Utawarerumono: Mask of Deception

 PlayStation Vita
User Score
8.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 42 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 36 out of 42
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 42
  3. Negative: 2 out of 42
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  1. bloodless08
    May 30, 2017
    9
    This game shows exactly why I've kept my Vita since release date. It's essentially a visual novel set in a fantasy world, and one that actually builds up it's characters slow and steady so that you're actually able to grow with and like the characters.
    It has some tactical battles, but they don't get difficult 'til some hours into the game. It's a nice way to break up the constant    This game shows exactly why I've kept my Vita since release date. It's essentially a visual novel set in a fantasy world, and one that actually builds up it's characters slow and steady so that you're actually able to grow with and like the characters.
    It has some tactical battles, but they don't get difficult 'til some hours into the game. It's a nice way to break up the constant dialogue here and there.
    Ultimately, it's a ton of fun with lots of likeable girls and a fun, normal, smart protagonist. I'm very curious to see where the story goes!    … Expand
  2. zaftgun
    Dec 22, 2018
    8
    Lovely character design, acceptable gameplay and music. Though actual battles are few and far inbetween. The anime is more enjoyable but there are some more details to the story. Plot is quite good and even realistic for some as it portraits character behaviour, scientific and political issues.

    Seems to be low budget as most of the 'game' is just a few background images and a few    Lovely character design, acceptable gameplay and music. Though actual battles are few and far inbetween. The anime is more enjoyable but there are some more details to the story. Plot is quite good and even realistic for some as it portraits character behaviour, scientific and political issues.

    Seems to be low budget as most of the 'game' is just a few background images and a few character images of varying poses laid on top. Its a visual novel so there are huge amounts of dialogues to read. Actual combat is typical tactical (turn based grid style).    … Expand
  3. Gold_Grande
    May 23, 2017
    10
    I will be honest. I am a little biased when it comes to this game having found the original Utawarerumono interesting since it came out over a decade ago. I'm a lover of SRPGs and great visual novels (VNs). This is one of the best there is in both genre. Some critics (and players) are going to come into Utawarerumono with different expectations than one would need. This can cause unfairI will be honest. I am a little biased when it comes to this game having found the original Utawarerumono interesting since it came out over a decade ago. I'm a lover of SRPGs and great visual novels (VNs). This is one of the best there is in both genre. Some critics (and players) are going to come into Utawarerumono with different expectations than one would need. This can cause unfair review scores simply because this is not your average first person shooter, open world sandbox, etc. This game is heavily and foremost a visual novel. Most of the "playing" will be done reading the story. However, the story is great and if you like VNs, it is a real treat. Lovable main, side, background characters. Great lore and world building, the works. The SRPG parts (around 20 or so) are great in comparison to other games in the genre. If you like SRPGs, you'll find a nice challenge with this on hard.

    I also have the benefit of playing Mask of Deception and Mask of Truth before they were localized in English. Let me tell you now that this game is a first half to a story where the second half unfolds in Mask of Truth. Mask of Deception ends in a cliffhanger, so do not be too alarmed, there will be more. It is possible to play these two without playing the original Utawarerumono game (or watching the anime) but if one wants to understand why the Utaware world is the way it is and the appearance of some original characters in the two sequels, it would be best to get knowledgeable about the original. The original Utawarerumono anime is a great adaption and can probably be found on streaming sites. Highly recommended game. VNs as good as this do not come around often.    … Expand
  4. mindsignals
    May 4, 2020
    10
    Truly fantastic game...I wish i could get more people of this genre to buy into it, because it's nothing short of spectacular. I have played this about 98% on the PS Vita with about 2% on the PS4 via cross-play. It is simply perfect on the Vita and has replaced Steins;Gate as my all-time favorite on the platform. Steins;Gate was actually only my 3rd visual novel, and even now, I'veTruly fantastic game...I wish i could get more people of this genre to buy into it, because it's nothing short of spectacular. I have played this about 98% on the PS Vita with about 2% on the PS4 via cross-play. It is simply perfect on the Vita and has replaced Steins;Gate as my all-time favorite on the platform. Steins;Gate was actually only my 3rd visual novel, and even now, I've probably only played 7 or 8 VNs in part or whole. At its heart, Utawarerumono: Mask of Deception is about 90% Visual Novel and upwards of 10% Tactical/Strategy RPG battles. It's actually a perfect mixture and has also rekindled my love of T/SRPG games as well. Many a night, I spend an hour or two playing this game, just taking my time through the story, savoring it. I'm about 65 hours in, with about 85-90% of the game complete (I think it's usually about 50 hours on average). I'm hoping the upcoming prequel gets a digital release on the Vita, but I'm not sure that's going to happen. Either way, I still have the Mask of Truth sequel ready to play on it regardless.

    The story is humorous and often lighthearted, but with some nice twists along the way. I have a couple of guesses as to how things might play out, but I'm truly not sure and I certainly don't want any spoilers. It's a story that is simply great to be enjoyed. You don't have to have watched (or played) the prequel, thought it helps perhaps a tiny bit later in the story...from what I understand, it's more important to have played or read it before Mask of Truth, though, which weaves them all together.

    It's simply a fantastic story that's unveiled very slowly with quite a bit of slice of life to be enjoyed, and the occasional tactical battle just adds to the mixture without being overwhelming. On normal difficulty, the challenge is just right for me. Don't skip out on this one, whether or not you play it on the Vita, but it truly fits the Vita's portable form-factor perfectly.

    Very highly recommended.    … Expand

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 4 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. Gaming Age
    Jul 28, 2017
    91
    Utawarerumono: Mask of Deception may try and sell itself as a visual novel-SRPG hybrid, but that's not really an accurate description. Sure, it possesses a few SRPG elements, but in the overall scheme of things, we're talking about less than a quarter of the game. More than anything else, Mask of Deception (not to be confused with Utawarerumono: Mask of Truth, its sequel, which is due out in a few months) is basically a visual novel that just so happens to give players a little more opportunity for interaction than most of its peers. Actually, that's not the only way that Mask of Deception stands out from other visual novels. It also does that by being surprisingly good, with a some legitimately funny humour and interesting characters.
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  2. God is a Geek
    May 26, 2017
    80
    Utawarerumono: Mask of Deception is a great visual novel for fans of the slice of life genre and one that made me want the sequel right now.
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  3. Eurogamer Italy
    May 23, 2017
    80
    Utawarerumono: Mask of Deception is an interesting game for both visual novels and tactical RPG fans. The 3d graphics are quite old, but the overall experience is lovely. The PS Vita version will be perfect for your summer holidays.
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