It could be a good year for Fatal Frame fans with co-creator and producer Keisuke Kikuchi recently expressing interest in doing something to celebrate the series' 20th anniversary. Yes, that's right, as of this December the survival horror series will have been around for 20 years.
Here's what Kikuchi had to say in an interview with Famitsu, as translated by Gematsu:
"2021 is...the 20th anniversary of the Fatal Frame series, so I’d like to celebrate it in some way if possible."
Last April, Kikuchi mentioned how he still had high hopes for the series' return. Ultimately, though, it's up to Nintendo, as Koei Tecmo only develops it:
"even though I have these hopes, this is a series that Nintendo publishes for us and I only handle the development. So even if I were to say I want to make another game, that doesn’t necessarily mean that’s what will happen."
At the time, he was also asked about the chances of remasters, and again, it's Nintendo's decision to make:
As for Fatal Frame 2 and 4, Nintendo handles the publishing rights, so we don’t exactly have a say in that matter. Another factor would be is that I’m basically overseeing the Gust brand at this moment, and to secure production lines and team members, in the short-term it would also be very difficult, but in the long run I’ve never really given up the idea. So in the short-term it’s not exactly realistic at the moment.
The Fatal Frame series began life on the PS2 in December 2001, and the most recent entry - Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water landed on the Wii U in 2014.
Would you like to see this survival horror series make a comeback in 2021? How do you think the series could be celebrated? Share your thoughts down below.
[source gematsu.com, via destructoid.com]
Comments 56
We can look forward to Fatal Frame Warriors and Fatal Frame 20 Battle Royale for NSO.
Sure, why not? A Fatal Frame collection or at the very least Maiden of Black Water Switch port would be nice.
Would be cool to get Mask of the Lunar Eclipse HD. Maiden of the Black Water may be hard to put on the Switch.
I'd like to see fatal frame on switch.
@WaveWitch ...and a Shotgun...😉
I would take a Maiden of Black Water port on Switch since I'm certain very few played it during the waning years of Wii U - especially as it was a large download only title in North America, but the mechanics of that game may make it difficult.
Shame no-one really played them
A series I would love to see come to Switch.
This site could at least mention its alternative title in Europe, seeing as, you know, this is supposedly not an exclusively American website.
On that subject, are you going to report on NoE's current new year sale, or did they not give you a press release to copy and paste?
@RainbowGazelle I think some of them might be taking a break for new year or something. They didn't post about the upcoming Splatfest recently announced either unless I missed it and didn't do the usual "What are you playing this weekend?" post.
@RainbowGazelle Actually they didn't post about new European digital releases the last two weeks either, only American ones. 🤔 The website is British I believe.
What about developing a new entry? Or maybe rereleasing Project Zero V on Switch?
@OorWullie a FtP Fatal frame BR would be a good way of introducing people to the series. Survivors surrounded by infinite ghosts, last survivor wins. Stun ghosts with the camera, or momentarily disorient other players with the flash, leaving them vulnerable to the different ghosts. With a suitably spooky set of maps and a variety of ghosts a dev could make a compelling horror BR, with zero need of guns.
Had the first game (aka Project Zero) for PS2 back in the day. Played it for almost an hour and decided that it wasn't for me. Not because I thought it was rubbish, but because it scared the living bejesus out of me. In my defense, I was only 23 at the time. I have been tempted to revisit this series over the years but just haven't had the cajones.
Maybe a game which doesn’t rely on motion controls!
And really awkward control mechanics.
Nintendo has a non-comic horror series of their own and does nothing with it...
C'mon, Nintendo! Build that audience!
This would be a Wii U port to the Switch I wouldn’t mind, as I didn’t have it for the Wii U. I’m not sure why, I’m guessing it didn’t support off-screen play and that was how I played the Wii U most of the time.
Come on Nintendo, you love to port Wii U stuff over! Even if it's another limited release thingy, at least the option will be there.
@hakjie11 Go and play Resident Evil then
Maiden of Black Water is a great game, and it makes a great use of the Gamepad, and original entry would work better on Switch.
Strike a pose vogue !
Fatal frame : Mask of the Lunar Eclipse
Fatal frame 2 : Crimson butterfly
Fatal frame :Maiden of Black Water
Please please please i remember the first time i played fatal frame 2 on ps2 and thought it was one of the best horror games ever and the images are still in my mind.
Fatal Frame Trilogy Collection would be amazing.
Port/ReMaster to Switch 2021.....
Ah yes, the series Nintendo outright killed due to a mixture of incompetence and censorship. You know you done f'ed up when the Pirated version of Fatal Frame 5 is the best version.
"Hey, let's make this 12GB digital only even though our base console only has 8GB of space. Let's also censor it cause we don't want to scare kids playing this M-RATED game"
Would like ALL of the entries to make it to the Switch with HD versions of Fatal Frame 2 "Wiimake" and Fatal Frame 4. Also.... I would think the best bet to try and redo the 3DS game would be to release it for mobile as it has more than enough to tech (like night mode) to make the game work well. Here's hoping for it to ALL happen.
@BloodyMurder Even Nintendo realized that shipping the Wii U 8 GB model was a mistake. The 8 GB model barely lasted a year before they quietly phased it out in favor of making the formerly premium black 32 GB model the standard.
@Narrator1 That's not it. The game got a physical release in Europe and Japan. Nintendo of America, the worthless garbage they are, decided to not bother despite being a much bigger market.
Granted, the European version didn't do much better cause it was censored as well.
Only played the first Project Zero years ago, a remaster collection would be an instabuy for me.
