When a recreation comes with some extra ’16-bit soundtrack preparations’, it’s best to know precisely what period it’s championing. And Unicorn Overlord does that with aplomb; mixing one of the best bits of the olden days with some distinctive and underutilised gems from fashionable gaming too.
A tactical RPG, Unicorn Overlord is the most recent recreation from Vanillaware. They of Odin Sphere and 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim fame. However this marks their first foray onto Xbox consoles. And for a lot of, Unicorn Overlord ought to signify a chance to delve into their spectacular again catalogue. If they will tear themselves away from this new providing.
First impressions could differ nevertheless: Unicorn Overlord begins with a story of a younger boy named Alain who has been compelled into exile. The chief of the military of Cornia has laid declare to the throne, usurping Alain’s mom Queen Ilenia within the course of. In her final moments, Ilenia passes the Ring of the Unicorn to Alain and his guard Josef. It’s this merchandise that may symbolise his proper to the throne when the time is correct.
A while later, Alain is main the Liberation Military in opposition to the riot chief, who now goes by the identify of Galerius. Alain quickly realises that the Ring of the Unicorn has one other energy; that of the power to wipe the results of unknown thoughts management magic in opposition to people who battle for Galerius. With this new energy and an ever growing military in tow, he units his sights on what’s rightfully his.
Unicorn Overlord isn’t precisely breaking the mildew with this story, which is considerably of a shock contemplating Vanillaware’s monitor file on this division. However different points do greater than make up for this lacklustre storytelling.
To name Unicorn Overlord a tactical RPG is a bit deceptive. Reasonably than controlling particular person models, you are taking cost of a number of small teams of as much as six models in a single formation, in additional of a real-time technique trend. You don’t even management the person models. As a substitute, Unicorn Overlord has ‘borrowed’ the Gambit system from Closing Fantasy XII and inputted it in right here, virtually wholesale. That’s not a foul factor, as a result of the Gambit system was probably the greatest issues about Closing Fantasy XII, and extra video games ought to implement it.
Its inclusion right here means that you could tailor assault plans and methods earlier than heading into battle. When deciding on a squad to assault with, you possibly can even see how the battle will play out earlier than confirming your determination. It negates any potential danger, however does that imply that all the things is performed out for you beforehand? After my time with it, I’m not certain how a lot I like this. It’s actually nonetheless pleasant, however I by no means actually felt I needed to adapt my methods.
What’s unpredictable is simply the place your subsequent recruitable get together member goes to come back from. There are over sixty in Unicorn Overlord and they are often discovered nearly anyplace: full a aspect quest, increase run down cities and villages, promote sufficient objects to a vendor, actually anyplace. There’s a mining minigame discovered on the world map and I’d not be shocked if one turned up there as nicely.
Many get together members even have distinctive class sorts. That is removed from a easy rock-paper-scissors battle system, it’s extremely deep. When creating squads, you’ll discover that formation, class sorts, velocity and extra should all be taken under consideration. That is doubtless the place you can be spending nearly all of your time, tinkering with battle setups to seek out the right combination.
It’s additionally when deep in these menus that I used to be fairly grateful the precise battles generally is a bit passive. Between fine-tuning formations, models and Gambits/ways, there may be little time for the rest.
However in fact, Unicorn Overlord has loads of extras. The overworld map is chock filled with secrets and techniques to uncover, loot to seek out and enemies to defeat. Progress far sufficient and you may even pit your get together in opposition to others on-line within the area.
There may be additionally the Rapport system, which performs out just like the Drink Hyperlinks from Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. Social gathering members which are in the identical formation will kind bonds over time, and reaching a sure threshold unlocks a singular dialog to be discovered on the world map. These aren’t elongated aspect tales just like Drink Hyperlinks, however are insightful vignettes into the personalities of every character. For such a large forged, it’s spectacular that the writing feels distinctive and numerous, full with backstories and relationships.
They usually all look particular person from one another too. Once more it’s critically spectacular how we, because the participant, can recognise every member within the cutscenes. Although, there’s a complete Library that has info of each single get together member. This trove of data consists of particulars on all factions, areas and extra, offering helpful information for these heading into the late recreation or gamers returning after lengthy durations away from Unicorn Overlord.
While sticking with the visuals of the characters, the general visuals are of a really excessive normal too. As soon as once more, Vanillaware have opted for a 2D artwork type for Unicorn Overlord, however given the character of the old-school style, all of it lends itself completely. Don’t let that idiot you although, the world map and character fashions are extremely nicely detailed even in a 2D atmosphere. Battles themselves are additionally fought on the world map, so that you get loads of time to understand the work gone into it.
While the story could also be considerably missing in Unicorn Overlord, it type of works, as a result of you can be way more invested within the battle system. Taking part in round with formations cannot solely yield fascinating outcomes, however permits the person character tales to totally blossom. Unicorn Overlord isn’t a lot about why you might be journeying, however extra about who’s becoming a member of you, who stands in your manner and the way good you look while progressing.
