FATAL FRAME / PROJECT ZERO: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse

93%
Game Brain Score Based on 402 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • atmosphere
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

93%
Audience ScoreBased on 402 reviews
story76 positive mentions
stability6 negative mentions
  • The game features an amazing atmosphere that keeps players on edge with its suspenseful horror elements.
  • The graphics have been significantly improved, especially the character models and lighting, enhancing the overall experience.
  • The story is engaging and fresh, providing a compelling narrative that draws players in.
  • Controls can be frustrating, with slow movement speed and unresponsive camera mechanics that hinder gameplay.
  • Some textures and environmental details appear low quality, detracting from the immersive experience.
  • The flashlight item-finding mechanic can be tedious, requiring precise angles to reveal hidden objects.
  • story173 mentions

    The story of the game is widely praised for its originality, depth, and atmospheric engagement, with many reviewers noting its compelling narrative that intertwines themes of loss, dementia, and haunting mysteries. Players appreciate the intricate plot threads and character backstories that unfold through exploration and collectible lore, although some find the storytelling occasionally convoluted or reliant on familiar tropes. Overall, the narrative is considered one of the strongest aspects of the game, providing a captivating experience that resonates long after completion.

    • “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 story is deeply compelling, filled with unexpected twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat.”
    • “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 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.”
    • “The only thing that people may find annoying about the story is you do have to gather notes and recordings to completely unravel the story.”
    • “The story is somewhat complicated but mediocre compared to the first couple of games.”
  • gameplay87 mentions

    The gameplay in "Mask of the Lunar Eclipse" combines classic Fatal Frame mechanics with new features, such as the innovative "camera obscura" and flashlight systems, which enhance the horror experience but can also lead to frustrating controls. While the combat is engaging and rewards skillful play, some mechanics feel clunky and dated, leading to a mixed reception regarding pacing and item collection. Overall, the game offers a nostalgic yet fresh experience for fans of the series, though it may not fully satisfy newcomers due to its flaws.

    • “The gameplay mechanics are easy to grasp, but challenging enough to keep you engaged throughout the entire game.”
    • “You're encouraged to put yourself in danger by waiting for the very last possible moment to 'shoot' your enemies for maximum rewards, so the gameplay itself is quite thrilling once you get into it.”
    • “The gameplay is very classic Fatal Frame, while also trying some new things.”
    • “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.”
    • “The biggest most glaring flaw is the flashlight discovery mechanic.”
    • “Mechanically, the game feels quite clunky and stiff, and the visuals a bit lacking, but as a package it's sure to please longstanding Fatal Frame fans.”
  • atmosphere80 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its intense and immersive horror elements, characterized by eerie environments, chilling sound design, and a pervasive sense of dread. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to create a haunting ambiance that enhances the storytelling and gameplay, often relying on psychological tension rather than cheap jump scares. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, effectively drawing players into a captivating and unsettling experience.

    • “This game gives the classic Japanese horror feels, which relies on a creepy and unsettling atmosphere rather than on jumpscares.”
    • “The eerie atmosphere and hauntingly beautiful locations set the perfect backdrop for a terrifying adventure.”
    • “Outstanding sound design, fun combat, and an intense, nail-biting atmosphere that ruthlessly digs and claws its way under your skin.”
    • “Japan's exclusive for the longest time up until now: it was an interesting Fatal Frame game for not giving that same feel that the original trilogy did with its atmosphere and visuals that I was used to seeing at first glance.”
    • “The atmosphere is a lot creepier.”
    • “It’s quite simple and most of the game, as is the case for the franchise in general, holds purely on the creepy and unsettling atmosphere it creates from the start.”
  • graphics74 mentions

    The graphics in this remaster of Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse receive mixed reviews, with many praising the improved character models and lighting, while noting that environmental textures often appear dated and pixelated. Although the game successfully creates a haunting atmosphere, some players feel that the overall visual enhancements do not fully meet modern standards, leaving room for further improvement. Despite these caveats, the aesthetic and attention to detail in character design contribute to a captivating experience that many players still recommend.

