Overlord Review

Game: Overlord for PC by Triumph Studios

Premise: Player is a recently revived evil Overlord who must reassert his dominance over the lands surrounding his battered tower. Through the use of minions and various spells the player solves puzzles, defeats heroes, rebuilds his tower and reasserts his rightful place as dark lord over all he surveys.

Graphics: On a medium-end gaming machine graphics were rich and detailed with very few instances of slow-down or skipped frames. Environmental and lighting effects properly enhanced the mood of most areas and character models were well done and distinctive among the major characters, although there was a lack of similar diversity in the minor characters (for example, I encountered the same peasant about a hundred times over the course of the game).

Sound: Music and sounds effects were standard fare for fantasy games, but well done nonetheless. Of particular note is the Disney-esque music of the first area that accompanies your violent conquest of the human and Halfling villages nicely. Voice-acting was generally funny and immersive, such as the child-like delight in the minions’ voices as they retrieve treasure and armor for their beloved Overlord; however, overuse of NPC dialogue was prevalent and became annoying at times.

The Good: I have always been a big advocate of games that let you control vast numbers of lesser creature (i.e. Pikmin), and this game has it in droves. Even better, these minions display a more complex and intelligent AI than I have seen in such games and it was a relief not having to worry about my horde of followers accidentally killing themselves in a random fire or puddle. The game also gives players a choice between being completely or only sort of evil, so even gamers with a conscience will be able to play the game without encountering too many moral dilemmas. Speaking of evil, it’s so rare that one can play the bad guy in a game and actually be rewarded for it that the experience is reminiscent of a much-needed vacation: every so often you just need to get away from being a hero and just be a bastard for a while.

The Bad: I found myself wanting to know more about the back stories of many of the characters in the game, especially the fallen heroes whom the Overlord must defeat to advance. The story reveals a few details about these characters near the end of the game, but enhancing the plot by revealing more detailed backgrounds could have made the game truly epic. Also, the first area of the game, Mellow Hills, is the only area in the game where you really get to feel like an evil overlord. The area presents you with an idyllic pastoral setting complete with a peasant village and hobbit settlement (evil hobbits, but hobbits nonetheless) for the player to defile to their heart’s content. The other areas are still fun, but all are either besieged and/or already defiled to some degree, so the experience becomes about being a hero again, even if it is only so that the people worship the correct evil Overlord. Finally, using the PC keyboard to control the Overlord and all his minions can become difficult in the heat of battle, but this could probably be remedied through the purchase of a controller or by playing the game on the Xbox 360.

Why You Should Play This Game: Overlord is fun little excursion from the normal hero antics of most video games and sports an excellent sense of humor. My girlfriend watched me play through the first area and even she, a non-gamer, was enthralled by the experience. Here’s an excerpt from our conversation.

My Girlfrend: So you’re controlling those little goblins?
Me: Yup. My Girlfriend: Are….are those pumpkins on their heads?
Me: Yeah, they’re using them as helmets. Adorable little helmets. And those two are carrying away servant wenches for my Dark Tower.
My Girlfriend: That’s kinda hot. By the way, when are you gonna get a mistress for your tower? Me: That’s my next quest.

Overall Rating: Deliciously evil