Of Orcs And Men

62%
Game Brain Score Based on 743 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Of Orcs And Men Game Cover
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.
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Of 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
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station 3
  • Xbox
  • Xbox 360
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

62%
Audience ScoreBased on 743 reviews
story325 positive mentions
grinding9 negative mentions
  • Engaging story with interesting characters, particularly the dynamic between Arkail and Styx.
  • Unique combat system that combines real-time and tactical elements, allowing for strategic planning.
  • Good graphics and atmosphere that enhance the overall experience.
  • Combat can feel clunky and unresponsive, leading to frustration during battles.
  • Linear level design with minimal exploration and repetitive gameplay.
  • Voice acting quality varies significantly, with some characters poorly performed.
  • story750 mentions

    The story of "Of Orcs and Men" is generally praised for its unique perspective, focusing on the plight of orcs and goblins as they navigate a world where they are oppressed by humans. Players appreciate the engaging narrative, character development, and the moral complexities presented, although some find the plot predictable and the dialogue occasionally juvenile. While the gameplay mechanics receive mixed reviews, the story remains a strong selling point, drawing players into its dark fantasy setting and emotional themes.

    • “The story is well done and keeps up the tension, even though the beginning can feel a tad slow.”
    • “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 takes a twist on typical fantasy by having orcs being oppressed and subjugated by humans, and in light of this, your main character is on a quest to kill the emperor who seeks to unite elves and dwarves against 'the greenskins.'”
    • “The story is unimaginative and just plain.”
    • “The story is bland and the writing is immature with the author throwing in swearing in a poor attempt to make it a 'mature' story and the animations that go along with the dialogue often keep playing for several seconds after the characters have finished talking.”
    • “The story simply ticks all the boxes needed and nothing more though it does have two frankly unnecessary twists: one silly and one bloody obvious.”
  • gameplay274 mentions

    The gameplay in "Of Orcs and Men" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its clunky mechanics and outdated combat system, which can feel frustrating and unpolished. While some appreciate the unique dual-protagonist dynamic and tactical elements, others criticize the linearity and lack of depth in gameplay, often comparing it unfavorably to more modern RPGs. Overall, the game is seen as more story-driven, with gameplay that may appeal to those willing to overlook its flaws for the narrative experience.

    • “Both characters have history which is gradually revealed throughout gameplay that makes them interesting.”
    • “The gameplay is solid, but at times somewhat inadequate.”
    • “The gameplay looks shallow at first, but soon grows on the player.”
    • “The combat mechanics seem archaic for a game that came out in 2012.”
    • “Honestly, I'm conflicted as to whether I would recommend 'Of Orcs and Men' due to the poorly aged gameplay and mechanics, lack of full gamepad support, boss fights and encounters feeling untested, story moments that can softlock and possibly hardlock playthroughs if skill points are invested incorrectly, and the lack of save point availability before/during boss encounters.”
    • “The gameplay is boring and you feel like you barely have control of your characters during combat.”
  • graphics160 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players noting that while they were impressive for their time, they now appear dated and occasionally suffer from technical issues. Some users appreciate the moody art style and detailed character models, while others criticize the linear environments and poor animations. Overall, the visuals are described as decent but not groundbreaking, with a few standout moments that enhance the game's atmosphere.

    • “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.”
    • “The graphics are outdated nowadays, lip-sync is non-existent, dungeons, landscapes and city maps are disappointingly linear, so you simply walk and sneak from one encounter to the next until reaching the level boss.”
    • “Nearly ten years later its visuals aged about as well as fish with a side of raw eggs left out in a dank, humid place for a similar period of time.”
    • “Gameplay, level design, animation, graphics, sound and voice, everything is extremely basic - even for a PlayStation 3 era game.”
  • music99 mentions

    The music in the game has received a mixed reception, with many praising the soundtrack as one of its standout features, often highlighting its atmospheric qualities and emotional impact. While some reviewers noted that certain tracks felt repetitive or lacked memorability, others described the music as brilliant and integral to the overall experience, enhancing both combat and storytelling. Overall, the consensus leans towards the music being a strong point, contributing significantly to the game's ambiance and emotional depth.

    • “The music is really good and atmospheric.”
    • “The soundtrack is from the Boston Cello Quartet, and is an absolute gem.”
    • “Great story with some plot twists and the music is awesome, getting instant chills down my back.”
    • “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.”
    • “As for bad stuff, music was mediocre, trading system is almost non-existent (maybe it'd be better if it were no trading here...) and fighting system, although very nice in concept, feels as if it is a little unbalanced and random.”
  • humor41 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mix of dark, vulgar, and crude elements that resonate well with players, particularly through the interactions between the main characters, Styx and Arkail. While some find the humor to be hit-or-miss, with moments that feel forced, many appreciate the witty dialogue and comedic cutscenes that add charm to the overall experience. Overall, the game's humor is seen as a strong point, enhancing the story and character dynamics, despite some criticisms regarding its execution.

