The Overlord Returneth

I really enjoyed Overlord. I was impressed with the combination of real-time strategy and action game as well as the puzzle elements that the game brought to the table. Upon hearing that there would be a remake, I was immediately intrigued. Then upon hearing that there would be a version for the DS, I was even more captivated. How would the DS' controls be used? Will the minions still complete any task given to them by the Overlord? What could they add to the game to improve it?

As in the original game, in Overlord Minions you play as the Overlord. The main difference between the original Overlord and this DS version is the fact that you will only have access to a small group of minions to do your bidding. These Elite minions will help you in your cause to hunt down the Kindred, a cult dedicated to resurrecting the mighty Dragon Kin, a race of humanoid dragon hybrids, determined to replace the Overlord's despotism with their own. And whilst the original was part RTS, part action, part puzzle game, Overlord Minions seems to be mostly about the puzzles.

Meet the squad

Your Elite minion squad is made up of just four of your most trusted minions. These minions resemble the similar classes in the original. Giblet is a brown minion and the main fighter: brave, willing, and a little dumb. Blaze is a pyromaniac red minion who throws fireballs as a powerful ranged attack. Stench is a smelly green minion who overpowers enemies with his fart dart amongst other obnoxious attacks. Zap is a blue minion and the mystic shaman of the unit. He channels magic through this body and can heal the other minions, should they be injured. They will be helped by your devoted servant, Gnarl who is on hand with information, tactical advice and a healthy hatred of elves.

The minions can be controlled separately or as part of a team. Indeed, on occasions, more than one will be required to complete a puzzle and, at times, they will be required to take on enemies together using powerful combined attacks. As well as the cult, there are heaps of other creatures to watch out for including infected sheep, goats, spiders, paladins, dwarves, scorpions, mutated trolls and winged elves. Each foe will require different tactics.

Laughing all the way to the throne

One of the great aspects of the original Overlord was the humour. And this is said to continue in Overlord Minions. Having a minion (Stench) who overpowers enemies with fart gas is always a good start. You can't do much better than a good fart joke. In the original it was funny to see a bunch of minions attack a pumpkin field and come back wearing pumpkins as helmets. What the minions antics will be in this version remain to be seen, but no doubt they will be getting up to some sort of mischief.

Visually, Overlord Minions looks to have a similar cartoon feel as the original. The minions themselves have had a slight facelift. Well, actually they've been given a face increase with the big-head look. In going with the slightly darker theme of the game, there are plenty of grey and brown backgrounds. This is of course made more colourful (in typical DS style) with the four colours of the minion team.

New controls

The DS control scheme almost seemed a perfect fit for a port of the original. The sweeping motion required to command your legion would seem a perfect use for the DS stylus and touch screen combination. We have been told that the game can be 100% controlled from the touch screen. How well it is actually implemented remains to be seen, but we are hoping for the best. There have been many games that have used the stylus in ways that would have suited the standard D-pad and buttons much better.

One Overlord to rule them all

With a new story, new puzzles, and new control scheme built for the DS, the game certainly looks like it has a lot going for it. Building on the strengths of the original Overlord whilst adding the DS functionality will certainly make Overlord Minions one of the games to look out for in the coming months. I know I will be checking out the store shelves come release date. In the meantime, I must get back to tidying up my throne room.