14 DAY TRIAL // Video games try to innovate, but they're usually quite run-of-the-mill boring when it comes to the overall story: you're a good guy on a mission to save someone you love or your own village/city/planet from destruction by the forces of evil that want nothing more than to see your demise.
Not a lot of games show this action from the bad guy's side, but luckily, Overlord has managed to bring a much needed dose of evil mischief to the gaming industry. Now, the teams at Triumph Studios, which developed it, and Codemasters, which published the game, have released the next title in the series, Overlord II, promising to offer even more evil adventures for players around the world.
I recently had a chance to play this game and see whether or not this sequel would bring improvements on the first one, which is still one of my favorites in recent years. Here's my one hour spent with Overlord II.
13:00 I already played the demo, which really took me back to my times spent with the evil and fun minions in the first game, so I can hardly wait to test out this new one.
13:03 After a few tweaks, the introduction video gets everyone, whether or not they played the first game, up to speed. The land has been without an Overlord for quite some time, so the minions have begun to search for a successor to the throne. That one person is you, thankfully, but there is a small problem, as you are still a child in Nordberg, a snowy village.
13:09 While you may look like an Overlord, you still need to prove your evil intentions, meaning that you must wreak havoc throughout the village by using your normal and magical powers, alongside commanding the minions to do your evil bidding.
13:14 The game is already quite fun, as the comedy never stops, whether it comes from seeing your minions dressed up as little children and villagers saying they're cute, to the whole tongue-in-cheek feel of the small, snowy village.
13:22 But, while it was all fun and evil games through the village, as I threw fireworks at its inhabitants, it seemed that a new power had come to dominate the land, in the form of the Empire, which frowned upon those who used magic. And the small Overlord is just such a person, meaning he must escape as fast as possible.
13:29 The minions help me escape and, after a few brief encounters with some of the Empire soldiers, I am able to do so. However, the frozen ice of Nordberg holds some traps, and the small character plunges into the icy water and gets frozen.
13:37 Fast forward a few years, and the Overlord has gotten appropriately big for his evil demeanor, and is able to escape from his icy prison. Luckily, Gnarl, the trusty servant from the first title, is by the Overlord's side to introduce him to the new surroundings. Gone is the castle and present is an underworld fortress, much more evil than in the first game.
13:44 After some more training with the Brown minions and a friendly Yeti, I can take my first step outside, in order to gather lifeforce for my minions. What better way than to make them clobber a few baby seals in the process, right?
13:49 The whole nature of this title is to poke fun at the typical stereotypes we see nowadays around us. From a stupid hunter that proclaims the “first come, first served,” to an elf that says that he will save all fluffy creatures from the likes of the Overlord, everything is extremely funny.
13:55 One of the new things in the game is presented in this tutorial section, as my minions come across a pack of wolves, which, at least the brown ones, can mount and can be used in battle for an added speed and strength bonus. Also, the look of the Overlord being followed by the little demoniacal creatures riding on wolves is priceless.
14:00 Sadly, my one hour with Overlord II ends here, with me defeating a village of seal hunters and making the world a better place for my evil intentions.
Overall, Overlord II is looking extremely good and, with the graphics overhaul, it is much better than the first title. Look forward to the full review soon.