Vanillaware's upcoming tactical RPG, Unicorn Overlord, might have been one of the more low-key announcements of the September 2023 Nintendo Direct, but with publisher Atlus releasing a new trailer today, we can confirm that it still looks stunning.
Titled 'Josef's Guide to Exploration', the latest trailer is unsurprisingly all about the upcoming game's exploration features, with the titular knight instructing Unicorn Overlord's protagonist, Alain, on what he (and by extension, we) can expect to find in the world of Fevrith.
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Aside from detailing several key gameplay elements such as field exploration, town liberation and quests, the trailer also gives us yet another look at Vanillaware's gorgeous, painterly visuals in action. You can get a look at these in a little more detail by checking out the screenshots (and accompanying info) from the Unicorn Overlord website below.
LIBERATE YOUR KINGDOM, RECLAIM YOUR DESTINY
From the masterminds that brought 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim and Odin Sphere, ATLUS x Vanillaware presents the rebirth of tactical fantasy RPG. Fight against fate and embark on a royal adventure to regain your reign alongside trustworthy allies.
Unicorn Overlord combines the timeless tactical RPG genre with overworld exploration and innovative battle system for a unique epic fantasy experience in the iconic Vanillaware style.- Traverse a vibrant world, assemble units and direct them into exquisitely animated battles
- Perform heroic deeds and grow renown throughout the five nations
- Cultivate a grand army with over 60 unique characters, from humans and elves to massive beasts and heavenly angelsUNIT CUSTOMIZATION
Players can customize their party as they see fit, recruiting allies from different backgrounds.BATTLEFIELD: STAGE
Within each battle stage, both sides will fight to take each other's command posts in thrilling real-time combat. You, the commander, must keep a close eye on the situation, making critical decisions like which units to send when or where. Victory is secured once you've clear certain conditions, such as defeating the enemy general.BATTLE
Individual battles begin when your units make contact with the enemy during a battle stage. Coordinate a unit's tactics in advance with conditions that determine how and when skills will automatically be used. Balance your allies' classes and skills to form the strongest units for any situation!
If all of this is looking very much up your street, then you can now digitally pre-order the game for £54.99 (or your regional equivalent) from the Switch eShop. Unicorn Overlord will be released on 8th March, so you have a good amount of time to get these orders placed.
For those after something a little more collectable, the game is also receiving a 'Monarch Edition' physical release, which bundles in a whole bunch of goodies alongside a boxed copy of the game. For more information on this version, be sure to check out our coverage below.
Will you be pre-ordering Unicorn Overlord? Let us know in the comments.
Comments 24
I'm usually not into Tactical RPGs but it's Vanillaware so I'll have to give it a shot.
It looks amazing. One of the third party title I'll do Day One.
Great, another tactical RPG that shoehorns in a million things besides tactical battles.
Very Vanillaware, and VERY cute looking.
Probably the game I'm looking forward to the most at the moment.
The food always looks so delicious in Vanillaware games.
@OldManHermit Agreed, even the scorpion and bat dishes in Dragon's Crown looked delicious.
Pegasus Czar.. Stallion Sovereign.. Magical Pony Baron.. lol
trying real hard here! Every two hours a new trailer arrives. At this point I don't even have to play the game. I'll know all about it by watching all their videos xD
This game is 100% on my radar, but dang, I don’t need to buy another RPG/TRPG for the Switch! I am JUST getting around to playing Triangle Strategy (which I bought on sale like 9mo ago) and have tons more on the backlog. lol
@OldManHermit That's what I thought too when the food showed up.
Much needed game coming out in a year that is looking pretty dry.
Hmm, no English voices?
Do you guys think it'll run well on Switch? Or, if I want a better experience, I should buy it on PS4?
@thiob I was wondering the same and will probably wait for reviews. I prefer playing this type of game on Switch, but if the Switch version has any kind of performance issues I will opt for PS5.
@Hero-of-WiiU I'm still catching up on 2023. I welcome a slow year
This game is for me.
...that said COME ONNNNNNN VANILLAWARE! Where be Dragons Crown, Odin Sphere, and Muramasa? Put em on switch. No way you won't make a grip off those.
@LikelySatan Yeah I got a bit of a backlog that includes: Octopath Traveler 2, Skyward Sword HD, and Pikmin 4
The food always looks so delicious in Vanillaware games.
@OldManHermit I'm thinking you might grow your own food in your hermitdom, which would be awesome, but - given the way we Canadians get hosed on groceries, the in-game food will have to suffice at the $80 asking price, considering some of us can't have both at the same time...
@miwa I usually am into tactical RPGs but I am not sure if I like the art direction on this.
No biggy though, it's not like I have the time for another game. I still need to start Triangle Strategy, honestly should find some time to finish Octopath Traveler 2, and I am kneedeep into Mario RPG right now, and I hardly even have time for that.
@thiob If a game is on multiple platforms there’s a 98% chance that the Switch version will be the inferior way to play that game. With rare occasions like 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim where the Switch version is better than its PS4 counterpart.
Looks great, so much so that I'm considering getting a physical copy at launch and starting playing it day one, but I'll be patient and wait to see if I'll have enough time for it or not then!
I really need a demo, as I still can't decide if I want the standard or CE yet.
@CANOEberry Oh yeah, I got a goat, some chickens, a little garden, and a moonshine still down by the river next to my shack. Yeah, I wish. Maybe one day, but for now I’m one of those inner city hermits that still has to buy groceries, and they are way too expensive.
Maybe Switch 2 will have a feature that lets you eat the video game food, like some kind of replicator tech from Star Trek. Nintendo's always been an innovator like that;)
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