FATAL FRAME / PROJECT ZERO: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse

91%
Game Brain Score Based on 546 reviews
  • story
  • atmosphere
  • gameplay
FATAL FRAME / PROJECT ZERO: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse Game Cover
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"FATAL FRAME / PROJECT ZERO: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse" is a horror adventure game where players use the Camera Obscura to battle spirits on Rogetsu Isle. The Digital Deluxe Edition includes a digital artbook, soundtrack, and exclusive costumes and accessories for characters. Explore the mysteries of the island and uncover the truth behind the characters' connection to the Lunar Eclipse.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

91%
Audience ScoreBased on 546 reviews
story97 positive mentions
stability10 negative mentions
  • The remaster features improved graphics and lighting, enhancing the overall atmosphere of the game.
  • The story is engaging and well-crafted, providing a compelling narrative that keeps players invested.
  • The game successfully captures the eerie and unsettling essence of Japanese horror, making it a must-play for fans of the genre.
  • The controls can feel clunky and unresponsive, particularly when trying to aim the camera or interact with items.
  • Some environmental textures are low-resolution and pixelated, detracting from the overall visual experience.
  • The character movement speed is frustratingly slow, which can hinder gameplay and immersion.
  • story210 mentions

    The story of "Mask of the Lunar Eclipse" is generally praised for its compelling and atmospheric narrative, featuring intriguing plot twists and a deep exploration of themes such as loss and trauma. While some players find the storytelling to be convoluted or overly reliant on text, many appreciate the unique character perspectives and the haunting ambiance that enhances the overall experience. Overall, it stands out as one of the more engaging entries in the Fatal Frame series, despite some criticisms regarding pacing and complexity.

    • “The story is deeply compelling, filled with unexpected twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat.”
    • “The story in this game is among the series' best, with several mysterious plot threads unfolding at once, and it's definitely worth reading all the journal entries you find as they often set up characters and events in advance.”
    • “The atmosphere is thick, the rooms are fun to explore, and the story has a satisfying ending.”
    • “The story lacks the compelling – and complex - storytelling seen in previous Fatal Frame games, even if you collect all of the files hidden throughout the game that expand on each character’s secrets and motivations.”
    • “The premise is stupid, the story has more plot holes than Swiss cheese, it has a lot of dead ends, it contradicts itself much too many times and even negates its own canon.”
    • “95% of the story is in notes.”
  • atmosphere111 mentions

    The atmosphere in "Mask of the Lunar Eclipse" is widely praised for its immersive and eerie qualities, effectively creating a sense of dread and tension throughout the gameplay. Reviewers highlight the exceptional audio design, haunting sound effects, and beautifully crafted environments that enhance the overall experience, making it a standout feature of the game. While some mention minor issues with controls and textures, the overwhelming consensus is that the game's atmosphere is its greatest strength, successfully capturing the essence of classic Japanese horror.

    • “The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, with a constant sense of dread lurking in the shadows.”
    • “The greatest strength of the game lies in its ability to create an atmosphere that consistently whispers, 'I shouldn't be here.' The environment is filled with tension, and the gameplay is balanced, offering moments of exhilaration mixed with peaceful interludes—despite the ever-present dolls, suspicious lumps beneath sheets, and an ever-ringing phone with a growling voice on the other end.”
    • “The eerie atmosphere and hauntingly beautiful locations set the perfect backdrop for a terrifying adventure.”
    • “What you end up with is a dull 'over the shoulder' horror game with an atmosphere so dull, you'd be more scared taking a walk in the park.”
    • “The story felt very thought out and meaningful, but the atmosphere was definitely spooky, though I wasn't on the edge of my seat in fear and anticipation at any point.”
    • “While the rest sadly isn't that outstanding, it still showcases the intensity of the atmosphere.”
  • gameplay107 mentions

    The gameplay of "Mask of the Lunar Eclipse" features a mix of classic Fatal Frame mechanics, such as using a camera to combat ghosts, alongside new elements like a dodge mechanic and various collectibles that enhance the lore. While the atmosphere and tension-building aspects are praised, many players find the combat mechanics clunky and frustrating, particularly the flashlight controls and item collection. Overall, the game offers a nostalgic experience for fans of the series, though it suffers from some dated mechanics and pacing issues.

