Written yesteryear Alexander O. Cuaycong in addition to Anthony L. Cuaycong
Title: Utawarerumono: Mask of Deception
Developer: Aqua Plus
Publisher: Atlus U.S.A., Inc.
Genre: SRPG, Visual Novel
Price: $49.99
Also Available On: PS Vita
Visual Novels are niche games non ofttimes seen inwards western markets, in addition to for proficient reason. Most VNs are characterized yesteryear their manga/anime fine art style, a pattern pick that may good appear childish in addition to cartoony to those otherwise predisposed to realism. Add this to often-cheesy stories from unimaginative VNs, in addition to it's slowly to meet why the genre hasn’t taken off every bit good every bit initially thought.
Which is non to state all VNs are overlooked in addition to fated to state inwards the dustbins of mediocrity. In fact, quite a few VNs are received well, both inwards Nippon in addition to abroad. Such notable serial every bit Phoenix Wright, Zero Escape, in addition to Danganronpa distinguish themselves from competitors yesteryear injecting interesting gameplay elements amongst rich storylines. From logic-heavy puzzles to action-oriented brawls, these VNs are non solely interesting to read, only also to play. Utawarerumono: Mask of Deception takes these examples in addition to goes a pace further, moving to combine a turn-based strategy organization amongst a deliberately textured narrative.
Featuring battle mechanics that feels rhythmic yesteryear nature, Utawarerumono: MoD desperately aims to travelling steal players through both its flush in addition to its gameplay, and, creditably, tries really difficult to create so. Character sprites are done well, though they create tend to overly cater to fan service. Voices are performed admirably, in addition to the flush is written in addition to told inwards such a agency that fifty-fifty if the premise of an amnesiac protagonist seems shopworn in addition to generic, it's soundless enjoyable to read through. The timing mini-game inside battles also captures involvement in addition to rewards players for proper inputs during scrap yesteryear bestowing extra effects on their attacks such every bit additional harm or condition debuffs on enemies.
Needless to say, Utawarerumono: MoD leans heavily on its flush to maintain players hooked. It starts with an verbalise absence of information: The Pb grapheme does non know who he is in addition to why he is exposed to harsh conditions in addition to elements. He in addition to so strives to decipher his life with the aid of kind-hearted characters (among them Kuon, who names him Haku in addition to takes him inwards her care) who all possess got brute ears in addition to tails in addition to who are all much stronger than him (thus underscoring his fish-out-of-water situation). How he adapts to his environs in addition to later becomes familiar with it cast the crux of the game. As he travels to a greater extent than or less Yamato, he gets to interact with locals in addition to enriches himself inwards the procedure plenty to aid nigh collective interests in addition to invest inwards the progress of the vast field he gets to telephone phone home.
To endure sure, Utawarerumono: MoD is an acquired taste. Those non usually imbibed with patience volition rue the lack of proper pacing; battles come about at seemingly random moments during the story, serving to interrupt the menstruation of the plot every bit much every bit to supply welcome changes. Fights seem to come upwards in addition to drib dead when the flush dictates it, in addition to piece they create require some strategy, they're fairly slowly to instruct through – which may or may non endure a plus depending on preferences.
For the uninitiated, however, Utawarerumono: MoD's biggest sin is its lack of choice. Most VNs emphasize the importance of players’ choices in addition to decisions during the game; actions are weighted heavily in addition to touching on the flush in addition to how it proceeds. But because Utawarerumono: MoD is the type of VN that moves a specific narrative, choices are ultimately meaningless. Player interaction takes a backseat to the epic tale it wants to tell, so when the flush gets to its plodding moments, in addition to when battles experience ultimately meaningless, questions are inevitably asked every bit to the role of using an interactive medium to encompass a fixed journey.
Admittedly, Utawarerumono: MoD is a polished work. There's a definite spark of brilliance shining inwards the game, seen specifically inwards its wonderful artistic in addition to stylistic choices. Its characters in addition to settings concur involvement in addition to its ideas possess got merit, specially inwards the context of the the world the game tries to craft. That said, it opens itself to criticism yesteryear making choices irrelevant to the denouement. It runs well, plays smoothly, in addition to offers a captivating tale. On the flipside, it takes away the 1 affair players most similar to wield: The ability to arts and crafts their ain destiny.
THE GOOD:
- Excellent fine art in addition to grapheme designs
- Compelling narrative, boasting of an outstanding dorsum flush in addition to setting
- Unique mechanics for create out sequences
THE BAD:
- Iffy transition betwixt tactical battles in addition to flush segments
- Fights tin endure slowly in addition to uninteresting, serving to interrupt the flush flow
- No histrion inputs
- Linear
- Uneven pacing
RATING: 7/10
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