Nov 19, 2007

When we first heard about Orcs & Elves, we weren't quite sure what to expect. Yes, it was originally designed for cell phones (bad sign), but it was also produced by John Carmack and id Software (good sign). Whatever its origins, what matters is that the final product is a solid action-RPG that delivers a satisfying adventure with plenty of wit, humor, guts and gore.

Above: Before and after: a sheep feels the power of the mighty flaming sword. You did not die in vain, humble sheep

Set in a gigantic castle recently overrun by orcs (of course) and hideous monsters of all size and manner, the game is all about exploring the various sections of the castle with two simple rules in mind: grab all the loot you can and slay anything in your path. Each section is a 3D maze, with plenty of secrets to discover and enemies constantly appearing to block your way. The action is both neat and messy at the same time - neat because everything is strictly turn-based, and messy because your powers send gore flying everywhere. Although you have the option of using the stylus, you won't want to, because the conventional controls work great on their own.