Utawarerumono: Mask of Deception

Utawarerumono: Mask of Deception on PS4, PSV and PS3 combines a visual novel adventure game with traditional tactical RPG. This is the sequel to the original Utawarerumono, which was released on PC in 2002 and then was ported to PlayStation 3 and PSP. None of these versions, however, officially appeared in the West. Leaf and Aquaplus are responsible for creating the title. These developers are well known among visual novel fans and have produced many popular series such as To Heart, Tears to Tiara and White Album. Utawarerumono: Mask of Deception was released in Japan in 2015. Along with the direct sequel Utawarerumono: Mask of Truth, published a year later, they create a closed narrative whole that also includes the first part of the series.

Plot

The story of Utawarerumono: Mask of Deception focuses on a man named Haku who suffers from amnesia. Injured and exhausted, he is found by a young girl named Kuon, who takes care of him. The couple makes friends quickly and decides to set off on a further journey together. Soon, however, he encounters a variety of colorful characters and gets caught up in the political machinations of the Yamato empire, which is on the verge of war with its neighbors. The fictional universe of the title, which is also inhabited by other fantastical races, was modeled on medieval Japan.

Mechanics

It is worth noting that Utawarerumono: Mask of Deception is primarily a visual novel production in which long adventure segments are only briefly interrupted by tactical battles. The title still offers a comprehensive system of heroes and units, each with a set of statistics describing their usefulness in combat, as well as equipment such as various types of armor and weapons.

Battles are played on three-dimensional maps, separated by grids on which all units move. The matches are played in turn-based mode, in which combos and special skills play an important role. The creators have also introduced some arcade elements. When the hero performs an action, a descending circle appears on the screen. When we press the button at the right moment, just before it disappears completely, we activate additional bonuses, such as critical hits. During battles, we should also pay attention to units' resistance and vulnerability to weapons using a few basic elements.

Technical aspects

Utawarerumono: Mask of Deception features a high-quality two-dimensional graphics. The tactical portion of the title uses three-dimensional models, which do not impress with the number of details but make up for the lack of interesting animations and expressive style. The game offers original Japanese voice-overs and a pleasant soundtrack.

Last updated on 30 May 2017