Gaming News - March 2007

Redmond, WA (March 23, 2007) - Codemasters today announced that Overlord is coming to the Xbox 360 and PC this summer.

From Codemasters:

Codemasters is bringing minion mayhem to gamers this summer in Overlord, a game that gives players hordes of evil, gremlin-like critters and a peaceful land for them to reek havoc on. Additionally, Codemasters today released a new minion teaser video which is available for download now at www.codemasters.com/overlord. Created by Triumph Studios, Overlord is set to ship this summer for the Xbox 360 and the PC, and is currently rated “RP” (Rating Pending) by the ESRB.

In Overlord, the minions constitute the evil Overlord’s army and are the key gameplay mechanic. Completely and utterly loyal to him, minions will use their unique skills to fetch, fight and even die for their master. Their loyalty knows no limits and their bravery borders on stupidity, but with every bone in their odd little bodies, the minions will follow players’ commands no matter how despotic or life threatening they are.

The minions can be controlled generally in two different ways: either by moving the horde as a group, or by independently firing them off like some destruction-crazed, reusable missiles. Players will be able to send individual minions to take on smaller jobs, or they can select a posse from their horde to take on bigger tasks.

Once a minion has been dispatched on a job, its little minion brain kicks in to determine the best course of action. For instance, if the player sends a minion to kill a sheep, it will attack, then automatically pickup and return with the sheep’s life force, which can then be used later on to create more minions. Minions can also be used to carry objects (including much larger ones if they work together), operate mechanisms, and get to places where the Overlord can not.

As the Overlord grows more and more powerful and evil, the minions will grow as well, getting a bit more powerful and evil at the same time. Opportunists by nature, if they can rob an opponent of a mighty axe to wield themselves, or steal some armor to wear for protection, they will. Whether axes, knives, chef’s hats, pitchforks or even emptied out pumpkins, whatever the case is, minions aren’t fussy as long as it gives them the fighting edge.

Further to collecting weapons and armor for themselves, the minions will return to the Overlord with gold and other goodies. Unfortunately, minions have their weaknesses too though: the beautiful (yet fatal) succubus can lure them to their deaths, and they’re easily distracted from their missions by music and alcohol (which makes them increasingly more violent and out of control than normal).