March 8, 2024<\/time> Rating:<\/b> Teen <\/p>\n Draw from enough unique inspirations, and eventually, a game begins to feel entirely novel. That\u2019s the sensation that emerges as you play Unicorn Overlord, Vanillaware\u2019s vast fantasy adventure of tactics, strategy, and storytelling. I was consistently reminded of other systems and mechanics from prior genre releases, but the resulting combination felt consistently original and entertaining, even after many hours of battle and exploration.<\/p>\n
Players control a young, exiled prince in a high fantasy world as he gradually gathers an army to take down an all-powerful empire. There\u2019s a significant focus on story and character development from beginning to end. The fact that the plentiful \u201cthees and thous\u201d frame an especially trope-heavy and familiar plot doesn\u2019t diminish the enjoyment. Instead, I was delighted by the confident and well-written dialogue and its willingness to embrace the fun of countless long-lost siblings, figures in disguise, and redemptive character arcs. By the end, some interesting choices let you shape the game\u2019s outcome, but this isn\u2019t a game of bold narrative surprises \u2013 simply well-told comfort-food fantasy antics.<\/p>\n
Unicorn Overlord is awash in systems that govern your army\u2019s advancement and improvement. Whether it\u2019s equipment, honor, renown, gold, or character level, the primary goal is growing your army, promoting your combatants, expanding the potential size of each unit, and setting up a team that can triumph in the field. Everything works together admirably, and it\u2019s great fun to tweak each small squad unit to create unstoppable combos of damage, defense, and healing.<\/p>\n
Battles are an intriguing mix of real-time troop movement and small unit-to-unit skirmishes. By adjusting each character\u2019s formation placement and tactical decision-making before a melee, you set them up for success. However, once an exchange begins, your role as commander is in the back seat; you can\u2019t affect the outcome anymore \u2013 only watch as it plays out. As such, much of the gameplay is about clever unit placement, movement, use of items, and pre-battle powers. I enjoyed overseeing a large and diverse army of knights, witches, gryphon riders, and elven archers as they strode into a righteous rebellion.<\/p>\n
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