|
Sometimes, the best games are the ones you don't see coming. It's been a hectic last few months, what with the anticipation and arrival of my first child, but when it comes to video games (on the Xbox 360 in particular), I still keep up with all the big releases. However, in a flood of coverage of all the usual suspects - Halo 3, GTA IV, Madden 08, et al – somehow I had missed the existence of Overlord until it showed up on my doorstep. It may be the conglomeration of a few different games (Pikmin and Fable come to mind), but it's still a significant departure from the 360's standard fare. Even better, it's a hell of a lot of fun.
The tale opens as you are found buried and unconscious by some rather ugly creatures, mistaking you for a long-dead regent who ruled their great land. Evidently, your formerly majestic home (a castle which now stands in ruins) has taken quite a beating over the years, and your new friends would like you to return it to its earlier glory. Along the way, you're taught how to seize control of minions – vile, nasty varmints – who will do your bidding with no thought to their own safety. To serve you is their only reward, aiding you in battles to ultimately deck out your castle in the finest of devices, nefarious and otherwise.
Overlord is one of those rarest of games these days – underhyped but overdelivering.
|
Quests unfold in a manner that's typical to traditional adventure games. One or more tasks are presented to you, and off you go to take care of business. Unfortunately, without a map it can be a real pain in the neck to figure out exactly where you're supposed to go. Once you stumble upon the right path, you can unleash your minions to do much of your dirty work for you as you rebuild an empire. These minions don't come in just one flavor, either. As you progress, new and more powerful creatures become available. For starters, some ordinary "browns" will be at your disposal; these fellas are good at running up and smashing enemies at close range but turn out to be rather disposable. After a few successes, "fire" minions make their appearance (they're great at ranged attacks but Sauron help them close up), followed by sneaky "greens," and lastly by health-generating "blues." All have their place, and will need to be used in coordinated, strategic ways to achieve success.
A decidedly British wit offers another reason to enjoy Overlord; even as you make decisions as to whether or not you'll be evil (such as attacking small, impish rock-throwing enemies because some townsfolk asked you to) or really, truly, dastardly evil (turning on those same townsfolk by taking all of their food and starving the lot) the game never loses its Monty Python-esque spirit of whimsy and farce.
Not all is sunflowers and skull crackers in the land of Overlord. The controls are functional, but can be frustrating and clumsy at times. More than once, I accidentally set static points to station some of my minions while I tried to get others to move differently, with mixed results.
Overall, Overlord is one of those rarest of games these days – underhyped but overdelivering. If you haven't heard much about it, don't mistake that for anything other than a terrible disservice to a game that's been obscured by the clouds of more marketed fare. Overlord is a rollicking good time for anyone with a 360 and a sense of humor. Just be prepared to toss your morals out the window.
|
