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Overlord Review (continued)
More User Submitted Overlord Reviews
Date: 2007-07-02
The simple pleasures of being Evil
I bought Overlord on a Friday expecting a couple hours of enjoyment over the weekend before becoming bored with repetitive gameplay. After a weekend spent in my study, I must confess... I underestimated the allure of being Evil.
Pros: Graphics, Humor, Level Design
Cons: Linear, Replay value?
In Overlord, you take the role of the epinonymous anti-hero, recently resurrected by your hysterical minions to take up the mantel of your fallen predecessor. Very little backstory is provided and this is a little disappointing, but the humorous sequence through which your minions great you makes up for it. Apparently a band of nefarious do-gooders trashed your Evil Tower, and you've got to put it back together, strange the peasants into submission and get your revenge.
To do this, you are teleported into the first map area to pummel some bloated halflings (I never did like hobbits). The first map (and the ones that follow) is well designed and beautiful, with some creative ideas to keep it interesting and give you an open feel. You're welcome to explore at your leisure but, to accomplish your quests, things move in a fairly linear fashion. To the game's credit, however, it doesn't FEEL linear. I felt free to do what I wanted when I wanted to do it. But, tasks really must be completed in a certain order before you can progress. (Un)-fortunately, that precise order isn't clear until after some trial and error (which either leads to confusion or creates that non-linear sensation).
The primary tool in your conquest will be your minions. Your selection is limited but effective. You have your warriors (brown minions), fire throwers (red minions), assassins (green minions) and healers (blue minions). Ironically, your minions are the real star of this game -- not you. They run around, wreaking havoc on the land and indulging your every whim. They leap onto the backs of sheep and ride them like broncos and swarm over your enemies like a bunch of gibbering goblins. Constantly breaking loose funny little jokes and reverently presenting you with treasure and gifts, they really steal the show and I never get tired of them. Compared to thim, the Overlord is definitely the strong silent type -- individually he is far more powerful in battle, but your minions are far more powerful when used en masse.
Your evil-ness is rated on a scale of corruption. You can take the less "evil" path by helping your peasants and restoring the Elven race or you can be Evil by pillaging the village, killing the peasants until they're suppressed, and slaughtering the few remaining elves like the simpering fools they are. Reflecting your chosen path is a selection of two mistresses (a fiesty but well-intentioned maiden or a sultry and wicked seductress).
I found the gameplay relatively simple and not terribly challenging. I doubt it's supposed to be. The game is, first and foremost, about having fun. The game is riddled with little jokes and the minions have kept me chuckling and laughing the whole time.
The graphics are rich and beautiful, and the sound is also well done but not particularly remarkable. The real gem is the gameplay and the novelty of being Evil. Due to the linear nature of the quests, I'm not sure what the replay value of this game will be, but it is a fun and enjoyable romp.
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