How is the game VS Utawarerumono series?

[Green Cat]

I'm not a fan of open world style games (aka walking around) and prefer reading. So Utawarerumono and Tears to Tiara series were perfect for me..... but looking at screenshots.... This game might not be for me. So, without spoiler, is the game "Rich Story", "just there to make sense" or "lukewarm but sometimes has it's moments" ?

[Minneyar]

It's a story-heavy JRPG, rather than a VN with SRPG elements like the other games. It's not "open world" in the sense that people usually use that term to refer to games like Fallout or The Witcher 3. It has a very linear story as you progress from one point to the next, but there is a fair amount of walking around in outdoor areas; the closest comparisons I can think of are games like Dragon Quest VIII or XI. There's still a lot of reading, and I'd compare the volume of text to something like Trails in the Sky.

[Green Cat]

Originally posted by Minneyar:

[....] It's not "open world" in the sense that people usually use that term to refer to games like Fallout or The Witcher 3. [...] , but there is a fair amount of walking around in outdoor areas; the closest comparisons I can think of are games like Dragon Quest VIII or XI. [...] Trails in the Sky.

Sorry, I used the wrong term then.... Sadly, this is what I was afraid of... I dropped DQ as well as TitS as they were not my style aka yes, I played and the games ARE nice and all, I didn't enjoy playing it...

Thanks for the exemples. This helps me a lot. I will see if there will be other responses as for now it is a "not for me" or, in case I change my mind, (as I love the world and want to know the story) I'll know to what I'm getting into at least...

[Dad Dad Daddyo]

If what you liked about Utawarerumono was the characters and the storylines they traversed, I think you'll like Monochrome Mobius.

They've done a fine job, I feel, in slipping this story into position after Prelude and before Mask of Deception. They've done this in a way that exhibits real understanding of, and fidelity to, the characters in the original stories.

[Green Cat]

Originally posted by Dad Dad Daddyo:

If what you liked about Utawarerumono was the characters and the storylines they traversed, I think you'll like Monochrome Mobius.

They've done a fine job, I feel, in slipping this story into position after Prelude and before Mask of Deception. They've done this in a way that exhibits real understanding of, and fidelity to, the characters in the original stories.

This is why I made this post. I don't enjoy (not Hate, just don't like) games were you walk around (sorry, for me it's a waste of time, every second I feel like I'm wasting real life time just to get from A to B...).

As such, thanks. Your answer is what I was looking for.

For now: the GAMEPLAY is NOT for me but will be worth for the story.

In other words: Once I get over the "gameplay not for me" feeling, I'll buy and play the game (for the story)

[PK]

They have a good story but not much as VN. so u need to play through farming character even u play normal mode but its not easy as u think.
but it's more better than Zan serie.

[Green Cat]

Originally posted by PK:

They have a good story but not much as VN. so u need to play through farming character even u play normal mode but its not easy as u think.
but it's more better than Zan serie.

Thanks for pointing out that the story is good (aka I will still try because of the story).

Guess I'll grab a 100% save file or something (aka to "skip" chores gameplay IF I don't enjoy it) since from screenshot and video, gameplay is definitely not for me.... Funny how I did 100% the Uta trilogy yet the moment they change the gameplay.... Yes, I hate starring a game and dropping it.......

So again, thank to everyone, all this info is what I look for a realistic expectation for this game! (and if they make another one with same style)

[Val the Moofia Boss]

It's a decent turn based JRPG. Traditional, nothing to write home about. If you liked Yamato and their characters and want a generic JRPG, then sure, get this game. It is story heavy, which is simultaneously its biggest strength and its biggest weakness given how wonky the franchise's writing has been, and this game is no exception.

[Kaezeribato]

The JRPG part is extremely banal, nothing exeptional but it's not bad since they only made the same as all generic JRPG released these past 20 year.

As for the story it's just made to please the fan. They literaly put a "new" character that has the exact same personality as a character from the two previous game, only to please some fanboy.
This character also is used as a Deus Ex Machina because otherwise the story would've never progressed.
This is a huge let down, since they did this because they knew the story couldn't make fan happy without adding this character that should not be there.

