Utawarerumono: Mask of Deception

71%
Game Brain Score Based on 383 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
Utawarerumono: Mask of Deception Game Cover
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In "Utawarerumono: Mask of Deception," players navigate a complex political landscape as Haku, an amnesiac man who becomes entangled in the conflicts of a mysterious, war-torn kingdom. The game combines visual novel storytelling with strategic turn-based combat, featuring intricate character portraits, detailed backgrounds, and a rich, immersive soundtrack. The narrative explores mature themes such as loyalty, betrayal, and the struggle for power.

  • PC
  • Phone
  • Play​station 4
  • Windows
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station 3
  • Play​station Vita
  • Tablet
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

71%
Audience ScoreBased on 383 reviews
story106 positive mentions
grinding7 negative mentions
  • Incredible story with strong character development that keeps players engaged throughout.
  • Beautiful art and music that enhance the overall experience, making it a joy to play.
  • Well-written characters with unique personalities that create a rich and immersive world.
  • The pacing can be slow, especially in the first half, with too much slice-of-life content that may bore some players.
  • Combat is simplistic and may not satisfy those looking for a challenging tactical RPG experience.
  • The game ends on a cliffhanger, requiring players to purchase the sequel to get closure on the story.
  • story445 mentions

    The story of "Utawarerumono: Mask of Deception" is a blend of slice-of-life and adventure, characterized by a slow start that focuses on character development and world-building before ramping up to more intense plot points. While some players appreciate the depth and emotional resonance of the narrative, others find the pacing frustrating, particularly in the first half, which is filled with filler content. Overall, the game is praised for its strong storytelling and character arcs, making it a compelling experience for fans of visual novels, though it is recommended to play the prequel for a fuller understanding of the story.

    • “The story is fantastic and goes to some dark places with occasional humor to balance those moments out.”
    • “The plot development is generally slow throughout this game, but it's worth every moment as the writing continuously builds on itself, and in some cases, even comes full circle, unfolding the brilliance and magic of the author's vision.”
    • “Strongly recommend if you like great worldbuilding, a likable cast of characters, and a sweeping epic storyline that does both slice-of-life and grand politics moments very well.”
    • “Honestly, I would have enjoyed this game a lot more if Haku didn't just randomly get attacked at the end of like every non-story relevant scene.”
    • “The characters, the writing, the general plot, it feels like they decided to make a version meant for young teenagers, with simpler jokes, worse human interactions, and entirely predictable plot points.”
    • “The story starts off slow and it has a lot of world building, but it feels out of place in the otherwise wholesome story.”
  • gameplay121 mentions

    The gameplay in this title is a blend of visual novel storytelling and tactical RPG mechanics, with a significant emphasis on narrative over combat, comprising about 10-20% of the overall experience. While some players appreciate the improved mechanics and integration of gameplay with the story, others find the combat simplistic and lacking in frequency, leading to a perception of it being more of a visual novel with occasional battles rather than a fully-fledged tactical RPG. Overall, the gameplay is seen as enjoyable but not the main draw, appealing primarily to those who appreciate the story and character development.

    • “For major encounters, the gameplay is integrated surprisingly well with the story, and the final bosses of each part are made with a lot of care and extra touches so they don’t lag behind how bonkers the story is going.”
    • “The gameplay is actually a big step up from the first game, despite being older, requiring the use of actual strategy and planning in several battles.”
    • “The story, characters, sound, art, world, and gameplay all come together to make something magical and I think a lot of other people - even those new to the genre - will be able to enjoy it as well.”
    • “The only thing holding the gameplay back is that experience is limited; characters can only gain experience if they participate in battles and fights, so if there is no room to deploy some of your characters, they will not gain experience and will eventually fall behind.”
    • “Gameplay-wise, there are fewer battles here compared to 'Prelude to the Fallen' (only 16 story battles, interspersed throughout ~22 hours of visual novel content).”
    • “If you're here for combat, though, the battles and gameplay sorely lack during the story.”
  • music72 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its emotional depth and ability to enhance the storytelling experience. The soundtrack is described as phenomenal, featuring a mix of original compositions and remixes that resonate well with the game's narrative and characters. Overall, the music is considered a standout aspect, contributing significantly to the game's immersive atmosphere and emotional impact.

    • “When Utawarerumono pulls out all the stops, it won’t lose to any other video game OST, and the way those songs are placed elevates the already good scenes into another world.”
    • “The soundtrack is fantastic, one of the best game soundtracks I have heard, and it is placed very well to immerse you into the story.”
    • “The music score is gorgeous, and I've found myself listening to it over and over again.”
    • “I fell asleep like twice during the game because the OST was just too peaceful, and there was nothing dramatic going on during the first 20-25 hours of the game.”
    • “The OST is a small step up from the original title, with a few new tracks complementing a strong selection of returning pieces from the original, although I didn't find it to be spectacular overall.”
    • “The only negatives that I would have is that the game only has a CG and music gallery, but no sprites/background viewers.”
  • humor26 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with many players finding it genuinely funny and enjoyable, particularly through the unique character of Haku and various comedic scenes that balance darker moments. While some jokes land well and elicit laughter, others can feel repetitive or forced, leading to a hit-or-miss experience. Overall, the humor contributes significantly to the enjoyment of the game, making it a memorable aspect for many players.

