FATAL FRAME / PROJECT ZERO: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse

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FATAL FRAME / PROJECT ZERO: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse is a single player action game with a horror theme. It was developed by KOEI TECMO GAMES CO., LTD. and was released on March 8, 2023. It received very positive reviews from players.

"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.

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Play Modes

Single-Player

FATAL FRAME / PROJECT ZERO: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse screenshot

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91%

Audience ScoreBased on 645 reviews

story127 positive mentions

stability11 negative mentions

The game features a captivating story that keeps players engaged and invested in the characters' journeys.
The atmosphere is haunting and immersive, effectively building tension and fear throughout the gameplay.
The remaster improves graphics and sound design, enhancing the overall experience compared to the original Wii version.

Character movement is slow and clunky, which can detract from the gameplay experience and make exploration frustrating.
The flashlight mechanics for finding items can be finicky, requiring precise positioning that may lead to annoyance.
Some textures remain low-resolution and pixelated, which can break immersion and feel outdated for a modern remaster.

story
285 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
53%
2%
The story of "Mask of the Lunar Eclipse" is a complex and atmospheric narrative that unfolds primarily through notes and cutscenes, immersing players in a haunting tale of trauma and forgotten memories. While some players appreciate its depth and engaging characters, others find the pacing slow and the plot occasionally convoluted, requiring careful exploration to fully grasp the narrative. Overall, the game is praised for its captivating storyline and eerie atmosphere, making it a compelling entry in the Fatal Frame series.
- “The story is deeply compelling, filled with unexpected twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat.”
- “The atmosphere is thick, the rooms are fun to explore, and the story has a satisfying ending.”
- “Mask of the Lunar Eclipse has a strong enveloping atmosphere of hopelessness and a deep story, and if you like Japanese horror games with unique Asian culture vibes - you need to try it for sure.”
- “The story and mysteries are either clear as day or so confusingly written that you need to google aspects of the story to understand it.”
- “As it's the fifth installment, I expected a much more rounded and well-written story.”
- “You have to read most of the documents you find, otherwise the story will be confusing as hell.”
atmosphere
146 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
45%
2%
The atmosphere in the game is widely praised for its immersive and chilling qualities, effectively creating a sense of dread and tension throughout the experience. Reviewers highlight the unique blend of modern and abandoned settings, along with strong sound design and artistic direction that enhance the overall horror experience. While some mention pacing issues and clunky controls, the game's ability to evoke a haunting ambiance and engage players in its eerie world remains a standout feature.
- “Atmospherically, the buildings are very distinct from previous game locales – where you’re usually navigating old, rotting Japanese architecture, here you’re going through fairly modern buildings, albeit rundown, abandoned, and constantly hounded with the feeling that you’re being watched.”
- “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.”
- “What you end up with is a dull 'over the shoulder' horror game with atmosphere so dull, you'd be more scared taking a walk in the park.”
- “Despite its strengths in atmosphere and storytelling, Mask of the Lunar Eclipse still bears the marks of its original design era.”
- “Another major flaw is the massive shift in atmosphere for the 3 chapters you play as Choushiro, but this is remedied by him having a very mysterious story path.”
gameplay
139 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
67%
9%
The gameplay of "Mask of the Lunar Eclipse" is a mix of classic Fatal Frame mechanics and new features, offering a unique experience that combines exploration, puzzle-solving, and combat through the innovative use of the camera obscura. While some players appreciate the atmospheric tension and nostalgic elements, many criticize the clunky controls, frustrating item discovery mechanics, and repetitive combat, which can detract from the overall enjoyment. Despite its flaws, the game retains a strong appeal for franchise fans, providing a blend of horror and engaging gameplay that keeps players invested.
- “It's got the very unique camera-based gameplay mechanic that I find a lot of fun, as well as a decent bit of puzzle solving and exploration.”
- “The gameplay mechanics are easy to grasp, but challenging enough to keep you engaged throughout the entire game.”
- “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.”
- “The game is not hard at all and there are difficulty settings for accessibility, it's just it isn't really standard to be able to lose 20 minutes of gameplay because you forgot to save in the year of our lord 2026 or a game having somewhat retro stiff controls to build up tension.”
- “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 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 pick up mechanic) and hardcore railroading, especially when compared to the original trilogy.”
graphics
102 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
63%
7%
The graphics of the remastered version of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the enhanced character models and lighting that contribute to a haunting atmosphere. However, some players noted that environmental textures remain dated and pixelated, reminiscent of older console graphics, which detracts from the overall visual experience. While the remaster offers improved visuals compared to the original Wii version, it lacks extensive graphical options and some players feel that further enhancements could have been made.
- “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.”
- “Overall the graphics look really good, just have some caveats to know that the devs could have overlooked.”
- “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.”
music
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
38%
7%
The music and sound design in the game are widely praised for their ability to create a haunting atmosphere, with unique ambient noises in different rooms and chilling ghost voicelines that enhance the overall experience. Players highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, particularly noting the emotional impact of the final sequences and the eerie organ music that contributes to the game's sense of dread. Overall, the combination of beautiful music and effective sound effects significantly elevates the game's horror elements and storytelling.
- “The final walk up to the last boss of the game has some of the most beautiful music I have heard in a long time, perfectly haunting and mesmerizing.”
- “The game skillfully utilizes music and atmosphere, creating a sense of constant threat, a sense of being a doomed victim in the world of the dead and the cursed.”
- “The sound design further enhances the creepy atmosphere, with chilling sound effects and haunting music that sends shivers down your spine.”
- “Though there is a little too much backtracking in the second act, Mask of the Lunar Eclipse has strong atmosphere, a memorable story with fascinating ideas and a haunting soundtrack.”
optimization
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
27%
27%
