Customer Reviews

Orcs & Elves

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

When I saw "ID Software" as the game launched, my opinion of this splurge purchase went up. I knew it was an old-style dungeon romp, which could have been good or bad, but ID usually has good level designs.

It's turn-based, but simple to click through 5 turns in a second. The level designs are great so far. Many varied monsters, and interesting bosses and missions. Good sound effects. Excellent writing. All in all, an absorbing game so far.

This review is actually from my son, who is almost twelve:
It's a great fantasy RPG with a very good story line and quite a bit of comedy. It's filled with monsters and magic and evil plots. You get to interact with lots of people, for example bargaining with a dragon and drinking with dwarves. It's a unique experience for me, unlike most other RPG's I've played. There is a three-dimensional setting and although the monsters are two-dimensional, the graphics are excellent. The work they put into the small things, such as the way dwarves talk and the graphic details of weapons is impressive to me. Instead of just a different color as you change blades, the flaming sword, for instance, actually has moving flames around it. I also found it interesting that you see the game from a first-person vantage point, and on the bottom screen you actually see your belt and feet (instead of just a menu). I recommend this game to fantasy lovers and role players!

I'm writing this review in hopes of convincing the game makers to put out another one. The game is a straightforward dungeon crawl with little thinking involved... absolutely PERFECT!!! There is the occasional bit of humor, and just enough of a story, to keep the game from being dull... but not so much that you get bogged down in the details. Instead, during those few minutes of the day you have some free time, out comes the DS and you can simply romp through various dungeons killing all sorts of creepies as you go along. Doesn't matter where you stopped before, or exactly what you are trying to do at the moment, only make sure to get the next of those monters and explore all of the map. Please, whoever you are, keep 'em coming...

I first downloaded this game and played it on my cell phone a few months ago (after playing Doom RPG which is an awesome cell phone game as well). I recently purchased this game for the Nintendo DS and I have to say that it is like a whole new game now!
I can now view my map the whole time I'm playing (via the dual screen feature) and the graphics are a nice improvement over the cell phone version of this game. I hate turn-based games usually, but this is so fast and fun, it isn't like the typical turn-based RPG's. This game is a must have game if you want an RPG that is presented in the first-person view. There is a lot of stuff to kill and collect. The writing is well done and clever. I hope they bring Orcs and Elves II to the DS too. I'd pick that up for sure!!!

This game is AMAZING.

It's a first-person, turn-based action RPG and a dungeon romp. But it's more than just that: it's an incredible game. Sure, you can complain that the monsters are 2D, or that it's turn-based, or that it's "just a dungeon romp."

But! even with two-dimensional monsters, you're in a three-dimensional environment with great graphics, some of the best I've seen on the DS; the turn-based function isn't a bad thing, I happen to own a RTRPG on the DS (Fighting Fantasy) and it's not nearly as good as this primarily DUE TO THE application of real-time gameplay; and hey? What's wrong with a good ol' fashioned monster-killing, treasure-taking, sword-swinging, spell-springing dungeon crawl? I'm also a tabletop gamer, and sometimes even in tabletop RPGs you just wanna let go and slay the monsters and get the goods. Pure, simple, violent, reckless fun.

There's so much more to the game, though! The level designs are incredible, with secret doors, traps, and wandering monsters instead of static ones that don't move around until you walk into the room. There's a very well-made bartering system in which you can obtain goods for less than their set price, or not, depending on the mood of the "shopkeeper"... who happens to be a centuries-old and very powerful copper dragon (BTW, as far as I know, you can't actually get her to attack you if you continuously annoy her with horrible deals, so you don't need to worry about that). And the storyline, while admittedly not as complex as, say, a Fire Emblem or Final Fantasy game (I recommend both series), it's still very good and present enough throughout the game that a gamer who enjoys stories will be happy-- at least, I am and I was.

There's also, as other reviewers have said, a good mix of comedy mixed in, but there's some suspense and even almost horror thrown in as well. And don't let the turn-based system fool you-- you can still get snuck up on by monsters, and it's jolting when you're walking along to suddenly see the blood effect on your screen and hear the sound effect of when you're attacked (fortunately, it's extremely rare to be killed in one or two shots by wandering monsters).

As for the ESRB rating, they gave it T for Teen for: Blood and Gore, Fantasy Violence, and Use of Alcohol. B&G: It's all animated, cartooned really, although the graphics ARE good. The gore is to the extent of enemies leaving behind bodies that you can (and should) hack apart with your sword. The blood is mostly your own, it pops up momentarily when you're attacked. Fantasy Violence: duh. It's a dungeon crawl, you're a half-elf with a sword and magic wand... I don't see how it's not obvious. Use of Alcohol: Okay, I feel like the developers mostly threw this in for fun. Throughout the game, you find and can drink Dwarven Ale, including a special, extra-potent variety. There are a few points in the game when you MUST drink these, but it's really mostly kind of comical. Without wanting to give much away, you have to get drunk with a dwarf's ghost. As I said, it's a comedic effect. Being drunk does increase your strength and defense, but it also drastically reduces accuracy, and (here's the best part) while drunk, your screen that shows what you see of the dungeon shifts around as if you're, well, drunk. It's really just funny, though I don't advise spending the whole game drunk.

