Summary

• Unicorn Overlord is a tactical RPG with elements of strategy, auto battling, and open world exploration.
• The game features a complex battle system, unique storyline, and overworld mechanics.
• Players can assemble units, deploy them with Valor Points, and engage in battles with active and ive abilities.

Unicorn Overlord is an tactical RPG that combines elements of strategy, auto battling, and open world exploration in a lore-rich fantasy setting. The game is developed by Vanillaware, known for the critically-acclaimed RTS title 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim, and published by Atlus and SEGA. Screen Rant recently had four hours of hands-on time with the release that gave a glimpse into its complex battle systems, unique storyline, and overworld mechanics.

Though Unicorn Overlord clearly draws inspiration from beloved RTS titles of the '90s, it's also been streamlined in key areas like its UI and the methods in which players can organize and deploy their troops. This modernization is also clear in the game's gorgeous 2D graphics, making for a highly-stylized fantasy world that's easy to get lost in. The hands-on time with the game started at the very beginning, introducing the protagonist Alain and his growing party of allies as they embark on a journey to reclaim the continent of Fevrith from evil.

The Story Of Unicorn Overlord

The game begins with a flashback of Prince Alain as a child, right as a rebellion against his mother Queen Ilenia - the ruler of the kingdom of Cornia - has come to a head after the betrayal of General Valmore, who believes the Zenoiran people are the rightful sovereigns of Fevrith. Knowing her fate is sealed, Ilenia entrusts the care of her son to her knight Josef, who flees with Alain to the island of Palevia. Before they depart, Ilenia also gives Josef the Ring of the Unicorn, an old relic she emphasizes the importance of, though she doesn't elaborate why.

Ten years later, Prince Alain is still living on Palevia, receiving frequent training from Josef in the art of swordsmanship. Over the past decade, Josef has worked to bring together the Liberation Army with the goal of reclaiming the continent from Valmore - who now goes by Galerius. When Zenoiran troops arrive on the island, Alain and his friends Lex, Scarlett, and Chloe spring into action and begin to make their way across the world, slowly working to reclaim the land and reinstate Alain in the royal position that is his birthright.

Battling In Unicorn Overlord

Combat in Unicorn Overlord consists of two main components: an overall battle stage, and individual fights within it. Prior to each stage, players can assemble units, which are groups of fighters placed on a two-by-three grid. Placement is a large part of strategy, as each character has active and ive abilities alongside their stats that must be taken into consideration in order to form the best synergies and lines of protection. There is a huge number of possible permutations, typically involving stronger or more agile characters in front to face direct attacks while weaker ones offer in the back.

Units are deployed with Valor Points, which are earned through things like defeating enemies, and they can be freely moved across the stage map, though each unit has a mobility score affecting their speed. Each stage has specific win conditions, like killing an enemy general, but there are optional undertakings as well that can increase the group's score and help them throughout the battle. Locations like bridges and battle towers can be garrisoned, for example, serving as places for units to more easily heal and replenish the number of fights they can participate in.

During each fight, characters will battle automatically with their active and ive abilities. Actives are generally attacks, which utilize AP, while ives require a certain trigger, like an ally being attacked causing another to guard or heal them. Each fight will play out until one side completely loses health or all characters run out of AP; in the latter case, the victory goes to whichever side has more HP still intact. Similar to tactics games like Fire Emblem: Three Houses, the HP loss outcomes can be viewed before each fight, and players can even choose to skip the animated sequence.

Each class in Unicorn Overlord falls into a category - Infantry, Calvalry, Flying, Armor, and Scout - each of which is weak to certain enemy types, making team assembly very enemy dependent. Units can also be assigned leaders which will offer specific boons, like increasing Valor earned from each encounter. Players can further strategize by setting preferences for actives and ives - for example, making sure that healers always help the character with lowest HP, or setting spear attacks to always attack two-enemy columns whenever possible. Characters also have Valor Skills, which are powerful special moves like raining down arrows on opponents.

Unicorn Overlord's Open World

Something that sets Unicorn Overlord apart from many tactics titles is its overworld, which players are free to explore outside of battle stages. Towns that dot the map have places to buy new weapons and provisions, and can be improved through the delivery of supplies that can be found across the world, like herbs and fish. Forts let players expand their number of units and the number of characters that can be in each, hire and dismiss mercenaries, hold mock battles to test unit arrangements, and promote characters to more advanced classes.

Players can assign characters to guard towns from enemies, and stationed guards can then be given gifts, which is one of several ways rapport can be built with characters. Fighting in units will also raise rapport, and when it reaches certain levels, special cutscenes and rewards can be unlocked, though the specifics of those weren't clear from the demo. The in-game world is full of fighters that can be recruited - with over 60 in total that can be found throughout the course of the storyline - and a myriad of side quests can net players rewards as well.

Final Thoughts On Unicorn Overlord

With four different levels of difficulty and a nearly endless number of possible unit combinations, it's clear that the hands-on time with this game barely scratched the surface of its strategic depths. The title seems to offer a great balance for all types of players, from strategy game beginners largely looking for a good fantasy story to seasoned veterans seeking a true challenge. Alongside its intriguing hybrid of mechanics, Unicorn Overlord offers genuinely interesting characters and an expansive, creative world that holds a plethora of lore, strategy, and secrets for players to discover.

Screen Rant attended a special hands-on event for the purpose of this preview.