History Main / Overlord

* BlackKnight: In the first game, your armor gets blacker the closer you get to [[{{KarmaMeter}} 100% corruption]], with SpikesOfDoom sprouting from your skin, you're more AKnightInShiningArmor at lower corruption levels.

* BlackKnight: The Overlord resembles one of these.

** This can lead to [[spoiler:KarmaHoudini, what with an Overlord now ruling the Abyss, I doubt he's going to play by the rules that would've screwed him over had he went there naturally.]]

* FridgeBrilliance: It might take you a few Fallen Heroes to get there, but eventually you realize that you're being tempted by the same Seven Deadly Sins that they were, e.g. give the village back the food that Glutton Melvin stole or keep it to feed your minions, or choose between saving the Greedy dwarf king's gold or the last of the elven race from his [[LoadBearingBoss collapsing fortress]]. It's not blatant, but once you realize it, it's pretty clever.

** Committing an entire race to extinction for a bag of gold? Done. Wrecking every house in the peaceful farming village? Check. Killing hundreds and hundreds of innocent civilians? On it. Stealing the uber-holy Statue of the Mother-Goddess from the Tombs of the Elvish Warriors just 'cuz it'd look good in your foyer? Been there, done that. Still, you don't really get to commit a full-on MoralEventHorizon moment in any of the games though.
*** How is not making a race extinct and mass murdering of innocents not a MoralEventHorizon?
*** Mostly because of RuleOfFunny and both groups being TooDumbToLive.

*** Wrong, it's [[LordOfTheRings Sau-]] [[MontyPython AAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH]]

* AndItWorked: A possible justification for the Overlord's quest for world domination.

** {{Greed}}: Goldo

--> Gnarl: Oh great, a [[{{Labyrynth}} Labyrynth. Sire, if you see any goblins or rosy-cheeked maiden, just ignore them, if there's singing, kill them all.]]

--> Gnarl: Oh great, a {{Labyrynth, sire, if you see any goblins or rosy-cheeked maiden, just ignore them, if there's singing, kill them all.}}

* DoomyDoomsOfDoom: in the Golden Abyss, you can find a mold for the 'Mace Of Doom'. Your adviser cheerfully comments that he hasn't seen an 'Of Doom' weapon in years, before explaining its powers.

* UglyCute: The Minions. Rose and Velvet (who give them the charming nicknames of Cherubs and Pixies respectively) certainly think so. [[spoiler:Of course, they grew up around minions, so...]]
** To hammer the point, the minions are a cross between E.T. and the cuter moments of Smeagol. They can look downright adorable, for example with the sequence in the tutorial of the second game where the minions disguises themselves as children, then they begin to sing...

** How is not making a race extinct and mass murdering of innocents not a MoralEventHorizon?

** Ooh! Ooh! Is it the [[WarCraft Lich]] [[KilledMidSentence K- IGGGGGAH!]]

->--'''Gnarl'''

[[caption-width-right:350::As you can see, being [[EvilOverlord Overlord]] to such a band of minions requires a kind and gentle touch.]]

*** Of course, one could argue that, unless the Overlord suffers from [[SplitPersonality MPD]], or is StupidNeutral, then he should've acted consistently. Also, while the Rose/Velvet choice comes to purely a matter of taste, only saving the Elves could be explained by the Overlord nurturing a deep love for that particular race. And seeing how the [[OurElvesAreBetter Elves]] [[SubvertedTrope are portrayed]] [[ScrewYouElves in this series...]]

* AlternateCharacterInterpretation: Is Gnarl just a loyal retainer to the Evil Overlord or is he actually TheManBehindTheMan with the titular Overlord unwittingly playing TheDragon?

* CrowningMusicOfAwesome: The music in this series is quite epic and would not seem out of place in a more serious fantasy game.

* MagnificentBastard: [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6ZdZoeLuys&feature=feedlik This guy!]] Taking over the world by getting people to willing put your loyal servants in every household on the planet? Devious! Getting paid for it? Give this man a medal, he is truly a god amongst men!

* EvilIsSexy: there are two possible Mistresses. Choosing Velvet over Rose causes your Corruption Level to increase, which makes sense since she's downright sadistic and consummately evil. She's also considerably more scantly-clad than the other option.

** [[spoiler: Gluttony: Save Spree's food or take it for yourself. Sloth: Be lazy and burn down the sacred grove to get past the unicorns, or wade into it and kill them manually. Lust: Take the more appealing Velvet with you and scorn Rose, or stay faithful to Rose. Greed: Take Goldo's gold, or save the elf women. Envy: Take the mother goddess statue (which is useless, save for a few achievements) or return it to the elves. Wrath: Kill the villagers of Spree for betraying you to Khan, or forgive them.]]

* AlternateCharacterInterpretation - Is Gnarl just a loyal retainer to the Evil Overlord or is he actually TheManBehindTheMan with the titular Overlord unwittingly playing TheDragon?

