There are few gaming experiences extra engrossing, partaking, and satisfying than a high quality strategy-RPG. They provide the enjoyment of build up slightly ragtag military, little by little, right into a gang of storied warriors with precision-specialized expertise; the strain of seeing what kind of wrenches the subsequent fight stage will throw into the combo; the utter thrill of eking out a victory with a wild strategy–or having a military that works so nicely collectively that they lay waste to all earlier than them. Unicorn Overlord, the newest collaboration between developer Vanillaware and writer Atlus, seeks its place amongst strategy-RPG royals–and, regardless of just a few small missteps, lays declare to an honorable spot amongst its friends.
In its narrative, Prince Alain was spirited off to a faraway island a decade in the past as his mom, the queen, was deposed from her throne by the depraved tyrant Normal Valmore and the Zenoiran Empire. Now, the Empire has all however conquered the continent of Fevrith, and an older Alain units out to reclaim his throne and liberate the populace from their oppressors, all whereas bolstering the ranks of his Resistance military. However a thriller lies on the coronary heart of the whole lot: How did the Zenoiran Empire conquer all the kingdoms so simply? Is there a a lot darker energy at play?
The visuals in Unicorn Overlord dazzle proper from the opening cutscene, with Vanillaware’s well-loved 2D artwork bringing an in depth fantasy realm to life. There are a terrific many characters and environments all through so there’s loads of selection to the attention candy–but even when that hadn’t been the case, it could be arduous to attract your eyes away from the enticing character designs, beautiful backgrounds, and weighty battle animations which can be there. Often, issues can get a bit cluttered and confusing–some elements of the UI are messy to navigate–but after some time, it turns into no massive deal.
You’ll be able to’t simply stare on the fairly visuals, however–not whereas evil is afoot. Thankfully, if you wish to take your time with seeing all the sport’s sights, you possibly can go straight by means of the essential story battles, or cease and do all method of side-questing. Taking the time to discover and assist these in want is a good suggestion, too: Once you start Unicorn Overlord, Prince Alain’s military consists of a handful of shut companions, and it seems like your complete world is in opposition to you. Solely by means of preventing small skirmishes, liberating cities, forts, and cities from their Zenovian captors are you able to steadily reclaim territory. Many of those locations are decimated from years of struggle and neglect–but the prince can deliver the supplies wanted to restore the harm, usually with a little bit of cautious overworld exploration. As you do that, your Honors and Renown develop, and you’ll recruit and rent extra troopers to your army–as nicely as develop the quantity and capability of your present items. It is a enjoyable gameplay loop that encourages you to discover and rebuild.
However finally, video games on this style reside and die by how enjoyable the precise technique and fight is, and Unicorn Overlord passes this take a look at with flying colours. Battles are a mixture of real-time unit motion and turn-based battles that play out each time two items have interaction each other. Not like many different video games on this style, every unit consists of a gaggle of as much as six totally different characters, organized in a 2×3 grid. A chosen chief determines parts like map motion velocity and how much help they will present allied items: If you wish to transfer quick to intercept an enemy or conquer a garrison, a cavalry chief is a perfect alternative, however if you need to have the ability to present fight spell or projectile backup to a close-by squad you then’ll want an archer or magic consumer main the best way.
Motion and positioning is essential, since many fights revolve round taking management of key areas on the map–usually cities, forts, watchtowers, or different structures–and utilizing them as restoration, protection, and deployment stations. Typically you may be blessed with gadgets like catapults and ballistas {that a} unit can man and trigger severe harm with–if the opposing military would not get there first and trigger you an enormous headache. Buildable barricades and traps can maintain forces at bay when you muster energy, however a winged unit can fly proper over them with out a care. Lastly, stamina determines what number of occasions in a row a unit can assault, be attacked, or assist–run out of power and that crew cannot transfer till they relaxation for some time. There are such a lot of choices and components to contemplate in relation to one thing so simple as map motion, permitting you to plot your individual distinctive approaches to fight. When an allied and enemy unit have interaction, the view switches to a side-view, turn-based battle that performs out routinely. Items will take turns attacking and utilizing expertise primarily based on the skills and standards you’ve got set for them.
The characters themselves are available a wide range of lessons, every with its personal distinctive traits, skills, and weaknesses. For instance, a Hoplite is an amazing tank that may considerably scale back harm from many bodily assaults and defend different characters, however they endure when up in opposition to defense-lowering Housecarls and armor-penetrating magic customers. A spear-wielding Knight cavalry unit can assault a row of enemies without delay, whereas a equally mounted Radiant Knight is powerful in opposition to magic, however each are weak to weapons and expertise concentrating on horse-riders. When crafting items, you possibly can rigorously concoct a balanced mixture of protection, offense, mobility, and support–or you possibly can go all-in on an ultra-specialized crew designed for a singular objective. Weapons and equipment can grant further boosts and talents to particular person characters, which you’ll be able to then additional customise by setting particular standards for when and the way expertise are utilized in battle. Micromanaging so many components could be very daunting at first, however Unicorn Overlord is superb at encouraging experimentation and discovery, and it presents you myriad alternatives to check out new items or character builds outdoors of key battles.
Group-building is a delight, however what additionally helps preserve your consideration rapt is how the fight eventualities you face carry on evolving all through the sport. Apart from including parts like new items and various traps and hindrances over time, the distinctive eventualities of main story battles usually current surprises that require you to alter your strategy. You may simply be marching alongside, solely to be greeted by a siege of shock reinforcements, or maybe a brand new ally drops in and desires to help–or wants your safety. And perhaps, simply perhaps, that enemy normal could be reasoned with in case you have the fitting particular person converse to them.
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Unicorn Overlord’s fight is the standout factor of the game–which is sweet, as a result of it manages to hold the load of a disappointing story. When you’ve performed any RPG the place a gaggle of rebels reclaims the land from a despot with the powers of darkness fueling him, you most likely know the place the story is headed. I continuously discovered myself wishing that the cutscenes have been much less frequent and wordy so I might get again to the enjoyable of transferring a bunch of little guys round a map. The person characters aren’t a lot better, with one-note personalities and motives that do not provide a lot in the best way of improvement or fascinating interactions. There’s an entire affection system amongst characters that opens up temporary little aspect conversations when relationships attain a sure level, however even these sometimes fail at making the characters interesting past mere utility like “that dude appears to be like cool and hits like a truck, so perhaps I am going to use him extra.”
However regardless that the story is lackluster, the core gameplay of Unicorn Overlord is greater than compelling sufficient to make you wish to see the story of Prince Alain to its conclusion. There’s a lot satisfaction and gameplay depth right here to sink your enamel into that you could be end up considering deeply concerning the sport’s crew dynamics even if you’re not taking part in. When the first feeling a sport leaves you with is desirous to play extra of it, you may have a gem in your arms.