In news that has brightened up my morning considerably, Codemasters has just given us the hot-off-the-press news that Overlord II is on the way! In addition to a full sequel, the story of the Overlord and his cackling minions will also come in two supplementary titles -- bringing the evil lord to Nintendo systems for the first time.

Overlord II is set to up the stakes in terms of scope. Among the new features are full-scale battles against a new foe, The Glorious Empire, and minions that ride upon wolves and other such creatures. Overlord II is currently in development in the Netherlands and I am so excited I may just vomit.

The Wii also gets some Overlord favor this time around with Overlord Dark Legend. This prequel puts you in command of a younger Overlord as he learns how to become an all-powerful tyrant. Wiimote controls are of course on the cards, with a new "minion throttling" feature already promised. Finally, Overlord Minions is preparing to conquer the Nintendo DS, and is centered around four minion elites: Giblet, Blaze, Stench and Zap. You use the touch screen to direct this "Special Farces" crew in a bid to stop The Kindred, who want to resurrect a race of half-dragon people.

As readers will know, I am a huge Overlord fan and so this news is music to my ears. Hopefully our titular antihero is a little more despotic this time around (he was more amoral than evil last time), but if the dark humor and unique gameplay is intact, I'll be a very happy minion in 2009.

2009 will see the return of the Overlord and the vicious yet lovably insane Minions and today we are proud to announce 3 new Overlord titles for next year, which includes a full sequel and two additional new Overlord titles for the Nintendo formats.



Overlord II is the sequel to the original twisted fantasy action adventure and is now in development at Triumph Studios for the PLAYSTATION3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360 and Games For Windows. However as well as this, 2009 will also see the series debuting on new formats. Exclusive extensions include the action title Overlord Dark Legend for Wii, featuring minion control through Wii Remote movement, and Overlord Minions, a dedicated puzzle action title, for Nintendo DS. More details regarding the upcoming games can be found below:



OVERLORD TITLES FOR 2009:



Overlord II



· PLAYSTATION 3, Xbox 360, Games For Windows



Overlord II is the sequel to the hit warped fantasy action adventure that had players being delightfully despotic. In Overlord II, a new Overlord and a more powerful army of Minions take on an entire empire in a truly epic adventure, inspired by the rise of the Roman Empire. As the Glorious Empire conquers kingdoms and destroys any sign of magic it finds, it’s time to go Minion Maximus and send in the horde.



The Minions return smarter, deadlier (and funnier) and are ready to fight in large scale battles that will see their wild pack mentality squaring up to the organised legions of the Glorious Empire. As ever, they’ll do anything and everything the Overlord commands of them, especially now that they can run ravage and wreck buildings and scenery. They’ve also learn to ride: In Overlord II Minions will be able to mount up and ride wolves and other magical creatures around the landscape and take them into battle, making our band of merry fighters faster and fiercer than ever before. Coming in 2009, Overlord II is now in development at Triumph Studios in Delft, the Netherlands, for the PLAYSTATION 3, Xbox 360 and Games For Windows



Overlord DARK LEGEND.



· Wii



Designed and developed exclusively for Wii, Overlord Dark Legend is a brand new action adventure steeped in fairy tale lore with sinister, satirical twists. Set in a time before the original game, players take the role of a new young Overlord. As he revels in command of the Minions, our trainee tyrant will be able to take his growing pains out on the local fairy tale inhabitants as he protects his castle and lands.



Connecting players to the game world in three dimensions, the use of the Wii Remote gives unprecedented control over the minions. For example, individual Minions can be plucked from the horde, held by the neck and then, by vigorously shaking the Wii Remote, throttled to imbue him with some Overlordly power and turn him into a manic minion missile. With a now-explosive body, the insane little critter can be guided into enemies with hilarious, if rather fatal, consequences.



Backed by a rich, tongue-in-cheek story from award-winning games author Rhianna Pratchett, the game features Overlord favourites including Halflings, trolls, elves, and dwarves and introduces wicked witches, gingerbread men and Lil’ Red Riding Hood, the seeming sweet girl with a very personal lupine secret. Coming in 2009, Overlord Dark Legend is now in development at Climax Studios, exclusively for Wii.



Overlord MINIONS



· Nintendo DS



Meet Giblet, Blaze, Stench, and Zap – an elite Minion crew who, assisted by minion master Gnarl, get star billing in Overlord Minions, an irresistible and accessible puzzle action game, designed exclusively for Nintendo DS. In Overlord Minions, the Overlord commands the Minion team remotely. The Nintendo DS stylus becomes an extension of his evil will and every precise Touch Screen command is the player-as-Overlord directing, commanding and combining minions in battle, pointing and sweeping them to attack enemies and solving puzzles to execute his dastardly plans.



Controlling the Special Farces team of four, players negotiate fiendish levels and take on a huge range of warped enemies 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. Extending the Overlord series’ trademark humour, gameplay focuses on the mischievous physical comedy of the minion’s antics and is delivered in a stylised cartoon visual style. Scheduled for release in 2009, Overlord Minions is now in development at Climax Studios exclusively for Nintendo DS.

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