I've put off writing this review for a while now, mainly because I wasn't sure what to say about this game. As I sit down to write it now, I realize it's less that I'm not sure what to say and more that I simply don't have much to say. That realization alone indicated to me just how disappointingly forgettable this title was. While I didn't absolutely love the fourth game, I thought it was decent, though a significant step down from the series to that point. Maiden of Black Water is yet another step down from its predecessor and while it's not quite a "bad" game to me overall, I found its merits to be almost outweighed by its flaws, primarily of being overly-long and marked by some rather odd design and plot choices. While I don't recall all of the details given it's been a bit since I played it and the game didn't leave a huge impression on me, I'll try to lay out my thoughts as well as I can since it's certainly not like me to have little to say!

So first off, the main good thing is that for the most part, Maiden of Blackwater still feels distinctly Fatal Frame. The usual trappings are all there and (most) of the tone is present. You can expect a fairly solitary spooky experience armed only with a magical camera, solving puzzles and fending off ghosts in a spooky Japanese setting full of lore portrayed through flashbacks, files, and environmental storytelling. While the rather dark themes of depression and trauma could have used a more appropriate examination than the set dressing they largely serve as, the backstory of Hikami Mountain feels right at home with the themes of previous games in the series. Further, the presentation in the game does a great job of bringing this setting to life with graphical and sound design both contributing to evocative environments that are fun to explore despite their creepiness. Even today, almost a decade after its initial release, the game looks pretty good and plays fairly smoothly, all while not departing too significantly from the series-defining formula. Further, some quality-of-life shifts further improve on this formula such as the fact that—gasp—you can actually run at a decent speed for the first time in the series! The combat system I also felt was even better than in the previous couple games which each fine-tuned the initial design incrementally. The combat mechanics feel like they finally hit their stride, even if such is more than a little overdue this late in the series.

The biggest issue I have with this game is that it really drags. I played this during a Halloween marathon, challenging myself to play 15 horror games to completion in October and it was the longest game in the list. Yet, I think it could have been cut in half without much trouble or lost content. Each of the chapters feels like it takes forever and as someone who wanted to play each chapter in one sitting, I found myself pulling up a let's play mid-session to see how far I was from the end of a chapter multiple times, which is not a great sign of engagement. Further, while the combat feels a lot more accessible and intuitive, this appears to have been balanced by making every enemy have a shit-ton of health, further inflating the time combat takes to the point it became a real chore, especially considering that at least on Normal, the game is never very challenging, just exhausting. It's not just a game that's fairly long (for a horror game), it more frustratingly very clearly doesn't need to be that long.

The story was...alright I guess. I found myself liking the idea of the game more than the game itself in its execution. We do get some return characters from previous Fatal Frame games, making this one more tied to rest of the series than its immediate predecessor, though this isn't always a good thing. For instance, I don't want to get too into it—especially as I'm not sure I even totally understood it—but there was a pretty damn weird plot twist regarding some of those returning characters, to the point I kind of wish they hadn't been there at all. However, the characters are a miss for me in general. They all feel like blank slates and I couldn't really tell you much distinct about their personalities beyond their backstories and roles in the plot, though this isn't uncommon in this series. I found the story-telling itself to be more convoluted than it needed to be for what isn't that complex of a narrative, though it wasn't all bad. I for instance enjoyed some of the lore and imagery of the narrative. The game does a lot to reinforce the blackwater motif and the ever-present cursed aura that hangs over the area. The game even implements a..."wetness" mechanic in which your character will get "wet," making her more susceptible to certain attacks and...okay yeah, if you're as juvenile as I am, you probably also chuckled at that. But even beyond the obvious jokes about how wet you get in this game, I thought it was kind of a cool touch to mechanically tie in the blackwater imagery and its association with the primary antagonist. Unfortunately, I also can't help but suspect this mechanic was first conceived because they wanted to make sure the characters' clothing can get wet so they become partially see-through.

Which leads me to another issue and one that is the reason for my saying that the tone is only "mostly" on-point: this game really ramps up the sexualization to the game's detriment. The jiggle physics on the characters' boobs are comically outrageous. In addition, you can unlock plenty of outfits, some of which offer cute alternatives, but others are just like a bikini for reasons. There are also a number of panty shots that you don't have to go looking for. Now, true, Fatal Frame has always featured characters who are almost doll-like in their ethereal beauty and there are skimpy unlockables in the fourth game as well, which, in fairness, are optional. Those features certainly aren't unique to this game series either. But Maiden of Blackwater really wants to make sure you know that it is trying to be sexy in a way the previous games in the series didn't come close to, and it won't let you forget or ignore it. I won't hyperbolically argue that this is a porn game or something. But at times, it feels like this is a narrative survival horror game in the way that Dead or Alive is a fapping—err, fighting game. It is true to its genre and is not bad at what it's primarily doing, but the random gravity-defying boobs in your face every time your character so much as turns to the side or steps on a rock are super distracting and feel out of place in such an otherwise straight-faced context and leave you wondering "why is it like this?" Except with a game like Dead or Alive, it's pretty clear going in what you're in for and the tone of the game otherwise doesn't clash with it. A lot of times, I just eye roll or laugh off this sort of thing and move on. I'm certainly no prude and with a lot of games, it's not a huge issue even if it's this extreme. For instance, yet another Koei Tecmo game (sensing a theme here?) I played just a few months prior, Wo Long, also modeled the big bang in your character's bra every time she aimed her bow, stood up, breathed, etc. and it didn't really interfere with my enjoying the game (though admittedly, it's a lot less in your face in most of that game). However, this sort of thing feels super fucking weird in a game that is otherwise so dedicated to themes of suicide, hopelessness, depression, and trauma. I felt like I either had to view it as some weird satire I didn't get or try to ignore this stuff and focus on the story only to get taken out of it with the next risque moment or panty shot juxtaposed by characters lamenting the tragic loss of a loved one or their own existence. And while I have ranted about something that probably seems not all that important in the grand scheme of things, I personally found it a recurring and significant detractor from the game's tone and atmosphere which are in my opinion some of the biggest draws of the series and elements that this game otherwise nails shockingly well. Did it ruin the game? No. After all, it falls short of being quite constant. But it certainly did not help a game that was struggling to hold my attention otherwise when it interfered with one of the things it did have going for it.