    • “The game's tension-building mechanics are expertly crafted, keeping me on the edge of my seat throughout.”
    • “The gameplay mechanics are easy to grasp, but challenging enough to keep you engaged throughout the entire game.”
    • “Gameplay is still the pure Fatal Frame action that we all love and missed!”
    • “Someone save me from the combat in this game, I love this game but why does every combat encounter mechanically suck? It's so sad.”
    • “The gameplay also suffers from clunky mechanics, particularly in the use of the flashlight, which is required to reveal hidden items.”
    • “Despite an interesting story and spectacular sound design, this game has quite a number of flaws, from its obscenely easy combat that only gets easier and more tedious, to incredibly clunky flashlight controls that affect item collection.”
  • graphics89 mentions

    The graphics of the remastered game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the improved character models and lighting, while noting that environmental textures often appear dated and pixelated. Although the visuals enhance the game's atmosphere, some players feel that the graphical options are limited and that certain textures could benefit from further refinement. Overall, while the remaster offers a significant upgrade from the original Wii version, it still falls short of modern graphical standards.

    • “The graphics in this game are absolutely stunning, showcasing impressive attention to detail in both character designs and environments.”
    • “The upgraded visuals are absolutely gorgeous, and the game runs like a dream.”
    • “Set in a derelict hospital all four of the protagonists once lived at, the game delivers on visuals and sounds that emphasize a sense of decay and forgotten secrets that refuse to remain buried in the past.”
    • “They don't even bother putting in any graphic options and the textures are not even upscaled from the original Wii console the game was made for.”
    • “Despite this already being a remaster of Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse, the visuals look like they did not receive much of an update.”
    • “The environment looks very pixelated, like a PS2 era graphic, when inspected up close.”
  • music33 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its haunting beauty and ability to enhance the creepy atmosphere, contributing significantly to the overall experience. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as memorable and emotionally impactful, often revisiting it outside of gameplay. The sound design complements the music well, creating a chilling ambiance that elevates the horror elements of the game.

    • “The final stretch in this game had me completely mesmerized, and I find myself revisiting the soundtrack frequently.”
    • “The sound design further enhances the creepy atmosphere, with chilling sound effects and haunting music that sends shivers down your spine.”
    • “It delivers an unforgettable experience, combining a captivating storyline, innovative gameplay mechanics, stunning visuals, and a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack.”
    • “With tiny rooms and long corridors combined with its soundtrack, it gives you mini heart attacks from time to time.”
    • “The sound design feels a bit off too sometimes, with the intercom speakers, phone ringings, and ghost combat music/moans being louder out of nowhere compared to your set volume.”
    • “The camera watches them do a big song and dance while the player is stuck spamming the camera button to quickly avoid the inevitable ghost-is-right-about-to-bite-your-posterior moment.”
  • optimization25 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with some players experiencing significant bugs and performance issues, including game-breaking freezes and stuttering, particularly when using mouse and keyboard controls. However, many users report that these issues have been largely resolved through updates, resulting in smooth performance, especially when using a controller. Overall, while some minor stuttering persists for certain setups, the game is generally considered well-optimized with good graphical performance.

    • “Game is optimized well and doesn't have bugs, stutters, etc.”
    • “The PC port runs perfectly with no performance issues and it has mouse and keyboard support.”
    • “Excellent performance and runs great!”
    • “It's a great game, but it was very buggy (including game-breaking freezes, parts of the content not being unlockable, etc.) and had absolutely dreadful performance.”
    • “The game has constant microstuttering when you launch it without a controller plugged in, but once a controller's plugged in and the stuttering stops, you can unplug the controller and finally play the game with mouse and keyboard prompts.”
    • “Weird stuttering issue, had to refund unfortunately.”
  • stability12 mentions

    The stability of the game has received mixed reviews; while some players report excellent performance with no significant issues, others have encountered bugs, including game-breaking freezes and problematic cutscenes. Overall, many users appreciate the improvements over previous releases, but a few still experience minor glitches and performance hiccups.

