Whereas 2023 was the yr of the big-name titles, 2024 goes to be a little bit of a special journey. Curiously sufficient, the JRPG is making a large 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 obtainable proper now for the Nintendo Change and PS4/5. Let’s take a look at what now we have in retailer for us.
What You’re Getting Into
Unicorn Overlord is a wierd sport. You’ve possible performed one thing comparable earlier than, as there as elements of Fireplace Emblem and different technique RPGs all through, however as a complete, this looks like a brand new type of sport. 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 earlier than later.
5. It Is Stunning
The late PS1 period aesthetic has made a comeback in recent times, and Vanillaware is taking it to the subsequent stage 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 screen 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 sport of this type. Regardless of Atlus being concerned with this one, every thing could be very minimalistic in its look, which is kind of welcome on this considerably conventional, medieval, fantasy world. General, it’s some of the visually putting video games of the yr 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 method RPG and a standard JRPG battle system. No less than, that’s how I and lots of others felt. The fact of the fight system isn’t fairly this. When you get the overworld technique facet 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 combat. 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 a variety of turns till one facet is said a winner or loser, however that doesn’t imply one facet has fallen; it’s simply that they acquired the higher of the skirmish. Along with this, varied elements will have an effect on the battlefield, such because the presence of archer towers and sure different kinds of items on the battlefield that may have an effect on how the encounters play out. On its hardest issue, it’s very powerful, and requires cautious squad development and utilization of the Gambit kind system to return out on prime. The preliminary shock of not with 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 fascinating battle techniques on the market.
3. Decisions Matter
What you may not have been anticipating with Unicorn Overlord was the presence of selection and consequence. Much like one other technique RPG in Triangle Technique, you’ll have dominion over quite a lot of totally different selections all through the sport. Relying on what you select to do, characters will dwell or die, be part of you or combat 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 crucial and customarily happen following a giant combat.
2. There Are a variety of Characters
Followers of video games like Suikoden will really feel at dwelling right here understanding 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 affix you’ll be able to have a big impact on how efficient you’re in fight and the way storylines play out. The results of making an attempt 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 are going to discover within the demo, however seeing as each is totally totally different from the final, it is going to 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 let you know that the plot within the demo is something we haven’t seen earlier than, however now we have to bear in mind 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 celebration, the enemy, and each facet character you encounter all through. It’s considerably of a visible novel at instances, however fortunately, it’s all supported by incredible voice appearing from each the English and Japanese voice casts. I not often reward an English dub, however Unicorn Overlord’s solid is 10/10 to this point. It’s all delivered powerfully, askewing anime tropes for characters that demand to be taken significantly and whereas the plot appears a bit of conventional not less than firstly, it’s executed in addition to it may be. It additionally doesn’t damage that the animations supporting every thing go a good distance in making this enjoyable to look at if you’re not participating within the motion. To date, so good, however now we 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 all the above and extra when Unicorn Overlord releases on March eighth.