Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse Review: I’m Quite Afraid of These Ghosts

I think there’s a common misperception that people who review games are always experts at that particular series or genre. But the not-so-hidden truth behind all gamers is that we’re fans first, experts second. So while it’s often the case that people stick to reviewing what they’re spectacular at, it’s much more fulfilling to take a chance covering something you’re not great at. After all, we learn more when we step out of our comfort zones. I love the horror genre, despite being very easily scared. There’s a real art in slowly building tension and taking people along the ride as the story builds to a blood-soaked crescendo. Since I was captivated by the Fatal Frame series from the moment I heard about Maiden of Black Water, I knew I had to take a shot and review Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse. Keep reading to see why this is a horror game even unaccomplished fans should try.

An Uncanny Tale of Horror

Whereas Maiden of Black Water was focused on the horror surrounding Mt. Hikami, Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse takes a bit of a different tactic. Instead of a group of people investigating a series of violent supernatural events, here you get to play the survivors of one that happened on Rogetsu Isle. There’s just a small catch – the group of five friends that survived the incident doesn’t remember a thing about it. Even worse, those still alive have somehow gotten long-term amnesia and don’t remember anything of their life that happened beforehand, other than occasional snatches of memory. Yet somehow, they each get drawn back to the island for different reasons. Within its gloomy walls, they find much more than they ever could have bargained for, including dark secrets that will turn the lives of Madoka, Misaki, and Ruka upside down. Assuming it doesn’t kill them first.

I both admire and am terrified by how pervasive and constant the terror is in the game. From the introductory chapter, things get off to a running start. Misaki and Madoka are exploring Rogetsu Hall, the island’s dilapidated sanatorium, and suddenly get separated. As you search for your missing friend, it quickly becomes apparent something very sinister is going on. And let me tell you, the Ghostbusters might not be afraid of no ghost, but I sure as hell was as I played. They may appear mostly humanoid, but they hunt you like hungry animals, stalking whatever character you’re currently in control of through dimly lit hallways, decrepit chambers, and cramped personal rooms. And if you get them angry enough, they’ll be afflicted by an unsettling facial distortion that makes them much more dangerous than they already are.

Old School Terror

Though the game looks and plays very well, it can’t hide its old-school roots. Which mostly translates to the controls. No matter which character you’re playing, they walk like a tank. Or a tank that runs like a 1920’s Flapper. One stick controls your movement, and the other controls your flashlight. Honestly, though, it’s less direct control of the flashlight and more a way to swivel your frame of view around outside of using the Camera Obscura. For those unfamiliar, it’s a peculiar artifact that allows individuals imbued with spiritual energy to destroy ghosts through the act of taking pictures of them, essentially exorcising them. There’s also a similar item called a Spirit Torch. The key difference between it and the Camera Obscura is that it’s more kinetic, and allows you to chain together shots more quickly, but at the expense of a limited amount of meter to use it.

One of my favorite aspects of the game is how you locate objects by looking for a gleaming spot in the room, then pressing and holding A to slowly reach out and grab it. Every single time, I was terrified something would grab me first. You’ll be doing a lot of searching for clues to solve sneaky puzzles, from flipping switches to tinkering with music boxes and even playing a grand piano. None of the puzzles drove me to drink, but they’ll require you to make good use of files and records you discover, and common sense to come to the right conclusions. Any horror game is only improved by some devious puzzles, after all.

Each element of the gameplay adds to the bubbling anxiety that permeates everything. The only feature I didn’t really like was how you shift direction by pressing down on either stick. It sounds helpful on paper, but in execution, I often hit it without intending to, which had my character spinning around like a hamster on a wheel. A particularly painful example of the issue was one memorable time I was attacked repeatedly by a ghost in a hallway, opened the door to flee into a larger room, and instead kept running back into the hallway as the spirit lunged at me.

Hold Your Camera Obscura Tight

While the old-school controls work, they did have a bit of a learning curve. Sometimes interacting with the environment can be unintuitive. For example, you’ll sometimes need to take a picture of a hazy surface to reveal a clue. However, there were times when it simply wouldn’t register. I must have taken a dozen pictures from all sorts of angles, and yet nothing happened. Eventually, I discerned I probably wasn’t close enough and got out of my predicament.

