Overlord II Interview

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Eurogamer: Congratulations on the Writers Guild award for Rhianna Pratchett's script for Overlord. How did Rhianna get involved with the project in the first place, and what brief did you give her for the sequel?

Lennart Sas: Rhianna became involved with the original Overlord after doing a test with a bunch of talented scriptwriters. Her unique style and wit was a great match with the style and the story framework we had already established. For the sequel we wanted the satire and parody to go beyond the basic fantasy parody to something with more contemporary references. For example, Overlord II features an environmental activist group of elf hippies that tries to stop your onslaught and destruction of nature with protests, clinging themselves to your Netherworld gates.

The world, and the Glorious Empire, is modelled after the Roman Empire because their society is recognisable to many people and, in many ways, it resembles our own world with corrupt politicians and such. It creates a fresh new setting to conquer, in addition to the magical realms, which still exist as the hidden magical sanctuaries. The Empire's marvellous marble cities make a great target for the Overlord and his savage minion horde to destroy and for Rhianna to have fun with script-writing wise.

Eurogamer: You mentioned in the press briefing that you think Rhianna's "head and shoulders" above some of the Hollywood writing talent. In what sense does she get it where they don't?

Lennart Sas: Just like writers of novels don't necessary make great screenplay writers, Hollywood writers don't necessary make great game writers. Games are a different medium than movies and require a different writing process. Games writing works best when the writer works hand in hand with the game's designers, so the story is not written before or after the game is made, it's an integral part of the entire process.

"Just because something is fluffy and has puppy eyes doesn't mean the Overlord doesn't kill it!"

Eurogamer: Can you go into a little big more detail about what you mean by 'lawful evil' and 'chaotic evil'? How will the new corruption system differ from how people played the game before?

Lennart Sas: Overlord is a parody on the rise of the evil overlord. However, in the original we got feedback that the game was not quite evil enough to suit the taste of the gaming public (sign of the times) and that the choices seemed to be between good and evil. In Overlord II we include Tyranny choices that are between Domination and Destruction - cold-hearted enslavement versus demonic destruction.

These choices will have an effect on how spells function. For example, if you become a dominating tyrant, your spells will become better at subjecting the populations to your evil will. Controlling a town of brainwashed slaves gives more benefits spread out over time, while destroying a town gives instant evil gratification: the souls of the slain population and looted treasure from their destroyed houses are for the taking.

Eurogamer: Right, so what's this about clubbing seals?

Lennart Sas: [Laughs] Just because something is fluffy and has puppy eyes doesn't mean the Overlord doesn't kill it! If people get pissed over this, it only exposes their hypocrisy. However, Triumph doesn't approve of violence against animals and everything is satirical in nature. In fact, without the humour and satire the game would probably be banned...

"Personally I'm greatly looking forward to Pikmin on Wii and see how they make use of the Wiimote. I think the Wii is in great need of more gamers' games."

Eurogamer: The bosses were pretty memorable in Overlord, and you claim to be making them even more epic. In what sense? As in bigger, more challenging enemies? How do you amp these up without making them inaccessible to the player?

Lennart Sas: In Overlord II some of the bosses will be closer tied into story; so the player has a bit more of a grudge against them. In Overlord 1 they sometimes just popped out of nowhere. Others are closer designed around the minion gameplay and the minions' mounts.

Eurogamer: Finally, what's the story with multiplayer? Anything you care to share?

Lennart Sas: Multiplayer will be back with split-screen out of the box and as host of new multiplayer game modes, the details of which I'll save for another time.

Except perhaps the title of one: Dominate.