Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse

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

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.

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

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.

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.

Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse is a title previously confined to the annals of gaming history.

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.

A fantastic conversion and localisation of a game horror fans have been waiting for for years. Project Zero: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse is an amazing horror title with an intriguing story, great visuals and a penchant for being terrifying. It works well on Switch, and, outside of a couple of small control issues, is a worthwhile and recommendable experience for horror game enthusiasts.

Project Zero: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse has fixed all the issues that plagued its demo and is a title with a creepy story and startling moments that will make you jump. Make sure you save often because, with no auto-save, it will be easy to lose progress and items.

Project Zero: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse is a great opportunity for both series and genre devotees and young horror fans alike to get the industry back on a path that isn't consumed by cheap copycats.