Sumio Mondo
Lynchian
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Platforms: Nintendo Switch™／PS5™／PS4™／Xbox Series X|S／Xbox One／Steam®
Release Date: March 9th 2023 (Worldwide)
Developer: Koei Tecmo (original & remaster) / Grasshopper Manufacture (original) / Nintendo SPD (original)
Written & Directed by: Makoto Shibata (series director) / Goichi Suda AKA Suda51
Genre: Survival Horror / Mystery / Adventure
Synopsis:
Survival horror series Fatal Frame / Project Zero is back again. The fourth entry in the series.
Available for the first time outside Japan, this game has been fully remastered 15 years after its original release.
Originally released on the Nintendo Wii system, it was co-developed between Koei Tecmo & Grasshopper Manufacture alongside Nintendo SPD.
Character designs were provided by Capcom (Clover) artist Sawaki Takeyasu (Okami character/monster artist, El Shaddai director) and music was composed by Masafumi Takada (Killer7, No More Heroes, Danganronpa) & Etsuko Ichikawa (Infinite Space).
This is a standalone experience, so newcomers to the series or those who haven't played the series in a while can play this entry with no worries.
In-game movies and character models have been improved. In addition, the graphics have been improved for each platform. The rendering of shadows and the beam of the flashlight has been refined so players can experience more realistic horror.
Story:
197X.
When the protagonists were children, they visited the isolated island of 'Rogetsu Isle' to celebrate the Rogetsu Festival. In the midst of the celebrations, they suddenly disappeared but were rescued but now suffer from amnesia.
198X.
Ten years later, two of the girls that mysteriously disappeared were killed one after another. They were found with their faces covered, in a tormented state.
The game begins when the remaining girls decide to go back and visit the island again in search of their lost memories of that day and what caused these tragic events to happen, followed by the private detective who rescued them many years ago from the island, who is looking for his own answers too.
Attempt to repel encroaching ghosts, relying solely on the faint glow of a flashlight and the Camera Obscura; a camera with the ability to photograph unimaginable things.
What is the "Moonlight Syndrome"? What happened all those years ago on the island? What is the story of the inhabitants of the island? Why is there screaming coming from the halls of these abandoned buildings? Who or what caused the deaths of the two girls? Unravel the mysteries and survive.
Characters:
Ruka Minazuki
A 17 year old girl from Rogetsu Isle that is learning to play the piano. She has lost all memories of her life before her mysterious disappearance.
Whenever she plays the only melody she can remember, fragments of her lost memories come back to her. Beyond those memories... the house where she was born, her father, and herself...
She travels to Rogetsu Isle, ignoring her mother Sayaka's warning, in order to recover what she has lost.
Misaki Aso
A selfish and strong-willed 17 year old girl.
She is one of the five people who mysteriously disappeared, and a descendant of Dr. Kunihiko Aso, the creator of the Camera Obscura.
"You will return...to Rogetsu Isle..."
Guided by the words of a girl dressed in black reflected in a mirror, she heads to Rogetsu Isle with Madoka.
Madoka Tsukimori
A timid 17 year old girl who tends to do what Misaki says.
She is worried about the change in Misaki's behavior after Tomoe Nanamura and Marie Shinomiya died one after the other.
Choshiro Kirishima
A private detective.
When he worked with the police, he tracked down Yo Haibara, a suspect in a series of murders. When he traveled to Rogetsu Isle, he encountered the case of mysterious disappearings and found the girls.
At the request of Sayaka, with whom he had become acquainted through this incident, he sets off for Rogetsu Isle to track down Ruka.
Sayaka Minazuki
Ruka's mother. Former last name is Yomotsuki. She is very weak and bedridden most of the time. Befriends Choshiro and asks him to look for her daughter who has gone missing again.
Soya Yomotsuki
Father of Ruka and ex-husband of Sayaka. He is a mask-maker who makes masks for the Rogetsu Kagura, a festival to comfort the dead.
He is pursuing the path of making masks, and was a strict father to Ruka when she was a child. He is obsessed with perfecting the "Mask of the Lunar Eclipse", the ultimate mask made by his ancestor, Soetsu.
Shigeto Haibara
Director of the Haibara Infirmary and an economically powerful man of Rogetsu Isle. He is also the head of the island and the priest in charge of the Rogetsu Kagura.
He has a soft spot for his son Yo, and has granted his wish to have a hospital on the mainland.
Yo Haibara
The son of Shigeto Haibara. A slender man with cold eyes that seem to see through everything.
He is a native of Rogetsu Isle, and established the Haibara Clinic in Tokyo.
He is wanted for a human experiment that turned into murder at his clinic. Choshiro Kirishima, the detective who was in charge of the case, is after him.
Girl dressed in black
A girl dressed in black who is visible only to Misaki Aso.
She often appears in front of Misaki and asks her if she has forgotten about her.
Ayako
A girl with Moonlight Syndrome.
She was admitted to the Haibara Infirmary by Shigeto Haibara, the director of the infirmary.
She has a very brutal personality and troubles the nurses with her over-the-top pranks, such as hurting others with a knife and playing hide and seek.
Exploring Rogetsu Island
Explore the dimly lit Western-style mansions and abandoned hospitals on the island by relying on the moonlight and the faint glow of a flashlight.
The story progresses by 'touching' places that may capture your attention. From past newspaper articles to notes, you will discover mysteries about the past in which abominable incidents occured. Unravel the lost memories of the protagonist and find the truth. Watch out for ghost hands!
Camera Obscura
An old camera with the ability to repel vengeful ghosts and seal away their power by photographing them. Equip stronger lenses and change out different films to capture even more powerful photos.
Reveal things that cannot be seen to find clues that will help in discovery of lost things.
Spirit Torch
Depending on the protagonist, you can use a spirit torch instead of a camera obscura.
A spirit torch is a machine that uses moonlight stored in a spirit stone to subdue spirits. It captures the spirit within its illumination range and radiates moonlight to inflict damage.
New Photo Mode
Pose characters and ghosts, and place them freely for haunting memories in the newly added photo mode.
Perhaps even take an unexpected spirit photo by accident…
Trailers & Preview:
Screens:
Digital Deluxe Edition:
- FATAL FRAME: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse - Base Game
- Costumes
- Accessories (6)
- FATAL FRAME: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse Digital Art Book (with Original Soundtrack)
Developer Interview (Wii version):
Creators Voice
The Wii version had an advert show up in a game magazine:
GoNintendo Article Archive
Reviews:
Metacritic (76)
Opencritic (72)
Official Site (NA)
Official Site (EU)
Special Thanks to Koei Tecmo & TheMoon.
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