Review: Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse

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It’s a pretty great time for refurbishment right now. With Metroid Prime’s fantastic remaster in recent memory and Resident Evil 4’s remake just up ahead, those of us who like to re-experience old favorites with re-done visuals are eating good. Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse is something special, however. Originally released exclusively on Wii in 2008, it never left Japan. While the re-release of Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water was apparently enough to warrant a remaster, I’m surprised Koei Tecmo would go to the effort of localizing such a niche title.

I’m glad they did. While Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse harkens back to an uncomfortable period of survival horror, it also… uh, harkens back to an uncomfortable period of survival horror. Back when controls sucked molasses, but you just couldn’t help but get engrossed. And that basically sums up this entire review.

Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse (PS4, PS5, Switch [Reviewed], Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC)Developer: Koei TecmoPublisher: Koei TecmoReleased: March 9, 2023MSRP: $49.99

While Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse is the fourth game in the series, there are only minor links to previous games, and none of them are important for continuity. It starts off in medias res. Two girls who were survivors of an incident on Rogetsu Island return to it 10 years after the fact. Two of their friends – also survivors of the incident – had recently died, and they’ve been dealing with memories resurfacing. In order to avoid a similar fate and recover the rest of their lost memories, they return to the place they were rescued from to learn the truth.

Shortly after, Ruka Minazuki, another survivor who apparently smells and wasn’t invited along by the