There are few gaming experiences extra engrossing, partaking, and satisfying than a top quality technique-RPG. They provide the enjoyment of increase slightly ragtag military, little by little, right into a gang of storied warriors with precision-specialised abilities; the stress 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 most recent collaboration between developer Vanillaware and writer Atlus, seeks its place amongst technique-RPG royals–and, regardless of a couple of 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 General 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. But a thriller lies on the coronary heart of all the pieces: How did the Zenoiran Empire conquer the entire 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 nicely-liked 2D artwork bringing an in depth fantasy realm to life. There are an amazing 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 will be laborious to attract your eyes away from the enticing character designs, beautiful backgrounds, and weighty battle animations which might be there. Occasionally, issues can get a bit cluttered and confusing–some components of the UI are messy to navigate–but after some time, it turns into no massive deal.
You cannot simply stare on the fairly visuals, however–not whereas evil is afoot. Fortunately, if you wish to take your time with seeing all the sport’s sights, you possibly can go straight by way of the essential story battles, or cease and do all method of facet-questing. Taking the time to discover and assist these in want is a good suggestion, too: When 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. Only by way of combating 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 battle and neglect–but the prince can carry the supplies wanted to restore the injury, 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 in your army–as nicely as broaden the quantity and capability of your present items. It’s a enjoyable gameplay loop that encourages you to discover and rebuild.
But in the end, 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 actual-time unit motion and switch-based mostly battles that play out every time two items interact each other. Unlike many different video games on this style, every unit consists of a bunch of as much as six totally different characters, organized in a 2×3 grid. A designated chief determines components like map motion velocity and how much help they will present allied items: If you need to transfer quick to intercept an enemy or conquer a garrison, a cavalry chief is a perfect selection, however if you’d like to have the ability to present fight spell or projectile backup to a close-by squad you then’ll want an archer or magic person main the best way.
Movement and positioning is vital, 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. Sometimes you will be blessed with gadgets like catapults and ballistas {that a} unit can man and trigger severe injury with–if the opposing military does not get there first and trigger you a large headache. Buildable barricades and traps can maintain forces at bay whilst you muster power, however a winged unit can fly proper over them and not using a care. Finally, stamina determines what number of instances in a row a unit can assault, be attacked, or assist–run out of vitality and that staff cannot transfer till they relaxation for some time. There are so many choices and components to contemplate relating to one thing so simple as map motion, permitting you to plot your individual distinctive approaches to fight. When an allied and enemy unit interact, the view switches to a facet-view, flip-based mostly battle that performs out robotically. Units will take turns attacking and utilizing abilities based mostly on the talents and standards you have set for them.
The characters themselves are available in a wide range of courses, every with its personal distinctive traits, skills, and weaknesses. For instance, a Hoplite is an incredible tank that may considerably scale back injury from many bodily assaults and defend different characters, however they undergo when up in opposition to protection-reducing 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 robust in opposition to magic, however each are susceptible to weapons and abilities concentrating on horse-riders. When crafting items, you possibly can fastidiously concoct a balanced mixture of protection, offense, mobility, and support–or you possibly can go all-in on an extremely-specialised staff designed for a singular function. Weapons and equipment can grant further boosts and skills to particular person characters, which you’ll then additional customise by setting particular standards for when and the way abilities are utilized in battle. Micromanaging so many components may 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.
Team-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. Besides including components like new items and diverse traps and hindrances over time, the distinctive eventualities of main story battles usually current surprises that require you to alter your method. You’ll simply be marching alongside, solely to be greeted by a siege of shock reinforcements, or maybe a brand new ally drops in and needs to help–or wants your safety. And perhaps, simply perhaps, that enemy common may be reasoned with when you’ve got the precise individual converse to them.
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Unicorn Overlord’s fight is the standout component of the game–which is sweet, as a result of it manages to hold the burden of a disappointing story. If you have performed any RPG the place a bunch of rebels reclaims the land from a despot with the powers of darkness fueling him, you in all probability know the place the story is headed. I incessantly discovered myself wishing that the cutscenes had been much less frequent and wordy so I may get again to the enjoyable of shifting a bunch of little guys round a map. The particular person characters aren’t a lot better, with one-observe personalities and motives that do not provide a lot in the best way of growth or fascinating interactions. There’s a complete affection system amongst characters that opens up transient little facet conversations when relationships attain a sure level, however even these sometimes fail at making the characters interesting past mere utility like “that dude looks cool and hits like a truck, so maybe I’ll use him more.”
But although the story is lackluster, the core gameplay of Unicorn Overlord is greater than compelling sufficient to make you need to see the story of Prince Alain to its conclusion. There’s a lot satisfaction and gameplay depth right here to sink your tooth into that you could be end up pondering deeply in regards to the sport’s staff dynamics even once you’re not enjoying. When the first feeling a sport leaves you with is eager to play extra of it, you recognize you’ve a gem in your palms.
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