All in all, I HIGHLY recommend this game to everyone who's a fan of RPGs or dungeon crawls. If you're not as big into those, it probably won't be your cup of tea, but hey, to each his own.

I'll end with a tip: don't get the flaming sword 'til after the level called "Brimstone." Otherwise... well, see for yourself if you don't believe me.

I just finished playing Orcs & Elves. It's an absorbing game, for hours of fun almost everyday for about a month! The graphics are nothing special, but gameplay is brilliant. You have your potions, such as health, parasitic, champions, you have your beer (which has more bad effects than good in-game) you have your weapons, like Dragon's Breath, Phoenix Eggs, War Crossbow, Flaming Sword, Vorpal Sword, and more, and you have your wand and trusted advisor, Ellon. The game has a good storyline, which I will let you find out for yourself, and a dragon who goes by the name of Gaya. You buy weapons, armour, potions,maps,and rings of power from her.The game is fun for hardcore or casual gamers, and not too complex. All in all, this game is definetly worth it. For 10 dollars, it is the best game of it's price.

This review is for the Nintendo DS version of Orcs & Elves - designed by iD Software and published by EA. I give the entire package a 3.5 out of 5 Stars.

Fun Factor: 3.5 of 5 Stars. Very simple, but enjoyable and well written.

Replay Value: Low. Play 3 Difficulty levels, but nothing of substance changes.

Overall: 3.5 of 5 Stars. Great Manual. Fun game. Okay price.

Don't believe the marketing hype. Understand this is an RPG-Lite-Lite (redundant on purpose). If you want a fun hack-n-slash dungeon game you can pick up and play a few minutes or hours at a time, this is perfect. The Pros outweigh the Cons, but if you require slick graphics and deep gameplay, pass on Orcs & Elves. I don't mind poor graphics if the game is fun. And I can overlook marketing spin if what is actually delivered is still solid. Others may not be so forgiving.

* PROS *
+ FUN - IF you like "old school" hack-n-slash dungeon-crawler games. This isn't a "modern" RPG with a spike-haired, bad-boy anti-hero character. It is single player game and the "character" you play has a name, an arm to hold weapons and that's about it.

+ Well written.

+ Decent sound/music. Basic, but effective.

+ Decent monster variety. Some interesting monster weaknesses/strengths to figure out and a couple of big battles were well balanced challenges.

+ Pretty good level design that mixed up tasks enough to keep things interesting throughout the game.

+ Very good manual! Something of a rarity for games lately!

+ End-of-game Rank. This is a decent addition if you're the type to replay a game to get a better time/score.


* CONS *
- Very short game - on "Normal" difficulty it took 7 hours to complete and that was with a LOT of backtracking to search for hidden rooms to get "100% completion" of levels. On "Nightmare" it was around 10, due to longer fights and more enemies. They call the levels "Massive." I'll just say I disagree.

- I take to task the marketing hype: (1) the "AI" is extremely basic - monsters can't even open a door! (2) "Puzzles" = a few spots where you have to move a couple things or flip switches. (3) calling it part "Tactical RPG" is pushing it. Attack with a handful of weapon types. Drink some potions. Repeat. Only a few battles require strategy. (4) "Over 35 enemies." This is slightly misleading. There are about 15 basic types. They vary some in strengths and body colors to fill out the "35" number. Still, I thought what they had was pretty good. Pro and a Con.

- Graphics are poor. This is Cell phone game ported to the DS - and EA published it. That means there was no meaningful effort to upgrade the product for the superior platform. (Of course they added touch screen ability - that's mandatory on the DS). People who NEED good graphics on their DS will dismiss this game quickly.

- Not much replay value, even on highest skill level. I also thought the way the designers added "challenge" to the Nightmare level was a lazy design gimick that wasn't fair (I won't spoil it for you, but I'll say the next game needs a targeting system for the "Nightmare" difficulty gimick to be fair).

It's a turn based RPG. You can ONLY move one step at a time; the same is true for the monsters. The dragon, whom you purchase items from, is a visual delight, as are the fights and scenery. The monsters are fun, not too easy as to become useless but not hard enough to be impossible, and is long enough to not end without a feeling of satisfaction.

I purchased this game used on a pre-played discount rack. Cartridge based games are a bit safer used purchased then a disc, but now I'm wishing I would have bought something for my PSP that day.
The box clearly advertises that it is "TURN BASED COMBAT" This is not what most RPG players would define as turn based battle. You encounter enemies and, depending on what weapon you have, slash them with it as many times as possible by pressing the A button as fast as you can, and have no control over the damage you take.
This had potential to be a good dungeon crawler, but falls short in many areas, the worst being the combat. The graphics are fairly cheap and outdated. I actually don't mind the element of gameplay that consists of moving one space at a time -- the Etrian Oddyssey series is like that. That comparison being drawn, this game is nothing like E.O. series (which is why there is no sequel to this one!).

It's a poorly developed makeshift RPG slapped together to make a few bucks off of RPG fans looking for a good old school style dungeon crawler to enjoy and instead find this. I didn't even get the "free wand stylus" since it was used... a gimmick that would have made me feel a little bit better about my wasted 8 dollars.

Final words on Orcs and Elves for the DS: Don't buy it.

Don't go into this expecting it to be an "action" video game at all. It's pure turn-based strategy. While parts of it can be a bit laborious, overall it's a fun experience.