How are the Utawarerumono PS4 games for someone who doesn't traditionally play visual novels?

[SparkleMotion]

The price almost seems too good to pass up.

https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP2611-CUSA06004_00-UTABUNDLEPS40000

Both games for $12. I've never really delved into a visual novel before, but I am open to them. Do these games have good stories that are engaging all the way through?

 

[Brazil]

Shizuka You like these, right?

Visual novels are the best, btw, OP. The Ace Attorney and Nonary Games titles might be more accessible, though.

 

[SephLuis]

https://www.resetera.com/threads/your-next-favorite-utawarerumono-no-spoilers-on-sale-us-psn.65750/

Here are my impressions of both games when I played them. Became one of my favorites.

 

[mrmoose]

I bought them early this year because of price and recommendations, and haven't made it all that far through Mask of Deception. I think the first one (chronologically) was just re-released or something but available as an anime?

In any case, I'm not a huge visual novel fan either, and at least the initial story seemed like needlessly wordy (it is a novel after all, though) and anime tropey, but that's probably expected in the genre.

 

[Dest]

Huh, maybe I should pick this up. I've heard nothing but fantastic things about them.

 

[SparkleMotion]

I bought them early this year because of price and recommendations, and haven't made it all that far through Mask of Deception. I think the first one (chronologically) was just re-released or something but available as an anime?

In any case, I'm not a huge visual novel fan either, and at least the initial story seemed like needlessly wordy (it is a novel after all, though) and anime tropey, but that's probably expected in the genre.

Click to shrink...

Yeah, there is an anime that precedes it and was just released as a full price VN game. Do I need to know the story from that to start these two?

 

[Shizuka]

Shizuka You like these, right?

Visual novels are the best, btw, OP. The Ace Attorney and Nonary Games titles might be more accessible, though.

Click to shrink...

These are amazing, my GOTY 2017.

 

[SparkleMotion]

These are amazing, my GOTY 2017.

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How laden with anime tropes are they? I love certain anime, but not really "cutesy moe girl" type stuff.

 

[Joltik]

Oh I have a question about this series. I just bought the bundle too since I heard great things about it. But I heard it's really the second and third games in the series. Do I need to watch the first season of the anime first, which is 26 episodes apparently?

 

[LiK]

$12? Might need to check them out. Also curious about the anime stuff.

 

[ShadowAUS]

They're good games, the original PC VN is still one of my favourite VN's of all time and the follow-ups are also excellent.

How laden with anime tropes are they? I love certain anime, but not really "cutesy moe girl" type stuff.

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They're tropey as all fuck, but the original is also close to 20 years old so it's kind of expected. There's not a lot of "moe"-eyness though, at least not to the level you see in a lot of modern anime.

 

[SparkleMotion]

$12.50 ain't really gonna take a hit to my wallet. I think I'm just gonna take the dive.

 

[Richardi]

It was good until MoD ended, MoT was just adding insult to the injury.

 

[eko]

Buy them, they are amazing. Keep in mind though that the remake of the original game comes out in english pretty soon (early 2020 if I recall correctly), so at this point I'd advise you to wait for it and to play them in order.

It's not really necessary to enjoy Mask of Deception, but a couple of the biggest emotional punchs of Mask of Truth are only effective if you know the story of the first game.

You could also just watch the anime, though. It's a little bit rushed, but it's pretty good.

 

[LiK]

Buy them, they are amazing. Keep in mind though that the remake of the original game comes out in english pretty soon (early 2020 if I recall correctly), so at this point I'd advise you to wait for it and to play them in order.

It's not really necessary to enjoy Mask of Deception, but a couple of the biggest emotional punchs of Mask of Truth are only effective if you know the story of the first game.

You could also just watch the anime, though. It's a little bit rushed, but it's pretty good.

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Thanks for that. I'll buy these and just have them in my backlog. Price is so cheap that I can wait for first one first.

 

[Hexa]

Do we have a date for the western release of the remake yet?

 

[SparkleMotion]

Wait, what is this game and where does it fit in the story?

https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP1063-CUSA16035_00-UTAWARERUMONOZAN

 

[Dust]

My take.

First game is one giant set up for the second one, so you have to treat it as 30-40 hours of world building. You have to be relatively resistant to anime tropes and cliches but the second game is 10000% worth the pay off. The slice of life crap mostly dies in the second, more serious game.

As for game part first one is 20% SRPG/80% VN while second 40% SRPG/60% VN.

It might be impenetrable if you do not tolerate VNs or some cliches, fair warning as there are, for example, 30-60 minute stretches of literally just eating and talking about nothing.

 

[SparkleMotion]

My take.

First game is one giant set up for the second one, so you have to treat it as 30-40 hours of world building. You have to be relatively resistant to anime tropes and cliches but the second game is 10000% worth the pay off. The slice of life crap mostly dies in the second, more serious game.

As for game part first one is 20% SRPG/80% VN while second 40% SRPG/60% VN.

It might be impenetrable if you do not tolerate VNs or some cliches, fair warning as there are, for example, 30-60 minute stretches of literally just eating and talking about nothing.

Click to shrink...

I don't mind scenes like that if it is building up the characters.

 

[Kalor]

Mask of Deception and Mask of Truth are some of the best stories in the medium and some of my favourite character work and soundtracks. I couldn't recommend them enough. The combat is pretty good as well, especially in Mask of Truth.

Wait, what is this game and where does it fit in the story?

https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP1063-CUSA16035_00-UTAWARERUMONOZAN

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Zan is a action game coveting the story of Mask of Deception, but it skips over a lot and generally isn't fun to play.

 

[weblaus]

Wait, what is this game and where does it fit in the story?

https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP1063-CUSA16035_00-UTAWARERUMONOZAN

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It's basically a barely-average take on the Dynasty Warriors formula that tries to squeeze in a 40+ hour VN in about a tenth of the time and should best be ignored.

In addition to all the well-deserved praise others have given Deception and Truth, I'd like to add that you should have at least a bit of affinity for trn-based strategy as the fights spinkled throughout can get suprisingly complex and especially in the second game also rather tough. Even more so if you mostly ignore opportunties to level up your characters e.g. in the optional training mode like I did, just to end up with the final battles becoming a big hurdle to overcome.