March 8, 2024
Unicorn Overlord: Vanillaware’s Compellingly Distinctive Xbox Debut
For all of Vanillaware Ltd’s storied, 22-year historical past, the Japanese developer of Odin Sphere and 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim has by no means shipped a recreation for Xbox consoles. That’s, till right now. Unicorn Overlord, a brand new fantasy RPG title revealed by ATLUS, is out now for Xbox Collection X|S, and it might be the studio’s finest recreation but.
Unicorn Overlord shouldn’t be your typical technique RPG. Gamers will discover gameplay components harking back to beloved classics; the real-time motion of character teams from Ogre Battle 64, the close-up battle vignettes of Fireplace Emblem, the connection constructing conversations of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, and the fine-tuning fight gambits of Ultimate Fantasy XII, all mixed in a manner that feels solely new, wrapped in Vanillaware’s gorgeous, trademark 2D artwork fashion.
You play as Alain, a younger chief of a resistance motion that goals to overthrow the tyrannical Zenoiran empire that has enslaved the world. Alongside the best way, you’ll recruit so many allies from completely different races and courses, every with completely different strengths, aversions, and their very own causes for preventing. You’re actually reclaiming the entire world, hearts and minds included, one patch of floor at a time – coloring in a map utilizing your weapons as an alternative of paints.
The actual enjoyable is in how these techniques mesh collectively; as your military swells, so do your choices to wage struggle with the empire. Issues begin easy and approachably, with gamers commanding a number of groups of two round small maps. As you construct your renown by victory, you’ll be capable of discipline as many as 10 groups of 5 characters without delay, all enjoying completely different roles on the battlefield. Hulking Hoplites maintain down chokepoints with huge shields in hand. Flying models, equivalent to Gryphon Knights, soar over obstacles to press a bonus, whereas ranged Hunters and Witches can take over towers to assist these on the bottom achieve a bonus with fight assists.
You’ll have to use your wits and expertise to handle your troops, plan your battles, and make selections that may form the destiny of the world. But – and that is the magic of Unicorn Overlord – the complexity scales so easily, it retains all the pieces manageable.
After every battle, there’s a enjoyable “tidying up” that takes place – with roving enemies eliminated, you navigate Alain throughout the map, harvesting sources, visiting and enhancing cities, and talking with townsfolks and troopers. There are additionally key selections to make, as you’re usually given the choice to recruit an enemy you’ve simply defeated, or put them to the sword for his or her crimes. A few of these selections are agonizing to make, with no clear proper reply. For instance, I made a decision to spare a relatively unlikeable mage as I knew I’d want his (literal) firepower for an upcoming siege. One other stage boss I turned over to the city guard for judgement, just for him to shortly escape the brig. Nonetheless ready to see how that comes again to chunk me.
For all there may be to say in regards to the recreation, nothing beats enjoying it your self. Fortuitously, you’ll be able to attempt the sport without spending a dime by downloading a meaty, free demo from the Xbox Retailer. The demo means that you can expertise a number of hours of the marketing campaign, the place you’ll develop a really feel for the core gameplay mechanics and options. Better of all: you may also switch your save knowledge from the demo to the complete recreation, do you have to select to proceed your quest… and also you will need to.
Getting Began
Right here’s a number of suggestions I’ve picked up which can provide help to by the demo, and past:
- Journey in teams – it is likely to be tempting to fan your troops out all around the map throughout encounters, however there’s quite a lot of worth in having a bunch of two (or extra) models journey collectively. As soon as fight is initiated, you should utilize the controller’s bumpers to cycle by these close by models to see which is more likely to have the most effective ends in a battle.
- Don’t simply deploy everybody on the beginning base – generally it’s finest to have a swift unit like a gryphon rider or knight take over a ahead working base so you’ll be able to deploy slower models nearer to the extent boss or one other key goal.
- Spend each level – the sport reminds you a number of instances, however it may be simple to neglect your particular strikes. You’ll begin every battle with a number of scant ‘ Valor Factors’, which might be spent on deploying your models. However, constructing them up by capturing targets or defeating enemy models, you’ll be able to start to spend them on particular strikes (one for each fighter in your military) or on deploying extra troops. Spending factors properly can change the tide of battle, and later in a stage, an Archer’s ranged assaults or a Knight’s cost can be utilized to melt up bosses earlier than stepping into for the killing blow. At minimal, use Alain’s double XP bonus on groups earlier than they’re about to complete off a bunch, particularly if one of many members of mentioned crew is a bit beneath leveled.
- Don’t keep on with the story – Within the early a part of the sport, you’re given one, very clear goal – and I’d advocate avoiding it for a number of hours. Exploring the world map reveals big optionally available sections that comprise aspect quest battles that may provide help to stage, achieve new allies with talents you received’t have, and unlock new areas with new objects to purchase. It’s astonishing how far you’ll be able to journey with out finishing the primary storyline – and what number of different storylines you’ll discover by doing so.
- Search excessive and low – there may be a lot to be discovered within the exploratory phases after a battle; glowing sparks indicating an merchandise or useful resource are simple to search out, however some are hiding out in forests or in areas seemingly out of attain. You might must take Alain the great distance round a shoreline that originally appears impenetrable to get to some caches, however there may be at all times a manner!
Don’t miss this chance to expertise one of the vital anticipated and revolutionary video games of the 12 months, from one of many business’s most celebrated builders. Unicorn Overlord is out now for Xbox Collection X|S.
Unicorn Overlord Monarch Version
SEGA/ATLUS
emblem designs from "Odin Sphere," "Dragon's Crown," and "13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim".
Pre-order out there till March 7, 2024
The Unicorn Overlord Monarch Version incorporates
– 16-bit Organized Music Album (20 tracks)
– Digital Artbook (132 pages)
Liberate Your Kingdom, Reclaim Your Future
From the masterminds that introduced 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim, Odin Sphere, and Dragon's Crown, ATLUS x Vanillaware presents the rebirth of tactical fantasy RPG. Battle towards destiny and embark on a royal journey to regain your reign alongside reliable allies.
Unicorn Overlord combines the timeless tactical RPG style with overworld exploration and revolutionary battle system for a novel epic fantasy expertise within the iconic Vanillaware fashion.
Key Options:
· Traverse a vibrant world, assemble models and direct them into exquisitely animated battles
· Carry out heroic deeds and develop renown all through the 5 nations
· Domesticate a grand military with over 60 distinctive characters, from people and elves to huge beasts and heavenly angels
Unicorn Overlord
SEGA
From the masterminds that introduced 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim, Odin Sphere, and Dragon's Crown, ATLUS x Vanillaware presents the rebirth of tactical fantasy RPG. Battle towards destiny and embark on a royal journey to regain your reign alongside reliable allies.
Unicorn Overlord combines the timeless tactical RPG style with overworld exploration and revolutionary battle system for a novel epic fantasy expertise within the iconic Vanillaware fashion.
Key Options:
· Traverse a vibrant world, assemble models and direct them into exquisitely animated battles
· Carry out heroic deeds and develop renown all through the 5 nations
· Domesticate a grand military with over 60 distinctive characters, from people and elves to huge beasts and heavenly angels
Pre-order now and obtain unique in-game insignias with the ATLUS x Vanillaware Heraldry Pack, a fan-focused DLC set that permits you to customise the Liberation Military’s flag with
emblem designs from "Odin Sphere," "Dragon's Crown," and "13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim".
Pre-order out there till March 7, 2024
Unicorn Overlord DEMO
SEGA
Demo out now: Get pleasure from as much as 5 hours of gameplay within the Unicorn Overlord Demo! Your progress carries over to the primary recreation.
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