Then you have the Shunia, she is a joke in the literal sense. Each time somthing happen she make a joke, be it a huge event or a small one. It's feel like reading a parody, or a mobile game story. They took the fact that people loved Haku in the previous game because he often was joking around and pushed it to the absurd.
For exemple there is a momen the character are in a dire situation, they are supposed to be in a realy dangerous sitation that could end their entire journey. And then she say a "no u" to a secondary character.
The same just before you learn something that should make you feel sad, she make joke all the time to the point you can't take anything seriously.

It's like they made this for 12 year old kid and forgot that Utawarerumono was supposed to be a seinen.

If you ever play it game take it with a massive discount because even beside the story, on the technical side of the game, they didn't bother to do any effort.

On the good side, for those would like this kind of things, they made things to please the mobile game player, they made it so when you use the two female character to explore the world you see their underwear ALL the time.

[Green Cat]

Originally posted by Kaezeribato:

If you ever play it game take it with a massive discount because even beside the story, on the technical side of the game, they didn't bother to do any effort.

, they made things to please the mobile game player, .

I start reverse. I can reassure you that there are tons of NON mobile game players who love panty shots. But I guess it's not that obvious since most want nude patch (not talking about this game. Though I wouldn't be surprised in a few years...) on any PC version.

Ahhhh.... You made me remember that the series has a mobil game version, I completely forgot that.... And now I realised the series is finished..... I mean as Quality STORY, VN with some gameplay....

Personal experiences of what I'm trying to say:
Companies want money. So if they see people buy action games, story less mobile games, they will NOT bother with long text. Since voice actors cost money... And since the mobil version attracted many people who are not interested in the story, just want action (aka why the new game mechanism....) and obviously they are more such mainstream buyers than fans... company will make game in a way that will attract more buyers....

Thanks... I will still consider trying the game. However... After the second (maybe 3rd?) part was released and see if overall it's worth or just another money grab.... because for heaven's sake. I honestly had with that lately, whatever NEW game I try, they are unfinished, half using what they could, rushed, only there to attract mainstream buyers who won't play even half (just look at the % of global achievement.......) yet cost more that it's worth....

[Kaezeribato]

Originally posted by Green Cat:

Originally posted by Kaezeribato:

If you ever play it game take it with a massive discount because even beside the story, on the technical side of the game, they didn't bother to do any effort.

, they made things to please the mobile game player, .

I start reverse. I can reassure you that there are tons of NON mobile game players who love panty shots. But I guess it's not that obvious since most want nude patch (not talking about this game. Though I wouldn't be surprised in a few years...) on any PC version.

Ahhhh.... You made me remember that the series has a mobil game version, I completely forgot that.... And now I realised the series is finished..... I mean as Quality STORY, VN with some gameplay....

Personal experiences of what I'm trying to say:
Companies want money. So if they see people buy action games, story less mobile games, they will NOT bother with long text. Since voice actors cost money... And since the mobil version attracted many people who are not interested in the story, just want action (aka why the new game mechanism....) and obviously they are more such mainstream buyers than fans... company will make game in a way that will attract more buyers vs for Fans who are less....

I didn't say the panty-shot were bad, i know how to apreciate when they are "well done". It was for the joke, because MANY idiot kept going on and on about how Aquaplus removed the adult content from their game and made the story closer and closer to shonen (a romance that dont move forward for 80+ hour of story and end in a simple kiss) of their own free will, and not because they wanted to please Sony.
So i find it funny that you all the time you use Shunya to explore you will see her underwear, even through she wear a long dress and is 16~.

Originally posted by Green Cat:

Thanks... I will still consider trying the game. However... After the second (maybe 3rd?) part was released and see if overall it's worth or just another money grab.... because for heaven's sake. I honestly had with that lately, whatever NEW game I try, they are unfinished, half using what they could, rushed, only there to attract mainstream buyers who won't play even half (just look at the % of global achievement.......) yet cost more that it's worth....

