Could you walk any slower?
This is the second Fatal Frame game to be released this generation and it reminds me that this franchise used to be one of the best in the survival horror genre. Sadly the games everyone wants continue to be ignored. Mask of the Lunar Eclipse was originally released in 2008 exclusively on Nintendo’s Wii console, and only in Japan. This was the fourth entry in the series and surprisingly co-developed by Goichi Suda and Grasshopper Manufacture. While not as revered as the original trilogy, Mask of the Lunar Eclipse is considered a return to form for the series, the question is how does the remake stand up to the test of time?
The game takes place on Rougetsu Isle and follows Ruka Minazuki. She is one of several girls that were being held captive on the island. After being rescued she and two other girls return to the island to discover what happened as they all have of course suffered amnesia. To be fair I would not have any interest in returning, but then that wouldn’t make for a very interesting horror story would it? Throughout the game players will switch between four different playable characters as they search for the mystery behind the island and the mask while taking down ghosts with the iconic Camera Obscura.
MSRP: $49.99
Platforms: Xbox (reviewed), PlayStation, Switch, PC
Price I’d Pay: $29.99
Bringing this game into the modern age has come with plenty of changes. The graphical overhaul has added new shadows and lighting that make it look and feel more modern. Obviously on Xbox and PlayStation there are no motion controls, so combat feels more like the traditional Fatal Frame games. The Camera Obscura is the main weapon, but one of the characters also has a flashlight that shoots beams to the same effect.
The biggest issue for me is how slow this game is. Yes it is survival horror, there is mean to be tension in the encounters. Mask of the Lunar Eclipse though is molasses slow. There is a “run” button, but it feels more like a steady canter. I mean this game is painfully slow. This becomes an issue when running into more than one ghost at a time. There is a quick turn, but this causes the camera to lose its mind sometimes. I found myself taking hits due to the sluggish controls. It can be more frustrating than tense.
Similar to Maiden of Black Water, the Camera Obscura can be upgraded with lenses found throughout the game. These new abilities will allow players to earn more points when snapping ghosts with the camera or the flashlight. I could then use these points to purchase items at lanterns such as health items and extra film. It is a pretty standard loop that works well enough. I still can’t get past how slow combat and movement are though. It really creates an arbitrary difficulty that some modernized movement could have solved.
The other upgrades come in the form of stones that can be collected to improve shooting speed, loading, and of course damage. It makes things a little more manageable and they aren’t that hard to find, but exploration continues to be hindered by the slow run animation. It just feels like the game is in a constant state of sluggishness and it pads out an otherwise well-paced adventure. If I was seeing ghosts through cameras I guarantee I would be moving at a much brisker pace.
In the end, Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse is nice to see. I love that the series is making a comeback. I just wish we could get the original trilogy on modern consoles. Those games are lost to time and would benefit from just a remaster at this point. Still more survival horror is always welcome and we are truly living in an embarrassment of riches in the genre. I wish it was on the same level as others coming back, but for that we need the original trilogy. Make it happen KOEI Tecmo!
Review copy of game provided by publisher.