Whereas 2023 was the 12 months of the big-name titles, 2024 goes to be a little bit of a special journey. Apparently sufficient, the JRPG is making an enormous comeback and one of many titles that’s going to splash in simply couple of weeks is Unicorn Overlord. Fortunately, we don’t have to attend that lengthy to get a style of what it has in retailer, as a demo is out there proper now for the Nintendo Swap and PS4/5. Let’s try what we now have in retailer for us.
What You’re Getting Into
Unicorn Overlord is a wierd recreation. You’ve seemingly performed one thing related earlier than, as there as elements of Hearth Emblem and different technique RPGs all through, however as an entire, this appears like a brand new type of recreation. You’re going to be guiding Prince Allain and his hearty band of rebels on a mission to overthrow an evil empire, which we’ve heard earlier than, however there are many hints within the demo that not all is what it appears, and if Vanillaware’s previous work is any indication, this story ought to go off the rails prior to later.
5. It Is Stunning
The late PS1 period aesthetic has made a comeback in recent times, and Vanillaware is taking it to the following degree with Unicorn Overlord. Utilizing a method that it coined with its earlier hit, 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim, Vanillaware has created a dreamlike world that brings us again to the heyday of the style. The visuals pop off the display whatever the console you’re enjoying on, and the animations, each facially and in fight, are among the many greatest you’ll see for a recreation of this type. Regardless of Atlus being concerned with this one, every thing may be very minimalistic in its look, which is kind of welcome on this considerably conventional, medieval, fantasy world. Total, it’s some of the visually placing video games of the 12 months and does it principally in 2D.
4. Fight is Not What It Appears
Upon seeing the trailers for Unicorn Overlord, you may suppose you’re getting a fusion between a technique RPG and a conventional JRPG battle system. At the least, that’s how I and lots of others felt. The fact of the fight system isn’t fairly this. Whilst you get the overworld technique aspect of issues, the turn-based nature of the sport is an phantasm. See, when you have the battles happen in small, conventional JRPG-style battlegrounds, you don’t really management them within the battle. As a substitute, you choose the conduct of your squads together with their loadout, place on the battlefield, and what abilities they are going to use and extra particularly, after they’ll use them. That is extremely reminiscient of the well-known Gambit system from Closing Fantasy 12 and it really works regardless of the preliminary shock of lack of management. These battles are a fierce back-and-forth for quite a lot of turns till one aspect is said a winner or loser, however that doesn’t imply one aspect has fallen; it’s simply that they received the higher of the skirmish. Along with this, numerous elements will have an effect on the battlefield, such because the presence of archer towers and sure different sorts of models on the battlefield that may have an effect on how the encounters play out. On its hardest problem, it’s very powerful, and requires cautious squad building and utilization of the Gambit sort system to return out on prime. The preliminary shock of not having the ability to management the encounters on a move-by-move foundation shall be irksome for a handful of gamers, however push via it, and also you’ll discover one of many extra attention-grabbing battle methods on the market.
3. Decisions Matter
What you may not have been anticipating with Unicorn Overlord was the presence of selection and consequence. Just like one other technique RPG in Triangle Technique, you should have dominion over quite a lot of totally different selections all through the sport. Relying on what you select to do, characters will reside or die, be a part of you or battle in opposition to you and sure have penalties for the over arching story line. It’s not too in-depth, but when the demo is any indication, these shall be essential and customarily happen following an enormous battle.
2. There Are loads of Characters
Followers of video games like Suikoden will really feel at house right here figuring out there are going to be a ton of characters right here, every with distinctive abilities, backstories and a spot within the total plot. Who you select to hitch you may have a big impact on how efficient you might be in fight and the way storylines play out. The implications of attempting to recruit everybody are unknown at this level, however you will be that there shall be some twists and turns on this regard. We solely get a small preview of the character varieties we’ll discover within the demo, however seeing as every one is totally totally different from the final, will probably be fascinating to see the supposed 60+ characters Vanillaware has in retailer for us when the sport lastly releases on March eighth.
1. The Storytelling is Prime Notch
Now, I’m not going to inform you that the plot within the demo is something we haven’t seen earlier than, however we now have to remember that is only the start of what seems to be a really lengthy and deep story. I hope you don’t thoughts sitting again and watching a bit right here since you’ll be watching a substantial quantity of cutscenes between your occasion, the enemy, and each aspect character you encounter all through. It’s considerably of a visible novel at instances, however fortunately, it’s all supported by unbelievable voice appearing from each the English and Japanese voice casts. I hardly ever reward an English dub, however Unicorn Overlord’s forged is 10/10 so far. It’s all delivered powerfully, askewing anime tropes for characters that demand to be taken significantly and whereas the plot appears somewhat conventional at the very least at first, it’s achieved in addition to it may be. It additionally doesn’t damage that the animations supporting every thing go a great distance in making this enjoyable to look at if you’re not participating within the motion. Up to now, so good, however we now have to play via every thing first to see if Vanillaware sticks the touchdown.
If you happen to’re not already enjoying via the demo, it is possible for you to to expertise the entire above and extra when Unicorn Overlord releases on March eighth.
