Taking these Fatal Shots in Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water can happen only when the enemy is in the middle of an attack. These ghosts have their own unique attack patterns and quirks, and by learning them, you’ll be able to do a special type of attack called a Fatal Shot. However, the ghostly shrine maidens and some of the more twisted enemies not only float about they also disappear and reappear, teleporting from place to place to throw off your aim. The more mundane ones simply lunge at you and easily telegraph their attacks. Combat requires you to ration the film you have whenever possible, especially against the more dangerous ghosts that lurk around each corner. These film cartridges do come in limited supply, though, and while the lowest quality film has unlimited use, it also deals the worst damage. Close-up photos of ghosts do more damage, and its film serves as ammunition, with higher-quality film being faster to load and stronger in its effect. Fighting off the spirits of the dead, players must lead both protagonists on a quest to quell the mountain’s restless spirits and give its tormented denizens the peace they deserve.įatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water features Camera Obscura, which allows its wielder to fend off ghosts by taking pictures of them. What follows is a ghastly unravelling of the mountain’s history and the curse behind it. Taking on the roles of Yuri Kozukata and Ren Hojo, players must investigate and explore a haunted mountain where ghosts supposedly lead people astray, and tempt them to take their own life. It embraces its slow-burn style to let the terror sink in. Those who played the first release on the Sony PlayStation 2 a full two decades ago continue to recall an amazing experience, and while the older games do now feel dated with their tank controls and slow combat, the series still feels very timeless when you look at its story and its themes.įatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water seeks to emulate that same design, deliberately avoiding faster-paced modern horror game tropes. It doubles down on its smothering atmosphere, and is more content in letting the tension stew as you see and explore the lost haunts it has laid out for you. Protagonists in this series often find themselves caught up in ghostly events that bring up forgotten pains and twisted sacrificial rituals.įatal Frame emphasizes heavily on Japanese-style horror and slow spooks. While Resident Evil had embraced conspiracy theories and biological monsters as its main plot points, Fatal Frame opts for more traditional scares, leaning on its supernatural aspects to really dig in deep to the players’ psyche. THE RESIDENT Evil franchise remains the gold standard for all things spooky and frightening, but the Fatal Frame series is definitely no slouch.

The great realism overhaul