Whereas 2023 was the 12 months of the big-name titles, 2024 goes to be a little bit of a distinct journey. Curiously 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 obtainable proper now for the Nintendo Change and PS4/5. Let’s try what we now have in retailer for us.
What You’re Getting Into
Unicorn Overlord is an odd 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 a complete, this looks like a brand new sort 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 before later.
5. It Is Stunning
The late PS1 period aesthetic has made a comeback lately, 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 taking part in on, and the animations, each facially and in fight, are among the many finest you’ll see for a recreation of this type. Regardless of Atlus being concerned with this one, every part could be very minimalistic in its look, which is kind of welcome on this considerably conventional, medieval, fantasy world. General, it’s one of the visually hanging 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 assume 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 truth 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, whilst you have the battles happen in small, conventional JRPG-style battlegrounds, you don’t truly management them within the battle. As an alternative, you choose the habits 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 Last Fantasy 12 and it really works regardless of the preliminary shock of lack of management. These battles are a fierce back-and-forth for various turns till one facet is said a winner or loser, however that doesn’t imply one facet has fallen; it’s simply that they obtained the higher of the skirmish. Along with this, varied components will have an effect on the battlefield, such because the presence of archer towers and certain different kinds of models on the battlefield that can have an effect on how the encounters play out. On its hardest problem, it’s very robust, and requires cautious squad building and utilization of the Gambit sort system to return out on high. The preliminary shock of not having the ability to management the encounters on a move-by-move foundation can be irksome for a handful of gamers, however push by it, and also you’ll discover one of many extra attention-grabbing battle programs on the market.
3. Decisions Matter
What you won’t have been anticipating with Unicorn Overlord was the presence of selection and consequence. Just like one other technique RPG in Triangle Technique, you’ll have dominion over a wide range of completely different decisions all through the sport. Relying on what you select to do, characters will stay or die, be a part of you or battle in opposition to you and certain have penalties for the over arching story line. It’s not too in-depth, but when the demo is any indication, these can be crucial and usually happen following an enormous battle.
2. There Are numerous Characters
Followers of video games like Suikoden will really feel at dwelling right here realizing there are going to be a ton of characters right here, every with distinctive abilities, backstories and a spot within the general plot. Who you select to hitch you possibly can have a big impact on how efficient you’re in fight and the way storylines play out. The implications of making an attempt to recruit everybody are unknown at this level, however you might be that there can be some twists and turns on this regard. We solely get a small preview of the character sorts we are going to discover within the demo, however seeing as every one is totally completely 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 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 get together, 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 implausible voice performing from each the English and Japanese voice casts. I hardly ever reward an English dub, however Unicorn Overlord’s solid is 10/10 so far. It’s all delivered powerfully, askewing anime tropes for characters that demand to be taken critically and whereas the plot appears slightly conventional at the least at the beginning, it’s accomplished in addition to it may be. It additionally doesn’t damage that the animations supporting every part go a great distance in making this enjoyable to look at if you’re not participating within the motion. To date, so good, however we now have to play by every part first to see if Vanillaware sticks the touchdown.
In case you’re not already taking part in by the demo, it is possible for you to to expertise all the above and extra when Unicorn Overlord releases on March eighth.