However, it definitely does start to drag towards the end.

Overall, the combat system is pretty simple, but it’s still quite enjoyable nevertheless. Plus, there are different types of film for different effects and a couple of spirit power-ups that let the player heal or even force-push a ghost back. If you’re skilled enough, you can even enter the titular Fatal Frame state by snapping a ghost right as it’s about to strike, which lets you button mash your camera shutter into oblivion for massive damage. Ok, there’s obviously more to it than that! To deal the most damage, the player has to draw out these spirit blob things by taking some solid photos, and then capture said blobs along with the main enemy (sometimes plural) for critical hits. Instead of charging up your shots, the protagonists simply have to adjust their angles and take quality photos, that’s all… How the photography system works this time around is slightly different compared to previous entries too. So there’s this interesting trade-off of facing your fears head-on and taking down ghosts efficiently, as opposed to slowly draining your camera’s film from afar.

What also works well with this title, is that our three protagonists deal more damage with their cameras when they’re positioned closer to their enemies.

Plus, there are some pretty disturbing moments both in-game and out during Fatal Frame 5’s cinematic cutscenes, which certainly helps add to the Japanese-styled horror atmosphere. But even if they aren’t the scariest adversaries you’ve ever come across, the way they’ll suddenly spawn out in front of the player or slowly back them into a corner might be a little bit intense for some.

They’re mostly just apparitions of story-related figures or typical cliche horror characters like creepy running children. Our VIDEO REVIEW of Fatal Frame: Maiden of Blackwater! Who Ever Thought Cameras Were A Ghost’s Arch-Enemy?Īre they the most terrifying ghosts you’ll ever encounter in a video game though? Not really.

Maiden of black water review download