The game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with some players reporting smooth performance and minimal issues, while others experience stuttering, particularly when using mouse and keyboard without a controller. Although many users appreciate the graphical quality and overall performance, concerns about ultrawide support, sparse graphical options, and control responsiveness persist. Overall, while some players find the game well-optimized, others suggest that further improvements are needed to enhance the experience for a wider range of hardware configurations.
- “The graphics are stellar and atmospheric, the controls are smooth, the performance leaves nothing to be desired.”
- “Excellent performance and runs great!”
- “No performance issues like stutters or crashes so far, and unlike mobw at launch, there's mouse and keyboard support.”
- “It's a great game, but was very buggy (including game-breaking freezes, part of the content not being unlockable, etc.) and had absolutely dreadful performance.”
- “The game has constant microstuttering when you launch the game 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.”
stability
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
85%
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant issues such as freezing cutscenes and game-breaking bugs, while others report smooth performance with minimal technical problems. Overall, many users appreciate the improvements over previous releases, noting that the game runs well on their systems, though some still encounter occasional glitches.
- “Excellent performance and runs great!”
- “This runs great on my PC, and I had only a few minor stutters.”
- “The cutscene always freezes and only the sound comes through.”
- “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 its sound and music in the background, but the video cutscene freezes the game.”
replayability
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
23%
33%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while it offers incentives like collectibles, new game plus, and unlockable outfits, some players find the controls exhausting and the linearity limits replay value. Despite these drawbacks, features like mission mode and the potential for new abilities provide enough motivation for players to revisit the game. Overall, opinions vary, with some feeling it has decent replay potential while others see it as lacking.
- “The game features some replayability for collectables, outfits, and certain items.”
- “Yet, the introduction of mission mode and new game plus gives this plenty of replayability.”
- “This game has a lot of unlockable outfits with great details, which adds more replayability to the game.”
- “It gets sort of annoying at times, and to me it will affect the replay value of the game.”
- “The game features some replayability for collectibles, outfits, and certain items.”
- “It runs well, and despite the game being too linear, I don't think it's inherently bad (besides hurting replay value), more so a missed chance considering the setting of the game is one of the strongest in the series, with it being a mix of a mental ward and pseudo-house.”
character development
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
71%
29%
Character development in the game is highly praised for its impressive design and creation options, with many users highlighting the stunning graphics and attention to detail. The character designs are considered some of the best in the series, complemented by a compelling story that enhances the overall experience. Additionally, the inclusion of an artbook with lore insights adds depth to the characters.
- “Character development and creation are really awesome.”
- “The story is phenomenal and goes perfectly with the character designs.”
- “Similarly, I think the character designs in this game might be some of my favorites in the series.”
grinding
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
83%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious, with many reporting that a significant portion of gameplay involves repetitive tasks that detract from the overall experience. The combat is described as overly easy, contributing to the monotony, while clunky mechanics further exacerbate the frustration of item collection and exploration. Overall, the grinding element is seen as a major flaw that undermines the game's potential.
- “I'm guessing it would take around 40 hours to 100% this game and 30 of those hours would be extremely tedious doing the same thing over and over again.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “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.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game effectively weaves emotional depth into its narrative through a central mystery involving cultural rituals and well-developed characters, particularly the poignant child ghosts. Players who engage with the game's lore and cutscenes will uncover a rich story filled with heartfelt moments, enhancing the overall experience beyond mere entertainment.
- “The game’s central mystery—the ritual surrounding the lunar eclipse and the masks used in the island’s ceremonies—offers both cultural intrigue and emotional weight.”
- “There are approximately 5-8 characters in this game that, if you allow yourself to deep dive into the game's notes and cutscenes, you will be rewarded with a very robust story featuring heartfelt, meaningful characters.”
- “The child ghosts are especially heartbreaking in these games for obvious reasons.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in "Fatal Frame" is described as a mix of unintentional hilarity and spooky moments, such as a ghost appearing on the menu screen and amusing jumpscares. While the game is primarily a horror experience, these quirky elements add a lighthearted touch that contrasts with its eerie atmosphere. Players also note the irony in the control mechanics, which can lead to humorous frustrations during gameplay.
- “When I played through Fatal Frame, I expected a solid experience, mainly because games from that era of popular horror titles were inventive, well thought out, and often unintentionally hilarious.”
- “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 on the menu for too long, and the spooky jumpscares when taking a picture of a Hozuki doll.”
- “The funny irony is that this time, with the original game being on the Wii and making use of its pointer for looking around, the aiming controls are arguably worse than they would've been if they had just straight ported the original aiming mapped to the mouse instead of porting it to the other consoles and then to PC.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
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.”

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3h Median play time

17h Average play time

3-45h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs

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FATAL FRAME / PROJECT ZERO: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse is a action game with horror theme.

FATAL FRAME / PROJECT ZERO: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse is available on PC and Windows.

On average players spend around 17 hours playing FATAL FRAME / PROJECT ZERO: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse.

FATAL FRAME / PROJECT ZERO: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse was released on March 8, 2023.

FATAL FRAME / PROJECT ZERO: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse was developed by KOEI TECMO GAMES CO., LTD..

FATAL FRAME / PROJECT ZERO: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse has received very positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its stability.

FATAL FRAME / PROJECT ZERO: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse is a single player game.

Similar games include FATAL FRAME / PROJECT ZERO: Maiden of Black Water, SILENT HILL f, Silent Hill 2, Tomb Raider I-III Remastered, Resident Evil 4: and others.

FATAL FRAME / PROJECT ZERO: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse

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