ORCS

About

ORCS is a single player action adventure game. It was developed by Pixel vs Pixel and was released on May 20, 2016. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"Orcs" is a single-player action game with platformer elements, inspired by classics like Castlevania and Ghosts 'n Goblins. The game boasts ingenious gameplay, masterful visuals, and plenty of humor throughout its 24 levels and 5 bosses. With gamepad support and additional features, "Orcs" provides a challenging and entertaining experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

80%

Audience ScoreBased on 188 reviews

music10 positive mentions

stability2 negative mentions

Charming pixel graphics that evoke nostalgia and add to the game's appeal.
Engaging and fun gameplay that offers a good challenge, making it enjoyable for players who appreciate retro platformers.
Very low price point, making it accessible for players looking for a simple yet entertaining experience.

Controls can be clunky and unresponsive, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences.
The game lacks depth and variety, making it feel repetitive and shallow over time.
Technical issues such as no save options and poor sound design detract from the overall experience.

music
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
43%
27%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players enjoying the chiptune style and finding it motivating, while others criticize it for being repetitive and annoying over time. Many recommend turning off the music to avoid irritation, suggesting that it detracts from the overall experience. Overall, while the soundtrack has its fans, it appears to lack variety and can become grating during extended play sessions.
- “Music is great, art style is great, game mechanics are great.”
- “If you enjoy chiptune, aka 8-bit soundtrack and pixel art, this is the best!”
- “Love the music, love the style.”
- “The music in this game is terrible, it's better to mute it and listen to something else instead.”
- “Worst music I have ever heard in a video game, but I am not sure if it is on purpose or not.”
- “Beating more than one level at a time gets annoying and you will be infuriated by the repetitive music.”
gameplay
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
53%
12%
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some praising its simplicity and charm, while others criticize its janky controls and lack of polish. Many players find the mechanics satisfying and the challenge engaging, though some note frustrating design choices, such as limited options and punishing difficulty. Overall, while the game offers enjoyable moments, it suffers from inconsistencies that detract from the overall experience.
- “The gameplay is tight and satisfying; the challenge is high but never unfair.”
- “It's much better and offers the same type of gameplay but with more balanced mechanics.”
- “The game's mechanics are solid and the gameplay is intriguing.”
- “It's janky and unsatisfying to play... and any experienced gamer will tell you, the handling, responsiveness and general gameplay feel of the control scheme must be well polished for this kind of game to succeed.”
- “Unfortunately, the gameplay and control scheme is something the developer seems to have phoned in, with little to no apparent gameplay testing.”
- “One small mistake and hours of gameplay are gone with no hope of getting them back, seriously dumb.”
graphics
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
50%
12%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming retro pixel art style that evokes nostalgia for classic gaming, reminiscent of Atari and NES eras. While some players appreciate the simplicity and endearing quality of the visuals, others criticize the low resolution and lack of customization options, feeling that it combines the less favorable aspects of retro graphics. Overall, the graphics are polarizing, appealing to fans of retro aesthetics while leaving some players wanting more modern visual fidelity.
- “Engaging, fun game with a simple story and charming pixel graphics.”
- “The pixelated aesthetic adds a nostalgic charm to the game, evoking feelings of classic gaming.”
- “Furthermore, the simplicity of the graphics doesn't compromise the diversity and originality of the characters and environments, providing a unique and enjoyable visual experience for fans of this retro style.”
- “A choice was made to use obsolete, decades-old retro pixel 'art' as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics.”
- “There's no way for gamers to try to improve the low-quality graphics.”
- “The graphics are a blend of Atari and NES era graphics, but combine the worst aspects of both into this game.”
story
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
43%
21%
The game's story is generally described as simple and charming, with some players finding it engaging and refreshing, while others consider it generic or lacking depth. Despite mixed opinions on its complexity and execution, the overall theme and art style are appreciated, contributing to a fun gaming experience. However, some players feel that the story could be more developed to enhance enjoyment.
- “Engaging, fun game with a simple story and charming pixel graphics.”
- “The story elements are nice and refreshing.”
- “Fun little platformer with an amusing story and simple (yet endearing) graphics.”
- “If you want to buy this game, don't. It's hard because of the controls, which are bad for the game and hurt my fingers. Also, the story is boring to read.”
- “But there is almost no story, and what is there is generic.”
- “I also think that the protagonist was the bad guy all along, but I'm not really sure because the story was too complex for me to follow.”
humor
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is a mixed bag, with some players enjoying its clever references and fourth wall breaks, while others feel that many attempts at humor fall flat. Highlights include amusing nods to classic games like Mortal Kombat and Castlevania, but overall, the comedic elements may not resonate with everyone.
- “I liked the sense of humor of the game and trailer! :D”
- “Pretty difficult and funny :)”
- “It really feels like an old NES game... some great humor and great frustration included.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, users report a generally stable experience with minimal glitches or bugs, though some have noted occasional minor issues, particularly with menus.
- “My biggest nitpicks are a few glitches and a menu problem.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers enjoyable gameplay for a limited time, but lacks significant replayability beyond attempting to set world records.
- “The game is great fun for an hour or two, although it has no replayability unless you want to hold a world record for a random game.”