    • “The joke is great and incredibly funny, making every session enjoyable, even a 30–60 minute session after work.”
    • “Haku is just so funny and lovable, and really is a unique main character.”
    • “Found myself laughing out loud multiple times, and I really felt like I was on the journey with everyone having a good time.”
  • graphics24 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the beautiful 2D artwork and character designs, which are described as gorgeous and well-crafted. However, the 3D graphics are criticized for being outdated, reminiscent of the PS3 era, with some users noting issues like blurriness on higher resolution screens. Overall, while the visual style and artistic presentation are appreciated, the technical execution of the 3D elements leaves room for improvement.

    • “The art style is very nice too, and refreshing compared to your stereotypical styles!”
    • “Jokes aside, all the characters are well designed and beautifully drawn overall, the aesthetics of the game have this very lived-in rustic charm to it.”
    • “The 2D artwork is absolutely gorgeous.”
    • “Visuals are pretty rough for a modern game though, especially the title screen UI being blurry on my 1440p screen.”
    • “I'm not gonna judge the 3D graphics because this is mainly a visual novel.”
    • “Not much to say about graphics.”
  • character development21 mentions

    Character development in the game is a mixed bag, with some players praising its depth and nuance, particularly in the context of world-building and character arcs, while others criticize it for being slow-paced and at times repetitive. The balance between slice-of-life moments and significant character growth is noted, with some feeling that the extensive dialogue can detract from the overall pacing. Overall, while the character designs and writing are well-received, the execution of character development varies, leading to differing opinions on its effectiveness.

    • “The story is fantastic and the world building, the character development throughout the story is awesome.”
    • “It's a slow-paced game, but in a very good way; you'll come to appreciate the 'slice-of-life' moments much more when things really start kicking into gear. The character development and interactions are just amazing.”
    • “As for the supporting cast, since this game is more about worldbuilding and character development, you really get to know the characters from all angles and genuinely care about what happens to them.”
    • “I'd still need to underscore a flaw I've seen with both Mask of Deception and Prelude to the Fallen: character development, or lack thereof.”
    • “For a visual novel, both Utawarerumono games I've played don't approximate the caliber of character development and writing I'd expect from typical literature.”
    • “The first half of the game is almost purely slice-of-life events, lacking character development, with many stereotyped characters who don't evolve at all or right before the game ends.”
  • emotional19 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is described as a powerful journey that evokes a wide range of feelings, from laughter to deep sadness, with many players reporting tears during pivotal moments. While some found the emotional impact less intense than the previous installment, the story's strong themes and character development create a lasting impression, making it an unforgettable experience. However, certain disturbing elements felt out of place within the otherwise wholesome narrative, adding complexity to the emotional landscape.

    • “I cried, cried a lot actually.”
    • “Along the way, Haku slowly regains his memories, which he learns make him a person of particular importance to this specific land. Ultimately, the group gets caught up in events that will change the kingdom forever, at great emotional cost to Haku and those close to him.”
    • “It's an amazing, mysterious, and emotional tale that really will stick with players.”
  • grinding11 mentions

    Overall, players have mixed feelings about grinding in the game. While some appreciate that grinding is not necessary to complete the game on normal difficulty, others find it tedious and feel that certain battles, particularly the final one, are poorly balanced without some level of grinding. The game offers a choice between minimal grinding for progression or engaging in it for a more thorough experience, but many agree that the encounters can feel repetitive and lack meaningful impact on the story.

    • “I liked some of the background images and the combat system is okay from a quality of life point of view: there is no grinding required, you can rewind whole turns as you wish.”
    • “Battle mechanic is fun to play and not grinding.”
    • “So no grinding chore in this game (good!)”
    • “I find the final battle poorly balanced around hard since without grinding you are 10-14 levels below it and it'll AOE 1-shot your units.”
    • “Playing on normal, I didn't bother looking at any spells or even equipping any items until the last encounter of the game, partly because encounters were just mind-numbingly easy and tedious, and partly because a good 80% of the encounters you come across are just busywork with little to no meaning in the overall plot of the story.”
    • “If you want to raise the level of all characters, it will be quite hard as normal grinding rewards you with really small experience points and the stage first-time clear bonus only applies to used characters.”
  • optimization4 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with users noting significant screen tearing during 3D segments and overall performance issues that can be bettered by using an emulator. Additionally, the game's performance can behave unpredictably when capturing footage, indicating inconsistencies that detract from the experience.

    • “The 3D segments only comprise about 10-20% of the game, and you get used to the screen tearing, but it says a lot when you would get better performance from playing the game on an emulator over this port.”
    • “It tries to follow up the performance of Prelude while setting up for the next game.”
    • “The 3D segments only comprise about 10-20% of the game and you get used to the screen tearing, but it says a lot when you would get better performance from playing the game on an emulator over this port.”
    • “The game also behaves extremely strange performance-wise when you try to capture it, though this will vary depending on setup.”
    • “It tries to follow up the performance of Prelude, while setting up for the next game.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

56% average critic score

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Play time

68hMedian play time
46hAverage play time
1-90hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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