Orcs Must Die Review

[Greenskull]

If you’ve ever played a “Tower Defence” game, you understand the basic formula of Orcs Must Die: Set up traps and barricades to prevent endless waves of enemies from infiltrating whatever it is you’re defending. It’s a proven formula that is always a great time-waster. Now imagine if you had the ability to navigate that world in a 3rd person, 3D environment using an assortment of weapons and abilities to hold back the unstoppable force. Combining these two simple ideas, Orcs Must Die is an insanely fun twist on a tried and true game.

Orcs Must Die puts you in the shoes of a nameless hero. You are an apprentice of a once great wizard and humanity’s last hope against the Orc invasion. The occasional cutscene helps tie the story together, but OMD isn’t exactly ready for a big screen adaptation. At the start of each level, your hero says a few words about what is to come, and sometimes the queen of the Orcs chimes in. Managing to even successfully create a story with a tower defence game is a feat in itself, so this is far from criticism. Just know that nobody is going to be playing the game for the story, they will be playing it for the fun.

At the start of each level, you choose what weapons and traps you’d like to help you defend against the attack. You must carry your magic bow, but every other slot is up to you. There are some weapons that you use like the bow. For instance, there is a sword you can use if the Orcs get too close for comfort or you can have the ability to shoot fireballs and torch groups of enemies running your way. Mostly, though, you’ll be filling your slots with traps. The traps range from floor spikes and oil that slows enemies to giant swinging maces and grinders that suck enemies in. There are also some buddies you can place to help you out like Archers who can pick off the enemies and save you the trouble.

Every kill nets you coins you can use to place more traps. Larger enemies even drop coins to help you out a little. You’ll also get bonuses as you complete waves. As you progress, you will unlock Weavers. At the start of the level, you select which Weaver you’d like. These sharp-tongued women will grant you upgrades at a price. If used correctly, the abilities granted can really turn the tides of your war. Luckily, not all forms of defence cost coins. Littering the environments are mountable turrets, chandeliers, spikey logs, and more. You can use these to take out a bunch of enemies in a pinch at no cost to you. The turret controls are a little touchy, but that's literally my only complain with the game.

After all waves are completed, you are ranked based on your performance. 5 skulls is what you’re aiming for, but you need to play on War Mage difficulty to earn them all. If the going gets tough (and trust me, it will) and you decide to drop down to Apprentice difficulty, you’ll only be able to earn 2 skulls. Between levels you can use the skulls to upgrade your traps. Some traps become cheaper once upgraded, and some become more deadly. The floor spikes get an added poison effect that picks away at the enemy’s health even after touching the trap.

Orcs Must Die is not a game you’ll want to miss. Take my word for it: You’ll be seeing this bad boy earn some awards in the months to come; if not from major publications then from the fans. Pick it up on Xbox Live Arcade for 1200 Microsoft Points. I’ll see you on the leaderboards!

Overall Rating:
10/10

[Sorarules20]

So, I'm guessing you liked it?

[Steviathon]

Must have...

[JugularRain]

Sounds terribad. No wonder you gave it----- TEN OUTA TEN?! HOLY ****, wait, I read that wrong...Maybe I should buy it.

[BOROMIR]

Isn't 10/10 reserved for only select games? Or did they just... WAIT IS RUL BECOMING IGN?! NOOOOOOOO

[all else failed]

Remember this is an Arcade game. 10/10 for a Arcade game perhaps is more of a 8/10 for a complete game. This is not to say Arcade games can be a whole lot of fun with quality replay value.

[Greenskull]

Remember this is an Arcade game. 10/10 for a Arcade game perhaps is more of a 8/10 for a complete game. This is not to say Arcade games can a a whole lot of fun with quality replay value.

This. For 1200 points you get a hell of a good time waster