The Fatal Frame series has successfully delivered some of the best scares across the survival horror genre and Mask of the Lunar Eclipse effectively takes up the reigns. The game oozes atmosphere from the moment you start playing, partly because you're never quite sure what lies in store, either around the next corner or for your main characters, who seem disposable. Take, for example, that Misaki and Madoka introduce the first chapter and while are we aren't completely convinced, both appear to meet horrible fates. When you finally take control of Ruka at some point a little later, you understand that anything is possible, which is a little unnerving.

Further enhancing the mood is the presentation, which is one part Resident Evil, one part Silent Hill and a third part The Ring. The game wastes no time getting started -- you're thrust into the role of innocent and naive Ruka shortly into the experience, and in the very beginning she's armed with nothing but a flashlight. As she explores darkened corridors, she will walk by rooms whose doors open, revealing ghostly faces with dead-black eyes. Some ghosts will stare at her through doorways. Others will see her and creep toward the next room. There's always an air of isolation and impending doom, which creates an intense sensation of horror and claustrophobia. Grasshoppper and Tecmo have choreographed chilling cut-scenes designed to rattle you, from in-world speaker systems that go haywire, blasting alarms, to psychedelic overlays that strip away reality. Shortly after Ruka finally does grab hold of the camera obscura, the game's primary weapon, she focuses on some nearby paintings, pans slightly to the left and right onto the staring face of a truly haunting ghost, which lurches forward. Not cool. The enemy character designs, many of them bloodied, insane women with eight-ball eyes, scare the hell out of us.

Clearly, we're not thrilled with the forced waggle camera control, but even with this ridiculously idiotic mechanical decision, we continue to trek through the darkened mansion in search of answers and we think that fans of survival horror will ultimately be pleased with this latest entry into the series.