Unicorn Overlord
MSRP $59.99
“Unicorn Overlord is the strategy RPG fans of the genre have been waiting for.”
Pros
Standout presentation
Fun characters
Deep battle system
Lots of customization potential
Cons
Generic story
Minor technical hiccups
When I launched into the world of Fevrith in Unicorn Overlord, I felt a wave of nostalgia like I used to be taking part in an RPG from the 90s. That was partially due to its tactical gameplay that appears and appears like a throwback to a few of the style’s greatest, however it’s the artwork that actually took me again. As I traveled the overworld map as Alain, the story’s hero, I marveled at his tiny sprite. It was as charming as his full character mannequin in Unicorn Overlord’s attractive artwork model and cutscenes.
Unicorn Overlord is a technique sport developed by Vanillaware, a studio most recognizable via its distinct 2D artwork model and painted by hand joint animations for its characters. That art work actually helps carry the sport’s excessive fantasy setting to life. And whereas that transported me to a complete new world, it additionally introduced me again to a well-known period of style classics that I really like.
Despite its generic story, Unicorn Overlord boasts an extremely enjoyable real-time technique fight system tweaked with an auto battle system and loads of customization choices for its characters. For those that yearn for a return to the good technique RPGs of the ’90s, it’s a nostalgic winner elevated by its unforgettable artwork.
Liberating the world
Unicorn Overlord begins off on a robust word when the dominion of Cornia is overthrown by Galerius, an influence hungry conqueror. Under his new rule, Galerius unites all 5 nations of Fevrith beneath his personal Zenorian empire. A younger man named Alain safely flees with the assistance of his bodyguard, Josef, and the sport time skips 10 years. After acquiring the Ring of the Unicorn, he gathers his allies to type the Liberation Army to free Fevrith from Galerius’s tyrannical rule.
Vanillaware
This premise will get straight to the purpose with a transparent objective. However, the story begins to pull a bit after we be taught the ring’s talents. Galerius locations a lot of Alain’s earlier childhood associates and Josef’s comrades beneath a mind-controlling spell, and the ring can free them from it. For an excellent portion of the sport’s major missions and quests, that’s the first story justification for Alain dealing with off towards them.
It’s a weak motivator and appears like a cop-out provided that Vanillaware has informed robust tales earlier than. 2020’s 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim was a wonderful mind-bending sci-fi visible novel journey that stored me occupied to the very finish. 2007’s Odin Sphere was an emotional curler coaster informed from the viewpoints of six playable characters whose paths finally coalesced into a strong ending.
Without going into spoilers, Unicorn Overlord’s fairly predictable story, plot twists, and ending don’t hit practically as onerous as Vanillaware’s greatest titles. Thankfully, the developer can choose up that slack with robust interpersonal relationships between its extensive forged of heroes.
It’s a celebration within the Liberation Army
While the principle story situations in Unicorn Overlord give attention to a number of choose major characters, there are 60 allies that Alain can recruit. There’s loads of welcome variety in that roster, which incorporates people, beasts, elves, and even angels. The proven fact that so many walks of life be part of the Liberation Army actually lends the sensation that every one 5 of the nations are united to take down the Zenoirian Empire.
It appears like taking part in an old-fashioned Final Fantasy sport …
As gamers proceed to combat alongside them, they earn factors towards their Rapport Level and might unlock Rapport Conversations. These are merely cutscenes at particular factors on the map the place two characters speak with one another. These conversations are as entertaining as they’re helpful. For instance, the knight, Miriam, talks to her horse prefer it’s her child, however the shaman Selvie’s extra socially awkward nature thinks that she actually is aware of tips on how to converse to animals.
These usually joyful interactions give extra depth to every particular person character within the huge forged. There’s a tangible reward for viewing these, too. They reward Honors, that are wanted to advertise models to stronger courses and broaden models. It’s a sensible motivator, giving gamers a purpose to spend money on every character’s story.
Vanillaware
What I really like about Unicorn Overlord‘s presentation is that there’s no central hub for the Liberation Army to return to love in Fire Emblem: Three Houses’ Garreg Mach Monastery college or The Diofield Chronicles‘ Elm Cap. Instead, Alain’s small sprite wanders across the extra open Fevrith, discovering new areas, cities, and quests alongside the best way.
It appears like taking part in an old-school Final Fantasy sport the place I’d step into the overworld to go to my subsequent vacation spot. This permits Fevrith’s map to unfold organically in a way more immersive manner than simply merely returning to a central hub and choosing the following story mission from a menu.
Crunching the numbers
While its story could be uneven, Unicorn Overlord’s gameplay shines. During every battle, I’ve a house command publish and numerous different bases occupied by enemies that I can take over. Units from each side are deployed, and the battles play out like a real-time technique sport. What makes the gameplay distinctive in comparison with its trendy contemporaries is that as much as 5 characters could be put into one unit, taking into account every character’s strengths and weaknesses.
Unicorn Overlord’s battle system has so many alternative, complicated mechanics that every one work together with one another cohesively.
It’s closely impressed by Square Enix’s Ogre Battle from 1993, and that design thought alone provides a lot complexity to the general fight. Typically within the style, archer infantry are robust towards aerial characters. In Unicorn Overlord, nevertheless, it’s not so simple. An enemy unit may include aerial characters however is also surrounded by cavalry characters, that are efficient towards infantry, in the identical unit.
As a outcome, you may create well-balanced models that cowl quite a lot of weaknesses or a super-specialized one that may take down a particular kind of unit. It’s completely wild how a lot even switching out one character for one more can drastically change the result of a single fight encounter.
Vanillaware
And that’s even earlier than we get into particular character courses.
Swordmasters have a excessive accuracy stat that may hit even essentially the most evasive Rogues. A time shifting system alters how some courses play; beast characters change into stronger at night time whereas elven ones do greatest throughout daytime. I may even place characters in my models’ entrance or again rows, the place closely armored ones can take hits within the entrance whereas healers can assist help from the again. There’s a lot nuance that goes into crafting models; the chances really feel countless.
The precise fight encounters play out in an auto battle vogue. Players don’t instantly management the characters, as they act on some predetermined guidelines. Depending on sure circumstances and stats, characters will both use Active expertise to assault or Passive expertise to buff, debuff, or heal. It’s extremely satisfying to take a seat again and see all the characters duke it out — and Vanillaware’s signature artwork model solely heightens the visible expertise much more.
The battlefield can generally be suffering from traps, resembling metal traps and barricades to decelerate motion. There are generally large crossbows and slingshots that each side can use for further firepower. The Liberation Army can carry alongside gadgets resembling potions to heal, in addition to non permanent stat boosting gadgets to have an effect on the result of a fight encounter too. Unicorn Overlord’s battle system has so many alternative, complicated mechanics that every one work together with one another cohesively to offer deep ways gameplay.
Vanillaware
I encountered some odd technical points throughout battle, particularly when there have been too many models on display screen or 1,000,000 totally different actions occurring without delay. It’s a bit unusual, contemplating the sport isn’t graphically intensive. I may possibly see this occurring on the Switch model, however I used to be taking part in on PlayStation 5.
Even with the occasional hiccup, Unicorn Overlord is likely one of the greatest technique RPGs I’ve performed in a while. With deep fight and customization, there’s rather a lot to tinker with right here that’s positive to maintain style followers glad. It’s nice to see Vanillaware sort out one other real-time technique sport after GrimGrimoire; it’s even higher to see it create one thing solely totally different with Unicorn Overlord. While its lackluster story might not spark the flames of revolution as intensely, that does little or no to cease its commanding march.
Unicorn Overlord was examined on PlayStation 5.
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