Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse Reviews
Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse allows us to finally enjoy the terrifying fourth installment of the franchise, the only one that had remained exclusively in Japan and almost 14 years after its release on Nintendo Wii. An adventure that, without being one of the most terrifying, is very fun to play and presents us with a renewed and improved atmosphere thanks to a modest remastering and update for current consoles. A game whose transfer from a console like the Wii, with somewhat special controls, weighs heavily, making itself felt especially in things like the camera and its control. However, and without a doubt, it is a very good opportunity for all Western audiences who wanted to enjoy it in their day and could not and that will keep us very entertained during the 13h of play that lasts approximately, yes, completely in English.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse is top-notch survival horror and an easy recommendation of the genre. With a very polished Japanese horror setting and a very thought-provoking plot, the fourth game in the Fatal Frame franchise is an experience that sticks in the head and can even keep anyone who dives deep into the game awake at night.
Review in Portuguese | 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
Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse combines its limited controls with a haunting atmosphere to create a great Japanese survival horror game that still shows its age from time to time.
Project Zero: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse is very eerie experience, but some clunky controls and dated mechanics do hold it back a little. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have fun playing and it does nail that eerie vibe that the series is so beloved for, but it could have done with just a few more refinements to help it stand its own amongst the modern horror releases. Is it a bad game? Definitely not, and I have no doubt that fans of the genre will enjoy it. Just expect some sketchy controls and a bit of backtracking during your creepy adventure through Rougetsu Island.
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
A serviceable survival horror game in which three young women and a detective excise ghosts of the past with an occult camera and a flashlight. But while this unique combat may have carried the game's lifeless story back in 2008, this rerelease is nothing more than an expensive reskin of a relic.
It’s been 15 years since Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse launched exclusively in Japan, and the wait has sadly not been worth it.
To sum it all up, Fatal Frame/Project Zero The Mask of the Lunar Eclipse is a wonderful game to enjoy, be it your first time or every successive run as you go for full completion. The gameplay is great, the atmosphere really draws you in and leaves a great mark on you, and the visuals on the areas are well done, all wrapped up in one great package. In the immortal words of Joe Bob Briggs, “Four stars, check it out!”.
If Mask of the Lunar Eclipse has the same success found with Maiden of Black Water's port to modern platforms, then remasters of other Fatal Frame games or even a new game would have a better chance of being released. There is a lot of potential for renewed interest in the franchise, and despite gripes to be had with Mask of the Lunar Eclipse's remaster, the game itself still holds up as a solid horror game.
While its predecessor had the elements of a creepy good time present, Mask of the Lunar Eclipse brings it all together
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 is an unnerving, cohesive game filled with murderous ghosts you'll both fear and pity.
Project Zero: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse is a genuinely spooky game, but it's let down by some severe pacing issues.
Although certain issues with the gameplay and controls detract from the overall experience, the game still remains enjoyable. FATAL FRAME: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse's unique combat, compelling story, and memorable cast of characters ensure that the game will appeal to new and veteran players. While newcomers to the Fatal Frame series may not admire its gameplay, long-time series fans will simply adore it.
An intense atmosphere and intriguing story which is unfortunately marred by the age the game was created in. Looking past the clumsiness of the movement, it is still one of the most accessible and fun Project Zero games.
Creepy and compelling, the game is finally officially out of Japan and offering a good time for series fans. Even if the controls and movement speed still leave a lot to be desired.
This re-release of the 2007 Wii horror game has echoes of what make this classic horror series great, but is stifled by a lumbering pace, cumbersome controls, and lack of genuine scares.
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