Unicorn Overlord: ogre battle lives for ever more

[Bongo]

Unicorn Overlord is a a strategy RPG developed by Vanillaware for Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X, to be released on March 8, 2024 (don't hold your breath for a PC version). A substantial demo - basically the early parts of the game on a generous seven-hour timer, with complete save transfer to the full version - is available now, and I highly recommend it. The Switch version appears to have no performance compromises relative to the others, with fast loading times, responsive UI, and no framerate dips that I've noticed, though the Switch version does not support output at 4k resolution.

Unicorn Overlord applies Vanillaware's signature huge, hand-illustrated sprites to a highly specific subgenre of strategy RPG. This is only like the third or fifth game ever that is like 1993's Ogre Battle: March of the Black Queen: the player gives commands to small squads of characters, who travel across the battle map in real-time (with pause) and fight it out autonomously when they encounter an enemy squad. Each of the sixty-ish named characters (plus generics) is customizable to a degree that would suit a regular-type RPG, even including a system somewhat similar to Final Fantasy XII's gambits to fine-tune the tactics. There is considerable depth to the process of countering enemy unit formations with your own, but it's got that classic Rock, Paper, Scissors foundation, where no unit is without a weakness. Between battles, you can freely roam the overworld completing side quests and getting optional battles and gathering allies and so forth.

The story is classic and, despite its design pedigree, seems to lack the political complexity and moral ambiguity of Yasumi Matsuno's work in this kind of genre. Rather, it begins as a very clear homage to Fire Emblem: Dark Dragon and the Sword of Light, with the blue-haired exiled prince and his wizened man-at-arms rallying a rebellion against a total jerkwad of an emperor. Unique units can also talk to each other if you have them fight together enough, unlocking Support Rapport Conversations.

I've wanted a game like this for a very long time, and I'm so pleased that the demo has given me such strong confidence in its quality. Check it out, why don't you?

 

[Second Duke Revier]

I'm very, very cautiously optimistic about this. On one hand, the mechanics and systems behind it seems very solid. On the other, Symphony of War got a lot of hype, yet the final game was rather underwhelming, and more Fire Emblem than Ogre Battle.

 

[Octopus Prime]

I was apprehensive at first since I like Tactics Ogre way more than Ogre Battle, then I tried the demo and it went from a “Maybe when it’s on sale” to Day 1

 

[Regulus]

I, too, generally like Tactics Ogre more than Ogre Battle, but there are like a million billion Tactics Ogre offshoots and almost no OgreBattlelikes, so I'm pretty excited for this.

 

[Pombar]

Ditto both Octo and Regulus. A vastly under-served style of game, and a demo that immediately brought this to Day One for me.

Imitating FF12's Gambit system works so well here in a way it didn't work quite as well for me in 12 - it lets the battles be breezy and progress logically, thereby enhancing the fun since I don't really want to be playing these one-round battles myself or making them as flat and choiceless as FE's battles (whereas in FF12 it always felt like they were taking the fun controlled battles out of my hands)

 

[JBear]

I'm very, very cautiously optimistic about this. On one hand, the mechanics and systems behind it seems very solid. On the other, Symphony of War got a lot of hype, yet the final game was rather underwhelming, and more Fire Emblem than Ogre Battle.

Hrm. I actually really like Symphony of War, and I don't think it ever presented itself as anything but what it is: Ogre Battle squad management and combat, but with the real-time maps replaced with a turn-based grid, which, as far as I'm aware, makes it utterly unique, which is worth a lot in my book. In any case, I loved that one, and I'm also really looking forward to Unicorn Overlord.

 

[Bongo]

Ogre Battle squads on a turn-based grid is also a feature of Soul Nomad.

 

[Classic]

I'm a bit disappointed that I slept on Soul Nomad, but is that one of the N1S switch ports that are a disaster?

 

[Falselogic]

Every time I see this thread I think it is about this:

And then every time I read it closer I am a little disappointed.

 

[Bongo]

Relieve your disappointment by playing the demo for this video game.

 

[Octopus Prime]

Completely possible that a world devouring cosmic god is in the game too!

 

[MrBlarney]

I've never played an Ogre Battle before, so I'm pretty excited for Unicorn Overlord to come out. I played through Soul Nomad back on the PS2, but that's about as close as it gets. (I've also got Symphony of War in my backlog that I haven't gotten quite into yet.) I'm pretty dead set on purchasing Unicorn Overlord already, but maybe I should peek into the demo this weekend just to make sure?

[Unicorn Overlord] is only like the third or fifth game ever that is like 1993's Ogre Battle: March of the Black Queen

What other games are out there, in the squad-based RPG sub-branch? There were two more games mentioned in this webpage of ogrebattle64.net but they're definitely not as notable as what's been mentioned so far. I played a few hours of The Last Remnant, which counts in squad construction, at least. The Devil Survivor games are even further away from the vibe of the other games mentioned, though it technically does have squads-as-units.

 

[Bongo]

Ogre Battle, Ogre Battle 64, and Unicorn Overlord makes three. Arguably, Soul Nomad and Symphony of War. Maybe that one mode in Soul Calibur 3.

 

[Octopus Prime]

Now that you mention it, I *could* see Last Remnant as an example.

Just… with some asterisks

 

[WildcatJF]

I played the demo for 15 minutes, was immediately satisfied in its Ogre Battle homage, visual aesthetics (god damn Vanillaware are nigh untouchable at their craft), and the music and voice over work that I am just gonna wait another week to play it in totality.

I'm so excited!

