Monochrome Mobius: Rights and Wrongs Forgotten

About

In "Monochrome Mobius: Rights and Wrongs Forgotten," a young man from Ennakamuy embarks on a journey with a mysterious girl to Arva Shulan, aiming to uncover the truth about his believed-to-be-deceased father. This new JRPG from AQUAPLUS is led by celebrated composer Naoya Shimokawa and writer Munemitsu Suga, focusing on the rich narrative and character development, as the duo encounters various trials and tribulations along the way.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Monochrome Mobius: Rights and Wrongs Forgotten screenshot

88%

Audience ScoreBased on 199 reviews

story68 positive mentions

grinding18 negative mentions

Engaging story that expands on the Utawarerumono universe, providing depth to familiar characters.
Solid turn-based combat system with unique mechanics like the action ring, allowing for strategic gameplay.
Beautiful music and voice acting that enhance the overall experience.

Technical issues at launch, including missing dialogue text and low-quality NPC models.
Gameplay can feel grindy and repetitive, especially with side quests and leveling.
The ending leaves many questions unanswered, suggesting a sequel that may not come soon.

story
239 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
69%
3%
The story of "Monochrome Mobius: Rights and Wrongs Forgotten" is generally well-received, particularly by fans of the Utawarerumono series, who appreciate its character development and lore expansion. While some reviewers note that the storytelling can feel shallow compared to visual novel standards and that the pacing suffers at times, many find the narrative engaging and filled with nostalgic references. However, the story is described as incomplete, leaving players eager for a sequel to resolve lingering plot threads.
- “The story and the characters that are involved is what elevated it to a greater level.”
- “The story is very entertaining, focusing on three characters existing fans will already know well, and another newcomer who grew on me very fast.”
- “The way small references in the Utawarerumono trilogy were expanded into compelling scenes and storylines was impressive.”
- “The story is pretty much all over the place and just leaves loose ends everywhere.”
- “If you buy hoping for a full story, you'll be sorry.”
- “The story itself isn't groundbreaking by any means.”
gameplay
111 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
72%
7%
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it unexceptional and clunky, particularly criticizing the combat mechanics and movement. While some appreciate the introduction of unique elements like the action ring, others feel that the gameplay is overly simplistic and lacks depth, often detracting from the overall enjoyment of the story. Overall, it is described as a standard turn-based JRPG experience that may appeal to genre fans but leaves much to be desired in terms of innovation and engagement.
- “I also, however, like the detailed gameplay, the stories that keep me guessing and, often, surprise me completely, and the heart that the games are made with.”
- “It's competent, with a few novel ideas like the action ring, being a fun twist on the visible turn order mechanics of other RPGs.”
- “Monochrome Mobius is a great game not just for its story and characters, but gameplay-wise it is also very solid.”
- “The gameplay itself feels clunky, with even the way characters move on screen when you move the left stick feeling a bit weird.”
- “The actual gameplay is very generic and lacks depth, making it feel shallow and boring, only serving to pad out game time in between story beats.”
- “The jrpg elements are the same; they tried to introduce a mechanic to spice things up a little bit with the 'turn wheel', but it's clunky, half-baked, and doesn't really add much to the gameplay.”
graphics
48 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
52%
19%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players finding them acceptable but not exceptional, often likening them to those of PS3-era titles. While certain aspects, like character animations and scenery, are praised, many criticize the overall visual quality as bland or lacking polish, particularly in comparison to higher-budget games. Overall, the graphics serve their purpose but may disappoint those seeking cutting-edge visuals.
- “The graphics look stunning.”
- “I know the graphics are nothing special compared to bigger budget games, but mostly they serve the purpose well and at times the scenery and some of the creatures looked really impressive to me.”
- “The artwork is gorgeous, and the PC models and scenery look great.”
- “At first, I was incredibly put off by the graphics, poor character expressions and bugs, and really regretted my purchase.”
- “The game is also quite ugly for me; it's their first JRPG so I could have forgiven it, but for a game of 2022, it's really ugly. The character models are lacking in charm, their facial expressions are bland, the graphics are really poor, and the map is also really bland.”
- “The graphics compared to the trilogy are mediocre in comparison, but I personally don't care and loved this game regardless.”
music
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
32%
8%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its beauty and ability to enhance world-building, while some feel it doesn't quite reach the heights of previous installments in the series. While the soundtrack features standout moments and nostalgic elements, it is also noted for being somewhat repetitive and lacking in memorable tracks compared to earlier games. Overall, the music is generally well-regarded, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere and emotional impact, though it may not be as exceptional as fans had hoped.
- “The abundant references, seeing young but familiar faces (& new faces/art for the character names we've only heard of from the past games), recognizing towns/battlefields from past games mapped out to be able to explore freely, the way they still incorporate visual novel aspects, the outstanding music, great voice acting (they have Char Aznable's voice actor!), and many other smaller details on top of the main story knowing that it occurs before mod, all these things kept me excited throughout the game enough to forgive the cons of it.”
- “Music: 9/10 - as always, the music is beautiful and plays a pivotal role in the world-building of the series.”
- “Overall the soundtrack is fantastic and it changes whenever you enter a new area.”
- “The OST is not up to par, a big miss considering how exceptional the trilogy's is.”
- “My only complaint is that some scenes that are meant to be emotionally heavy fail to reach their intended heights due to the choice of music.”
- “The soundtrack is a little more hit or miss compared to the Utawarerumono trilogy where the OST really shines throughout.”
grinding
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players have mixed feelings about grinding in the game, with some finding it essential for leveling up and trivializing later challenges, while others view it as tedious and time-consuming, detracting from the overall pacing and story experience. Updates have reduced the grinding requirement, making it less burdensome, but some still feel that it can lead to an imbalance in difficulty, especially towards the endgame. Overall, grinding is a significant aspect of gameplay that appeals to dedicated players but may frustrate those more focused on narrative.
- “Part way through the game, I finally decided to just sit down and grind for a bit, and oh boy, after 45 minutes of grinding, the rest of the game became the easiest thing in the world.”
- “Level grinding is very tedious and only gives you a marginal increase in performance.”
- “All it did was introduce way too much downtime in between character moments and plot developments, courtesy of token JRPG things like grinding for experience and running through big, empty maps.”
optimization
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
42%
33%
The game's optimization has improved since its launch, with patches addressing many performance issues; however, players still report significant bugs, glitches, and inconsistent frame rates, particularly in certain areas. While some users experience smooth gameplay, others encounter severe stuttering and lag, making parts of the game frustratingly unplayable. Overall, the PC port is considered poorly optimized, with visual quality compromises and a need for further adjustments to enhance performance.
- “It seems the game had performance issues at launch, but with patches over the next couple of years, the game now runs pretty well in that regard.”
- “The mid-battle menu could also possibly be optimized in a way akin to Persona 5 or Eiyuu Densetsu: Sen no Kiseki 3/4.”
- “The townspeople are very low-quality models, but I got used to it; I'm guessing it helps with performance in big cities later on.”
- “Ran into major and minor bugs and glitches, stuff from cutscenes visually freezing and audibly stuttering to a ladder animation not ending, me getting back on the ladder to try and fix it only for the game to hardlock and require a force close.”
- “Also, the game seems pretty unoptimized; without a semi-fix from the forums, just being in some zones stutters so badly it can induce headaches.”
- “I only had this problem with one area, but the PC port isn't exactly optimized, so there can be some extreme lag making the game unplayable.”
humor
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating the blend of funny, serious, and dramatic moments that enhance the storytelling. While some interactions, like the "bro down" between characters, can feel tedious, there are numerous laugh-out-loud moments and quirky characters that contribute to an overall enjoyable experience. Despite a few flaws, the humor significantly elevates the game's appeal, making it a standout JRPG.
- “On one hand, the humor in this game was great!”
- “They were practically tripping over one another to make some kind of funny joke or interesting observation whenever they encountered something new or unexpected.”
- “When I played Mask of Deception and Truth, I laughed my ass off during the funny parts, and genuinely felt sad during the sad parts.”
emotional
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by powerful storytelling and impactful character moments that resonate deeply with players, often evoking tears and strong feelings. While some titles in the series may feel emotionally subdued or fail to deliver on heavy scenes due to music choices, the overall narrative is praised for its touching themes and rich character development, blending serious conflict with lightheartedness. Players appreciate the emotional depth and variety, making the experience both engaging and memorable.
- “There were also plenty of emotional moments that brought a tear to my eyes watching certain things play out.”
- “Seeing these sides to this cast is just too valuable, and this story is so powerful, emotional, and too exciting to miss out on.”
- “A world full of great characters of various backgrounds, mysterious secrets to unfold, and a mix of serious conflict and lightheartedness as well as touching moments between characters, tear-jerkers, knee-slappers, all that good stuff.”
character development
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
The game is praised for its strong character development, highlighted by excellent writing, music, and voice acting, which enhance the overall storytelling experience. While some players found the character designs varied in quality, the nuanced development and world-building contribute significantly to the game's appeal, making it a worthwhile addition to the series' lore. However, spoilers regarding character arcs may detract from the experience for some players.
- “Aquaplus's strength is their story and character development, and this game showcases that.”
- “Where this game truly excels is in its writing, music, voice acting, character designs, and world-building.”
- “It's got nuanced character development, great writing, great music, and I think it's accessible as its own story but also contributes a lot to the series' overarching lore.”
- “The character developments, deaths, and all that stuff are already spoiled for me, so I really struggled to find any reason to subject myself to another 30 hours of JRPG gameplay for some story that won't even matter by the time the events of Uta 2 happen.”
- “Her character design is probably the worst out of them all in terms of uncanny valley.”
- “It has world-building, character development, and a decently balanced combat system.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's stability is mixed, with reports of significant bugs and glitches, including visual freezes and hardlocks, particularly during cutscenes and ladder animations. However, some users noted a surprisingly smooth experience on Linux, highlighting that despite the issues, the game runs well overall for a first-time JRPG release from a visual novel studio.
- “Could use a few quality of life improvements, like being able to skip battle animations or give up during battle, but it was remarkably bug-free for a VN studio's first time releasing a JRPG.”
- “It ran without a hitch on Linux, looks great, runs great, sounds great, feels great.”
- “Ran into major and minor bugs and glitches, from cutscenes visually freezing and audibly stuttering to a ladder animation not ending. I got back on the ladder to try and fix it, only for the game to hardlock and require a force close.”
- “60 dollars for nothing but glitches, and the English text is completely missing, with just empty speech bubbles popping up.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
50%
The atmosphere of the game is generally enhanced by a diverse range of music that evokes various emotions, from upbeat to melancholic. However, some tracks are criticized for feeling amateurish and lacking proper orchestration, which slightly detracts from the overall experience.
- “The game creates a rich atmosphere filled with a variety of upbeat, sad, emotional, and traditional themes.”
- “The atmosphere enhances the overall experience, immersing players in a world that feels alive and engaging.”
- “Mostly it adds to the atmosphere and emotion, but a few of the tracks felt amateurish and poorly orchestrated.”