On Tuesday, Atlus released a new character trailer for first half of its upcoming SRPG duology, Utawarerumono: Mask of Deception. It introduces Ukon, a smooth-talking fighter for hire who accompanies the protagonist Haku and his companion, Kuon.
The new trailer offers an intriguing glimpse into what promises to be an intricate story, as Utawarerumono will combine SRPG combat with visual-novel storytelling over the course of two directly connected games. But, for the moment, we just can’t take our eyes of the guy’s unique facial hair. Is he one of the “animal people” Atlus has previously teased in descriptions of the game? His face certainly has a feline aspect to it.
READ MORE : 'Utawarerumono' Promises Epic SRPG Action, Visual Novel Depth Across Two 50-Hour Games
Here’s the official description of Ukon, straight from Atlus. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to clear up the whole “is he a cat person?” issue, but it does give glimmers of a rakish rogue type, kinda like the late Han Solo or Lunar’s Kyle.
The stereotypical mercenary is an unrefined hired hand who has no qualms about shedding blood if the price is right. However, the smooth talking Ukon is an exception. Yes, he's a mercenary, but he cares about the common people and is well respected by those under his command. Haku and Kuon encounter him fairly on early in the game, and Ukon convinces them to help on a simple escort job. Sounds simple, right? Well, it turns out this "simple escort" job is more of a "fend off dangerous bandits" sort of job. Regardless of this slight miscommunication, Ukon takes a liking to the strange duo and will act as a mentor figure to them. Of course, there's much more to Ukon that will be revealed as events unfold…
Decide for yourself if he’s a cat person, by watching the Ukon character trailer for Utawarerumono: Mask of Deception above. At one point, Ukon warns the party, “The area up ahead has been known for bandit attacks in recent months. Judging by the reports, they don’t have the numbers to be a threat, but stay on your guard regardless.”
Smooth talker my foot! This fool’s blatantly leading us into an ambush -- mark my words! Can you think of any RPG where rumors about bandits don’t translate to you kicking bandit ass by the bucketload within the next hour?
Also, what’s with that bandit girl’s blouse? If that’s truly a piece of clothing, it’s only the merest hint of an implication of a blouse. At any rate, these seem like awfully bewitching bandits. We can’t help but think of the planet Amazonia from Futurama -- maybe they are a terrifying yet sexy group of marauders? If so, these are the kind of bandits any humble RPG village would probably be delighted to have around.
Utawarerumono: Mask of Deception hits PS4 and Vita in the Americas and Europe on May 23. Both versions will feature English text and the original Japanese audio. The PS4 version will be priced at $49.99 (physical and digital), with the PS Vita version at $39.99 (digital only). European prices are expected to be roughly equivalent. Those in the Americas who preorder or purchase a limited launch edition of the game will get a special 50-page art book and collector’s slipcase as a bonus. The game’s sequel, Utawarerumono: Mask of Truth, will release for both platforms later in 2017.
- 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
