The-Pixels

Elemental Video Game Critiques

Unicorn Overlord (2024) [NS]

Unicorn Overlord review card

“But is the unicorn a falsehood?
It’s the sweetest of animals and a noble symbol.”

-Umberto Eco, The Name of the Rose

Ethical imperialism simulator, Vanillaware’s Ogre Battle hosts a kingly Gary Stu coronative of Cornia destined to do no wrong, making for a plot and story flatter than the mountains of Drakenhold. However, Unicorn Overlord is just as historied and loreful as the best of modern fantasy fiction.

The sheer depth conveyed by this monumental localization effort, a visually arresting War and Peace, is matched by its gameplay: a robust tactical RPG featuring a host of recruitable characters spread throughout vast regions in Atlus’ atlas, the world of Fevrith, plus numerous classes, endless battles, skirmishes, and even full-scale wars. Do not be intimidated by its auto battles, extreme optimization and customization systems, or its scope and scale.

Unicorn Overlord is, like its titular monarch, a grassroots JRPG for the people, accessible to anyone willing to share in its wealth. For those wanting a lengthy, substantive role-playing experience capable of keeping a player occupied for 60 to 70 hours or more, take up the reins of Alain’s liberation and his conquest of the Zenoiran empire.

3 responses

  1. This is another one I had been looking at in place of Triangle Strategy, with the most glaringly obvious benefit being the beautiful artwork. Either one, however, and I feel like Ill be spending at least several months, likely much longer, involved in gameplay. I guess whichever goes on sale first will be the winner!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I haven’t played Triangle Strategy myself but it seems like I’d choose Unicorn over it hmmm

      Liked by 1 person

  2. […] as the current Dragon Quest remakes, and entirely new games like Chained Echoes, Sea of Stars, and Unicorn Overlord carving out places of their own. The selection of modern JRPGs is vast, and with new entries […]

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