On Wednesday, Atlus released an English-language trailer for the upcoming North American and European release of its two-part SRPG, Utawarerumono: Mask of Deception.
The publisher describes Mask of Deception as a 45-50 hour campaign that leads directly into its upcoming second half, Mask of Truth (slated for a late 2017 release). The combat style blends turn-based commands with more rapid-fire “Attack Chain mechanics,” while the game’s art style and character design have an anime-inspired look. Check out the English-subtitled trailer for Utawarerumono: Mask of Deception below.
In a press release, Atlus describes Mask of Deception as “a grand tale meant to enchant the hearts and minds of players in search of incredible journey. The game begins atop a snowy mountain where the protagonist awakens in an unfamiliar wilderness, surrounded by deadly creatures, with nothing but a hospital gown and a splitting headache. However, he’s eventually rescued by a beautiful girl named Kuon, who sports both adorable animal ears and a beastlike tail. Finding that the hapless man has no memory of anything, Kuon decides to take the amnesiac into her care, naming him Haku. As their journey takes them across the land, Haku will (reluctantly) encounter colorful characters (yes, that means more animal people), build deep relationships, battle ruthless enemies, and find himself inexorably dragged into the political machinations of the mighty nation of Yamato.”
I might be guilty of holding out hope for a true successor to Suikoden -- my review of Tales of Berseria being a case in point -- but the political machinations, shifting allegiances, and even the character designs give me a Suikoden II vibe. Utawarerumono might be a bit of a mouthful to pronounce, but fans of Disgaea, Final Fantasy Tactics and SRPGs in general should keep an eye out for this duology.
Also, you may notice Utawarerumono’s rated M for sexual themes, partial nudity, blood and violence. So basically, we know it’s got all the good stuff.
Both Utawarerumono games have been out in Japan for some time. The first hit PS4, PS3 and Vita back in September 2015. The follow-up debuted in September 2016. Back in 2015, Famitsu ( via Gematsu) gave the game a score of 32/40.
Atlus fans will have a lot to fill their plates with in 2017, with the long-awaited Persona 5 finally hitting PS3 and PS4 April 4, and now both halves of Utawarerumono later in the year.
Utawarerumono: Mask of Deception hits PS4 and Vita in the Americas and Europe on May 23, and Mask of Truth will release later in the year. Both will feature English text and the original Japanese audio. For both games, the PS4 version will be $49.99, and the PS Vita version will be $39.99 (with equivalent European prices). Gamers in the Americas who preorder or snag a limited launch edition of the game will get a special 50-page art book and collector’s slipcase.
What are your impressions of Utawarerumono: Mask of Deception? Do you plan to pick up the game when it comes out in May? Am I crazy for getting a whiff of Suikoden here? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
- Engaging main characters and story
- Great plot twists
- Linear progression lets you sit back and enjoy the ride
- Takes several hours to get off the ground
- Expansive cast can be hard to keep track of
- Early battles are too easy
