If I had to pick a single developer that comes to mind when I think of quality over quantity, then Vanillaware would comfortably sit at the top of that list.
Back in 2019, I reviewed 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim, Vanillaware’s first foray into the strategy genre, which, although excellent in its own right, emphasized its story over gameplay sequences. With the release of Unicorn Overlord, Vanillaware has seemingly addressed this issue by delivering a game that, first and foremost, brings a solid tactical roleplaying game to the forefront.
For the uninitiated, Unicorn Overlord follows the exploits of Prince Alain, the rightful heir to a kingdom besieged by the neighbouring Zenoiran Empire. After the death of his mother, the late Queen, the game catches players up to Alain, ten or so years after Zenorian’s domain over the kingdom, setting the stage for war and kick-starting the story proper.
At first glance, Unicorn Overlord’s story may come off as routine, or at least familiar for a medieval fantasy setting, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing, mainly due to just how much Unicorn Overlord expands on the simple premise as the game unfolds. Chief among the unique qualities present in the game’s narrative is the Unicorn Ring, a mysterious family heirloom left to Alain by his mother during Unicorn Overlord’s opening moments.
“The gameplay in Unicorn Overlord takes place in skirmishes that occur on the world map or hub…”
Players soon discover that aside from immense sentimental value, the Unicorn Ring seems to possess the power to free the minds of those the Zenoiran Empire has shackled under its control. This story beat nicely sets up the overarching objective for players to strive for in Unicorn Overlord — expanding their presence over the expansive world map, slowly building and fostering their army, and eventually reclaiming their title as the true heir.
The gameplay in Unicorn Overlord takes place in skirmishes that occur on the world map or hub, which can both be quick one-off bouts. These occur when the player runs into a rogue enemy on the overworld map or more typical action stages that require the player to engage in harnessing the might of their entire platoon.
Getting into a skirmish, Unicorn Overlord transitions to beautifully realized battle sequences that feature the iconic art of George Kamitani, with the fights themselves being handled by the AI. Now, the lack of control during battles may come off as disappointing, but Unicorn Overlord, instead, places great emphasis on every other aspect of its approach to a tactical roleplaying game experience, to the point where watching your pawns engage in battle comes off as more of a reward for your careful planning.
“Getting into a skirmish, Unicorn Overlord transitions to beautifully realized battle sequences that feature the iconic art of George Kamitani, with the fights themselves being handled by the AI.”
Instead of a simple rock-paper-scissors of choosing what moves and attacks to dish out, Unicorn Overlord tasks the players with carefully curating individual units, which in turn can be utilized in battle against appropriate enemy equivalents.
Unicorn Overlord features a wealth of different classes that gradually unlock as the player progresses through the game. Some of these include everything from your typical assortment of Infantry, Calvery, Rangers and Scouts to more fantastical classes, such as Gryphon Knights, Valkyries, Mages, Wizards, and other magic-imbued specialists.
Every class in Unicorn Overlord has a weakness and strength, meaning it’s up to the player to best pick appropriate units as they see fit. Sending out individual units takes Valor Points, which can be replenished and earned by vanquishing enemies on the field. Knowing which units to send out that can successfully take out targets closest to the starting area ensures you can quickly regain your Valor, which then, in turn, can be used to send out more units. Valor is also used to use special Valor Skills, or attacks and status effect moves that can be used outside of battle.
Units are comprised on a 2×3 grid, with the front generally reserved for your tanky classes, while the back benefits rangers, healers, and the like. Nothing is set in stone, however, meaning those inclined to change formations can do so with little consequence, ultimately giving Unicorn Overlord a lot of flexibility in how to tackle each and every encounter on the battlefield.
If you’re a longtime fan of tactical RPGs, this may sound familiar to you, as Unicorn Overlord feels like a modern take on the beloved Ogre Battle series of SRPGs, with many elements of the game feeling wholly inspired by the former. Early on, Unicorn Overlord limits the player unit to three characters, with only 3-4 total units deployable at any given time per encounter. Winning skirmishes grants the player Honors or the main currency required to bolster your forces in the game.
Eventually, this hard limit on units can be raised to five, which, when combined with the impressively large pool of classes to pick from, in addition to the wealth of Valor moves and equipment options, creates opportunities for creating some truly unique load-outs that add a lot of variety to the gameplay experience.
“There is a real sense of progression in Unicorn Overlord that makes you feel powerful as you amass renown and build out your squadron…”
Honor can be earned even outside of battles. In fact, a lot of the game takes place outside actual battles in Unicorn Overlord. Exploring the expansive map of Fevrith, composed of five distinct districts, as Alain, the player can gradually liberate and reclaim hamlets, castles and other landmarks, which all in turn offer quests which slowly restore and grant the player more and more renown, which raises your armies capabilities and access to Honor.
There is a real sense of progression in Unicorn Overlord that makes you feel powerful as you amass renown and build out your squadron — and if you do happen to get stuck on a particularly challenging encounter, it is very likely due to not exploring the map to the fullest. Unicorn Overlord features many an optional quest, often leading to unlocking new characters and classes, filling out story beats and learning something new about the ever-expanding cast of characters.
With a wealth of character permutations, a large cast of characters, and a well-realized story, Unicorn Overlord excels in delivering a tactical roleplaying game experience that lives up to the greats while continuing to expand Vanillaware’s portfolio of concept art come-to-life videogames in a new light.