@JedRock How would they get the manual/"Diary of Faces" into consumer hands with a mobile release? Manipulating QR images inside its pages was roughly half the point of the game.
Its gonna be maiden of black water switch port, I believe. Or maybe the first 3 games along with a port of 4 as well.
https://screenrant.com/koei-tecmo-2021-reveals-anticipation/
Found this article
@FargusPelagius I said it as a joke but once I'd commented, I thought that could actually work. Your idea confirms that. I'd play it for sure.
As for Fatal Frame Heroes, I don't know why I wrote that. I meant to write Warriors.
@anoyonmus I would assume that relates to Samurai Warriors 5 that they have been teasing the past 2 years. Though knowing them it'll be mobile ports or Japanese only releases.
Would love to see something done with the Zero franchise but 5 bombed so badly everywhere (especially Japan) I don't see Nintendo footing the bill for anything for a while.
It will have to be some fatal frame thing. Nintendo does like porting wii u games to nintendo switch, so maybe 5 could come and have a 2nd chance
This is one of the best horror games I’ve played. I mean one of the scariest ones... I’m an avid horror player and I’ve never been able to finish this one. I always ask myself “why do I always want to suffer with this after a long day of work?”
Could always do a Spirit Event. And Sakurai's doing anniversaries on his Twitter.
A remaster collection makes the most sense. Reinvigorate the franchise for old and new fans a like, and get a good idea of the size of the demand for a brand new entry on Switch.
Japanese dub options and HD rereleases of all Fatal Frames on Switch! God knows we need it!
@BloodyMurder barely anyone cares that the game is censored.
The game sold poorly in europe because it only had a limited edition release and there wasn't any marketing.
Also it's considered to be the worst game in the series by many.
@Sabrewing your phone doesn't have QR/AR functions?
I don't like horror games, but honestly if Nintendo actually did something with this series now that they own it...I wouldn't mind giving it a try. It's almost like a mature/serious version of Luigi's Mansion, you're basically hunting ghosts, but with a camera instead of a vacuum. lol
@dBackLash
If "barely anyone cared" you wouldn't be saying anything. Pirated version was uncensored and had all the costumes (yes even the nintendo ones). Add in that you need an HD to buy the game anyway and the obvious choice was obvious.
But please, keep lying. Just like with Tokyo Mirage Sessions flopping on the Switch. "Censorship wasn't an issue, it was Covid/Donald Trump/Russian Bots/Manbearpig"
@JedRock My POINT is that you're expecting common mobile game players to print out at least 16 QR-sensitive pages just to play one game. A tall order from a marketability standpoint. The game isn't even available digitally on 3DS, only physical copies.
I would love for The Maiden of Black Water to get ported to Nintendo Switch! I always thought it looked very interesting, but never got around to playing it on my Wii U. This would be my perfect chance.
@BloodyMurder I'm sure every mediocre game would sell waaaaay better if it only featured some half naked underaged girls...
It's pretty disturbing tbh
@Sabrewing i wasn't aware printing 16 pages was a tall request... and I'm sure Nintendo/Koei Tecmo could think of SOMETHING like possibly send a copy to those that purchased the game... or maybe access to another screen and flip through a digital book... i just feel with all the tech currently available, the possibilities are a bit vast. The whole "if there's a will, there's a way"... and who knows.. maybe they WILL have consumers print out 16 pages (though I personally think it'll be half that or less if they perhaps have a recommended print setting). I just think that stopping at "forcing people to print" is a bit short-sighted especially given that Nintendo came out with games that required the use of gimmicky peripherals like the Balance Board (not hating on gimmicky periphs coz Lord knows I love 'em)!
@JedRock Your optimism is commendable, at least. But again, we're talking about the mobile market — people who will uninstall a game as soon as it inconveniences them.
Show me the 47th no effort Wii U port.
@shoeses Ah yes, the 47th non effort wii u port when there has been not even 15. lmao
after maiden of black water comes to nintendo switch, all we need is WW, TP, and XCX and all the wii u ports are done
If you insist on using the North America name, then Fatal Frame will be 20 years old in March 2022.
Uncensored port (with original Japanese outfits) of Maiden of Black Water on Switch, please.
Gosh, 20 years already! I remember playing the first when I was at uni and loving it. I had discovered Japanese cinema at the time and watching movies like the Ring and Dark Water, then playing this... oh the memories!
I'd love to see a new entry on switch
@Nemesis666 exaggeration /ex·ag·ger·a·tion/ a statement that represents something as better or worse than it really is.
I would easily, and very happily, pre-order a collection of these games on my switch. I was 13 when the first one came out and I have loved the series ever since. When I got my first job at 16, these were the first games I bought, though by that time I had to scour the earth to find them. I have 1,2,and 3 for my PS2, and I play those games over and over again. I was devastated that they weren't releasing Mask of The Lunar Eclipse here in North America, and to be honest, it was the last time I ever picked up my Wii controller. I tried the fan release of the game, but getting my hands on a copy of the game was sadly not in the cards for me at that time, and so it passed me by. When I heard they were releasing Maiden of Blackwater on the WiiU, I was ready to purchase the console just for that one game. Again though, life called and I sadly could not purchase it.
Again, I would easily and gladly put money down to buy a collection of these games on my switch, remastered or not in all honesty. Remastering would be completely amazing to me, giving my favorite series a face lift as it were. Even if that weren't in the cards, I would still buy a 1 through 5 game collection for this on my switch, no hesitation at all what-so-ever. PLEASE Nintendo, I have never been more willing to just hand out money for a game series than I have been, to have a chance to play my favorite series on a current gen console.
Crimson Butterfly would be the tits.
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