The haunting Fatal Frame series returns to the Wii U this Fall with Fatal Frame: Maiden of the Black Water. This will be the first Fatal Frame game released in North America since Fatal Frame III: The Tormented in 2005 (not counting the spin-off AR game Spirit Camera for the 3DS). A new trailer was just released for the game, offering a look at some of the gorgeous cutscenes and tense gameplay.
As a horror fan, I’d been excited for the Wii U to get a Fatal Frame title since the system launched, as the idea of using the gamepad as a camera would only serve to make the game even more unnerving. One of greatest mechanics in the Fatal Frame games is that to defeat the ghosts, you must narrow your field of view by looking into your camera and taking photos of them. You’re rewarded with more damage dealt by looking directly at them, letting them get close, and snapping the shot just before they attack.
Not only does this make for fun gameplay, but forcing the player to stare at these horrifying specters and allowing them to draw near makes for a wonderfully spooky experience. Using the gamepad as the camera takes this even further by having the player hold it just in front of their face, making the image of the ghost even physically closer to gamers.
Fatal Frame: Maiden of the Black Water has such striking visuals thanks to the use of the same engine Dead or Alive 5 employed. This brings the game’s rainy mountain setting to life. Water is a prominent theme, and there will often be bodies of it nearby in most of the game’s settings. Many ghosts also appear to be drenched from the downpour, or soggy from having drowned.
The Fatal Frame series pedigree suggests Fatal Frame: Maiden of the Black Water will be another horror classic, and the fact that the game was already released in Japan last September to a 33/40 from Famitsu is promising as well. We’ll be bringing you any news on this title before it’s Fall release, so stay tuned to Nerd Bacon.
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Written by ChronoSloth
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Video game reviewer who particularly loves the fourth and fifth generation of consoles. In an exclusive polygamist relationship with Nintendo and PlayStation. Fluent in Al Bhed and Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 combo notation. Follow him on Instagram to see lots of pictures of video games.