While I realize I've mostly complained during this review, I really didn't hate the game or regret playing it. Frankly, the main reason its issues bothered me as much as they did was because I felt like this game could've been so much better and it has some really great core concepts. I'd really love to play the game it could've been. Instead I dealt with a frustratingly slow experience that only somewhat touched on what I was looking for. Despite its more modern graphics and design, if you're interested in the Fatal Frame series, I would recommend playing this one last and only if you're really itching for a bit more Fatal Frame after the others. I find this a rather sad swan song for the series not because of its tragic themes—which are to be expected—but because it feels like it had a lot going for it but just couldn't stick the landing, leaving us with a rather awkward conclusion to the series. But who knows. Mask of the Lunar Eclipse just recently got a touch-up and rerelease. Maybe we'll eventually see a Fatal Frame revival. However, considering I gave the third game 5 stars, the fourth game 4 stars, and this game 3 stars...maybe I should just cut my losses and appreciate that we'll always have the original trilogy to cherish.

My other Fatal Frame Reviews:

Fatal Frame 3: The Tormented - ★★★★★

Fatal Frame 4: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse - ★★★★

Synopsis:

Maiden of Black Water takes place on the fictional Hikami Mountain, a place infamous for suicides and spiritual happenings connected with local bodies of water. In the past, resident shrine maidens would use their mind-reading abilities to help guide people to a peaceful death. In time, they would grow too emotional to perform their abilities, and they would be sacrificed as an Eternal Flower to keep a malevolent otherworldly power called the Black Water at bay. The story follows three different protagonists; Yuri Kozukata, who has the ability to bring people back from the shadow world into the real world due to her descent from the Hikami shrine maidens; Ren Hojo, an author and friend of Yuri who goes to the mountain to research his new book; and Miu Hinasaki, the daughter of recurring Fatal Frame protagonist Miku Hinasaki.

Pros:

• Malevolent Atmosphere
• Soundtrack
• Osu Kurosawa
• GamePad as camera

Cons:

• Lack of 360 degree rotation
• Repetitive Encounters

Scores:

• History - 8/10
• Music - 10/10
• Graphics - 8/10
• Contents - 9/10
• Gameplay - 7/10

Final Opinion:

Since I met the fatal Frame, I became a huge fan. I played all the titles except the fourth title because did not go out in Europe.

One notable difference is in the controls, switching from the controls of ps2 and xbox to the gamapad of Wii U makes it unique. The biggest difference is the gamepad becomes the camera itself, seeing through it and moving it to all sides, which can become tiring past a bit. The mechanics of photography it is the same as the other titles. The novelty of this title is the spirt track that helps guiding the player on the map.

Finally the developers figured out what the action run meant, and I’m not talking about the fast-paced mode like the previous titles. The animations of each state walk and run are quite distinct. The ghosts here move slightly faster than in the other titles.

The problem I saw here is that they have taken the 360-degree swivel that in certain situations could help. If by chance the player is in some tight corner it will be a headache.

Since the time of Playstation 2 the titles of the Fatal Frame sound and graphics are excellent and this title does not run away the rule, even being for the Wii U console, the scenes flow beautifully without blocking. The soundtrack and ambient sound also improves terror in general, that first scare, that first battle puts a certain stress on the player.

I noticed that each map in this title is a bit linear with almost no exploration unlike the other titles. There are some back roads on maps that take the player to beaten roads but always leading back to the same place.

I noticed that the map is restricted and the game only allows the player to move wherever he commands certain parts and I am not talking about locked or broken doors.

But by taking this the only instance that exists in the game the player can freely explore.

Of the three protagonists of this title each of them has a special ability that takes them exactly where they need to go. So there are no more lost items or ghosts that appear for the player to follow.

What happens most of the time is the player seeing visions of the ghosts has become obvious where is to go.

One of the differences I noticed in the game was that each beginning of the chapter you can buy additional items to what we already have in the inventory using the points that are gained in the defeat of ghosts. It is useful in various perspectives the snag of this system is the previous mission items collected do not go to the next mission.

The Main Story is fantastic, but a bit cliché, that is if we look at the Fatal Frame series in one whole only the player will see many similarities like type cutscens, graphics etc. Of course, each title has its own elements that makes them unique. And this fatal frame no doubt attached me to the screen again.

As it happens in the other Fatal Frame the duration of the game is long and as it happened in the other titles I explored to the maximum the game. The game offers a selection of chapters plus a secret chapter after passing the game.

The first chapters may be a bit short on the rest, but the way the game is presented, some chapters can last between one and two hours. In the last chapter I had to ignore many ghosts that appeared along the way to fight, otherwise it would take a long time and I would run out of good rolls for the final boss like the first time I tried.

As I did in the other titles I would go back to playing the game until old age it would never tire me, even knowing what would happen.

In my final opinion this title is not bad as I have read on some websites. As any game in general has its own style and uniqueness that some may like or dislike.

I recommend this game anyone who is interested in a good Survivor horror, be alone or accompanied and likes to spend a good time to explore it.

Note: 8.4/10