 

[Pombar]

If you think you'd play less than 7 hours in the 5 days before release, then might be worth just keeping going with it. It does just basically give you the game on a 7 hour timer and then once the timer expires you make a save you can just resume in the full version.

Or could wait till 2 days before and start then or some such!

 

[MrBlarney]

I've just gotten my army up to Renown level D and unlocked a bunch of things. Game's definitely got its hooks in me, and I think I should purchase the game to be ready for the full release. The game's been a little bit on the easy side so far on the standard Tactical difficulty, but as someone new to the subgenre, this is fine. I'm definitely feeling like this slack is really useful for helping me feel comfortable with the game and to not make me worry about missing some funds, honors, or renown from completing a battle less-than-perfectly.

 

[Bongo]

Now that it's out and I've played it wholeheartedly, I know that Unicorn Overlord is incredibly good. The clear and gradual presentation of its systems, the satisfyingly swingy outcomes of an advantageous build, and the dense yet legible UI all combine to guide you to opportunities to feel rewarded for doing something clever. And its general convenience and transparency gives you the confidence to take the risks you think might pay off. Maybe it's too early to say so, but it feels like the sort of game that makes you want to keep thinking about it.

 

[gorha]

Does this game have any performance issues on Switch, especially once you get into bigger fights? I'm loathe to pay full price for the digital only PS4 version, but might grab it on Switch rather than wait for a sale.

 

[Kazin]

I did not realize until perusing this thread that this is specifically an Ogre Battle-like, not a Tactics Ogre-like, and I prefer the former, so now I'm extremely interested. I think I'll grab the demo.

 

[gogglebob]

Does this game have any performance issues on Switch, especially once you get into bigger fights? I'm loathe to pay full price for the digital only PS4 version, but might grab it on Switch rather than wait for a sale.

I decided to risk it and get the Switch version exclusively on the basis of Final Fantasy Tactics Advance and how much I prefer playing through tactics games when portability is available. I haven't played the thing yet because of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth consuming all my idle brain reps, but I am hoping this game is safe on the Switch.

 

[Octopus Prime]

If there’s any performance problems on the Switch *boy* are they difficult to perceive.

My controllers disconnected when I was playing it but that’s because there’s gunk on the connectors or something.

 

[Paul le Fou]

I like how you can customize the generic duders that you can hire. You could have five housecarls or whatever, but they could all be different colors with different voices, and have different stat growth patterns at that, if you wanted. Just a little touch, but it adds for nice variety.

 

[Bongo]

Does this game have any performance issues on Switch, especially once you get into bigger fights? I'm loathe to pay full price for the digital only PS4 version, but might grab it on Switch rather than wait for a sale.

Aside from the output being 1080p instead of 4k, I have heard tell that some of the very flashiest late-game spell effects sometimes cause some momentary framerate stutters. I haven't gotten far enough to see that yet myself. However, other than that, they've achieved full performance parity; even the loading times are short.

 

[Classic]

I feel like the narrative is telling me that there are

Spoiler

consequences for dawdling in chasing after Scarlet

is this real? And if so, what is being tracked?

 

[Bongo]

Is there a character named Charlotte in this? Or are you talking about Scarlett? Unless something drastically changes in the late game, you can spend as much time goofing around on sidequests as you want.

 

[Bongo]

So, the accessory "Gambler's Coin" has an ability "Inspiration." It's a powerful buff that lasts for a single attack, and more importantly, its downside of 50% accuracy reduction is completely negated when the attack is a True strike. I gave one to a teammate who had nothing better to do with their PP (a Shaman, in this case), and configured the targeting rules so that it would only activate for the Swordfighter or Hunter in the party. Then I also gave them a Lapis Pendant so they could use it twice, just for kicks, though I can't tell if I'm getting enough from that to benefit from committing one of the most valuable and versatile kinds of accessory.

I also saw a significant improvement to my offense once I started making sure every unit had a character in it with an "Assault" move that chains into itself by restoring AP. Knights start with one, but Warriors and Sellswords get them starting from level 10. This turns most engagements into a question of eliminating the enemy's tank and then sweeping up the unprotected remnants in one blow. It is a very effective way to keep low-level reinforcements from consuming too much of your units' stamina.

They have started throwing really rude puzzle bosses at me in some of the liberation quests in northern Cornia, like two Shamans supporting two Gladiators. Make sure you're taking advantage of the fact that you can freely reconfigure a unit on the battle preview screen. Adding or removing characters, or changing the leader, is forbidden, but you can freely alter layout, equipment, and tactics. Customizing the unit so that you're prioritizing the lynchpin of the enemy's tactics lets you punch way above your weight class.

 

[Octopus Prime]

Curious if doing all the Liberation missions that have Renault in them *before* the mission where you fight him and he runs off would stop you from being able to recruit him properly

 

[Kalir]

Curious if doing all the Liberation missions that have Renault in them *before* the mission where you fight him and he runs off would stop you from being able to recruit him properly

You aren't able to leave Cornia before rescuing Scarlett. And Laurent's quest for justice is not restricted to Cornia alone.

 

[gorha]

If there’s any performance problems on the Switch *boy* are they difficult to perceive.

My controllers disconnected when I was playing it but that’s because there’s gunk on the connectors or something.

Aside from the output being 1080p instead of 4k, I have heard tell that some of the very flashiest late-game spell effects sometimes cause some momentary framerate stutters. I haven't gotten far enough to see that yet myself. However, other than that, they've achieved full performance parity; even the loading times are short.

Thanks, it sounds like the Switch version will be just fine.