Well, after Their three previous game were Zan and Zan 2, those two were extremely condensed version of the story of the two "mask" game with a musou gameplay. But they were so shortened that they can be finished in a dozen hour, so no musou fan will bother play game this short, and most fan wont be please to have half the story missing.
The two were not realy bad, they just didn't put much effort in them.

Then you have the mobile game that is now their main game, it's a avearge gacha that's only made to make money with whale without much effort.

And then we got this one, were the dev were so lazy that the PNJ look like unfinished ps1 era character, and has a story that is obviously made to please fanboy with not much effort.

With all this i'm not sure having hope for their next game is a good thing. It's probably going to be like Neptunia, they will do their best to make money without much effort.

[Green Cat]

Originally posted by Kaezeribato:

.

With all this i'm not sure having hope for their next game is a good thing. It's probably going to be like Neptunia, they will do their best to make money without much effort.

Yep... This is why I will wait for the next one.... Because it's the same with the Nep series were they just recycle everything.... Except money to flow in via DLCs, thie phone app (IOS exclusive) and other sources (like the mobil game they had)

And yes, because of everything else you wrote, is why I'm assuming the series is done... (Zen and mobil game... Now this...), I mean, they did not even bother with Tears to Tiara 1 & 2 remake (for anyone who did not play them: I do recommend them if you are a Uta fan. However: It's not Uta universe; same/similar gameplay and more, tons of story like Uta series, 1st is Adult, +18, 2nd is all age. Don't expect quality graphics. Also: they start bad, maybe even off putting, and get better the more they you progress story)

[Val the Moofia Boss]

Originally posted by Kaezeribato:

It's like they made this for 12 year old kid and forgot that Utawarerumono was supposed to be a seinen.

This isn't really anything new. Pretending to be seinen only to never deliver has been the Utawarerumono franchise in a nutshell. The first game ended with that corny, formulaic scene where Hakuoro has to have a speech with every single character (same thing happened again at the end of MoT). And then MoD hyped up a war story only for MoT to turn out to be a pretty shouneny adventure where nobody died, and some of the battles felt like I was watching Dragon Ball Z.

[Kaezeribato]

Originally posted by Val the Moofia Boss:

Originally posted by Kaezeribato:

It's like they made this for 12 year old kid and forgot that Utawarerumono was supposed to be a seinen.

This isn't really anything new. Pretending to be seinen only to never deliver has been the Utawarerumono franchise in a nutshell. The first game ended with that corny, formulaic scene where Hakuoro has to have a speech with every single character (same thing happened again at the end of MoT). And then MoD hyped up a war story only for MoT to turn out to be a pretty shouneny adventure where nobody died, and some of the battles felt like I was watching Dragon Ball Z.

Yeah there was this side in the previous game, but on the other hand you have a "heavy" tone with many things. When Teoro come from the village to tell Hakuoro about the attack, is a good exemple.
So it's not like Berzerk or the Gun's Peddler were the world is always "serious", but it's still quite mature.

On the other hand in Mobius Monochrome each time something is supposed to happen you have Shunya, or sometime an other character, that make a random joke that come from nowhere or is just the character having it's IQ lowered to 10 for a few seconde.
I also forgot Munechika that became retarded and act like a 15 year old girl that want to be "girlish" to please the guy she love, and sometime get her "normal" character back.

That's the definition i was searching, it feel like a comedy that take itself seriously.

[Minneyar]

Originally posted by Val the Moofia Boss:

only for MoT to turn out to be a pretty shouneny adventure where nobody died

Did you play all the way through MoT? Because it has a long list of characters who die: (warning, MoT spoilers)
Vurai
Bokoinante
Dekopompo
Tokifusa
Maroro
Shichirya
Raiko
Woshis
All of Woshis' yatanawarabe
Mito
Honoka
Haku (the main character)

How many more character deaths do you need in order to not say "nobody died"?

And, uh... I just want to point out that you've got Trails of Cold Steel II listed as your favorite game, and without spoiling anything, I think we both know how the Cold Steel series handles character deaths.