The rise of the villainess genre in anime, light novels, manga, and mangwha have only just begun. Etrange Overlord is an action RPG with a refreshing take on this genre on a fantastical adventure with our “villainess” protagonist, Etrange. With three developers known for their work in titles such as Star Ocean led by Sohei Niikawa (the creator of Disgaea), players will get the same NIS charm of anime tropes and over the top humor. Etrange Overlord contains a heartfelt story told through its charming cast and playful tone. I found this particular game to be a fun parody of isekai and villainess stories.
Sent to hell for a crime she did not commit, Etrange von Rosenburg becomes determined to live happily with sweets and tea in the underworld for her second life. Like some villainess stories you may have read or watched, Etrange is not set out on revenge. Although she is adamant she did nothing wrong to be executed for and that she never committed any evil acts, she accepts her fate even though she was initially upset at being sent to hell. Early in the story we get the first set of tropes from Etrange herself. She has the look, the ability to use dark magic, and manner of speech that all fit the criteria for being a “villainess.” The villainess trope is cemented as the story swaps back and forth between Etrange’s adventures in hell and events happening in the world of the living from the perspectives of the Crown Prince, Etrange’s ex-fiancé, and Angelina, Etrange’s cousin.
What sets this particular story apart are the musical numbers that breaks through important story beats such as the end of a chapter or transitioning from hell to the world of the living. I knew not to expect the musical numbers to have the same impact as other musical NIS titles such as Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure. Instead, the music here fits the Baroque setting where many staged works, including opera, served a purpose of being a parody that poked fun at a particular group (usually the aristocrats) or addressed a social problem. The over dramatic elements in the musical numbers exposes some of the other tropes being parodied when the story has no spoken dialogue.
Even with the important elements of friendship, ambition, and reconciliation being themes throughout the story, it is very…unserious. That being said, if you’ve enjoyed the Disgaea games, Etrange Overlord is another one you’ll want to pick up for a good laugh with some good gameplay.
Etrange Overlord has gameplay that makes it stand out, even though it won’t be listed as one of the must-play action jrpgs. You get an open world map view that you can travel about to complete different mission types. As you complete missions, Etrange expands her influence by occupying points and acquiring new allies in her quest for a happy life. There are 15 playable characters who are divided into specific categories such as power, speed, balanced, support/healer, and technical. There are slight differences between each character such as their attack style, weapon, and ultimate attack. Certain levels will require the use of specific characters, which is good for players, like myself, who tend to not explore their options in their first playthrough. It gives you a chance to try out the different characters and party setups.
The lane mechanic was an interesting feature as it became necessary to use items from the lanes for specific levels and bosses. This feature was very balanced and there was more than enough variety in setting up which items you wanted in each lane. Another great element was the food recipes for buffs, where you could go and make a recipe to prepare specific stat buffs before heading to the next mission. 
Although I did enjoy the gameplay, I did notice some issues with the difficulty. At times it felt like there was a strange difficulty spike, even with upgraded gear. The weapon enhancements were another issue since upgrades were resource heavy. Grinding for materials is expected in rpgs, but I was not a fan of constantly exhausting my resources. Thanks to the lane mechanic, I was able to plow through levels where it felt that the difficulty had gone beyond what felt “normal.” There is a “Sweets Mode” which lowers the difficulty, but after trying both I noticed there was not a huge difference between the two. As a rpg enjoyer, I was sad to find out that there was no post-game content. There is a separate multiplayer mode with friends that players can enjoy, but for anyone looking for a NG+ route it does not exist.
Etrange Overlord may have some character aesthetics and designs that may feel familiar to some players. For anyone who has read the Re:Zero light novels, you’re in for a treat with these character designs by Shinichiro Otsuka! With its chibi style of the models, Etrange Overlord offers a very distinct style of art and designs that adds additional touches to the personalities and representation in the cast. The music is pleasant and fitting for the fantastical setting featuring baroque inspired themes. The background music is also a great contrast for when the musical numbers break out into the opera comique (comedy opera) style. On the PS5, I experienced no frame drops or stutters as the game ran extremely smoothly. There is currently no English dub available, which may be a turn off for certain players.
I really enjoyed my time with Etrange Overlord. Despite the grind for materials and difficulty crisis, it is a fun game to pass the time or even play online with friends. If you enjoy NIS titles for their over the top humor and unique gameplay, Etrange Overlord is right up your alley! If you’re looking for a new action rpg to play that offers something new, I suggest giving this quirky title a try.
