Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse Reviews

Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse is ranked in the 40th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
7.5 / 10.0
Mar 8, 2023

Solid and definitely has an audience. There could be some hard-to-ignore faults, but the experience is fun.

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7 / 10
Mar 8, 2023

Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse doesn't set out to reinvent the franchise or radicalize what it means to be a Fatal Frame game, but with updated visuals and modernised controls, it does a great job of making an entry in the series from 2008 effortlessly feel like a modern, current-gen debut. The slow and sometimes repetitive pacing of the game will not be for everyone, and some long-winded animations and awkward loading-waits only serve to make that pacing even more of a slog, but if you have the patience for that, you're in for a solid Japanese horror experience that will keep you guessing until the credits roll.

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77 / 100
Mar 8, 2023

It is appreciated that this game has finally arrived in the West, because it is a very meritorious and well set survival horror, although at a technical level it accuses the passage of the years.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

5.5 / 10.0
Mar 9, 2023

Project Zero: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse is a genuinely spooky game, but it's let down by some severe pacing issues.

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Unscored
Mar 10, 2023

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.

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5.5 / 10.0
Mar 17, 2023

Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse is an interesting snapshot of a time gone by, but that’s essentially the only intriguing thing about it. More an historical curio than a game worth playing on any kind of merit, its torturous pace and general lifelessness absolutely murder any sense of tension or basic intellectual involvement. A plodding narrative, as well a disgraceful amount of backtracking, serve only to enhance the ennui.

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65 / 100
Mar 8, 2023

FATAL FRAME: Mask Of The Lunar Eclipse sports a new paint job that could still use a few more coats in some areas, but nevertheless offers an interesting horror mystery. However, even with the upgrades, the pain points of past entries are still present, and is not aided by a non-linear narrative that may not be enough to entice everyone to smile for the camera.

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Mar 9, 2023

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.

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Mar 8, 2023

The original was originally launched on Wii 15 years ago and it still offers a highly atmospheric adventure with many moments of fear and dread

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7.5 / 10.0
Mar 8, 2023

It may not be perfect, but the localization of Fatal Frame: Mask of The Lunar Eclipse polishes the original product in ways that only benefit the package. Some things can't be easily improved, like stiff main characters or combat fundamentals, but this is a solid effort to bring this game stateside. Horror fans will have a great time here, but it might not be enough for everyone to jump into.

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6 / 10
Mar 8, 2023

Mask of the Lunar Eclipse is an old school survival horror game for better and worse. It's charmingly old school, and for people who grew up on a healthy diet of Resident Evil and Silent Hill back on the original PlayStation like we did, there'll be something nostalgic to the control foibles and camera issues. But there's no getting away from the fact that this is a game that feels older than it is, and the leaden pace will be off-putting to many.

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Ken McKown
Top Critic
5.5 / 10.0
Mar 15, 2023

In the end, Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse is nice to see. I love that the series is making a comeback. I just wish we could get the original trilogy on modern consoles. Those games are lost to time and would benefit from just a remaster at this point. Still more survival horror is always welcome and we are truly living in an embarrassment of riches in the genre. I wish it was on the same level as others coming back, but for that we need the original trilogy. Make it happen KOEI Tecmo!

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Unscored
Mar 11, 2023
Fatal Frame Mask of the Lunar Eclipse | Review in 3 Minutes - YouTube video thumbnail
7 / 10
Mar 8, 2023

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.

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GameMAG
Top Critic
7 / 10
Apr 13, 2023

Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse is remastered version of a cult classic that brings you everything you would expect, including some old and questionable design choices like the save system and slow doors opening animation. But at the same time Mask of the Lunar Eclipse can feel like a true gift for every hardcore horror fan out there.

Review in Russian | Read full review

6 / 10
Mar 8, 2023

For fans of the franchise, Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse should be a no-brainer. Fifteen years after its original release in Japan, its launch in the west brings some welcome upgrades to the visuals and presentation. That said, you can definitely feel the game's age in the core gameplay and little has been done to bring this more in line with modern sensibilities. Movement is janky, the camera never quite feels spot on, and the loading between rooms really shouldn't be an issue in 2023. Additionally, the frequent presence of ghosts and the arcade-like combat required to defeat them feels constantly at odds with the otherwise impressive sense of dread felt as you explore the environment, but since this is a core aspect of the series at large, you might be able to overlook this. We definitely recommend checking it out if you're into survival horror, but just know that it comes with a number of quirks that we wish had been ironed out.

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70 / 100
Mar 8, 2023

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

Gameblog
_SutterCane
Top Critic
5 / 10
Mar 13, 2023

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

6.5 / 10.0
Mar 8, 2023

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

5.9 / 10.0
Mar 8, 2023

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.

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