Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water | |
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![]() European Wii U cover art featuring protagonists Yuri Kozukata (left) and Miu Hinasaki (right) | |
Developer(s) | Koei Tecmo[a] |
Publisher(s) |
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Director(s) | Makoto Shibata |
Producer(s) |
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Designer(s) |
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Writer(s) |
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Composer(s) | Ayako Toyoda |
Series | Fatal Frame |
Platform(s) | |
Release | Wii UNintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
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Genre(s) | Survival horror |
Mode(s) | Single-player |
Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water[b] is a survival horror video game developed by Koei Tecmo. The fifth main entry in the Fatal Frame series, it was originally published by Nintendo for the Wii U in Japan in September 2014 and worldwide in October 2015. A remaster for eighth and ninth generation consoles and Windows, this time published by Koei Tecmo, was released worldwide in October 2021.
As with previous games in the series, players navigate areas filled with hostile ghosts which must be fought by taking photographs using the Camera Obscura, which is directly controlled using the Wii U GamePad. A post-endgame story featuring Ayane, a character from the company's Dead or Alive series, also features altered gameplay mechanics. The story, which is set on the fictional Hikami Mountain, focuses on three protagonists who are drawn into supernatural events revolving the area, including an ancient ritual to seal away the Black Water, a malevolent force corrupting the surrounding spirits that is tied to the fate of the titular shrine maiden Ose Kurosawa.
Planning for the game began in 2011, during production of the Wii remake of Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly. Series co-creator Keisuke Kikuchi proposed the project when he saw that the Wii U GamePad could be used as the Camera Obscura. Kikuchi and fellow co-creator Makoto Shibata returned to their respective posts of producer and director, together with staff from Mask of the Lunar Eclipse and developers new to the series. The cast underwent several revisions during development, while the staff experimented with the capacities of the new hardware. Japanese singer Tsuki Amano returned from earlier entries to perform the theme song. Upon its original release, the game received mixed reviews. Reviewers greatly praised its use of the Wii U GamePad and dark atmosphere, while opinions were mixed on its story, pacing and controls. The remaster also received mixed reviews, though the Nintendo Switch version received considerably more praise than the other ports.
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