* DuelingGames - Basically the EvilCounterpart of ''{{Pikmin}}''.

* FighterMageThief - The minions types are melee bashers, fireballers, sneaks, and revivers.
* FlunkyBoss - If you were a boss, this is what you'd be. As for actual bosses; [[spoiler:Oberon, Sir William, Khan, the Wizard, and the Forgotten God. Especially Khan - good luck trying to beat him with multiple beholders spitting out enemies and insta-killing you if you accidentally get run over by one. The Spider Queen and the Devourer in the sequel also count. The Devourer periodically summons just about every non-boss enemy in the game.]]

* GlowingEyesOfDoom - The Overlord. Interestingly, in Dark Legend and Overlord II the respective candidates have glowing eyes even before they become full-fledged Overlords, though the Overlad is justified since he is actually a FetusTerrible. Gromgard is apparently just destined for evil.

* JustifiedTutorial - You can rest assured that every time you acquire a new Minion type (and Mount in the sequel) you'll be pitted against a series of puzzles and enemies that require you to master the abilities of that exact Minion type. The series is pretty good at setting up the tutorials without breaking the flow, for example in Overlord II an ambush by a squad of soldiers proves the perfect opportunity to demonstrate your new tamed wolves' ability to break enemy formations.

* KarmicDeath - According to WordOfGod, all Overlords end up in the Abyss one way or another. That's not so bad for [[spoiler: the canonical NobleDemon protagonist of the first game since he's also its new ''[[LikeABadassOutOfHell ruler]]''.]]

* LargeHam - For a decrepit old minion, Gnarl indulges in quite a bit of this.
* LaughablyEvil - The entertainingly destructive antics of the Minions, coupled with their tendency to stick just about anything on their head.

* LegacyCharacter - The title of Overlord has been passed around by several individuals. So far, at least four characters have been the overlord, three of which were playable.

* NiceHat - Besides your own spiky helmet and Quaver's jester hat, the minions in general are fond of strapping random stuff to their heads, be it actual hats and helmets to flowers, pumpkins, and dead rats. In Overlord 2, some bosses will drop special minion hats, as well.

* RedRightHand - the spikey helmet that leaves your face as a mass of shadows with pinpricks of light for eyes, pretty much SCREAMS 'villain' from the moment you boot up the game. Not that you need the hint.
* RewardingVandalism - [[JustifiedTrope Justified]], since your character is an EvilOverlord.
* ShouldersOfDoom - you grow spikes in many places as you get eviler, but your shoulders are where they get REALLY big.
* ScrewYouElves - Elves are generally a race of either idiots or jerkasses who continually get shafted throughout the series, either by the Overlord's antagonists or the Overlord himself if he so wishes.
* SilentProtagonist - the Overlord never speaks, which actually raises his intimidation factor considerably during cutscenes. Compare the Wizard possessed by your predecessor in the first game who never shuts up.
* SorcerousOverlord - depends on how you want to play the character in combat though you look mostly like the warrior type and rule over your kingdom like a sorceror.
* SquishyWizard - Generally the Blues and specifically the Wizard, whose health drops like an anvil if you can just get past his magical shielding.
* StopHelpingMe! - Repeating yourself doesn't make you any clearer, Gnarl.
* StupidEvil - The minions. Especially the Brown variety. See them grinning and laughing like a PsychopathicManChild whenever they're causing destruction. They'll do just about anything ForTheEvulz.

* SurroundedByIdiots - your Minions are loyal to the point of willingly embracing death at your merest whim. They're also dumber than a sack of particularly dull hammers. Ah well, you can't have it all...
* TakeOverTheWorld - your main goal.

* UglyCute - The Minions. Rose and Velvet (who give them the charming nicknames of Cherubs and Pixies respectively) certainly think so. [[spoiler:Of course, they grew up around minions, so...]]

* VictoriousChildhoodFriend - Used quite literally in Overlord 2 with Kelda, the only citizen of Nordberg who doesn't end up dead or magically enslaved. Although she does end up with some competition for the Overlord's affections... But [[HeroesWantRedheads Villains Want Redheads]] (as well as her being the only one that actually cares for the Witch-boy), of course, so who wouldn't pick Kelda?

* BlackKnight - your armor starts out metal-colored, but as your Corruption-level rises, it gradually darkens. With maxed-out corruption, you ARE a BlackKnight. And yes, the armor and helmet are permanent fixtures.

