DS Critic Reviews

A superb blend of dungeon exploration and turn-based battle. It feels old-fashioned, but in a good way. [Issue#18, p.83]

If you're a fan of old school, simple role-playing and haven't had the pleasure of playing the mobile version, then Orcs & Elves is a grand diversion that won't leave you feeling like someone stole $30 from your wallet.

It is my sincere wish that the backstory gets fleshed out a bit more; we know very little about the wand and the reasons that the evil has attacked the dwarves, much less the unanswered questions revolving around Gaya. For a port of a mobile phone game, Orcs and Elves is a good title indeed.

Its story makes us sleepy, but the hack-and-slash fighting has us hooked. Highly recommended.

Happily, the gameplay avoids the trap of many dungeon-set games, which is that combat becomes repetitive and not very challenging.

It doesn't really add a great deal to the original mobile phone release but Orcs & Elves DS remains an extremely polished and playable adventure that is well worth splashing your Dwarven gold on.

The dungeons are well-designed, the action is well-balanced and fun, and even the characters are likeable. This is a must-have for any action-RPG fan or anyone looking for something different on the DS.

Even with its limitations, Orcs & Elves’ fast-paced, turn-based style is a refreshing change of pace from the evolved role-playing game design, and deserves a playthrough even if you love the epic presentation of those other RPGs.

One of the biggest surprises in Orcs and Elves is the clever game design, which keeps the game engaging and fresh.

It’s a Doom RPG from cell phones with a fantasy theme ported to the DS. Odd? Sure, but it’s a good, unique dungeon crawler that’s surprisingly addictive in spite of its somewhat simplistic nature. If you’re a fan of the genre (or simply curious), it’s certainly worth your while to try it out.