Orcs and Elves
Score: 87% ESRB: Teen Publisher: EA Games Developer: id Software Media: Cartridge/1 Players: 1 Genre: RPG
Graphics & Sound: Orcs & Elves has a cool bit of history behind it. A few years ago John Carmack, one of the co-creators of Doom, was playing around with some of the games on his wife's cell phone. As the story goes, Carmack decided they weren't any good and decided to create one - resulting in Doom RPG. The game was well-received, though it was limited by its platform. Still the company persisted and a year later released another game based on the Doom RPG engine called Orcs & Elves, which was inspired by the fantasy worlds Carmack (and, it seems, most early game developers) created in his weekly Dungeons & Dragons games. The DS version of Orcs & Elves is an enhanced version of the same game released on cell phones. Most of the improvements are visual, though there are also a few minor enhancements. Like most of the game, the visuals have an early 90's vibe; most notably, Wolfenstein 3D. Enemies are flat, 2D sprites that feature no more than a few basic two or three frame animations. Dungeons, on the other hand, are rather impressive. Unlike the enemies, they are done in 3D and feature a few more details. Really, if you ever played Dungeons & Dragons, this was probably the game you pictured in your head. Sound isn't much of a factor. There are a few basic sounds, though the game is mostly silent.
Gameplay: Orcs & Elves is as straightforward as you can get. You play as an adventurer who is granted a talking wand named Ellon. Upon receiving the wand, you are informed that King Brahm, the ruler of an underground kingdom, is in trouble. His kingdom has been overrun by orcs and the king is missing. As if things couldn't get any worse, Ellon has also weakened and the cause may be linked to the orc attacks. Like the story, gameplay is pretty straightforward and a throwback to old-style RPGs like Eye of the Beholder. Although the game takes place through a first-person perspective, it is entirely turn-based, though with an action twist. During each turn you can either move, attack or use an item. However, several moves can take place within a matter of seconds, so it isn't as slow and drawn-out as you would think. All it really does is add a choppy pace to the game. For a newcomer to this sort of game, the turn-based gameplay will likely feel restricting. You can only take one action at a time, so you really have to think about what you want to do. If you decide to run away from an enemy, you will more than likely take an extra bit of damage; you step away, the enemy takes a swing. However, situations like this are where the game's strategy reside and, ultimately, make it fun to play.
Difficulty: Unlike most modern RPGs, Orcs & Elves requires a good deal of thought. You can choose between multiple difficulty levels, though even the easiest level can be daunting task if you don't take a cautious approach. Charging headlong into battle isn't a good idea; instead you need to make sure you have enough potions or that your method of attack is the best one. It is important to explore every inch of each dungeon; otherwise you might miss out on a new weapon, spell or a few extra potions. Leveling isn't a major deal, though it helps to be as powerful as you can before taking on some of the dungeon's bigger denizens, like dragons. You can save at any time, which makes Orcs & Elves very portable friendly. Though the option does shave some of the difficulty off, you still need to be careful when planning strategies.
Game Mechanics: Control is handled using either the face buttons or touch screen. You can move around by pressing the D-pad or a compass that is displayed on the touch screen. Combat is also controlled by either pressing "Use" on the touch screen or pressing (A). Neither is better than the other, though I personally found the D-pad method more comfortable. Movement is based on a grid-based system, which lends a choppy feel to the game. This will likely seem strange to newcomers only because of the game's FPS-like appearance. If you do find yourself in the latter group, the D-pad allows for slightly smoother movement. Regardless of which method you use, it is usually better to sync movement and combat schemes together. If you use the D-pad to move, use (A) for combat. However, this is all about comfort, so use what works for you. In addition to working as a control apparatus, the bottom screen also works as a menu system. By clicking on the various articles hanging from your utility belt you can switch between your wand and sword, or use health potions. This is a big help since you don't have to waste time digging through menus - everything is right there. The map is especially helpful considering how massive each dungeon is and how easy it is to get lost. Orcs & Elves is what it is - a throwback to old PC RPGs like Lands of Lore or The Bard's Tale. If these games are a part of your personal gaming history, you'll walk away from it happy. Unless you're up for a bit of nostalgia, I'm a bit hesitant to suggest the game for any RPG fan simply because of how radically different it is from the rest of the bunch.
-Starscream, GameVortex Communications AKA Ricky Tucker
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