(Long time, no see, everyone.)
Let me begin these impressions with two disclaimers; one is that I'm completely new to the Fatal Frame series. The other is that these impressions are not based on the full game, but rather based on the Prologue and the first two chapters, as these are what Nintendo released for free on the eShop.
Like many, I was frustrated with Nintendo's decision not to release Grasshopper Manufacture's Fatal Frame IV on the Wii in Western territories, and only slightly less frustrated with their decision to release now the 5th Fatal Frame game in North America in a digital-only format despite being on a console with next to no internal storage.
Many people share this frustration, as the game's Miiverse page is mostly filled with people discussing their inability to play the game. It's unfortunate because not only are games like this one badly-needed on Nintendo systems (and frankly, any system) but based on my time with Black Water's early couple hours, it seems as if it's something that some will enjoy, even if my own thoughts on it are fairly mixed.
For those who don't know, Fatal Frame is a long-running Japanese Survival Horror series where the game's spirits are fought with a camera instead of a gun. Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water is structured into chapters featuring different characters, with the action taking place mostly on a mountain and in a shop. It borrows elements from both the old school and the new (for better or for worse) as far as Survival Horror goes; controls are suitable, though probably clunkier than gamers today are used to. The environments are quiet and creepy, with heavy atmospherics, drawers to open, and notes to read. As with most modern survival horror, it's broken up into chapters, with a chance to see your stats and purchase items in between, and though one of the environments in this "demo" is quite expansive, you still seem to explore in a mainly linear fashion, with the game providing you abundant clues about where to go next and auto-saving your progress along the way. Taking the time to explore rarely seems to yield more than the occasional item on the ground or an enemy ambush, but maybe this changes as you get further into the game.
The "creepy" factor is definitely ever-present, including one or two disturbing scenes right at the end, but for the most part I didn't find myself particularly scared or immersed despite the game's efforts. Enemies aren't frightening in the slightest, and you're hardly provided with a decent look at them. Assuming there isn't more variety down the road, I can see the encounters getting redundant fairly quickly in the full game.
The combat demonstrates both the best and worst aspects of the Wii U Gamepad. Lifting the controller up and looking through it as a camera is fun and works well. I just wish that, over 3 years into the Wii U's life, I didn't continue to feel distracted by having to tear my eyes from the TV to look down at a Standard Def screen. Aiming with the camera can thankfully be done with the Right Analog stick if one doesn't like moving the controller, which was one of the better decisions the developer's made, though turning the camera vertically seems to require you to tilt the Gamepad, something which in this demo always threw me off. I still think it has potential, with a variety of different lenses and techniques in place that could theoretically prevent things from growing too stale.
The presentation's on the uneven side, with fully voice acted and produced cutscenes sharing exposition with PS1-era paragraphs of text which explain, with zero pizzaz, the game's happenings to you. The art direction's gorgeous, with the environments looking incredibly pretty, though from a technical aspect not exactly cutting edge. I didn't mind the English voice acting, though a Japanese track is also available for those who want to enjoy the game in its native language.
So it was with mixed feelings that I reached the end of this trial, with a screen prompting me to pay $50 for the full title (my progress would carry over) and the news that the full download would almost literally wipe out my Wii U's remaining space. Had Nintendo priced the download at $30, which seems fair based on what I've played and which frankly would have made it more palatable for Nintendo fans to pony up for an external hard drive, it might have been a Day 1 purchase for me.
It's unfortunate that many will not be able to play the game. It's a game that I might still end up purchasing in the future. I can see its flaws, but I can also see myself having a good bit of fun with it. Survival horror fans who own a Wii U should consider giving the Free Trial a try.
Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water is out now, exclusive to the Wii U and (in North America only) the Nintendo eShop.
