Whereas 2023 was the 12 months of the big-name titles, 2024 goes to be a little bit of a distinct 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 offered proper now for the Nintendo Swap and PS4/5. Let’s try what we’ve in retailer for us.
What You’re Getting Into
Unicorn Overlord is an odd recreation. You’ve seemingly performed one thing comparable earlier than, as there as features of Hearth Emblem and different technique RPGs all through, however as an entire, this seems 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 prior to later.
5. It Is Lovely
The late PS1 period aesthetic has made a comeback lately, and Vanillaware is taking it to the following 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 fashion. Regardless of Atlus being concerned with this one, every little thing may be very minimalistic in its look, which is sort of welcome on this considerably conventional, medieval, fantasy world. Total, it’s one of the vital visually hanging video games of the 12 months and does it largely in 2D.
4. Fight is Not What It Appears
Upon seeing the trailers for Unicorn Overlord, you would possibly suppose you’re getting a fusion between a technique RPG and a standard JRPG battle system. Not less than, that’s how I and plenty 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, whilst you have the battles happen in small, conventional JRPG-style battlegrounds, you don’t truly management them within the struggle. As an alternative, 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, once they’ll use them. That is extremely reminiscient of the well-known Gambit system from Ultimate 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 aspect is asserted a winner or loser, however that doesn’t imply one aspect has fallen; it’s simply that they acquired the higher of the skirmish. Along with this, numerous components will have an effect on the battlefield, such because the presence of archer towers and certain different kinds of items on the battlefield that can have an effect on how the encounters play out. On its hardest problem, it’s very powerful, and requires cautious squad development and utilization of the Gambit sort system to return out on high. 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 by way of it, and also you’ll discover one of many extra attention-grabbing 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. Just like one other technique RPG in Triangle Technique, you should have dominion over a wide range of totally different decisions all through the sport. Relying on what you select to do, characters will dwell or die, be part of you or struggle towards 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 shall be crucial and customarily happen following an enormous struggle.
2. There Are lots 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’ll be able to have a big impact on how efficient you might be in fight and the way storylines play out. The implications 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 sorts we’ll discover within the demo, however seeing as each is totally totally different from the final, it will likely 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 High 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 we’ve 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 aspect character you encounter all through. It’s considerably of a visible novel at occasions, however fortunately, it’s all supported by unbelievable voice performing from each the English and Japanese voice casts. I not often reward an English dub, however Unicorn Overlord’s forged is 10/10 to date. It’s all delivered powerfully, askewing anime tropes for characters that demand to be taken severely and whereas the plot appears a bit of conventional a minimum of initially, it’s carried out in addition to it may be. It additionally doesn’t damage that the animations supporting every little thing go a great distance in making this enjoyable to look at while you’re not participating within the motion. To this point, so good, however we’ve to play by way of every little thing first to see if Vanillaware sticks the touchdown.
For those who’re not already taking part in by way of the demo, it is possible for you to to expertise the entire above and extra when Unicorn Overlord releases on March eighth.