    • “Excellent performance and runs great!”
    • “This runs great on my PC, and I had only a few minor stutters.”
    • “It's a great game, but it was very buggy (including game-breaking freezes, parts of the content not being unlockable, etc.) and had absolutely dreadful performance.”
    • “Some cutscenes still play with their sound and music in the background, but the video cutscene freezes the game.”
    • “Only thing I can say is cutscenes can be buggy sometimes.”
  • character development5 mentions

    Reviewers praise the character development in the game, highlighting the stunning graphics and detailed character designs that enhance the storytelling. The integration of lore and character design in the accompanying artbook further enriches the overall experience, making it a standout aspect of the game.

    • “Similarly, I think the character designs in this game might be some of my favorite in the series.”
    • “The story is phenomenal and goes pretty well with the character designs.”
    • “+ Like in the FF5 remaster, the artbook is actually really nice, containing lots of interesting tidbits about the lore and character designs.”
  • grinding4 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, primarily due to the overly easy combat that lacks challenge and becomes monotonous. While the story and sound design are praised, the clunky mechanics and lack of engaging characters contribute to a frustrating experience that detracts from the overall enjoyment.

    • “Despite an interesting story and spectacular sound design the series is known for, this game has quite the number of flaws, from its obscenely easy combat that only gets easier and more tedious, non-existent characters that bring down the intriguing premise, incredibly clunky flashlight controls that affect item collection (not to mention the god-awful item pickup mechanic) and hardcore railroading, especially when compared to the original trilogy.”
    • “This can make picking them up a bit tedious as it doesn't indicate height, but it also encourages actually looking around and not just blazing through the rooms... which will lower the endgame score.”
    • “It was a long and tedious fight.”
  • replayability4 mentions

    While the game's linearity may limit its replayability, features like mission mode, new game plus, and numerous unlockable outfits enhance the experience. Players appreciate the potential for replay value, especially given the strong setting, and express hope for future titles in the series that could further expand on this aspect.

    • “The introduction of mission mode and new game plus gives this game plenty of replayability.”
    • “This game has a lot of unlockable outfits with great details, which adds more replayability to the game.”
    • “I really hope they make a Fatal Frame 6 that is really scary and has tons of replay value.”
    • “It runs well, and despite the game being too linear, I don't think it's inherently bad. However, it does hurt replay value, which is a missed opportunity considering the setting of the game is one of the strongest in the series, being a mix of a mental ward and pseudo-house.”
    • “The introduction of mission mode and new game plus gives this plenty of replayability.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by the poignant portrayal of child ghosts, which resonates deeply with players. Additionally, the game weaves in moments of genuine emotion alongside its engaging mystery and effective scares, avoiding reliance on cheap jump scares.

    • “The child ghosts are especially heartbreaking in this game for obvious reasons.”
    • “This is a very good and enjoyable game with a surprisingly deep mystery at its heart, featuring some emotional moments and genuinely scary scenes without relying on cheap jump scares.”
  • humor2 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by unexpected and quirky elements, such as a ghost appearing on the menu screen after prolonged idling and amusing jumpscares related to the hozuki doll. Additionally, there's a humorous irony in the control scheme, where the transition from the Wii's pointer system to mouse aiming has resulted in a less intuitive experience, despite the intention to improve it.

    • “Some random stuff exists that, while spooky, kind of makes it a bit funny. For example, a ghost appearing on your menu screen if you idle for too long, and the spooky jumpscares when taking a picture of a Hozuki doll.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game is perceived as exploitative, with users labeling it a "cash grab."

    • “This is a cash grab.”
    • “The monetization system feels exploitative and unfair.”
    • “I can't enjoy the game without being constantly bombarded by ads and in-game purchases.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

3hMedian play time
3hAverage play time
3-3hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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