Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse Announced; Early 2023 Release
During today’s Nintendo Direct, Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse was announced to be releasing for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam in early 2023. This marks the game’s first arrival in the West since its initial Japan Wii launch in 2010.
Taking place a decade after five girls disappeared during a festival at Rōgetsu Isle, an island in Southern Japan, these same girls ended up suffering from memory loss. However, they somehow remember a single melody and a masked woman dancing in the moonlight. Two of these rescued girls are now deceased, and the three remaining ones vow to uncover the mysteries surrounding their bizarre deaths.
Players will explore western-styled mansions and abandoned hospitals while relying on one’s own flashlight and the moonlight. Newspaper articles and notes will help unveil the island’s past and progress the narrative. The iconic Fatal Frame device, the Camera Obscura, makes a return, with the girls using it to seal the powers of vengeful ghosts. It will also be customizable to better combat the various supernatural threats roaming the land.
This release will include a new Photo Mode, ” new and altered costumes, and enhanced graphics including the improved rendering of shadows and light, delivering a more immersive and frightening experience.” Additionally, in-game movies and character models have been “brushed up.”
The trailer is viewable below:
In case you missed it, check out our review and interview with the development team for Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water.
During gameplay, players assume the role of Yuri Kozukata, Ren Hojo, and Miu Hinasaki as they venture through Mt. Hikami to find someone who disappeared. To overcome the spirits housed in the mountain’s waters, they will have to master the Camera Obscura – a unique camera that can deal damage to ghosts upon taking a photo.
Each successful shot will cause a spirit to emit Spirit Fragments, and if players are able to capture an image of the ghost and these mysterious fragments in the same frame, they will unleash a high-damage Fatal Frame attack. Upgrading the camera’s parts, such as equipping a stronger lens or changing out the film, allows more powerful images to be taken, giving players more protection as they venture further up the mountain.
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