Of Orcs And Men
- October 11, 2012
- Spiders
- 14h median play time
Of Orcs and Men is quite refreshing to play and a change in perspective playing as an Orc and Goblin really spices up the whole thing.
Get on SteamOf Orcs And Men is a fantasy role-playing game where players lead a powerful Orc warrior and a skilled Goblin assassin on a dangerous mission to assassinate the Emperor of the human Empire. Fight against hostile enemies, level up and develop skills to reach your objective and liberate your people from human domination. The game features a brutal world where Orcs and Goblins face persecution and slavery, and players must navigate this dangerous environment to complete their mission.
PC
Windows
PlayStation
Playstation 3
Xbox
Xbox 360
Reviews
- Interesting characters and dark fantasy setting.
- Engaging story with unexpected twists.
- Fun and strategic combat mechanics once mastered.
- Clunky and unresponsive combat system.
- Extremely linear level design with minimal exploration.
- Poor voice acting for secondary characters and excessive use of profanity.
- story1,017 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story of "Of Orcs and Men" is a unique take on the fantasy genre, focusing on the plight of orcs and goblins as they seek to overthrow a tyrannical human emperor. Players follow the journey of Arkail, a powerful orc warrior, and Styx, a cunning goblin assassin, as they navigate a dark and gritty world filled with moral complexities and character development. While the narrative is engaging and features interesting twists, it is often criticized for its linearity and lack of impactful choices, making it more of a story-driven experience than a traditional RPG.
“The game is excellently written and the story will keep you interested with a couple of twists and creative ideas.”
“The story is full of surprises, interesting characters, and dialogue/RPG choices that change things.”
“Of Orcs and Men tells a uniquely depressing story of war and slavery in a mesmerizing fantasy world full of unforgettable, insane, and ridiculously likable characters.”
“The story is unimaginative and just plain.”
“The story is predictable if you've played either of the Styx games before, with the major 'reveal' being a core plot point in Styx: Master of Shadows.”
“The story is ultimately fine, it has some twists and turns, but I can't say it's very inspiring.”
- gameplay382 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Of Orcs and Men" has received mixed reviews, with many players criticizing its dated mechanics, linear level design, and clunky controls. While some appreciate the unique dual-character combat system and the tactical elements reminiscent of classic RPGs, others find the combat frustrating and unpolished, often overshadowing the engaging narrative. Overall, the game is seen as more story-driven, appealing primarily to those who prioritize narrative over gameplay quality.
“The gameplay is a mix of sneaky stabbing and full-on massacres.”
“Interesting combat mechanics; I have never seen any game similar to this kind of combat system.”
“The gameplay allows for a multitude of playstyles and is easy enough for someone not keen on strategy mechanics to enjoy the game.”
“Gameplay mechanics also suck, as the only controlling you do is moving your characters around... once the fight breaks out, you'll have to give each of your characters commands, and this third-person RPG suddenly turns into a Baldur's Gate wannabe, and I hate it.”
“Really want to play for the story but this gameplay is horrible, the combat system is straight doo doo.”
“The gameplay is frustrating and not polished.”
- graphics236 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally considered dated, with many reviewers noting that they fall short of contemporary standards, often comparing them to titles from the early 2010s. However, the art direction and character designs receive praise for their distinctiveness and atmosphere, contributing positively to the overall experience. While some players find the visuals acceptable, others highlight technical issues and a lack of polish, indicating that the graphics may not be the game's strongest aspect.
“The graphics are surprisingly nice for a low-budget RPG; most voices are tolerable and the main story is surprisingly nice.”
“The graphics are great, the atmosphere better; I just didn't appreciate the combat.”
“The graphics are excellent, but the facial animation is often off-key.”
“Graphically, this game sucks!”
“Gameplay, level design, animation, graphics, sound and voice, everything is extremely basic - even for a PlayStation 3 era game.”
“The graphics are obviously dated given the release year (2012) but it does not bother me.”
- music140 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread praise for its quality and atmospheric contribution, with many reviewers highlighting the impressive soundtrack composed by Olivier Deriviere, which features a blend of emotional and immersive tracks. While some players found the music to be repetitive or not particularly memorable, the overall sentiment is that it enhances the gaming experience significantly, often described as beautiful and fitting for the game's themes. Overall, the soundtrack stands out as one of the game's strongest elements, with many players expressing a desire to listen to it outside of the game itself.
“The soundtrack complements the atmosphere, creating a somber and immersive experience.”
“This game has a very remarkable soundtrack with some very catchy songs and sometimes some pretty atmospheric songs which fit the mood of the levels.”
“The music was a character itself; it has been a while since I really got into the music in a game and have found myself humming various songs.”
“The music is mostly just there; it tends to be short and repetitive but not offensive. There was a grand total of one track I actually enjoyed listening to, that's it.”
“Graphics, voice acting, music, sounds - everything is below average even for the year it was released in.”
“The music is generic adventure game-like.”
- humor53 mentions
- 98 % positive mentions
- -4 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is primarily driven by the dynamic and often hilarious interactions between the two main characters, Arkail and Styx, with Styx's dark and vulgar wit stealing the spotlight. Players appreciate the crude yet entertaining dialogue, which adds a unique charm to the storytelling, despite some critiques about the game's overall execution. While the humor is generally well-received, some feel it occasionally tries too hard to be edgy, yet it successfully provides a lighthearted contrast to the game's darker themes.
“As many have said before, the real stars of this game are the two mains: Arkail, the towering orc berserker, and Styx, the skulking and frequently hilarious goblin assassin.”
“The humor is great, and I really like how you can do different side quests that change how the game works out.”
“Playing as the two greenskins and seeing the relationship between Arkail and Styx develop is hilarious and heartwarming.”
“Many characters share the exact same face and hair model, even important storyline characters. For example, there's this guy called Raven, and I've seen his face on so many characters that it's not funny. It helps that some opponents are orcs and most human opponents wear helmets to at least mask this issue, but it feels kind of sloppy.”
“The attempts at humor often fall flat, relying on clichés and predictable punchlines that fail to elicit any genuine laughter.”
“While the game tries to inject humor into its dialogue, most of it feels forced and lacks the wit needed to be truly entertaining.”
- atmosphere35 mentions
- 66 % positive mentions
- 26 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is generally praised for its immersive qualities, with many reviewers highlighting the effective use of soundtracks and environmental design to enhance the experience. While some criticize the graphics as dated, the unique character designs and well-crafted settings contribute to a compelling atmosphere that resonates with players. Overall, the game is noted for its strong storytelling and character development, which further enrich the atmospheric experience.
“The soundtrack complements the atmosphere, creating a somber and immersive experience.”
“The game's strengths lie in its storytelling, character development, and atmosphere.”
“This game features great visuals and a very cool dark atmosphere most players will certainly much appreciate.”
“It's a 2/10 cringefest with mediocre combat, mediocre storyline, and changing quests but an unchanging environment and atmosphere.”
“The character design and environments contribute to a distinctive atmosphere, but the overall graphics may appear dated compared to contemporary titles.”
“I would say developers put an effort into creating an atmosphere, e.g. using different ambiences for different levels, which most suit the atmosphere.”
- character development25 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating the evolving relationships, particularly between the main characters Arkail and Styx, which adds charm to the narrative. However, many reviewers note that while character arcs are engaging, the choices made throughout the game have limited impact on the overall story, leaving some potential for deeper exploration untapped. The character designs vary in quality, and while the dialogue and voice acting enhance the experience, some aspects of the gameplay and graphics feel dated or underwhelming.
“The game's strengths lie in its storytelling, character development, and atmosphere.”
“I mostly kept playing for the dynamic between Arkail and Styx, as I found their slowly growing friendship and character development charming, and Styx is just fun in general.”
“Both Styx and Arkail have some pretty good character development as they change a lot throughout the game and start to develop a friendship.”
“What you're in for is an RPG with more or less rudimentary character development, for most of the game, somewhat shallow characters, way too few items to justify the fuss they make about upgrading, really bad menus and rather unsatisfying combat.”
“Character development is 'deep' in the sense of there are several different options at any given time, but I'll be darned if they're all pretty much leading to the same style of play.”
“I might be willing to soldier on and hope that the dialogue and plot/character development improve, but the controls and gameplay also leave quite a bit to be desired.”
- grinding18 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 6 % neutral mentions
- 78 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is frequently described as tedious and repetitive, with players noting that it often requires significant time investment to progress. Many reviews highlight the lack of engaging content outside of combat, leading to a sense of monotony, especially during difficult battles and unskippable cutscenes. Overall, while some players appreciate the challenge, the grinding nature can detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.
“It can be a bit grindy sometimes, but the combat keeps it engaging.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding, but the rewards make it worthwhile.”
“The grind is real, but it adds a sense of accomplishment as you progress.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“From what I've seen of the game and read in other reviews, there is basically nothing to this game outside of combat - no open-ended exploration, no gathering and crafting, no farming life sim, not even minigames - just trudging through a linear story with compulsory fights to reach the next cutscene, in which you may have some minor, probably inconsequential dialogue choices.”
“The characters are very one-dimensional and for as long as the game feels with the incredibly tedious combat, the payoff at the end isn't worth the journey.”
- replayability16 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
Overall, the reviews indicate a mixed perception of replayability, with many users noting that it is low or virtually nonexistent, particularly for story-driven games. However, some players find value in experimenting with different character builds or combat styles, suggesting that replayability can be enhanced for those who enjoy mastering gameplay mechanics or exploring dialogue options. Ultimately, the game's replay value seems to depend heavily on individual player preferences and play styles.
“Fun, challenging combat, good story, has replay value.”
“It has replay value and for the 14 hours it took me to complete 1 playthrough, it felt like about 5 hours.”
“Each character can also be built in a combination of different ways, so there can be replayability if you wanted to try a different combat style.”
“Replayability is practically zero and if a game isn't worth replaying then why bother buying it in the first place?”
“It has little to no replay value to it.”
“Replayability is relatively poor.”
- stability11 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is marked by a mix of minor glitches and bugs, including issues with the UI, combat controls, and enemy behavior. While some players report significant frustrations with gameplay mechanics and visual glitches, others note that these issues are not game-breaking and can be overlooked in light of the game's enjoyable aspects. Despite a history of bugs in previous titles, some users express a willingness to continue playing due to the game's overall appeal.
“The combat controls are janky and often glitch out when it comes to queueing moves.”
“Absolutely atrocious gameplay and obvious lack of playtesting; didn't notice any major bugs or glitches though.”
“Buggy.. managed to get stuck with Styx on collision within minutes.”
- emotional8 mentions
- 88 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by the deep connections players form with NPCs and the heartfelt moments that resonate throughout the story, particularly in the evolving relationship between characters like Arkail and Styx. While some quests evoke genuine care and attachment, the overall narrative suffers from linearity and design flaws, which can detract from the emotional impact.
“There were quests I actually cared about, NPCs I could become emotionally attached to.”
“But as well, it feels loving and heartwarming at times that you want it to be.”
“Playing as the two greenskins and seeing the relationship between Arkail and Styx develop is hilarious and heartwarming.”
“A very stylish game with great art, but it's ruined by its linearity, poor design, and a boring story.”
- optimization7 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is generally praised, with many users reporting smooth performance and no significant lag, even on older hardware. However, some players noted a deliberate lag in action execution that can feel unoptimized and slow. Despite this, the game is considered well-optimized for its genre, particularly for tactical RPG enthusiasts.
“Performance is very good, never experienced any slowdown or lag.”
“This game is beautiful and well optimized; if you like tactical RPGs with a visceral feel, then 'Of Orcs and Men' is for you!”
“PC port notes: it ran well on my AMD FX 6 core and AMD HD7850 on max settings with little to no performance hiccups and a steady 60 fps.”
“I can't imagine a game that looks like this to be having performance problems; this was a low-budget game over a decade ago...”
“There is noticeable lag before actions are executed (likely on purpose, to avoid skill spamming), but it just makes everything feel slow and unoptimized.”
