Advanced Search >
Help Me Search

Games

Sony

PS3 | PSP | PS2 | PS One

Microsoft

Xbox 360 | Xbox

Nintendo

Wii | DS | GBA | Cube | N64

Other Platforms

PC | N-Gage | Dreamcast

Upcoming &
Recent Releases

sort by namesort by score

xx 100 All-Time Favorites
xx 2-in-1 Solitaire
xx 7 Wonders II
58 Aliens in the Attic
xx Ant Nation
xx Arcade Bowling
xx Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader? Game Time
xx Art Academy: First Semester
xx Art Academy: Second Semester
83 Art Style: DIGIDRIVE
64 Assassin's Creed II: Discovery
42 Astro Boy: The Video Game
77 Atelier Annie Alchemists of Sera Island
63 Bakugan Battle Brawlers
63 Band Hero
xx Battle of Giants: Dragons
xx Battle of Giants: Dragons - Bronze Edition
xx Ben 10: Alien Force - Vilgax Attacks
62 Biggest Loser, The
xx Bigs 2, The
58 Bleach: The 3rd Phantom
52 Blood Bowl
xx Bomberman Blitz
xx Bookworm
xx Brain Age Express: Arts & Letters
xx Brain Age Express: Sudoku
63 C.O.P. The Recruit
44 C.O.R.E.
xx Cake Mania 3
77 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare - Mobilized
xx Cars Race-O-Rama
xx Chaotic: Shadow Warriors
xx Chicken Blaster
xx City Transport Map Volumes 1 & 2 - 2009
xx Clique: Diss and Make Up, The
xx Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs
xx Clubhouse Games Express: Family Favorites
xx Clubhouse Games Express: Strategy Pack
70 Cooking Mama 3: Shop & Chop
xx Crash-Course Domo
xx CSI: Deadly Intent - The Hidden Cases
xx Dawn of Heroes
xx Dictionary 6 in 1 with Camera Function
73 DiRT 2
xx Disney Fairies: Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure
xx Disney's A Christmas Carol
66 DJ Star
73 Dragon Ball Z: Attack of the Saiyans
83 Dragon Quest Wars
73 Drawn to Life: The Next Chapter
xx Electroplankton Beatnes
xx Electroplankton Hanenbow
xx Electroplankton Nanocarp
xx Electroplankton Rec-Rec
xx Electroplankton Trapy
xx Emergency Room: Real Life Rescues
xx Family Feud: 2010 Edition
xx FIFA Soccer 10
xx Fighting Fantasy: The Warlock of Firetop Mountain
93 Flipnote Studio
70 Fossil Fighters
49 G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
74 Go! Go! Cosmo Cops!
59 Guitar Rock Tour (DSiWare)
xx Hard-Hat Domo
65 Hardy Boys: Treasure on the Tracks, The
74 Harvest Moon: Frantic Farming
xx Harvest Moon: Sunshine Islands
xx Hasbro Family Game Night
62 Hero's Saga Laevatein Tactics
xx Horrible Histories: Ruthless Romans
xx Hot Wheels: Battle Force 5
41 IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey
71 Jam Sessions 2
xx James Cameron's Avatar: The Game
xx Jonas
75 Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days
xx LEGO Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues
xx LEGO Rock Band
xx Logic Machines
xx Madagascar Kartz
91 Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story
76 Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games
xx Marker Man Adventures
xx Marvel Super Hero Squad
65 Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2
74 Metropolis Crimes
86 Might and Magic: Clash of Heroes
61 Mini Ninjas
xx Monster Mayhem: Build and Battle
xx MX vs. ATV Reflex
60 MySims Agents
xx MySims Camera
55 Naruto Shippuden: Ninja Destiny 2
xx Need for Speed Nitro
xx Ninja Captains
72 Nostalgia
xx Oscar in Toyland
xx Our House
xx Phantasy Star Zero
xx PictureBook Games: The Royal Bluff
xx Pinball Pulse: The Ancients Beckon
xx Planet 51
54 Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky
xx Pop+ Solo
xx Price is Right: 2010 Edition, The
xx Princess and the Frog, The
84 Professor Layton and The Diabolical Box
xx Pro-Putt Domo
xx Puzzle League Express
xx Rabbids Go Home
xx Robot Rescue
xx Rock-n-Roll Domo
xx Scooby-Doo! First Frights
80 Scribblenauts
xx Secret Flirts
xx Secret Saturdays: Beasts of The 5th Sun, The
xx Shorts
xx SimAnimals Africa
70 Space Bust-A-Move
83 Space Invaders Extreme 2
xx Sparkle Snapshots
xx Spectral Force Genesis
xx SpongeBob's Truth or Square
52 Spore Hero Arena
xx Squeeballs Party
64 Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Squadron
xx Star Wars The Clone Wars: Republic Heroes
xx Style Savvy
xx Sudoku
53 Sudoku Ball Detective
73 Sujin Taisen: Number Battles
39 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Arcade Attack
xx Thorium Wars
xx Touchmaster 3
xx Uno
xx Viking Invasion
xx Wakugumi - Monochrome Puzzle
xx Where the Wild Things Are
xx Where's Waldo? The Fantastic Journey
xx White-Water Domo
55 Witch's Tale, A
69 Wizard of Oz: Beyond the Yellow Brick Road, The
56 Wizards of Waverly Place
51 Women's Murder Club: Games of Passion
xx World of Zoo
74 WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010
xx Yummy Yummy Cooking Jam

Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games.

Orcs & Elves

EMAILPRINTds

Orcs & Elves
68
7.8 User Score:

Mixed or average reviews

Based on 36 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 17 votes
Read user comments
Rate this game >

Game Info

Publisher: Electronic Arts

Developer: Fountainhead Entertainment - id Software

Genre(s): Action, Role-Playing Game

Players: 1

ESRB Rating: T (Teen)

Release Date: November 13, 2007

Summary

id Software has crafted an entirely new version of Orcs & Elves that utilizes the Nintendo DS unique technology platform. Orcs & Elves features higher graphical fidelity, more levels, items and monsters as players explore a massive Dwarven kingdom riddled with ancient treasures and fierce enemies. The game features hybrid gameplay, combining the best of first-person action and fast-paced tactical RPG gameplay. [Electronic Arts]

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

84

n-Revolution Magazine UK

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

83

GameShark

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.

Read Full Review >
81

Worth Playing

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.

Read Full Review >
80

Digital Entertainment News

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.

Read Full Review >
80

GamePro

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

Read Full Review >
80

IGN

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.

Read Full Review >
80

GameDaily

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

Read Full Review >
80

GameTap

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

Read Full Review >
80

Pocket Gamer UK

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.

Read Full Review >
80

Games Radar (in-house)

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.

Read Full Review >
80

Zentendo

Although dungeon crawlers can be irksome, the save function is a saving grace with Orcs & Elves as it makes playing the game much more fun.

Read Full Review >
80

DarkStation

There is no doubt that fans of id Software are probably going to be a bit disappointed with the fact that there really wasn't anything that stands out about this game. However fans of the older RPG's are going to sit back and really enjoy this game, not only for its old school mechanics but also its overall experience.

Read Full Review >
79

GameTrailers

If anything, Orcs and Elves will remind you of the old school classic PC RPGs like Lands of Lore and Eye of the Beholder--which is to say that there’s not a lot of originality here. But given the restrictions, id’s first DS game is a success.

Read Full Review >
78

Pelit (Finland)

Suffers from the maddenigly generic fantasy setting and the redundancy of some features, but comes through with addictive dungeon scavenging and suitable gameplay for a portable device. [Jan 2008]

77

Gamers' Temple

If you're looking for some fun role-playing light gameplay, then Orcs & Elves is for you.

Read Full Review >
75

1UP

I remember feeling concerned that the game was flying by way too fast, and it wasn't until I actually looked down at the total time played that it hit me that this thing isn't short: I was just enjoying it so much that I didn't notice.

Read Full Review >
75

RPG Fan

The problem with the DS incarnation of Orcs & Elves is that it doesn't give enough incentive to buy it over, say, a $5 download for your cell phone.

Read Full Review >
74

Nintendojo

For a new intellectual property, it surprisingly falls back on the basics and brings nothing new to the table.

Read Full Review >
70

Games Master UK

It's not big, clever or original. But it does feel like a blast from the past. [Jan 2008, p.76]

70

GameSpot

Orcs & Elves' simplicity doesn't do much to hide its roots as a mobile phone game, but it's also what makes this dungeon crawler accessible, fast, and fun.

Read Full Review >
70

GameZone

Orcs & Elves is a well-balanced RPG that plays well on the DS but doesn’t offer anything new or exciting we haven’t already played.

Read Full Review >
70

VideoGamer

Orcs & Elves is no revolution. It's Western role-playing the way it used to be - hidden passages, mountains of gold, dead dwarves and a temperamental dragon. It's perfect fodder for the geek in you, and a half-an-hour train ride, but don't expect it to rock your world.

