Utawarerumono: Mask of Truth

77%
Game Brain Score Based on 834 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
Utawarerumono: Mask of Truth Game Cover
A worthy conclusion and a fantastic follow up to Mask of Deception that is a must play for visual novel fans on Vita.
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In "Utawarerumono: Mask of Truth," players navigate a political drama set in a world of intrigue and war. As a swordsman named Haku, players must make alliances, negotiate peace treaties, and lead their army into strategic battles. The game features visual novel-style storytelling, tactical RPG gameplay, and gorgeous anime-style artwork. With over 50 hours of gameplay and multiple endings, players will be fully immersed in this epic saga.

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

Reviews

77%
Audience ScoreBased on 834 reviews
story244 positive mentions
grinding15 negative mentions
  • The game provides a deeply satisfying conclusion to the Utawarerumono trilogy, tying up major plot points and delivering emotional high moments.
  • Character development is exceptional, with a well-written cast that grows through the story's challenges, making players feel invested in their journeys.
  • The soundtrack is outstanding, enhancing the emotional impact of key scenes and providing a memorable auditory experience.
  • The pacing can feel uneven, particularly in the latter parts of the game, where some scenes may drag on longer than necessary.
  • Certain gameplay mechanics, while improved, can still feel simplistic and may not satisfy players looking for deep tactical RPG experiences.
  • The game is resolution locked to 720p, which may detract from the visual experience for some players.
  • story751 mentions

    The story of "Utawarerumono: Mask of Truth" is widely praised for its emotional depth, intricate world-building, and character development, culminating in a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy. While some reviewers noted pacing issues and plot holes, the overall narrative is described as engaging and impactful, often evoking strong emotional responses from players. Many recommend playing the previous titles to fully appreciate the story's complexity and character arcs, emphasizing that the game excels as a visual novel with strategic gameplay elements.

    • “Maybe the best story I’ve ever experienced.”
    • “Utawarerumono: Mask of Truth is the grand finale of a story over 10 years in the making and one of the best stories the entire medium has to offer.”
    • “The story is magnificent and very emotional, the characters shine and have surprising depth, and an amazing conclusion for the well-crafted world's story awaits.”
    • “The only downsides I found for myself is that certain parts of the story feel much weaker than the rest of the game.”
    • “It feels like they try to fit an entire game's worth of story, exposition, and events into the final 10 hours of the game, and so coming off the first half of the game which was paced well and was interesting throughout, you get a conclusion that feels incredibly rushed and confusing, that leaves a ton of plot holes in what is supposed to be a 'definitive ending'.”
    • “The story didn't have to end the way it did and it felt like the writers weren't organically guiding the story to its conclusion.”
  • gameplay220 mentions

    The gameplay in "Utawarerumono: Mask of Truth" has seen significant improvements over its predecessors, offering a more engaging tactical RPG experience with nuanced mechanics and better balance. While the combat is generally easier and often feels secondary to the story, it incorporates enjoyable elements like co-op attacks and a forgiving rewind mechanic, making it accessible for newcomers. Overall, players appreciate the blend of visual novel storytelling with strategic gameplay, though some feel the gameplay can become repetitive and less impactful as the story progresses.

    • “The gameplay is for sure at its peak in this game.”
    • “The gameplay is a lot stronger than in Mask of Deception, and is pretty good with a lot of nuance and fun mechanics to it, as well as generally good map design.”
    • “An amazing conclusion to the entire series with rather enjoyable gameplay, massively improved from the previous titles.”
    • “Gameplay (battles) are far too easy and pretty much a faceroll.”
    • “There are some grand battles that don't even have gameplay associated with them; this is very much a visual novel first, gameplay second experience.”
    • “However, towards the end, the gameplay dragged me away from the story.”
  • music172 mentions

    The music in the game series is widely praised for its exceptional quality, emotional depth, and ability to enhance storytelling, with many players highlighting specific tracks and vocal performances that resonate deeply. The soundtrack is described as a blend of memorable original compositions and nostalgic motifs, consistently elevating key moments throughout the narrative. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's immersive experience and emotional impact.

    • “The music beautifully complements the scenes with the voiced songs usually emphasizing important moments in the story.”
    • “The plot of the Utawarerumono trilogy is spectacular and surprising with an accompaniment of OST and insert songs that are truly exceptional and fabulous, with that delicate yet impactful touch!”
    • “I still listen to the soundtrack on Spotify on a regular basis.”
    • “The story in Utawarerumono is nowhere near perfect; some might say it's a bit jarring with loopholes. Yet its story and world-building, music, and character development combined throughout the series, despite its fatal flaws in gameplay, is what makes Utawarerumono great.”
    • “The following can be said about both Mask of Deception and Mask of Truth: there were some pieces of music I really disliked, but there are a lot more that I absolutely loved. They were outright beautiful and filled with emotion, so overall I was more than pleased.”
    • “And then there's the music... rarely have I come across something that sounds so thoroughly 'bittersweet'.”
  • emotional102 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised, with players noting a profound connection to the characters and their journeys through hardship, love, and loss. Many reviewers express that the storytelling is rich and impactful, often leading to tears and a sense of emotional exhaustion by the end. The balance of lighter moments with intense emotional scenes enhances the overall experience, making it a memorable and heartfelt journey.

