Utawarerumono: ZAN Review – Musou-Style Hack-and-Slash with Heart
I played Utawarerumono: ZAN for its loud soundtrack and button-mashing fun. It’s a fast-paced, party-based hack-and-slash that leans into combos and flashy finishers — great for short, satisfying bursts of combat.
Utawarerumono: ZAN turns the series’ story beats into a loud, combo-heavy action game — think Dynasty Warriors energy but with an anime cast you can swap on the fly. If you like juggling crowds, building huge combo counters and blasting a remixed soundtrack, this one’s worth a spin.
At its core ZAN is pure hack‑and‑slash: light and heavy attacks, aerial juggles, dodges and a combo meter that happily climbs into the hundreds. The Zeal system charges as you attack and dodge, letting you trigger flashy Chain Attacks or save up for an Overzeal Final Strike that demolishes bosses. You build a party of four and can swap members mid‑fight, which keeps encounters dynamic — each character has distinct stats, skills and weapon feels. Gear and formation choices add a light layer of customization, and there’s a simple progression loop where battles power up your squad. The campaign condenses the narrative from Mask of Deception, so exposition is trimmed in favor of constant action; expect story beats but don’t come for a visual‑novel slow burn. Musou fans will feel at home with the crowd control and stage flow, while the anime presentation and over 80 soundtrack tracks (remixes included) give the game real flair. It’s best enjoyed in short sessions — some stages can feel repetitive, and difficulty spikes hit if you ignore upgrades, but the core combat is satisfying and often silly in a good way.
Utawarerumono: ZAN doesn’t reinvent action games, but it executes its loud, combo‑driven formula very well. Great for bite‑sized hack‑and‑slash sessions and fans of the series’ world.
Pros
- Satisfying, combo‑heavy combat with flashy finishers.
- Party switching and gear/formation choices keep fights varied.
- Outstanding soundtrack — 80+ tracks and catchy remixes.
Cons
- Stages can feel repetitive after long runs.
- Story is condensed — fans of slow visual novels might miss depth.
Player Opinion
Players generally praise the combat flow, character variety and the soundtrack — many say the remixes are a highlight. Criticisms often point at repetition in later stages and sometimes uneven pacing between story and action. If you enjoy Musou‑style crowd control, anime aesthetics and accessible ARPG mechanics, you’ll probably have a good time here.