FATAL FRAME: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse Xbox Series X Review

Many survival horror games have come over the past few years, each capable of scaring players uniquely, but only a few stood remarkably. It's one of the most challenging genres for developers since the game's success depends on the story's tension, atmosphere, and character design. The Fatal Frame series came with the perfect combination when it was first introduced in 2001, with every chapter focusing on a different location plagued by evil supernatural beings.

The series made its first entry to next-gen consoles with the Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water succeeded in creating a haunting experience while not washing its adventure's darker aspects. Following this success, the third-person survival FATAL FRAME / PROJECT ZERO: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse has now been ported to multiple platforms with a new polished look keeping the same originality of the series.

 

Although each game in the Fatal Frame series tells its own story, characters from different titles often cross over and become involved in each other's narratives. While forgotten after its initial release in 2008 exclusively for the Nintendo Wii in Japan, FATAL FRAME: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse has finally revived on multiple platforms worldwide in English. Despite some cosmetic updates, the game remains faithful to its horror-gaming roots and provides a genuine thrill ride that die-hard fans will want to record in their photo albums. The motion controls have been removed from the remaster, and the game has been reworked to 4K resolution; and intends to prove that despite its absence, it is still a worthy spirit to capture.

FATAL FRAME: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse narrates the dramatic tale of five girls rescued from Rogetsu Isle but have no memory of their time there. After being kidnapped along with two other young girls, Detective Choshiro rescued Ruka Minazuki, Misaki Aso, and Madoka Tsukimori ten years ago. The game opens with the discovery that two girls in the group died under mysterious circumstances, and the three protagonists have left for the island to seek out the truth about their own past.

 

Detective Choshiro is again drawn back to the island to save the girls again and uncover the truth about the island and the kidnappings that occurred ten years ago. After a brief introduction in which you assume control of Madoka Tsukimori, the game shifts between Ruka Minazuki and Misaki Aso, two of the teenagers, and Choshiro Kirishima, all involved in unraveling the mysteries of the island's hauntings history. Each character has their own story arc, and you experience it from a different perspective each time.

All twelve chapters of FATAL FRAME: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse will have you playing as each of the girls and Choshiro; the story will quickly shift to focus on Ruka Minazuki, the series' main protagonist, and Choshiro. You will spend much time in a Sanatorium, one of the most important buildings you will visit, stealthily through shadowy hallways while solving several environmental puzzles and protecting yourself from a twisted bevy of specters and wraiths. Even after ten or so hours, the game's unsettling atmosphere of island exploration held strong. Ghostly voices will come into the building as you move, and you are forced to take small, terrifying steps forward with the help of your camera and a flashlight.

FATAL FRAME: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse's story forms slowly, as does its gameplay. Gradually the narrative picks up steam and reveals multiple cliffhangers and interesting details as you progress. You'll have to solve puzzles to advance and evade a wide variety of ghosts, ghouls, revenants, and more as they search the island for clues among forgotten records, documents, audio logs, newspapers, and photographs from decades ago to learn the truth about what happened there.

 

FATAL FRAME: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse remains loyal to its original as exploration and combat separate the game's primary mechanism. All that has changed since our 2008 playthrough is a fresh coat of paint and a few extra sound effects, while the game still suffers from many of the same problems that plagued it back then. While exploring, most of the game consists of silently sneaking around the hospital searching for clues. The more clues you find, you'll feel even more like a part of the story as you uncover the setting's mysteries alongside the characters.

In the beginning, you're equipped with nothing more than a flashlight. Items in different locations can be found by lighting the flashlight in their general directions, at which point a glowing symbol will show up, indicating that the item can be picked up. This is extremely time-consuming, and item detection is inconsistent; sometimes, you have to recheck an area twice or three times before finding what you're looking for.

That's why it's impossible to know if you've covered all your bases when exploring a new area; you'll need to double-check everything. The puzzles can be challenging due to their vague explanations. Few doors will be inaccessible unless you actively search out and photographs the subject revealing that door's unlocking or revealing vision.

 

Controlling the character's movement can be clumsy and sluggish most of the time, and even running doesn't significantly increase their speed. The controls feel awkward or unnatural throughout the game and generally feel clumsy. As the default movement mode for your character is walking, it's the best mode to stick to for facing the ghosts that lurk around every corner if you plan to get scared more often and for searching every room for hidden treasures, including useful materials, upgrade nodes, and lore files. Some aspects of the game will be reminiscent of classics like Silent Hill and Resident Evil, where exploration and discovery are central to the story's progress.

When it comes to fighting in FATAL FRAME: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse, the ghosts in the game are on a killing spree early on, and if you don't want to join them, you'll have to fight or die in the process. Conveniently, you find a magical camera called Obscura that eliminates these ghosts upon exposure to light. But when it comes to actual ghost encounters, the game falls far short of its promising scare levels. The camera serves as a sort of exorcist in battle, capturing and releasing the spectral spirits. The Spirit Meter will show up around the ghost, allowing you to charge the camera and take photos.

 

A light will appear at the top of the screen when a ghost appears, letting you know what kind of ghost has appeared and in what direction it is coming from. You take a close-up of their creepy white faces as they circle you, awaiting the right time to strike. The more compelling the photo, the more harm it will do. Waiting until the ghost is about to launch an attack is risky but pays off with increased damage. The camera will show lightning around the lock-on display whenever ghosts take significant damage. The camera then allows you to take a series of consecutive shots without reloading the film. The damage from this combo accumulates, as do the points you earn from using it.

It is a unique experience to fight using your camera, as you can experiment with various films, shutter speeds, and upgrades to create the optimal weapon for taking on the game's more stubborn ghosts. The problem is that you can't truly appreciate the combat because you're usually restricted to short hallways, which annoys dealing with ghosts.

Because of the confinement of the area, there is hardly any space to retreat from ghosts, and you won't actually notice them approaching from the sides until they are nearly on top of you. To make matters worse, the camera automatically trails when you run, doesn't react as you'd anticipate, and always ends up in the wrong place during chaotic situations.

 

You won't get all of the scares from being attacked by ghosts in FATAL FRAME: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse, which is the finer aspect of these games. The tension in this game comes from always preparing yourself for the worst-case scenario. The game builds up the pressure from the sounds from the dilapidated building and the buildup to realizing that a ghost is getting closer. Their voices echo through the gaps in the walls and drift in on the breeze from open windows. Sometimes the sound of the building's creaking structure is often scarier than the ghosts who appeared in the adjacent corridors.

In-game menus also keep track of all narrative logs discovered on your journeys and reveal which ghosts you've already found. You can also capture specters' photos on the go, even when not engaged in combat. These specters appear for brief periods before dissolving into thin air. Unlike the hostile wraiths, the specters pose no threat. Capturing their photos require quick reflex, and the reward is several game points. It's gratifying to make a miraculous capture of a ghost, and it gives you the satisfaction of being a genuine paranormal detective. In addition, there are secret Hozuki dolls strewn over the area; snapping images of these will get you bonus points. At any game's save stations, these points can be traded for health kits, cameras, and new outfits.

 

Graphically, Mask of the Lunar Eclipse is a step up over its predecessor. The depth of FATAL FRAME: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse's settings and narrative is perhaps the game's selling features. The character models are nicely designed, particularly since all the female protagonists now look more realistic and appear curvaceous. The dust effects in the air and the vastly enhanced lighting both serve to accentuate how run down the settings have become. The game features complete voice acting; however, the dialogue is presented exclusively in Japanese, which may be a turnoff who prefer to avoid subtitles.

KOEI TECMO GAMES did a fine job bolstering the game's unique features, which will greatly please the fans of both traditional survival horror and the series. The character models now have increased detail and careful consideration for their interactions with the environment. Although certain issues with the gameplay and controls detract from the overall experience, the game still remains enjoyable. FATAL FRAME: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse's unique combat, compelling story, and memorable cast of characters ensure that the game will appeal to new and veteran survival horror players. While newcomers to the Fatal Frame series may not admire its gameplay, long-time series fans will simply adore it.
 

Azfar Rayan (@AzfarRayan)
Editor, NoobFeed