Overlord (computer game)
| Overlord | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| Studio | Triumph Studios | ||
| Publisher |
Codemasters Buka Entertainment |
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| Senior Developer | Lennart Sas | ||
| Erstveröffent- lichung |
June 29, 2007 | ||
| platform | Linux , PlayStation 3 , Windows , Xbox 360 | ||
| genre | Action adventure | ||
| Subject | Fantasy | ||
| Game mode | Single player , multiplayer (Internet & LAN ) | ||
| control | Mouse , keyboard or gamepad | ||
| medium | DVD , download | ||
| language | Multilingual (German, English, French, Italian, Spanish) | ||
| Age rating |
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| information | The Raising Hell version (PC, PS3) contains the main game as well as all download extensions. | ||
Overlord is a computer game from the Dutch developer Triumph Studios , which was released in June 2007 by the British game publisher Codemasters for Windows , Xbox 360 and Linux . The action adventure is characterized by an exaggerated representation of common fantasy clichés . The title received an expansion called Raising Hell and was later ported to PlayStation 3 as well. This was followed by Overlord 2, a direct successor and two other offshoots of the series, developed by the British game developer Climax Studios .
action
The player slips into the role of the overlord, a classic antagonist whose predecessor was defeated by seven heroes and whose home, his tower, was completely destroyed. Originally the overlord was the oppressor of all the surrounding lands until he was defeated by the heroes. But the success and the admiration of the people went to the head of the former heroes and so they developed themselves into tyrants who exploited the people even worse. With the help of his hordes of minions equipped with various skills, the overlord begins a campaign of revenge against the heroes.
Game description
In the character of the player character, a new overlord is born, who from now on endeavors to rebuild his tower, bring the seven heroes to their just punishment and usurp world domination. At his side are the so-called henchmen, small goblin-like beings who, on the orders of their master, throw themselves into combat under AI control or perform small puzzles. During the missions, they are primarily the ones who take on the battles for their master, plunder villages, attack opponents, open doors and drag in treasures. A total of four different types of minions with their own strengths and weaknesses are available to the player in the course of the game, from which he can build an army of up to 50 minions. The game mechanics of Overlord and the control of the minions are very reminiscent of the Pikmin series from Nintendo .
Between the combat-oriented missions, the player returns to his tower in order to further expand it there with the help of his loot or to learn new skills and improve his equipment similar to a computer role-playing game . Similar to the Lionhead games Fable or Black & White , the player can decide at several points in the game whether he wants to act good or bad. The appearance of the overlord and his tower adapts accordingly. But even if you take on the role of a potential villain in the game, you are not forced to do evil all the time. The game can also be ended without affecting the neutral pieces. However, the game was rated for ages 16+.
In addition to the single-player campaign, Overlord offers three multiplayer modes, deathmatch , cooperation and a special looting mode, in which various overlords and their minions race against each other to collect as much gold as possible by looting. A so-called split-screen mode was subsequently developed especially for the Xbox 360 version and presented to the public for the first time at the Games Convention 2007.
Production notes
Overlord is a humorous game with black British humor and various slapstick interludes. These are particularly expressed in the AI-controlled actions of the henchmen. Common clichés of the fantasy genre are parodied throughout the game. Overlord itself combines the characteristics of various genres, including a. of action adventure games and computer role-playing games. Individual aspects from games such as Fable , Black & White , Dungeon Keeper or Pikmin were picked out and remixed for Overlord . The focus of the game is dealing with the minions, who command and improve the majority of the game.
Overlord was announced by Codemasters in April 2006 for the summer of 2007. For the design of the plot was u. a. Rhianna Pratchett , daughter of British author and Discworld inventor Terry Pratchett . The music comes from Michiel van den Bos .
Extensions
Codemasters released a total of three download extensions for the Xbox 360.
- Overlord: Raising Hell
- Overlord: Challenge Pack
- Overlord: Split-Screen Multiplayer Pack
These expansions were combined for the PC and offered for purchase worldwide as a download expansion on several online sales platforms under the title Overlord: Raising Hell .
Versions
Overlord was first released on June 29, 2007 for PC and Xbox 360. After the completion of the three download extensions, two more versions followed:
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Overlord: Raising Hell (PC)
This version was only available in Germany at the end of November 2007. It includes the base game and the content of all download add-ons. The title of this version is derived from the first download extension of the same name. It was released before the download extensions were released. This included the five new underworld regions, which were linked to a small framework story, new weapons and armor for the henchmen, as well as new opponents and challenges in the dungeon of the Overlord fortress. The split-screen mode and the additional multiplayer maps and modes for the multiplayer part were also integrated in this version. In order to be able to use split-screen mode, it was necessary to connect a gamepad for the second player. -
Overlord: Raising Hell (PS3)
In February 2009, Overlord was first released for the PlayStation 3, also in the extended version and under the title Overlord: Raising Hell .
Sequels
Overlord 2
In June 2009, Codemasters published the Sequel Overlord 2 for Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360 and Playstation 3, which was also developed by Triumph Studios . The style of the series was consistently continued and the plot is linked directly to the events of the first part. After the disappearance of the old overlord, the player slips into the role of his son and gathers strength in order to survive against the seemingly Roman army of the “glorious empire” that wants to exterminate all magical beings. The story was written by Rhianna Pratchett as before.
