosphere that you can’t quite find anywhere else on the market.”
- “The eerie and unsettling atmosphere really gets under your skin and keeps you on edge throughout the entire game.”
- “I was hoping for some improvements in gameplay and atmosphere, but this almost feels like a back step.”
- “It’s beautiful, and rich with story themes surrounding loneliness, water, sunsets, tormented ghosts and sacrificial rituals; but you won’t feel the same creeping dread or experience the iconic Japanese-style horror frights in previous installments--your typical American horror could never match that kind of atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere and world-building are great but poor design choices hold back its potential.”
graphics
260 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
63%
5%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the modernized visuals and atmospheric design that enhance the horror experience. However, some players noted that the graphics can feel dated, reminiscent of older console generations, and criticized 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 various systems.
- “The graphics were well done and brought to modern age, the photo mode allowed me to take some really nice virtual photos.”
- “The graphics are amazing.”
- “The graphics and character designs look absolutely beautiful and the sound effects are really good.”
- “The graphics are grainy and muddy.”
- “Where to start with this one....oooff if you are into this old sort of PS2 horror games, then this one is for you, because the graphics look like they are from 2004.”
- “The graphics quality is nowhere near HD.”
music
58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
67%
5%
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 the repetitiveness of certain tracks. Although the soundtrack is minimal, many players appreciate the sound design and atmospheric effects that enhance the overall experience. The inclusion of classic music from previous games in deluxe editions has also been noted as a positive aspect for fans.
- “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.”
- “I love this series; I think this is the only horror game that is beautiful in art, stories, culture, and music.”
- “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.”
- “The one musical track I remember (other than the one that plays in the final credits) is in episode thirteen and it is the most repetitive, annoying, aneurysm-inducing music I’ve ever heard.”
- “Soundtrack, if you heard it in the first 2 missions, you will hear it throughout the rest of the game... no variety whatsoever.”
emotional
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its heartwarming and emotional storytelling, effectively exploring themes of loss, regret, and nostalgia through character interactions and ghostly memories. Players find the narrative touching and memorable, with some moments evoking strong emotional responses, particularly during the game's conclusion. However, opinions vary, with some feeling that it doesn't reach the emotional heights of previous entries in the series.
- “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
46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
91%
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players experiencing random freezes, crashes, and various glitches, particularly when using certain settings or hardware configurations. While some users report a smooth experience without significant issues, others highlight the need for a controller to avoid freezing at the title screen and express frustration over game-breaking bugs. Overall, the port appears to be inconsistent, with some players recommending it despite its stability problems.
- “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/audio are amazing and delightfully atmospheric so far.”
- “At least using a 2080 RTX, the graphics are good and there are no glitches.”
- “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 camera and cutting the mic out.”
optimization
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
45%
45%
The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with users reporting frequent stuttering, freezing, and poor mouse and keyboard support, particularly for a title that was expected to be well-optimized. While some players noted improvements with controller use and recent patches, many still experienced performance issues that detracted from the overall experience. Overall, the consensus is that the game suffers from a lack of proper optimization, especially for PC users.
- “Either way, I know everyone says that Koei optimized this game.”
- “If you notice the negative reviews about tech performance, they were all posted around the first day when the game was first released.”
- “Performance-wise varies by individuals from the looks of it.”
- “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.”
- “There aren't enough PC optimizations, and mouse and keyboard controls are lacking.”
humor
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
93%
7%
The humor in the game is largely described as unintentional, with players finding amusement in aspects like exaggerated character physics and poor sound design. Many reviewers noted that the game's lack of scare factor and awkward writing led to frequent laughter, making it entertaining despite its flaws. Overall, the comedic elements, whether through ridiculous gameplay mechanics or absurd voice acting, contribute to a lighthearted experience that resonates with fans.
- “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 fact that people are having issues with random things and complaining over nothing is really funny to me.”
character development
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
29%
13%
Character development in the game is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating the melancholic and resonant storytelling that explores deeper themes, particularly around female saviors. However, criticisms arise regarding the emotional depth of the protagonists, whose designs and expressions are often described as lacking, resembling "porcelain dolls" and detracting from the overall experience. While the pacing is noted to be good in the early chapters, the character development for older characters seems to suffer, leaving some players feeling that it falls short of its potential.
- “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 kinda 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
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
46%
13%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag; 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 gameplay mechanics detract from the overall experience, but for those who appreciate perfectionist challenges, there is still significant replay value. Overall, it offers a decent amount of replayability, especially for fans of the genre.
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “The story is fun to piece together, unlocks, both gameplay-wise and cosmetics are fun, and there is replay value for perfectionists.”
- “Still, it's a good game. The story is mediocre, but it's fun to play and keeps you entertained the first time you beat it. However, 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.”
- “Cosmetics are silly and fun, which makes the game less boring when it comes to replayability.”
- “It's got a ton of replay value, like collecting all the costumes, achieving 100% on every collectible, and trying to get the highest score on every level.”
grinding
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players consistently find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, particularly due to the excessive ghost encounters and sluggish combat mechanics. Many reviews highlight that the initial excitement of ghost encounters quickly turns into frustration, as backtracking and item pickups contribute to a sense of monotony. Overall, the game's design choices lead to a time-consuming experience that detracts from enjoyment.
- “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, here we go, okay, I got this.' Then later, I was like 'Ugh, I just want to reach my destination!'”
- “This game felt very tedious and boring.”
- “The backtracking can get very repetitive and tedious for some.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy has been criticized as a cash grab, indicating that players feel the developers have not improved their approach from previous experiences.
- “This seems more like a cash grab than anything else; the team has not learned their lesson before.”