    • “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.”
    • “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.”
    • “Unfortunately, while the characters look graphically better due to being a remaster, the environments weren't touched up to that level.”
    • “The environment looks very pixelated, like PS2-era graphics, when inspected up close.”
  • music24 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its haunting beauty and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, contributing significantly to the emotional impact of the storyline. Players frequently revisit the soundtrack, noting its memorable tunes and how it complements the game's chilling sound design. While some minor issues with sound effects were mentioned, the overall consensus is that the music is a standout feature, elevating the gaming experience.

    • “The final stretch in this game had me completely mesmerized, and I find myself revisiting the soundtrack frequently.”
    • “It delivers an unforgettable experience, combining a captivating storyline, innovative gameplay mechanics, stunning visuals, and a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack.”
    • “Given that music plays an important role in the story, I was also glad that the soundtrack was really good.”
    • “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.”
    • “Sound design feels a bit off too sometimes, with the intercom speakers, phone ringings and ghost combat music/moans being louder out of nowhere vs your set volume.”
    • “Some cutscenes still play with its sound and music in the background, but its video cutscene freezes the game.”
  • optimization20 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while many players report smooth performance and no significant bugs, issues like microstuttering when not using a controller and unoptimized mouse and keyboard controls have been noted. Some users experienced stuttering that resolved with a controller plugged in, suggesting a need for better support for keyboard and mouse setups. Despite these concerns, the game generally runs well on various systems, with some players recommending capping the frame rate to enhance stability.

    • “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!”
    • “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.”
    • “I can play Ryza 1 or games that require a GTX 1060 GPU, and that's the last push that my PC specs can handle since I can play games that require a GTX 1060 as minimum requirements with slight lagginess. I can play those games with up to 60%-80% smooth performance, assisted with some HDR mods that players helped figure out to fix the lagging/stuttering problem.”
    • “Had some issues with stuttering at first until I plugged in my gamepad, and then I didn't have any more problems with it.”
  • stability7 mentions

    Overall, players report a stable experience with no significant framerate drops or glitches, particularly on mid-range hardware like the GTX 1060. While some minor issues, such as cutscene freezes, have been noted, the game is generally praised for its excellent performance and lack of major bugs compared to recent releases. Continuous developer support and updates are also highlighted as contributing factors to its stability.

    • “Excellent performance and runs great!”
    • “The game is incredibly stable, with no crashes or bugs.”
    • “I appreciate how smooth the gameplay is; it never lags or stutters.”
    • “Some cutscenes still play with their sound and music in the background, but the video cutscene freezes the game.”
    • “And yes, this is like the method that most PC players agree upon for titles that have issues with graphics scaling optimization to fix their game, just like Cyberpunk or other games that can finally make it to the PC market through their constant communication with developers and players to keep updating and fixing the bugs and glitches so that the game can run smoothly.”
  • 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.”
  • replayability4 mentions

    While the game is criticized for its linearity, which may limit replay value, features like mission mode, new game plus, and numerous unlockable outfits enhance its replayability. The strong setting adds to the experience, leaving players hopeful for future titles in the series that could further improve 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.”
  • grinding3 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious due to overly easy combat that lacks challenge, making encounters feel monotonous. Despite an engaging story and impressive sound design, the ease of combat detracts from the overall experience, leading to frustration with the game's mechanics.

    • “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.”
    • “It was a long and tedious fight.”
    • “Far too easy combat, becomes tedious.”
  • 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 a compelling mystery that includes impactful emotional moments, balancing them with genuine scares rather than relying 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 idling and amusing jumpscares involving a hozuki doll. Additionally, there's a humorous irony in the control mechanics, where the transition from the Wii's pointer system to mouse aiming has resulted in less intuitive controls, adding a layer of comedic frustration for players.

    • “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.”
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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