Very addicting battle system, beautiful design all around.
Story is the age old lost prince trying to reclaim his birthright, but it is very well done. The writing, although Alain's choices are not up to you most of the time, is well written in terms of motivations for all characters - you may not agree with them, but you are able to see their perspective (also why Alain would deal with them as he does - again, most of the time).
The little choice the game has results in you failing to recruit some people, but that does not change the story is any meaningful way. What does change it is your choice in whom to marry, and although it is a nice touch with different epilogues for the chosen romance, it is overall lackluster.
The rapport system seems to have been abandoned halfway through, since a fair amount of the characters have only 1 conversation out of the possible three, and even less with other characters. That becomes even more of an issue when you propose to someone that has barely any romantic interactions with you (most have none at all).
In terms of the overarching story that is also an issue, albeit a minor one - the map is divided in 5 different regions, and the first three are well written. However, Bastoria (to the north) feels like a gigantic sidequest with little relation to the plot or to why you're even there. And Albion, to the west, has a somewhat disappointing ending with a forced recruitment of a villain.
The ending of the game is VERY much copied from fullmetal alchemist, which is not a bad thing, but it is what it is. There is a nice roaming event after the ending in which you talk to all of your companions too.
To sum it up, Unicorn Overlord is a very good game that could have had maybe another year to polish mainly the story and rapport aspects of its final regions. But, even without that, it stands as a flagbearer of its genre and a landmark for future titles.
Story is the age old lost prince trying to reclaim his birthright, but it is very well done. The writing, although Alain's choices are not up to you most of the time, is well written in terms of motivations for all characters - you may not agree with them, but you are able to see their perspective (also why Alain would deal with them as he does - again, most of the time).
The little choice the game has results in you failing to recruit some people, but that does not change the story is any meaningful way. What does change it is your choice in whom to marry, and although it is a nice touch with different epilogues for the chosen romance, it is overall lackluster.
The rapport system seems to have been abandoned halfway through, since a fair amount of the characters have only 1 conversation out of the possible three, and even less with other characters. That becomes even more of an issue when you propose to someone that has barely any romantic interactions with you (most have none at all).
In terms of the overarching story that is also an issue, albeit a minor one - the map is divided in 5 different regions, and the first three are well written. However, Bastoria (to the north) feels like a gigantic sidequest with little relation to the plot or to why you're even there. And Albion, to the west, has a somewhat disappointing ending with a forced recruitment of a villain.
The ending of the game is VERY much copied from fullmetal alchemist, which is not a bad thing, but it is what it is. There is a nice roaming event after the ending in which you talk to all of your companions too.
To sum it up, Unicorn Overlord is a very good game that could have had maybe another year to polish mainly the story and rapport aspects of its final regions. But, even without that, it stands as a flagbearer of its genre and a landmark for future titles.