Utawarerumono

Utawarerumono: Past and Present Rediscovered succesfully bridges the gap between its predecessor Monochrome Mobius and the celebrated Mask of Deception, but not through the storytelling the series is known for. The game expands Yamato and Arva Shulan’s history by investigating seemingly unrelated incidents that gradually reveal how Monochrome Mobius leads into the original trilogy. Along the way, the game fleshes out beloved characters and answers questions long-time fans never expected the series to revisit. ...

Monochrome Mobius: Rights and Wrongs Forgotten expands the world of Utawarerumono in a way that feels unnecessary on paper, but welcome in practice. It’s a prequel to the existing trilogy, exploring Oshtor’s past before his rise to Imperial General of the Right of Yamato, a powerful empire inspired by regions surrounding the Sea of Okhotsk. Whereas previous titles blended lengthy visual novel segments with accessible strategy, this entry shifts fully into a turn-based RPG with sprawling fields and ample quests. It not only revisits a world fans have become intimately familiar with, it also expands the characters’ backgrounds and lore. ...