Throughout Vanillaware Ltd’s 22-year history, the Japanese developer of Odin Sphere And 13 Guardians: Aegis Rim has never released a game for Xbox consoles. That is, until today. Unicorn Overlorda new fantasy RPG title from ATLUS, is now available on Xbox Series X|S and could well be the studio’s best game yet.

Unicorn Overlord is not a typical strategy role-playing game. Players will find gameplay elements reminiscent of beloved classics; the real-time movement of groups of characters Ogre Battle 64the hand-to-hand combat vignettes of Fire Emblem, the relationship-building conversations of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealthand fine-tuning the combat gambits of Final Fantasy XIIall combined in a way that feels completely new, wrapped in Vanillaware’s stunning, signature 2D art style.

You play as Alain, a young leader of a resistance movement aiming to overthrow the tyrannical Zenoiran Empire that has enslaved the world. Along the way you will recruit so many Allies from different races and classes, each with different strengths, dislikes and their own reasons for fighting. You literally take back the entire world, hearts and minds included, one piece of land at a time – by coloring a map with your weapons instead of colors.

The real fun lies in how these systems mesh together. As your army grows, so do your ability to wage war with the Empire. Things start out simple and accessible, with players commanding a few teams of two on small maps. As you build your reputation through victories, you can field up to 10 teams of 5 characters at a time, each playing different roles on the battlefield. Huge hoplites hold bottlenecks with huge shields in hand. Flying units such as Griffin Knights fly over obstacles to gain an advantage, while ranged Hunters and Witches can take over towers to help those on the ground gain an advantage with combat aids.

You must use your wits and skills to manage your troops, plan your battles and make decisions that affect the fate of the world. Yes – and that’s the magic of it Unicorn Overlord – The complexity scales so smoothly that everything remains manageable.

After each battle, a fun “clean-up” takes place – after wandering enemies are removed, you navigate Alain across the map, harvesting resources, visiting and improving towns, and speaking with townspeople and soldiers. There are also important decisions to be made, as you often have the option to recruit an enemy you have just defeated or have them executed by sword for their crimes. Some of these decisions are difficult to make and there is no clear right answer. For example, I decided to spare a rather unpleasant mage because I knew I would need his firepower (literally) for an upcoming siege. I handed another level boss over to the city guard for assessment, but he quickly escaped from the detention cell. I’m still waiting for this to come back and bite me.

Despite all that, there’s nothing better about the game than playing it yourself. Luckily, you can try the game for free by downloading an extensive, Free demo from the Xbox Store. The demo will allow you to experience the campaign for several hours while getting a feel for the key game mechanics and features. Best of all, you can also transfer your save data from the demo to the full game if you want to continue your quest… and you will want.

First steps

Here are a few tips I’ve gathered that can help you during the demo and beyond:

• Travel in groups – It might be tempting to spread your troops across the map during encounters, but there is great value in having a group of 2 (or more) units traveling together. Once combat has begun, you can use the controller’s bumpers to scroll through nearby units to see which units are likely to perform best in a battle.
• Don’t just deploy everyone at the starting base – Sometimes it’s best to let a fast unit like a Gryphon Rider or a Knight take over a forward base of operations so you can position slower units closer to the level boss or another important target.
• Spend every point – The game reminds you several times, but it’s easy to forget your special moves. You start each battle with a meager few “valor points” to spend on deploying your units. However, as you increase them by capturing objectives or defeating enemy units, you can start spending them on special moves (one for each fighter in your army) or deploying more troops. Spending points wisely can change the course of battle, and later in a level, an archer’s ranged attacks or a knight’s attack can be used to mitigate bosses before they deliver the killing blow. Use at least Alain’s double XP bonus for teams before they finish off a group, especially if one of the members of the team is slightly below level.
• Don’t stick to the story – You’re given a very clear objective at the start of the game – and I’d recommend avoiding it for a few hours. As you explore the world map, huge optional sections become visible, containing side quest battles that can help you level up, gain new allies with skills you don’t have, and unlock new locations to purchase new items can. It’s amazing how far you can travel without completing the main plot – and how many other storylines you find along the way.
• Search high and low – There is a lot to discover in the exploration phases after a battle. Glowing sparks that indicate an item or resource are easy to find, but some are hidden in forests or seemingly inaccessible areas. To get to some caches, Alain may have to take a long route around a coast that may seem impenetrable at first, but there is always a way!

Don’t miss this opportunity to experience one of the most anticipated and innovative games of the year from one of the most famous developers in the industry. Unicorn Overlord Is outside now for Xbox Series X|S.

Unicorn Overlord Monarch Edition

MIX/MIX

☆☆☆☆☆
18

★★★★★

Get it now

Pre-order now and receive exclusive in-game insignia with the ATLUS x Vanillaware Heraldry Pack, a fan-focused DLC set that lets you customize the Liberation Army flag with emblem designs from "Odin ball," "dragon crown," And "13 Guardians: Aegis Rim".​ Pre-order available until March 7, 2024. The Unicorn Overlord Monarch Edition includes – 16-bit arranged music album (20 tracks) – digital art book (132 pages) Liberate Your Kingdom, Reclaim Your Destiny From the masterminds who gave birth to 13 Sentinels : Aegis Rim, Odin Sphere and Dragon’s Crown, ATLUS x Vanillaware presents the rebirth of the tactical fantasy role-playing game. Fight against fate and embark on a royal adventure to regain your rule alongside trusted allies. Unicorn Overlord combines the timeless tactical RPG genre with overworld exploration and an innovative combat system for a unique epic fantasy experience in the iconic Vanillaware style. Key Features: · Traverse a vibrant world, assemble units and lead them into exquisitely animated battles. · Perform heroic deeds and increase your reputation across the Five Nations. · Form a large army with over 60 unique characters, from humans and elves to massive beasts and celestial angels

Unicorn Overlord

SEGA

☆☆☆☆☆
19

★★★★★

Get it now

Liberate your kingdom, reclaim your destiny. From the masterminds that created 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim, Odin Sphere and Dragon’s Crown, ATLUS x Vanillaware presents the rebirth of the tactical fantasy role-playing game. Fight against fate and embark on a royal adventure to regain your rule alongside trusted allies. Unicorn Overlord combines the timeless tactical RPG genre with overworld exploration and an innovative combat system for a unique epic fantasy experience in the iconic Vanillaware style. Key Features: · Traverse a vibrant world, assemble units and lead them into exquisitely animated battles. · Perform heroic deeds and increase your reputation across the Five Nations. · Build a large army with over 60 unique characters, from humans and elves to massive beasts and celestial angels. Pre-order now and receive exclusive in-game insignias with the ATLUS x Vanillaware Heraldry Pack, a fan-focused DLC set with You can personalize the Liberation Army flag with emblem designs from "Odin ball," "dragon crown," And "13 Guardians: Aegis Rim".​ Pre-order possible until March 7, 2024

Unicorn Overlord DEMO

SEGA

☆☆☆☆☆
61

★★★★★

Get it now

Unicorn Overlord combines overworld exploration with an innovative combat system. Traverse the vibrant world, build a large army of over 60 recruitable characters, and expand your reputation in this unique strategy RPG! Demo now available: Enjoy up to 5 hours of gameplay in the Unicorn Overlord demo! Your progress will carry over to the main game.