Atlus and Vanillaware provided another batch of new information for their upcoming tactical RPG, Unicorn Overlord. The specifics of the game's battle system are the main focus this time around; plus, most of the new characters unveiled are not humans which enrich the fantasy setting of this title even further.
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As seen in previous gameplay footage of Unicorn Overlord, battles are primarily conduected from an overhead view of the battlefield. Players form up squadrons with different classes to counter the enemy's offense. They can take advantage of features, such as swapping positions and first strikes, to press the advantage toward victory.
If a squad deplete their stamina completely, they need to take a turn to rest - but that will leave them completely defenseless, so people have to be aware of where their allies and enemies currently are. If all else fails and everything seems hopeless, the special Hallowed Corne Ash item can be used to avert a Game Over.
As for combat encounters themselves, everything plays out automatically on a moment-to-moment basis though players configure the actions of each of their units ahead of time. They must program a set of tactical commands beforehand in each unit's menu screen on what they exactly what them to do as soon as a battle commences. The higher a command is set on their menu, the more priority it will be given; conditions can be set too, such as how low a unit's HP has to be in order for a heal command to be cast. If finely tuning every unit's commands manually may seem overwhelming, an Optimize command is at each player's disposal to quickly set a recommended tactical layout.
A colorful cast of beastial characters were introduced, as well. Ramona is a spectacled owl chieftess that's well-respected. Morard is a buff lion that boasts tremendeous offensive capabilities. Dinah is a hot-headed spear-wielding fox that cares for her soldiers.
Unicorn Overlord marches onto the PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch on March 8, 2024 worldwide simultaneously.
Learn more about Unicorn Overlord below along with many new screenshots down below.
New Allies
Yunifi
"Wherever you go, the Frostblooms will always be there to stop you!"
A member of a Bastorias based resistance group known as the Frostblooms. She is a preeminent archer central to the fight against Zenoira. Though born to humans, she was taken in and raised by Ramona.
Ramona
"We must weather any storm, no matter how fierce!"
The leader of the Bastorias-based resistance group known as the Frostblooms and Yunifi's adoptive mother. Though chieftess of the owl bloodline, she is well-respected by members of all bestral races.
Morard
"But I'd rather see you rot in a cell than burn in the underworld."
A lion bestral and member of a Bastorias resistance group known as the Frostblooms. He boasts immense physickal strength, and together with Yunifi, he forms the core of the Frostblooms' ranks.
Nigel
"While the breath of life still flows through me, you'll not cross this point."
Leader of the Knights of the Sacred Heart, he attained reverend-knighthood at a young age, then claimed the role of captain after playing an influential role in Albion's defense against Zenoira.
Dinah
"I'm after your boss's life, not yours. Out of the way."
A fox bestral and captain of the Snowpetals. Though quick to anger, she cares deeply for her soldiers, who respect her greatly in turn.
Sanatio
"I shall see it through, even if I must suffer eternal damnation as a result."
Angelic attendant to the pontifex and leader of the Heavenswing Knights. As a winged reverend knight, he was identified as a future leader of the Orthodoxy at a young age.
Unicorn Overlord - New Allies
New Enemies
Elgor
"Now the time has come to set sail. And I'll be paying the fare with your life."
A knight of Reimann, high commander of the northern Zenoiran Army. Granted a set of ancient Zenoiran Armor by Galerius. It's said that none have seen his face and lived to tell the tale.
Unicorn Overlord - New Enemies
Battlefield (Battle Stages)
Battle stages are the fields of combat where allied and enemy units wage war in real-time. Each battle stage has victory conditions that must be fulfilled in order to complete it.
Deploying Units & Unit Mobility
Allied units can be deployed from any base flying a blue flag.
Select an allied unit with the cursor to order them...
... to move toward a target destination.
Encounters
When encountering enemy units, select "Battle" from the battle menu to enter the fray.
Valor points can be replenished by defeating enemies and liberating towns.
Swapping Positions
When two allied units are in close proximity...
one can swap for the other.
Swap and battle depending on the condition of your allies and compatibility with the enemy unit.
Waiting and First Strike
Upon losing a battle, the defeated unit is knocked back and enters a waiting state.
Engaging a waiting unit will grant the attacking unit...
... a First Strike opportunity.
Stamina & Resting
Engaging in battle consumes stamina. Units with 0 stamina will be unable to move.
Resting allows a unit to enter a waiting state and recover a set amount of stamina.
However a resting unit is defenseless against enemy attacks and unable to make use of skills.
Hallowed Corne Ash
Hallowed Corne Ash can be used to avert a Game Over when...
... the time limit expires, your command post is claimed by the enemy, or your army is defeated.
Valor Skills
Valor Skills are usable during battle stages.
Different classes have access to different Valor Skills.
Valor is also depleted when deploying units, so be sure to spend it wisely.
Each stage includes various interactive elements allowing you to turn the tides of battle, such as...
... Divine Effigies for summoning cyclones, encampments for healing your units, and more.
Battle
Battles play out automatically according to various predetermined rules. Combatants take turns using Active Skills, with turn order determined by Initiative. The battle will end when all combatants have run out of Active Points (AP) or one side is defeated.
Active Skills
When a combatant's turn arrives, they will use one of their Active Skills. AP are required to use Active Skills.
AP are represented by red gems. The battle ends when both sides exhaust their AP.
Passive Skills
Passive Skills consume Passive Points (PP) and are activated automatically as reactions to certain conditions, such as being attacked. Activation conditions vary depending on the skill.
PP are represented by blue gems. Passive skills cannot be activated without PP.
Tactics & Priority
The tactics you set determine when a character will use what skill and who they will target.
Tactics allow you to assign the priority of each skill and up to two conditions for their use.
Without setting tactics, characters will simply attack the enemy directly in front of them. In order to fight efficiently, it is important to set tactics before entering battle.
Tactics Example
Alain's Lean Edge skill recovers HP if he defeats an enemy while using the skill.
Hence, targeting the enemy with the Lowest HP makes it more likely he will defeat his foe...
... and trigger the healing effect.
Tactics & Priority
Tactics can be prioritized, with the highest priority coming first. Urgent skills such as recovery skills or others you wish to activate first should be near the top of the list.
For example, if the above tactics are assigned, the character will attack with Slice no matter what. This means they will never use Heal to aid their allies.
By adjusting the priority of their tactics as shown above, they will use Heal if an ally has less than 50% HP. Otherwise they will attack with Slice instead.
The trick is to give higher priority to skills with narrower activation conditions.
Optimize
Tactics and equipment can also be automated by using the Optimize function.
If you are having difficulty making decisions, try using Optimize and see if you like the results.