* ChronicBackstabbingDisorder - [[spoiler: The Jester is a textbook case. In the main game he starts worshipping the Wizard within seconds of his arrival, then he conspires to free the Forgotten God in the expansion.]]
* TheDragon - In the first game, [[spoiler: the playable Overlord serves as the unwitting Dragon to the Old Overlord.]]
* DoomyDoomsOfDoom - in the Golden Abyss, you can find a mold for the 'Mace Of Doom'. Your adviser cheerfully comments that he hasn't seen an 'Of Doom' weapon in years, before explaining its powers.
* ElvesVsDwarves - following your previous 'fall', and prior to your awakening, the Dwarves attacked the elven forest of Evernight out of sheer greed, nearly annihilating the entire elven race, and taking the last survivors as slaves.
* EnemyWithin - [[spoiler: The Wizard was possessed by the evil spirit of your predecessor, and was slowly taken over by him. By the time you face him, The Wizard is long gone, and the True Overlord basically just wears his body 'till he can find something better.]]
* [[EvilCounterpart (Even More) Evil Counterpart]] - [[spoiler:The Wizard, the Overlord you're technically usurping]] gets his own brand of Minions, darker and meaner than your own. Being attacked by hostile Blues is kinda sad, though.
* EvilIsSexy - there are two possible Mistresses. Choosing Velvet over Rose causes your Corruption Level to increase, which makes sense since she's downright sadistic and consummately evil. She's also considerably more scantly-clad than the other option.
* EvilerThanThou - The Wizard tries to pull this at the end, but of course, since YOU'RE the player character, you win anyway.

* FatBastard - "Melvin ain't so small now! Squish food! Eat food!"

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar - Um, when you barge in on that succubus cult, [[ButYouScrewOneGoat why is there a sheep in there?]]
* GrandTheftMe - [[spoiler:The Wizard got GTM'd by the previous overlord.]]
* GreenEyedMonster - Jewel doesn't actually ''need'' to steal things; she just can't stand other people having them.
* HeavySleeper - Oberon, the Hero of Sloth.
* HostileShowTakeover - [[spoiler:The climax has the Wizard steal the Overlord's title, tower, spells, Minions, Gnarl, and finally the ''main theme music''. Granted, they all technically belonged to him from the beginning, but finder's keepers.]]
* HulkSpeak - Kahn the Warrior drops into this whenever he gets angry. Which is most of the time, since he's an embodiment of the Sin of Wrath. His accent makes it sound absolutely ridiculous, but given the tone of the rest of this game, that's probably intentional.
* IKEAErotica - of the visual kind, up to the point where the scene with Rose suggests your tower is merely shaking from a headache or something. The implications were there, but the visuals didn't carry it - and the orgasmic 'pincer maneuver' was unadultered {{Narm}}.

* KarmaMeter - depending on your choices, your Overlord can range from [[AntiVillain Benevolent Tyrant]] to Incarnation Of Pure Hatred. Overlord II ranges from [[LawfulEvil Domination]] to [[OmnicidalManiac Destruction]].
* KarmaHoudini - The Jester gets away scot-free for betraying the Overlord twice. Although considering that he's replaced in the sequel, he may have gotten his comeuppance offscreen.

* LadyMacbeth - both of the possible Mistresses fit the trope, each in their own way.

* LesCollaborateurs - when Kahn takes over the first village you conquered, most of the peasants switch sides in a hurry. Mostly because the dude is twice your size, and you're big to begin with. Once you've beaten back the invading forces, it's up to you what to do with them...

* NoOneCouldSurviveThat - [[spoiler: used verbatim by your former 'comrades' during a flashback, after you fell off a cliff.]]

* OurDwarvesAreAllTheSame - Dwarves are basically angry beards on legs. Angry, ''beer-soaked'' beards on legs.
* OurElvesAreBetter - No they're not. They return in the second game as a bunch of hippies trying to protect the magical beasts from the Empire.
* PaleSkinnedBrunette - pretty much describes Velvet, the eviler choice in Mistresses.

* SealedEvilInACan - could describe you, prior to your awakening at the start of the game. [[spoiler: Or so it would seem...]]
* SevenDeadlySins - each of the 7 Fallen Heroes represents corruption by one of the Seven Sins.
* ShoutOut - To Diablo, possibly. The plot is extremely similar to that of Diablo II, only with a [[{{Understatement}} slightly different]] protagonist. The weapon and armor names are also reminiscent of the series.

* UnusableEnemyEquipment - your minions can pick up the things of whatever they kill, but you can't. Justified in that you, as an Evil Overlord, deserve better than old steal-me-downs.

* PeninsulaOfPowerLeveling: The Dungeon, which can create any enemy you've slain at least one of[[hottip:*:Except for Sandworms, Magma Giants and Beholders, since you can only beat those using GeoEffects.]]. You can't actually get experience there, since Overlord has no such mechanic, but fighting beetle mobs there is an excellent way to grind for Lifeforce.

* PlateauOfLevelGrinding: The Dungeon, which can create any enemy you've slain at least one of[[hottip:*:Except for Sandworms, Magma Giants and Beholders, since you can only beat those using GeoEffects.]]. You can't actually get experience there, since Overlord has no such mechanic, but fighting beetle mobs there is an excellent way to grind for Lifeforce.