    • “Great story, hilarious characters, and awesome music!”
    • “The humor is great and I really like how you can do different side quests that change how the game works out.”
    • “As many have said, Styx steals the show with his dark humor and interesting past.”
    • “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 tired 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.”
  • atmosphere22 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive qualities, with well-designed characters, a compelling storyline, and varied ambiences that enhance the experience across different levels. Players appreciate the strong integration of music and visuals, which effectively evoke the intended emotions, although some critiques mention issues with translation and combat. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.

    • “I would say developers put an effort into creating an atmosphere, e.g. using different ambiences for different levels, which most suit the atmosphere.”
    • “The adventure that follows is full of twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat as you are absorbed into the atmosphere of the world.”
    • “This game features great visuals and a very cool dark atmosphere most players will certainly appreciate.”
    • “The story and the music were really good, and the settings added more to the atmosphere of war and slavery.”
    • “It's a 2/10 cringefest with mediocre combat, mediocre storyline, and changing quests but an unchanging environment and atmosphere.”
    • “I would say the developers put effort into creating an atmosphere, using different ambiences for different levels, which mostly suit the atmosphere.”
  • character development16 mentions

    Character development in the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating the dynamic relationships, particularly between the main characters Arkail and Styx, and noting the charm in their evolving friendship. While some reviews mention that character development can be rudimentary or shallow at times, others highlight the quality of dialogue and voice acting that enhance the overall experience. Despite mixed feelings about gameplay mechanics and character designs, the story and character arcs are often cited as strong points that keep players engaged.

    • “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.”
    • “The unique gameplay is weird but you get quickly used to it; the story and character development are really well done.”
    • “It's got a solid story and some pretty good character development.”
    • “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.”
    • “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.”
    • “On top of that, some of the character design for the supporting characters was, well, total crap.”
  • replayability14 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is mixed, with many users noting it as low to zero, particularly for story-driven experiences. However, some players find value in experimenting with different combat styles or difficulty levels, suggesting that those who enjoy the gameplay mechanics may be inclined to replay. Ultimately, the game's replay value largely depends on individual preferences and enjoyment of the core mechanics.

    • “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?”
    • “However, this is a story-over-gameplay game, so not much replayability unless you want to see how they react to every dialogue option.”
    • “It has little to no replay value to it.”
  • grinding13 mentions

    Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, often requiring significant effort to progress through combat-heavy sections without much reward. The linear structure and lack of exploration or diverse gameplay elements contribute to a sense of monotony, making the grind feel excessive and unfulfilling, especially during critical moments like boss fights. Overall, while some enjoy the challenge, many feel that the grinding detracts from the overall experience.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “A bit grindy sometimes.”
    • “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.”
    • “However, 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.”
    • “The lineup attacks combat style, and control of two characters in combat was tedious and boring!”
  • emotional7 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 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.

    • “You are tasked with bringing Arkence back from the brink of the 'prison' of her physical and emotional trauma so that she can help you make it to the next part of the story.”
    • “There were quests I actually cared about, NPCs I could become emotionally attached to.”
    • “Playing as the two greenskins and seeing the relationship between Arkail and Styx develop is hilarious and heartwarming.”
    • “Very stylish game with very good art that is ruined by linearity, poor design, and a boring story.”
  • stability6 mentions

    The game's stability is marked by several glitches and janky combat controls, which can disrupt gameplay, such as enemies getting stuck in walls and issues with move queueing. While these bugs are generally minor and not game-breaking, they indicate that the mechanics feel underdeveloped and may require some adjustment. Overall, despite the stability issues, players still find the game enjoyable.

    • “The combat controls are janky and often glitch out when it comes to queueing moves.”
    • “It's very buggy.”
    • “There are some glitches, like enemies falling into walls, though nothing game-breaking.”
  • optimization4 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is praised, with users reporting smooth performance even on older hardware, achieving steady frame rates at maximum settings. Despite its low-budget origins, it runs well, indicating a successful port.

    • “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.”
    • “+ runs smoothly (good port)”
    • “I can't imagine a game that looks like this having performance problems; this was a low-budget game over a decade ago.”
    • “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.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

80% average critic score

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Play time

14hMedian play time
12hAverage play time
5-16hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 11 analyzed playthroughs

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