The core gameplay of the first part was retained. What is new is the minions' ability to operate war machines or ships and to use mounts. Furthermore, there is the possibility that the overlord takes control of the strongest minions at certain points, who then leads the other minions and thus explores areas inaccessible to the overlord and makes them accessible. Another innovation compared to the first part is the possibility to revive fallen minions.
Overlord: Fellowship of Evil
In April 2015, Codemasters announced Overlord: Fellowship of Evil, an action role-playing game with co-op functionality for up to four players. The game dispenses with an overlord and instead introduces four netherghuls, undead heroes that are controlled by the players. The plot was again written by Rhianna Pratchett. The game will be released in October 2015 for Windows, Xbox One and PlayStation 4.
More games
In the same year as Overlord 2 , Codemasters released two more offshoots developed by Climax Studios :
- Overlord: Dark Legend (2009, Wii )
- Overlord: Minions (2009, Nintendo DS )
reception
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Overlord's Xbox 360 and Windows versions received mostly positive reviews ( Metacritic : 76 and 82 out of 100, respectively), while the PlayStation 3 version received mixed reviews (Metacritic: 72 out of 100).
“Hair-raising ideas, wrapped in biting humor and underneath the minions as an innovative game idea - something like that is far too rare! The fact that Overlord doesn't get a dream rating from me is because it doesn't make enough of its playful possibilities: I want more quests, more variety, more items, more puzzles! In short: I want an overlord 2. "
“Without the bugs, this game would have scored in the high 7s, but game ending flaws are unacceptable and have completely soured the otherwise fun time I had with the game. Overlord is a 'play at your own risk' title. If you're lucky enough to avoid the bugs, you'll find a fun game unlike any other on Xbox 360. If you do run head first into a game ending bug, don't say we didn't warn you. "
“Without the bugs, the game would have been rated in the high 7 range, but the game-destroying defects are unacceptable and completely spoiled the fun I otherwise had with the game. Overlord is a 'play at your own risk' title. If you are lucky enough to avoid the bugs, you will find a fun game like no other on the Xbox 360. "
Web links
- Official Overlord website of the distributor Codemasters
- Overlord series at MobyGames (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ Easyguide.de: Overlord - The Minions. Retrieved December 8, 2018 .
- ↑ Gameswelt.de: Overlord announced. Retrieved December 9, 2018 .
- ↑ Codemasters : Raise Hell Again with Codemasters: Announcing the Launch of New Overlord Content, Now Available for Xbox 360 . In: IGN . February 15, 2007. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
- ↑ Jan Hölger: Overlord: Rasing Hell - Review . In: Gameswelt . Web Media Publishing AG. December 7, 2007. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
- ↑ a b Overlord: Raising Hell (PS3). Metacritic
- ↑ a b Overlord (Win). Metacritic
- ↑ a b Overlord (X360). Metacritic
- ↑ Anthony Gallegos: Overlord: Raising Hell Review (PS3) . In: 1UP . June 24, 2008. Archived from the original on May 24, 2011. Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved June 26, 2008.
- ↑ Darren Gladstone: Overlord (XBOX 360) We review a deliciously evil adventure. With minions. . In: 1UP . June 26, 2007. Archived from the original on May 24, 2011. Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved October 31, 2007.
- ↑ Jörg Luibl: Overlord - Test, Action, Xbox 360. In: 4Players. June 29, 2007. Retrieved June 8, 2019 .
- ↑ Kieron Gillen: Eurogamer Overlord Review (Xbox 360) . In: Eurogamer . July 21, 2007. Retrieved September 7, 2007.
- ↑ Joe Juba: Overlord Review (Xbox 360) . In: Game Informer . Archived from the original on December 27, 2007. Retrieved November 13, 2007.
- ↑ Dan Chiappini: GameSpot Overlord: Raising Hell Review (PS3) . In: GameSpot . July 2, 2008. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
- ↑ Ryan Davis: Overlord Review (Xbox 360) . In: Gamespot . June 29, 2007. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved September 7, 2007.
- ↑ Gerald Villoria: GameSpy Overlord Review (Xbox 360) . In: GameSpy . July 6, 2007. Archived from the original on July 11, 2011. Retrieved on September 7, 2007.
- ↑ Overlord in the test. In: GameStar. June 29, 2007. Retrieved June 8, 2019 .
- ↑ Ryan Clements: IGN Overlord: Raising Hell Review (PS3) . In: IGN . June 25, 2008. Retrieved June 26, 2008.
- ↑ Eric Brudvig: Overlord Review (PC) . In: IGN . July 9, 2007. Retrieved September 7, 2007.
- ↑ Eric Brudvig: Overlord Review (Xbox 360) . In: IGN . July 2, 2007. Retrieved September 7, 2007.
- ↑ a b Felix Schütz: Overlord. In: PC Games. July 17, 2007, accessed June 8, 2019 .
- ↑ Official Playstation Magazine UK Overlord: Raising Hell Review . In: Official Playstation Magazine UK . July 2008, p. 106.
- ↑ OXM Overlord Review . In: Official Xbox Magazine . September 2007, p. 20.
- ↑ PC Gamer Overlord Review: It's a game about being evil, and they forgot to let you actually be evil . In: PC Gamer . July 2007, p. 82.
