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Overlord

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8.2 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 27 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 36 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: Codemasters

Developer: Triumph Studios

Genre(s): Action, Adventure

Players: 1

ESRB Rating: T (Teen)

Release Date: June 26, 2007

Summary

Controlling a mysterious figure that has inherited the legacy of the evil, long-dead Overlord, the player emerges, near death, from the ruins of the old Overlord's Dark Tower. Only the player's actions determine if they will rise to become the new all-powerful Overlord; it's all down to how much of a bad ass they want to be in order to succeed...evil or really evil! Played out with plenty of black humour and dark irony, the game immerses players in twisted parodies of classic fantasy scenarios and characters. Overlord's key innovation is the introduction of an array of impish creatures – the Minions. They believe you are the old Overlord reborn and will use their unique skills to fetch, fight and die for you. Throughout the game players actively control a horde of these gremlin-like critters and they follow your every instruction no matter how despotic or, for the Minions, life threatening it is. [Codemasters]

Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central GameFAQs

Also On The Web: Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

PC Gamer

I guess it's true what they say: Bad guys have more fun. [Oct 2007, p.64]

Cheat Code Central

Its fresh take on the fantasy genre, excellent minion mechanics and morbid humor make for a gaming experience you won't soon forget.

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Play Magazine

The puzzle-action gameplay, battling both the enemy and the elements, is simply tuned to perfection and the oh-so-spectacular bosses play like an orchestra of action and strategy. [July 2007, p.60]

AceGamez

Overlord really bucks the trend; if you're the sort of guy who likes seeing the bad guy win then you will love it. The game is immense fun that doesn't take the whole evil thing too seriously; its humorous themes and beautiful graphics are backed up with entertaining and engaging gameplay that make it a worthy purchase.

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Gamer 2.0

Overall, Overlord is an exciting romp through a twisted fairy-tale land. While it lacks any incredibly difficult challenges, it delivers a laugh-a-minute story that is very well executed.

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Game Almighty

This game is one of those rare instances where the stars align and every element combines to create something fresh, original and great. Kudos to the entire crew at Triumph Studios...you've lived up to your name.

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ActionTrip

It's got a surprising amount of depth and innovation in a lot of different areas of design, excellent humor, art work and sound.

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Computer Games Online RO

If I wasn’t clear until now, Overlord is a great game. Even though it has a few quirks, it has something that most titles today lack: originality.

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GameZone

There are a few minor flaws, but the game runs at a steady framerate and the control scheme is easy to both learn and implement. Fun is an underscoring element here.

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Hardcore Gamer Magazine

In the end, don't think about what you're not getting in Overlord: what you are getting is a hilarious, complex, unique experience. It's an absolute must-have for PC gamers. [Sept 2007, p.66]

GameStar

Whacking Hobbits, looting houses, causing havok - being evil can be fun, sure. But who'd expect that being evil can even cause tears of laughter?

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Jolt Online Gaming UK

Overlord won’t keep you coming back and again for more, but it’s a satisfying, amusing experience that’s fairly unusual in today’s games industry, even if it isn’t quite the bad boy it wants to be.

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PC Format

Not the groundbreaking action-RPG it's billed as, but sweeping your malevolent minion hordes across the screen is great fun. [Aug 2007, p.54]

IGN

The evil, yet light-hearted, humor and richly detailed world combine for a game that is worth diving into.

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The New York Times

But the “evil or eviler” tagline has more to do with marketing than with the game, which for the most part offers a choice closer to being an evil or benevolent despot.

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Worth Playing

Overlord delivers a fun experience and is well worth the $39.99 retail price of admission.

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Eurogamer

More than the script (generally witty and sharp, if occasionally undercut by an iffy voice-actor) or the graphic design (a brother to Fable's faux-fantasy charm), the constant capering of your charges is what gives the game its personality. That is, they have a lot of personality and so does the game.

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1UP

Your flunkies also embody Overlord's one weak point: Loosen the iron grip, and they'll stupidly drown themselves chasing after a bug...or race headlong into overwhelming odds. Maybe the boneheaded A.I. is intentional; maybe they're supposed to be feral lemmings, and the game's forcing you to slow down for tactics -- but I ain't buying it.

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IC-Games

Overlord might be a short lived experience but nothing quite like it exists for the Xbox 360 right now. The gameplay is sound, the humour is all too apparent and we doubt you’ll walk away unimpressed. It’s just a shame there wasn’t a little bit more going for it online.

