Overlord II

With Overlord’s sadistic, blackhumor core already in place, the enthusiastic team at Triumph Studios are free to focus on cramming the thankfully greenlit sequel full of fresh ideas, refined technology, and more varied challenges. The biggest change to Overlord’s fantasy world is that in the absence of the original bucket-headed despot, who was killed at the end of the first game’s downloadable-content add-on, a new Roman-inspired Empire has risen to fill the power vacuum, and the worst excesses of that particular period of real history are caricatured here. The crucial shift is that civilization has moved from belief in magic and nature to logic and science, and the Glorious Empire has placed all magical creatures on their hitlist.

In the story, again written by Rhianna Pratchett, you play as the Overlord’s son (nicknamed — wait for it — the Overlad), who has been smuggled away to the frozen region of Nordberg. For at least a portion of the game, you’ll play as an adorably malicious little tyke, vastly outgunning the other children in snowball fights. After you’re cast out of Nordberg (the glowing eyes are a bit of a giveaway that you’re stuffed full of magical energy), it’s not long before you’re reunited with the lovable hordes of minions that make the series unique. Controlling these small goblin creatures is once again the key to just about every puzzle and battle you’ll face. While the Overlord himself can start hacking and slashing, he’d be outnumbered against the Empire’s legions, so using the four flavors of minion for a concerted assault is the game’s key combat mechanic (see sidebar).

The minions themselves have been made smarter, are more useful, and have been given more personality. Now each of the little buggers has a name, and if he achieves something particularly impressive, it’s added to his title, so you’re likely to become quite attached to Snotling the Spider-Slayer. And if he dies, you can sacrifice other minions to resurrect him. Later missions offer the chance to possess and dress your minions; we saw them steal and wear some hilariously incongruous Roman armor, but our witless enemies thought they passed military muster and let them pass.

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