    • “What a beautiful, wildly fun, and heartbreaking journey this was.”
    • “The story is magnificent and very emotional, the characters shine and have surprising depth, and an amazing conclusion for the well-crafted world's story awaits.”
    • “Man, what an emotional rollercoaster! By far, probably one of my favorite pieces of fiction I've ever read. I'll always treasure this in a place in my heart; that ending was so beautiful.”
  • character development42 mentions

    Character development is a standout feature of the game, with many reviewers praising the depth and growth of characters, particularly Haku, as exceptional. The combination of strong world-building, unique character designs, and engaging storytelling contributes to a rich narrative experience, despite some plot inconsistencies. Overall, the game is celebrated for its ability to create lovable characters and memorable interactions, making it a masterclass in character development within the visual novel genre.

    • “Haku's character development is one of the best I've seen alongside a great cast of characters.”
    • “It is a masterclass in storytelling and character development.”
    • “Utawarerumono was one of the best works of art in terms of world building and character development.”
    • “The story in Utawarerumono is nowhere near perfect; some might say it's a bit jarring with loopholes. Yet its story and world-building, music, and character development combined throughout the series, despite its fatal flaws in gameplay, is what makes Utawarerumono great.”
    • “You don't need to play Mask of Deception to enjoy the game or be able to follow the story, but I would recommend picking up Mask of Deception, which allows you to get the full character development and world-building that happens before the events in Mask of Truth.”
    • “But the biggest advantage of Utawarerumono is world-building and character development.”
  • humor28 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as a mix of genuinely funny moments and absurdity, often balancing darker themes with lightheartedness. While some players found the comedic elements to be a highlight, others felt that the humor didn't resonate as strongly, especially as the story shifted to a more serious tone. Overall, the game features a variety of humorous sub-events and character interactions that enhance the emotional journey, making it both entertaining and engaging.

    • “Deception was that nonsensical and utterly hilarious slice-of-life common route that got us enamored with the cast and cleverly foreshadowed all those hand-to-mouth moments in truth.”
    • “It was hilarious to see Ougi play with rubber ducks in the bath.”
    • “Genuinely funny moments, cute characters, a story with stakes, and easily pulls you in from prelude all the way to your final point.”
  • graphics22 mentions

    The graphics in the game are widely praised for their stunning 2D artwork, with many users noting that the visuals are of high quality and evoke strong emotional responses. The combination of beautiful character designs, effective worldbuilding, and impressive 3D battle graphics contributes to an immersive fantasy experience. However, some artwork is notably NSFW, which potential players should be aware of.

    • “The gorgeous artwork of the CGs in this game is second to none, and most of them are going straight into my desktop wallpaper list.”
    • “The worldbuilding is great, the storytelling is great, and the music combined with high-quality 2D visuals does a fantastic job of pulling you into this fantasy world.”
    • “The 2D artwork is absolutely gorgeous.”
  • grinding15 mentions

    Players note that while the game can be completed without grinding, it often becomes necessary to repeat stages for resources, especially in the post-game content, which can feel excessively tedious. Many reviewers express frustration with the grindy nature of the endgame, leading to a less enjoyable experience as battles drag on and narrative pacing suffers. Overall, the consensus is that grinding detracts from the overall enjoyment, with some wishing for a more streamlined approach.

    • “The post-game amps up the strategy part but gets way too grindy towards the end.”
    • “Level grinding is totally annoyingly necessary for post-game.”
    • “Some battles go on for far too long and start becoming very tedious; the story still has many boring parts, and character growth is as unsatisfying as ever.”
  • optimization6 mentions

    The game's optimization has been criticized, particularly for noticeable screen tearing during the 3D segments, which make up only 10-20% of the gameplay. Players have noted that the performance on an emulator is superior to this port, highlighting significant issues with the game's optimization.

    • “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 emulator over this port.”
    • “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.”
  • atmosphere2 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is enhanced by its strategy sections, which effectively immerse players in the unfolding events. However, some players may find these turn-based strategy elements less appealing, potentially detracting from their overall experience.

    • “The strategy section adds to the atmosphere of the game, really immersing us in what is going on.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

71% average critic score

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Play time

55hMedian play time
61hAverage play time
18-110hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 6 analyzed playthroughs

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