Overlord

Codemasters adds another quality 360 release.

Version
Xbox 360, PC

Developer
Triumph Studios

Publisher
Codemasters

Genre
Adventure

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"Progress through the game sees players rebuilding their evil empire, and ridding the world of the evil good guys. Yes - evil good guys."

Overlord has a distinct feel of Fable about things - the look of the game contributes heavily to this, but the overall feel of the experience conjures up memories of Lionhead's overhyped-but-still-great effort. No bad thing there. Progress through the game sees players rebuilding their evil empire, first reconstructing the evil castle, spreading their evil influence and ridding the world of the evil good guys. Yes - evil good guys. Just to make the lack of evilality even more apparent, the bosses spread through the game are all 'fallen' heroes, once great and now even more evil than the Overlord himself. See - that's just daft. Ah well.

Initial progress in the pretty land of Overlord soon becomes quite repetitive, verging on dull - smash, swipe, smash, grab, smash - but when the other Minions are unlocked the game begins to show its true potential. Reds, the fiery ones, Blues, the physically weak ones that can swim and Greens, the ones that can get through the poisonous gases. It keeps to the simple formula, that's for sure, and whilst it means there are no difficult puzzles in the game (fire in the way? You need the Blues! Oh... No, wait...), there are still elements of strategy unlocked by each addition, adding something to the experience each time.

"Overlord manages to overcome its many faults and pass itself off as a damn good game."

The game plays out in something of a linear fashion, though quests can be undertaken in whatever order one so chooses - so long as there aren't any obstacles that can only be overcome with Minions the player doesn't have yet. This eludes to a feeling of freedom, but the experience is still a boxed-in one. Throw in the fact that it isn't very hard and it doesn't take too long to finish and the whole package seems like one to avoid. But no - sum, parts, greater and all that - Overlord manages to overcome its many faults and pass itself off as a damn good game. Not great, not legendary and certainly not evil, but good nonetheless. The pleasure that a drunk Minion pissing on the floor bestows on a player is a truly odd one and is unique as a result. The little gimps manage to save a somewhat mediocre experience and push it to something worthy of picking up.

On a superficial level, the game looks decent enough. It doesn't stretch to the NEXT GEN POWAAAAH that we all clearly expect, and it does look like a tarted-up Fable, but it does a job and is pretty (not evil though, natch). Sound is - again - a lot like that of Fable, even down to the terrible Olde English Cock-er-knees that populate the lands, along with some random Yanks thrown in for good measure - it clearly isn't a serious tone, at least.

Voice acting is pretty standard fare and though sometimes it falls shockingly in quality, it really doesn't matter too much. Plus you can kick that annoying shit jester. Probably the most evil thing you can do in the game, actually - a campaign of bullying against the castle entertainer. Hmm.

Graphics	Sound	Gameplay	Depth	Presentation	OVERALL
7.0	6.0	7.0	6.0	6.0	7.0

THE VERDICT: Overlord isn't as evil as it seems to think it is. In fact, a lot of the time it's just downright good (*shudder*). Being called the 'rescuer of the distressed damsel' is not something a being of pure evil should be. Given the game fails near-spectacularly in one of its main premises, it's surprising that the whole package comes in as something to recommend - the Minions both save and make the game, and the cheeky shortarse scamps are worth the admission. Not what it should have been, but a pleasant one anyway.

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Overlord

Codemasters adds another quality 360 release.

Kikizo:

Kikizo Classic:

Entertainment:

Overlord

Codemasters adds another quality 360 release.

Kikizo:

Kikizo Classic:

Entertainment:

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