Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse Reviews
With Mask of the Lunar Eclipse, you must take the good it offers along with its regressive design in order to even begin to ride its eerie wavelength. Which, for what it’s worth, is an exceptionally uncanny ride that never puts on the breaks long enough for boredom to ever set in, as even its wildest swings result in some considerably discomforting set pieces (the funeral-themed room inhabited by the hostile spirit Kageri Sendou and her maleficent doll Watashi, while a tad on the nose in its design, is a disturbing highlight). This may not be a game that was made for these modern times, but for those willing to put up with its old-school frustrations, it’s also one that will certainly keep you up at night and stick in your subconscious for weeks to come.
Fatal Frame Mask of the Lunar Eclipse proves to be too conservative, characterized by slow and anachronistic game rhythms. It is true, in any case, that from a purely aesthetic remastering it was not reasonable to expect structural changes. For sure, long-time fans will love the improved graphics, more realistic lighting, controls adapted to a traditional pad and the alternative costume compartment. Instead, those who have never tried a Fatal Frame will hardly digest a visibly dated playful system.
Review in Italian | Read full review
We would have loved to love Project Zero 4: The Mask of the Lunar Eclipse which, let's face it, is still above the fifth part. But now, by choosing the path of the remaster, Koei Tecmo prevents the game from erasing its flaws of yesteryear.
Review in French | Read full review
Mask of the Lunar Eclipse continues the path of what was seen in Black Water. It is a classic horror game that continues to offer that touch of before.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
The Fatal Frame that time forgot finally gets its time in the spotlight, showcasing just enough of the legacy’s qualities, alongside being a perfect introduction to the series itself.
As a remaster of a Wii game only released in Japan, Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse struggles not to show its age and seemingly ancient mechanics. But beneath the grainy surface is a moderately chilling horror game with a unique way to tackle terror.
A slow-paced, languid horror remaster, Project Zero: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse is not only a chance for western players to finally play a Japan-only entry in the series, but it's also a haunted house experience that delivers on creepiness.
For those that clamour for the modern world of over-the-shoulder shooting and action horror, Mask of the Lunar Eclipse is a hard sell. Your character moves at a glacial pace and the small bursts of action are broken up by a lot of backtracking, puzzles and hunting for shiny objects in dark rooms. Ghost fights can also become an exercise in tedium, especially on higher-difficulty settings.
After its remastered release, Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse has undoubtedly given players more reasons to try this classic horror game. Exquisite and beautiful characters, an intriguing plot, and innovative storytelling make this work seem quite excellent in quality. However, as a game released 15 years ago, many of its mechanics have not been optimised and have been faithfully copied to the PC. Nowadays, some of the systems are outdated and significantly affect the player's experience.
Review in Chinese | Read full review
The Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse remaster is a constantly creepy, often infuriating survival horror game that has the misfortune of following the superior Maiden of Black Water on the Switch. Fans of the series and Japanese horror in general should be glad they finally get to play it, but those with low patience thresholds will do better to not step foot on Rogetsu Isle.
Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse is a finely polished, absolutely worthwhile remaster of the fourth game in the franchise, with excellent sound and visuals, fun mechanics, and a genuinely haunting story, held back from a higher score only by its outdated controls and sluggish character movement.
Project Zero Mask of the Lunar Eclipse is probably one of the best episodes in the long-running horror franchise, and even if this remaster leaves something to be desired, it does not fail in brin bringing anxiety and disturbing matters to new audiences.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse is worth looking into for fans of the series and the genre, especially since this is its first official release in the West, but be warned that it's a game that's held back by several significant issues.
For better or worse, Project Zero: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse brings an underplayed fifteen-year-old horror game to Western audiences in a well-preserved state. There's a fantastic atmosphere and the horror is well-framed and executed with impressive restraint, but control issues of the time carry through to this remaster.
Whatever happens to Fatal Frame, at least one of the best entries finally came to the west. Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse has some of the best material the series has in it and Suda51’s contributions can be felt with very subtle homages from his work on Moonlight Syndrome. If you can adapt to the unconventional and sluggish controls, then expect to have a frightful time with Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse.
A fantastic conversion and localisation of a game horror fans have been waiting for for years. Project Zero: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse is an amazing horror title with an intriguing story, great visuals and a penchant for being terrifying. It works well on Switch, and, outside of a couple of small control issues, is a worthwhile and recommendable experience for horror game enthusiasts.
Project Zero: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse has fixed all the issues that plagued its demo and is a title with a creepy story and startling moments that will make you jump. Make sure you save often because, with no auto-save, it will be easy to lose progress and items.
Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse seems like a masterpiece that should have released 2 or 3 generations ago, as its visuals are dated and its control mechanisms is something that we don't see anymore these days. But on the plus side it offers a mysterious world and atmosphere, a great sense of fear and a solid story. Just the like the old days.
Review in Persian | Read full review
Mask of the Lunar Eclipse mixes fiction and folklore in a blend that can entertain and frighten even 15 years after its original release. The remaster could have been technically better, but at its core, it's still a good game, of which there are not many on the market today. The biggest problem now is mainly the clumsy and awkward controls.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse is a solid and enjoyable experience for fans of old-school survival-horror. It might be a bit too slow-paced and awkward for those who don't have a taste for 2008 game design, but that's the biggest criticism about it. It doesn't break the mold for the franchise, but it's one of the more solid and enjoyable examples of it, and it's a good place to start if you'd like to see what is up with the long-running horror series.