Two Utawarerumono games have been released outside of Japan. We never received the very first game, Utawarerumono, which appeared on the PC, PlayStation 2, and PlayStation Portable. While the Mask of Deception and Mask of Truth do a good job of telling a story, specifically that of Haku, Kuon, Yamato, and Tuskur, knowing what happened in that first game lends a greater impact to the resolutions found in Utawarerumono: Mask of Deception.

Editor’s note: spoilers for all three games will be found after this point.

In the Utawarerumono series, everything comes back to Hakuowlo. He is the main character in the original game and the reason everything has happened and the world is the way it is. The curse on humans, the Akuruka mask Oshtor and Haku wear, and even Kuon’s existence all happened because he exists. Knowing about him and his impact on the world makes it easier to appreciate the twists and turns in Utawarerumono: Mask of Truth and see them coming.

For example, when Utawarerumono: Mask of Truth begins, we learn that Kuon is the princess of Tuskur being raised by Oboro. Oboro is actually her uncle, the brother of her mother, Yuzuha. When people say they are concerned about Kuon tapping into her power for fear of succumbing to a disease, the disease itself isn’t some fantasy. Her mother actually suffered from it. It left her bedridden and blind. Yuzuha and Hakuowlo had a child together, which was Kuon. Hakuowlo’s divine blood prevented the illness from passing on to her. This final game gives us closure, as we learn that Yuzuha was able to have a child, like she wished, one who would be happy, healthy, and able to see the world.

But how does Kuon have this divine power, the likes of which gets away from her at the end of Utawarerumono: Mask of Truth and requires Haku and everyone to fight and save her? It is because Hakuowlo is her father and has the power of Onkami Uitsualnemetia inside of him. That is a god within the game. The dark half begins to possess her when she believes Haku is really and truly dead after getting Hakuowlo’s Akuruka, inheriting his position, and defeating Woshis. This too offers complete resolution. The dark side of this god was the antagonist in the original Utawarerumono, Dii, and Hakuowlo needed to defeat him, fuse with that half so the god would be whole, and seal himself away.

So how did Hakuowlo become a god? After all, he looks to be a human like Haku. That is because he is. He was an archeologist who discovered the god’s existence, was murdered, and the god fused with him to save his life. When scientists discovered this “Iceman,” they attempted experiments to try and make people immortal. This angered Hakuowlo, caused the birth of the god’s dark side, and resulted in the curse that left Emperor Mito of Yamato and Haku the only humans left alive. Haku did actually learn about the Iceman experiment and project back when he was alive, due to his computer prowess. When Haku defeats the dark part of this god for good when fighting Kuon, he saves her and completely resolves the conflict caused by those scientists’ experimentation years ago. By assuming this mantle, Haku brings piece to the land. Then, when Kuon and Anju ascend to the head of Tuskur and Yamato, they pledge eternal peace in his name and begin work to repair the damage caused by the conflict throughout the game.

It also allows Hakowlo to fulfill a promise. When he needed to seal himself away in the original Utawarerumono to prevent Onkami Uitsualnemetia’s further meddling in the world, he promised Eruruu, Aruruu’s sister and the one he was closest to in the game, he would return to her. By assuming his place and role, he is able to fulfill that promise. He can return to her and everyone in Tuskur. He is human again. But then, the cycle does continue. When Kuon comes to the first village from Utawarerumono: Mask of Deception, she dreams of Haku. When she awakes, she finds he has taken back his fan. He says he will borrow it for a bit and she says she has caught up to him. It suggests that he too is promising he could come back.

All three Utawarerumono games are so important and dependant upon each other. While the two we have received tell a great story, knowing what happened in the first installment makes a huge difference. Especially to Utawarerumono: Mask of Truth. It shows how everything comes full circle back to that original conflict and how Haku is able to resolve all of the issues and ensure a lasting peace.

Utawarerumono: Mask of Truth is available for the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita.