Utawarerumono: Mask of Deception is out!

[Dreiko_v1legacy]

After some 15 years, we finally get a continuation of the first game. Most people in the west likely have seen the very good anime based on that game if they even know of this series at all. My copy should be arriving tomorrow but I'm excited to talk about this game so if anyone has it in their hands atm feel free to post impressions!


For those going wtf and struggling to pronounce the name in the title (which translates to "the one who is sung about"), the game is an Srpg visual novel hybrid set in a world where everyone is some type of beastkin hybrid, with civilization levels at a slightly more primitive state than typical magic and swords medieval fare, and a distinct traditional Japanese flavor permeating throughout. Expect good story and characters being the focus here~

 

[Dreiko_v1legacy]

I avoided the anime based on the second game just because of the spoilarz factor! Good to know it wasn't very good as well. The first one honestly was great and you wouldn't even know it was based on a game. I think I heard the anime ends differently and significantly worse than the game, though.

 

[Maximum Bert]

I will likely pick it up at some point but wont be for a while yet. Hear we are also getting the third game (our second) this year as well.

Watched the anime on a whim ages ago and it was pretty fun let me know if Karura is in the game because if she is then I will definitely get it later, Such a great character in the anime.

 

[Dreiko_v1legacy]

Started the game, about 5 hours in. I am loving the story and chars so much already. The protagonist, voided by Keiji Fujiwara, is a surprising delight and thoroughly enjoyable. The heroine Kuon seems a hell of a lot more capable than you'd expect and with some secrets and stuff. One of her artworks in the art book reminded me of Elsie from The world god only knows and so I went in expecting some kind of dame useless cutesy girl but she's actually really cool and kind and has a mean streak to her too XD.

I avoided the anime based on the second game just because of the spoilarz factor! Good to know it wasn't very good as well. The first one honestly was great and you wouldn't even know it was based on a game. I think I heard the anime ends differently and significantly worse than the game, though.

I haven't played the first game but I haven't heard of any huge difference that needed retconning, especially as it had a slight variation depending on the love interest. Unless you mean the anime based on the new game, which makes sense as they pretty much cut most of the battles from it.

Yeah talking about the recent anime based on mask of deception. The first anime didn't cut much.

I will likely pick it up at some point but wont be for a while yet. Hear we are also getting the third game (our second) this year as well.

Watched the anime on a whim ages ago and it was pretty fun let me know if Karura is in the game because if she is then I will definitely get it later, Such a great character in the anime.

Karula is in, I saw her in the art book, apparently she's running an Inn with Touka. Also a grown up Aruru is apparently gonna show up too, I was beyond hype seeing her and her huge tiger/electric squirrel combo as she was one of my fav chars in the first game, I even bought her dlc in tears to tiara 2 lol.

The third game is apparently a direct sequel to this as opposed to a significant time skip like how this is compared to the first one and you kinda need to play both to get the full story from what I understand. Preorder bonus for the third one is a case where you can put em both and it's coming out in 4-5 months so it's not too far away but enough time to ensure people will have finished the first game by then.

 

[Dreiko_v1legacy]

I wasn't reading the artbook, just paging through it looking at the pretty images, I avoided most of the descriptions and stuff. 11 hours in and more new awesome chars keep showing up, including a girl with an Osaka accent. Can always use more of those.

 

[Tsun Tzu]

Ooh...played the original like 5 years ago. Never watched the anime, but I really should.

Do remember the ending kinda being...way grim though. Like depressingly grim. And it just took a weird turn in general. Wasn't a fan.

But whatever! Catgirl and wing-eared waifus!

 

[Dreiko_v1legacy]

That one's a dog-girl but yeah, all sorts of animal ears from dogs to birds to cats. Also, this tail grabbing event happens in this game too, and was even more hilarious XD.

 

[Dreiko_v1legacy]

So, I finished the game! Wow was it an epic ending, and now I can't wait for the next one come September cause it really does end in a place in the story where, while it's satisfying, you can just imagine a whole metric ton of epic stuff coming after. Overall, I love all the characters in this game, top tier voice acting too. And my favorites from the first game all showed up reprising their roles, with the same VAs from over a decade ago to boot as well. Such a great game.


All in all it took me about 45 hours to finish the main story, it has some post game type battles I've not done yet so the value's definitely there. Now the question becomes how to pass the time until mask of truth is out lol.