70

Boomtown

A budget game being sold at an inflated price, likely to fans of the genre only. But I’m still really looking forward to Orcs & Elves II on the DS.

Read Full Review >
70

GameSpy

Its simple elements are well-blended in an adventure that only lasts about eight hours but still manages to fill its time with great fighting, fun puzzles and a general nostalgic atmosphere.

Read Full Review >
68

Game Informer

There is a reason many of the RPG game mechanics this game uses are no longer found in other RPGs – they suck. You may be better off making up your own fantasy game with RPG Maker.

Read Full Review >
60

Eurogamer

Where Orcs & Elves leaves me is wanting a decent, full-length dungeon-crawling RPG for the DS. What it gives me is the first five or six hours of one that was already beginning to feel a bit repetitive. Nothing's inherently bad about it (apart from the attempt at touch-screen movement controls), but it's rarely unapparent that this belongs on your portable telephone.

Read Full Review >
60

Cheat Code Central

Orcs & Elves is a simple dungeon crawler that harkens back to the FPS PC games of old. The graphics, combat, and puzzle elements are crude and uninventive. The game isn't awful, but it isn't very fun either.

Read Full Review >
60

PTGamers

The length of the game isn’t above four hours, making the investment redundant. All we have left is an interesting atmosphere and an homage to the classic first-person RPGs.

Read Full Review >
60

Play Magazine

It is possible to dress up a cell phone game and make her the belle of the ball on the Nintendo DS. Unfortunately, ID has not done this with Orcs & Elves. [Jan 2008, p.64]

51

Gamer 2.0

At a measly 5 hours, Orcs & Elves is a short game that is meant to be beaten through brief sittings on the commute to work, school, or back home. But at its core, this isn't a game that's actually worth anybody's money.

Read Full Review >
50

Total Video Games

An intriguing game on mobile phones makes a reasonable translation to the Nintendo DS, but it's hard to look past the fact that Orcs & Elves feels dated and overly simplistic. If anything Orcs & Elves makes us hope that nobody will contemplate bringing mobile phone games to the Nintendo DS ever again.

Read Full Review >
50

Nintendo Power

The game is short at about five or six hours, though I suppose it doesn't matter when you tire of the proceedings after 15 minutes. [Holiday 2007, p.82]

50

Deeko

LOTS of different items and potions to help on your quest.

Read Full Review >
44

NGamer UK

At best it's a formulaic RPG, but mostly it's a one-way journey to dullsville. [Feb 2008, p.70]

40

Edge Magazine

Playing it instils a completely neutral response, as though it were no more than a means of absorbing time. [Jan 2008, p.91]

40

Maxi Consolas (Portugal)

With its basic use of the touch screen, this DS version was made much like its mobile counterpart. And that shows on the lack of freedom of movement and simplistic visuals. Even the strategic elements aren’t enough to rescue it from mediocrity. [Jan 2008]

What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 7.8 (out of 10) based on 17 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Jonas S. gave it an8:
Oh man its great to see this kind of games on the DS! If you have played and enjoyed Eye of Beholder or Lands of Lore you will love this one!

Tim S. gave it a9:
Albeit short, this game was far more fun then people seem to be giving it credit for. Kudos to Carmack and co. for making a great hack-n-slash RPG.

Ethan R. gave it a9:
Great fun! Yes, it's short, but that means I will enjoy playing through it a few times. I thoroughly enjoyed this game!

Eric R. gave it a10:
This is a great old school game - similar to the old Wizardry and Bard's Tale games. Good graphics, lots of exploration...and it's simply fun.

John M. gave it a6:
A very unique game that differs alot from the monotony of RPG DS games which just includes endless fighting and the mashing of the button "A". The storyline is however...subpar. A bit more dialogue would help this game. And it seems pretty lonely with just ghosts and a dragon for npcs.

Nunya B. gave it a10:
Awesome game! Etrian Odessey with avoidable (or at least guerilla combat style) battles.

Alice G. gave it a9:
Some of the negative reviews I see listed here on Metacritic are disappointing -- what a fun little game this was! It's a good old school-style game with an interesting cross between an RPG and an FPS that is far deeper than it first may seem -- lots of things to discover and ways to play to figure out (I especially liked figuring out a favorite potion combination). Such a nice diversion from the typical, anime-style DS games there seem to be a glut of.

Read more user comments >

Popular on CBS sites: SEC Football | NFL | Video Game Cheats | iPhone | Video Game Reviews | Notebooks | Antivirus Software

About CBS Interactive | Jobs | Advertise

© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. | Privacy Policy (UPDATED) | Terms of Use