Utawarerumono: Mask of Truth

A worthy conclusion and a fantastic follow up to Mask of Deception that is a must play for visual novel fans on Vita.

Starting at €33.99Buy now

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.

Play Modes

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

Reviews

98%

Audience ScoreBased on 415 reviews

story121 positive mentions

grinding7 negative mentions

The game provides a satisfying conclusion to the Utawarerumono trilogy, tying up all major plot points and character arcs.
The character development is exceptional, with emotional depth and growth that resonates throughout the story.
The combination of a compelling narrative, beautiful artwork, and an outstanding soundtrack creates an immersive experience.

The gameplay can feel repetitive and overly simplistic at times, lacking the depth found in other tactical RPGs.
Some plot points and character arcs may feel rushed or unresolved, particularly towards the end of the game.
The game is resolution locked to 720p, which may detract from the visual experience for some players.

story
374 mentions
32 % positive mentions
66 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The story of "Utawarerumono: Mask of Truth" is widely praised for its depth, emotional resonance, and intricate world-building, serving as a compelling conclusion to the trilogy that began with "Prelude to the Fallen." While some reviewers noted pacing issues and plot holes, the overall narrative is described as engaging and impactful, with well-developed characters and a satisfying resolution to long-standing plot threads. Many players recommend experiencing the previous games first to fully appreciate the story's richness and character arcs.
- “It's an epic story from beginning to end, and I'm happy to have read it all the way through.”
- “The story is full of cliches, and gets a bit predictable, but it maintains a very good pace and establishes a grand world with many moving parts.”
- “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 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.”
gameplay
110 mentions
26 % positive mentions
68 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Utawarerumono: Mask of Truth" has seen significant improvements over its predecessors, offering a more engaging tactical RPG experience with enhanced mechanics and balanced difficulty. While the combat is generally straightforward and may not challenge seasoned players, it effectively complements the rich storytelling and character development, making it a satisfying addition to the visual novel format. Overall, players appreciate the depth and polish of the gameplay, even if it remains secondary to the narrative focus.
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “The last 18 hours of gameplay could easily have been condensed into 3-4.”
music
86 mentions
52 % positive mentions
44 % neutral mentions
3 % negative 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 soundtracks are described as memorable and beautifully composed, often elevating key moments in the narrative and leaving a lasting impact on players. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's emotional and immersive experience.
- “The music beautifully complements the scenes, with the voiced songs usually emphasizing important moments in the story.”
- “The soundtrack is awesome, especially because of Suara, who is singing the opening, endings, and some in-game songs.”
- “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 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.”
- “Some soundtracks were designed with the intention of playing around motifs which beautifully tug at nostalgia when you hear them.”
- “The music also switches between comedic and light to serious and emotional perfectly.”
emotional
51 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative 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 evokes strong feelings, often leading to tears, and highlights the depth of character development and emotional payoff throughout the series. The balance of lighter moments with intense emotional scenes creates a compelling narrative that resonates deeply with players, making it a memorable experience.
- “What a beautiful, wildly fun, and heartbreaking journey this was.”
- “The story balances calmer scenes and more intense ones very well, and is incredibly engaging, entertaining, and emotionally charged.”
- “Seeing the characters all struggle to overcome sadness, guilt, betrayal, loss, and love was very touching.”
character development
21 mentions
52 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
Character development is widely regarded as one of the standout features of the game, with many praising the depth and growth of characters like Haku, alongside a well-crafted cast. Reviewers highlight the combination of character arcs, world-building, and engaging storytelling, despite some narrative flaws. Overall, the game is celebrated for its unique character design and the emotional resonance of its character development, making it a compelling experience for players.
- “The character development is one of the strongest points of this game.”
- “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.”
humor
14 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a mix of nonsensical hilarity and clever character interactions, often balancing darker story elements with lighthearted moments. While some players found the humor to be hit-or-miss, many appreciated the genuinely funny scenes and meme-like sub-events that contributed to character development. Overall, the game successfully combines serious themes with comedic relief, making for an engaging and emotionally varied experience.
- “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.”
- “The story is fantastic and goes to some dark places with occasional humor to balance those moments out.”
graphics
11 mentions
64 % positive mentions
36 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are widely praised for their stunning artwork, with many users highlighting the high-quality 2D visuals and impressive character designs, particularly in the context of a visual novel. The combination of beautiful artwork, effective worldbuilding, and engaging music creates an immersive experience that enhances the storytelling. However, some artworks may contain NSFW elements, so players should be aware.
- “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 + high-quality 2D visuals do a great job to pull you into this fantasy world.”
- “The 2D artwork is absolutely gorgeous.”
grinding
7 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players generally find that while grinding is not mandatory to complete the game, it becomes necessary for farming resources when facing challenges, particularly in the post-game content. Many reviews highlight that the grinding can feel tedious and detracts from the overall experience, especially towards the end, where it shifts from strategic gameplay to repetitive tasks.
- “While they can all be beaten without grinding, you might have to repeat some stages to farm BP and items if you ever get stuck.”
- “As my friend put it, 'less time wasted on grinding, more time spent crying.'”
- “The post-game amps up the strategy part but gets way too grindy towards the end.”
optimization
3 mentions
33 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been criticized, particularly for noticeable screen tearing, with some players noting that the performance is better on an emulator than in this port. Despite the game's legendary status and strong voice acting, the technical issues detract from the overall 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.”
atmosphere
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
-100 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is enhanced by its strategic elements, which effectively immerse players in the experience. However, some users, particularly those less fond of turn-based strategy, may find these sections less appealing.
- “The strategy section adds to the atmosphere of the game, really immersing us in what is going on.”
- “The strategy section adds to the atmosphere of the game, really immersing us in what is going on; however, I personally did not enjoy the strategy sections too much due to not being a fan of turn-based strategy gameplay.”