Typically I only play a game I’m reviewing on one difficulty, but I was curious how it varied on harder difficulties. So I played Mask of the Lunar Eclipse both on the Normal and Easy difficulties. And while you’d think Normal isn’t all that bad, let me tell you, it can be taxing. I kept hearing rumors floating in my head about how Japanese games used to be harder than American games as I struggled on Normal, and eventually decided I’d try the game on Easy. While this did necessitate starting over, it was worth it. Not because Easy necessarily lives up to that moniker, but because it showed me this is a hardcore game no matter what difficulty you choose. The ghosts actually seem to do as much damage on both difficulties. The main difference is that Easy provides you with more helpful items, and makes it less expensive to trade in photo points to get more film and healing items. I appreciated this, since the game retains its scary demeanor but still offers a bit of a helping hand for those not experienced in playing horror games.

Don’t Look Away

One of the most brilliant aspects of the Fatal Frame series is how it literally makes you face your fears. Yes, the Camera Obscura is a potent weapon to defeat spectral foes. But it also requires you to look at your monstrous attackers and wait patiently for just the right moment to strike, getting that juicy Fatal Frame bonus in the process. I’ll admit I was terrible at waiting long enough for the perfect shot. These ghosts will come at you from every angle and often float through walls to surprise you. What was particularly a pain was when I was stuck in a narrow hallway and suddenly got cornered by a hungry ghost. While the Camera Obscura’s filament helps you anticipate what direction they’ll come from, it’s not a hard science. And let’s just say the ghosts live to surprise you. You can help by using stronger film, but be forewarned that those come in limited quantities, unlike the default film you have an infinite supply of. The best thing to do is gradually improve your Camera Obscura using blue and red crystals. You’ll also come across lenses and upgrades that give you a fighting chance.

I’ve heard estimates that Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse can be beaten in 12 hours or less. I’d say that’s the timeframe for experienced horror gamers. For everybody else, you’re looking at 12+ hours, depending on how well you cope with the anxiety the series provides. And let me tell you, I was constantly creeped out. The ghosts are always hunting you. You’ll see them float by, get your attention, and then reappear later at the worst possible moment. Phones will ring suddenly, ear-shattering noises will stop you in your tracks, and you’ll never know what to expect. The cinematic cutscenes that recount the past events that happened on Rogetsu Isle also do an amazing job of eroding your belief that there’s safe quarter for any of the characters. It’s not just that they’re all in danger, but that they may be unwitting tools of forces beyond their comprehension.

Seductive Shadows

Generally, I’m not a fan of HD remasters of games. I often feel they’re a cheap way to make money on a game with a new generation of gamers. Here, though, I was incredibly impressed by the visual presentation. Mask of the Lunar Eclipse looks stunning, with a visual style first pioneered in Maiden of Black Water. This doesn’t at all look like a game from the PS2 era. It looks very modern, with realistic characters and horrifying spectral abominations. It makes great use of light and dark, as well. But none of that would matter if the sound design wasn’t up to snuff. Rest assured, the audio side of things is fantastic. Horror thrives on good sound effects and music, and this Fatal Frame will get in your head and keep you clenched in panic. It adeptly uses Japanese voice acting (along with subtitles) to unsettle players. Combined with all sorts of discordant sound effects, you have an experience tailor-made to terrify.

I don’t have many complaints about the game. Honestly, most of it just contends with the difficulty. While I appreciate that the game is uncompromising in the scares department, I do feel it’s a bit overwhelming for those of a more delicate constitution. Truthfully, there were plenty of times I would put my Switch into sleep mode and set it aside for a long while until my panic subsided. And since the game is a challenge no matter what the difficulty, it can be harder to recommend for those unable to cope. Other than that, my only big complaint is how the motion controls are handled. Frankly, they’re less precise than I would like. Yes, the stick controls work better, but not so much that I ever felt things were fluid and seamless.

Play It With the Lights On

Despite my issues with the game, I’m still delighted that everybody outside of Japan finally got a chance to check out Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse. It’s a gorgeous and horrifying remastered adventure with scares aplenty and an engrossing, dark story. While the old-school controls can occasionally be irritating, and the difficulty is often a bit overwhelming, it still does a fantastic job of telling a truly scary story. If you’re a fan of horror and need something scary before Halloween, I’d say this is your game. And even if you have a hard time with spooky stuff, this is still a worthwhile adventure—just one you’ll probably need to digest one small bite at a time.

Final Verdict: 3.5/5

Available on: Nintendo Switch (reviewed), PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S; Publisher: Koei Tecmo America; Developer: Koei Tecmo America; Players: 1; Released: March 9, 2023; ESRB: T for Teen – Blood and Gore, Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes, Mild Language; MSRP: $49.99

Editor’s note: The publisher provided a review copy to Hey Poor Player.