 

[Dreiko_v1legacy]

I warmed up to Nekone, at first she was the overly serious girl acting above her age but damn did she grow on me with her unsupressible cuteness. Also, the "candyman", I really like that dude, he makes me laugh and is about as cool as you can get. And no, Ougi isn't insane, he's just kinda calm and collected, having an "what will be will be, I'll be true to my desires" kind of personality, he's one I liked instantly.

But yeah, the friendships and the weight behind them lends huge power to the third act when all sort of stuff starts unraveling. Also the twins, I laughed so hard whenever they did anything. They were my favorite unit too.


I dunno what happens next so I'm waiting for the sequel with bated breath. That ending was both a great place to stop and also the cruelest ending ever. Also apparently the final game is almost twice as long as this one.

Spoiler

Drunk oyaji Oboro crying his heart out was hilarious, Aruru and Camyu made me reminisce fondly, Kurou and Benawi are still badasses, Touka and Karula are still beautiful weirdoes, and poor Oshtor drained all of his life and died, leaving behind a shell of a little sister and killing his friend's identity with him for the sake of the people, which legit almost made me cry and I saved the CG where he hands Haku his mask as the background of my vita to remember him by, such a cool bro

 

[Dreiko_v1legacy]

I think Ougi is thinking something more along the lines of "even if they come after us, we'll be able to escape anyways, so no worries", don't forget how they climbed that wall near the end. True ninja!


Oh yeah and Maroro was someone who I initially disliked but quickly warmed up to. His whole situation with his family being ex nobles and such made him very sympathetic and you can't help but sympathize.

 

[Dreiko_v1legacy]

Finishhed the game... Dat ending

Spoiler

Poor Nekone, Oshtor might have survived if she didn't intervene, that's always tragic when it happens. I hope she'll get better. I have coupel of theories about who is the traitor:
1) Woshis-The most likely suspect. The people he handpicked to Tuskuru happen to be the biggest obstacles (Munechika and Mikazuchi's brother are smart and stubborn and won't back down like Oshtor and having Dekopompo with them put them all in peril). Sent Mikazuchi far away and knew beforehand that Oshtor will not resist after he is found as a suspect. Also the one who "had access" to the assassins that attacked the group and "happened to say" a rumour about Oshtor right next to Vurai. The only reasons why not is because the guy is a bit too obvious, his final line that "a dark storm is coming" which seems odd if he is the mastermind and the question what his motive? Did he think Vurai as a better candidate to being Mikado? That seems pretty weird.

2) Mikazuchi's brother-He has access to telepaths so he could relay the Mikado's assassination from relatively far away with him not being suspected. But it seems like a crazy risky move to him as he won't have any way to predict what will happen post assassination.

3) Tuskuru-They had a lot of people in Yamato and it won't be surprising to them poison the emperor to stop the invasion. But why frame Oshtor? It seems unnecessarily cruel considering that without him the whole kingdom will fall apart and millions will die.

4) Someone else-Unless any of the 3 above know some necromancery who sent the assassins to the group (especially as the twins did not recognize it)? Also with Vurai in the helm it's pretty obvious the kingdom will fall apart which seems very weird from the first two. Of course it's kind of a cop out.

I loved the game, the combat could have been a bit harder (though the last few stages has enemies with insane levels), another character that shined was Atuy when the wars started, there's something really awesome and creepy about her Yandere there. The ronin guy was cool too. Too bad he was completely useless gameplay wise.

Spoiler

I wouldn't count out that old man yet. Also we don't know where Honoka went. If he wanted to he could have fooled everyone into thinking he was dead with his technology. It might just be a way of forcing Haku into the position where he has to act like he did because he normally wouldn't be inclined to do so by nature.


And yeah, now I wanna see the next game because Nekone is gonna be devastated but will have to hide it so the only person she will be able to confide in will be Haku, which will make for a very interesting dynamic. Also, I wonder if the twins will realize what's going on and just not say anything and pretend their new owner is Oshtor or what.

Ronin dude hits like a truck man, and is pretty good at tanking too. And yeah when Atui goes battle crazed she's quite scary, it's not exactly yandere as it is pure bloodlust though XD.

 

[go-10]

is this a tactical RPG?

If so, having never played any game in the series before this one ho critical is it to go back to understand the story?

 

[Dreiko_v1legacy]

is this a tactical RPG?

If so, having never played any game in the series before this one ho critical is it to go back to understand the story?

It's a visual novel Srpg hybrid with focus on story. You can watch the anime to get the references if you haven't play the first game. It is very well-made. While not critical, they do offer a whole metric ton of love to original fans of the series so I would urge you to do indeed watch that anime.