Unicorn Overlord Review: "Rivals Some Of The Best Of Fire Emblem"

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, developed by Vanillaware () and published by Atlus & Sega, is a tactics RPG that will no doubt draw comparisons to from even those casually acquainted with the genre. Aesthetic, gameplay design, character interactions and story all appear at least vaguely reminiscent to the storied franchise — but what's present in this game is much more than just an imitation. Through its own complex and engrossing systems, is a legitimate competitor in a space that's been dominated by one entity (at least in the mainstream) for far too long.

follows the exiled Prince Alain as he attempts to regain control of his homeland of Cornia and free the world of Fevrith from a tyrannical evil usurper. It's the usual premise for high fantasy tactical endeavors and while the characters do a lot of heavy lifting to make things feel fresh, unfortunately, Alain is pretty boring himself. That, coupled with the fact the story really takes a solid 10-15 hours to get rolling in meaningful ways, means doesn't completely wow with its journey until a solid chunk of its world has been explored.

Unicorn Overlord is a great tactical RPG.

Something that immediately has going for it is its aesthetic, which is largely reminiscent of in the best ways. Character models are airy and captivating, and the richness of color and 2.5D backdrops really helps engross viewers in what's transpiring on screen. That's amplified even further in the game's world map, which sees the characters shrunk down into their more pixel-y variants and wandering a vivid environment full of potential side missions, items to collect, and mysteries to solve.

The world of Fevrith is welcoming, and it's easy to feel compelled to explore every corner available during a given segment of gameplay. Overworld enemies add a nice method of testing new compositions between major missions, though there are also mock battles at garrisons to do the same; likewise, acquiring materials and repairing towns is a great way to earn Honor, a points system