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Pelit (Finland)

Controlling your horde of loyal and evil Naši youth feels refreshing compared to the typical action adventure formula. The technical execution is solid and the over the top fantasy cliché humour works decently. The game does not have a whole lot of longevity or challenge but it does have burning hobbits. [Aug 2007]

PC Gamer UK

If Overlord is a villain, then it's one of those buffoon-ish sidekicks in a Disney movie. It tries and tries hard to be dark, to carry out depraved deeds and thwart the heroes. But it just can't help but cutely (and it is cute) bumble every attempt, conform to cliches at every chance, and grin gently at its own sophomoric humour. [July 2007, p.82]

GameSpot

The pure joy of commanding a small army of malicious minions more than makes up for Overlord's minor shortcomings.

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PC Zone UK

The balancing could do with some tweaking, with some enemies too hard to defeat and some bosses too easy. [Aug 2007, p.70]

VideoGamer

Overlord is an entertaining game that should keep you smiling for its duration, but certain control complexities and a distinct lack of evil keep it from being a truly great next-gen adventure.

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GameDaily

Overlord offers players a chance to let their imp armies run amok, looting and destroying the countryside. However, the gimmick grows stale and its charm gets lost with the buggy controls and the boredom of wandering around in circles.

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Boomtown

Control niggles aside this is a great game. There's imagination in the storyline, context and setting, humour throughout and plenty of fun to be had.

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GameTap

You find yourself in a game resembling a mix of Fable and Pikmin.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 8.2 (out of 10) based on 36 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Jozo J. gave it a9:
After yet another half-life clone this is a very refreshing game. Fun to play and the controls (on a PC) are very easy once you get used to it. I read a comment that the "mistress of the tower" was not evil enough as in not having a whip...uhm yeah.

Dennis R. gave it a9:
A really good game, a few loading screens but they don't bother me much. Its a very fun game with black humour and enough free will to keep you entertained. The specs don't really lie, playing it low graphics, 1280x960 with a P4 Prescott 3.2Ghz and an X1550 OC'd at 648/428.

Jeroen R. gave it an8:
The game is simply stunning to behold. Perhaps not the most advanced engine they nonetheless went for a wonderfully crafted world. The sounds and soundscapes are nicely done as well. The controls could have been done a bit better and the autosave option is simply annoying for a PC game. It shows that it is not the primary platform that the game was targeted for. The best part of the game is simply the mischievous nature of your minions. The stuff they find and use, the voices they have and the things they say are all very nice. The good-natured fun-poking at established fantasy games and books is also very nice and will get you giggling with glee often enough. I only wish they expanded a bit more on the mistress or the tower customization.

Andrew B. gave it an8:
Playing Overlord I felt didn't quite give the sinister theme game reviewers said it had, in my experience. I felt it was pretty childish at times and weak humour. But although I didn't quite get what I thought I might, I can't see it's not a good game... The storyline is good with some pretty exraordinary characters you will meet along the way and plots. You CAN customize your tower but it's not neccessary, just have some fun with the decorations. The graphics are great but the requirements are pretty tough; as others have said, the 'minimum system requirements' isn't quite right... But assuming you have the neccessary hardware you're in for a treat. There's quite a few options for enhancing your armour which can make the game easier BUT at the cost of some serious grinding. There are 'side-quests' too, but you'll generally get round to doing pretty much all quests at some point but with that said, when to do them is entirely up to you. There's a fair bit more to mention but overall it's a pretty innocent yet entertaining bundle which will easily keep you occupied for hours. I would say worth: $59 or anything under.

Vova G. gave it a9:
I think, that it is amasing game, full of funny adventures of the DARK Lord and his goblins. P.S. My loads are fast.

Jonny F. gave it

Jeroen Ruigrok van der Werven gave it an8:
The game is simply stunning to behold. Perhaps not the most advanced engine they nonetheless went for a wonderfully crafted world. The sounds and soundscapes are nicely done as well. The controls could have been done a bit better and the autosave option is simply annoying for a PC game. It shows that it is not the primary platform that the game was targeted for. The best part of the game is simply the mischievous nature of your minions. The stuff they find and use, the voices they have and the things they say are all very nice. The good-natured fun-poking at established fantasy games and books is also very nice and will get you giggling with glee often enough. I only wish they expanded a bit more on the mistress or the tower customization.

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