The final Utawarerumono game releases this Thursday

Aquaplus is releasing Utawarerumono: Shiro e no Michishirube this Thursday, May 28, for PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam. The release brings the franchise to a close 24 years after the original game debuted on PC.

The new entry picks up after the events of 2022's Monochrome Mobius: Rights and Wrongs Forgotten. Oshtor, Mikazuchi, Munechika, and Shunya have successfully defended Yamato from the enemy nation of Ava-Shulan. Peace is short-lived. Strange anomalies begin appearing across the land. These events draw the cast into a new journey toward a mysterious guidepost hidden in a white mist. Aquaplus executives have confirmed that scenario writer Munemitsu Suga has finished telling his story in this universe. This is the final installment.

Field combat and fast travel

Exploration includes several quality-of-life updates over previous entries. You can initiate combat with a preemptive strike simply by touching an enemy from behind on the field map. If you are riding a horse, you can just trample weaker enemies to defeat them without ever loading into a battle screen.

Fast travel is now available from anywhere. You do not need to find a specific shrine to teleport out of a deep dungeon. You can instantly jump back to any previously visited location.

The game also has a subjugation system for its field areas. Once you defeat a set number of monsters or a specific regional boss in a zone, you conquer that area. After taking control of a region, you can instantly kill enemy symbols on the map with a single sword swing. These instant kills still reward you with full experience points, money, and dropped items. It entirely removes the grind from material gathering.

Rings and robots

Combat uses a triple-ring interface to determine turn order. Faster characters move along the inner rings, giving them shorter distances to travel before their next action. You can manipulate this turn order by breaking enemy morale or using specific commands to move your own party members to the faster inner tracks.

You can also spend EP to summon Haru. This mechanical unit replaces your entire party on the field and fights solo. Haru relies on a shield meter instead of standard health points. If the shield breaks, you do not lose the battle. Haru just goes into a cooldown state until the shield recharges. You can swap Haru's chassis depending on the situation. Forms include a balanced bipedal body and a multi-legged version built for heavy physical attacks.

Upgrading Haru requires feeding it materials at the general store in the Imperial Capital. This increases its stats and unlocks new combat skills. You can also unlock out-of-combat convenience functions by finding and giving Haru specific items called Photon Capsules.

New mask powers

Oshtor and Mikazuchi have access to a new mask transformation command. This allows them to use highly destructive specialized skills for a limited number of turns. These attacks consume a percentage of their total energy rather than a fixed amount.

Shunya gets her own unique mechanic. She automatically accumulates a Spirit Orb every time her turn comes around. She can spend these orbs to activate skills that buff allies and debuff enemies. Hoarding these orbs is the intended strategy for surviving long boss fights.

To keep your party leveled up, you can take on requests from notice boards in various towns. Completing enough of these bounties earns you a regular stipend from the royal court. You just have to visit Yuuri's room in Oshtor's mansion to collect your paycheck.

The Utawarerumono series started in 2002 as a 2D tactical visual novel. It is ending 24 years later as a full 3D console RPG. That is a hell of a run.