Orcs Must Die! 3
" Engaging action-adventure tower defense with strategic traps but repetitive late missions "
Orcs Must Die! 3 Review
Orcs Must Die! 3 continues the series' tradition of combining tower defense with third-person action, delivering solid gameplay that fans of the franchise will recognize and enjoy. The new weapons and trap combinations, such as the Flamethrower and Hand Gatling, add variety and strategic depth, enhancing the core mechanics. The absence of flyers in early campaigns allows the game to focus on its strengths, creating engaging and fun experiences.
However, the game struggles with pacing in the later War Scenarios, where longer missions and indoor killboxes become tedious. The introduction of flying enemies in post-game content and DLCs introduces frustration due to limited trap effectiveness and complex enemy immunities. This design choice detracts from the otherwise enjoyable gameplay and impacts solo play negatively. Overall, Orcs Must Die! 3 is a worthwhile experience, especially in co-op mode, but it falls short of the charm and replayability of its predecessors.
Highlights
Players praise the game's core tower defense and action mechanics, highlighting the fun trap combinations and new weapon additions like the Flamethrower.
The absence of flying enemies in early campaigns allows focus on strategic gameplay, which many find enjoyable.
Cooperative play is noted as particularly entertaining, enhancing the game's replay value.
Graphics and overall functionality maintain the series' standards, providing a familiar and satisfying experience for returning players.
Criticisms
Longer War Scenario missions become repetitive and tedious, especially with indoor killbox designs.
The inclusion of flying enemies in post-game and DLC content frustrates players due to trap ineffectiveness and enemy immunities.
Solo play suffers from difficulty spikes and the need to restart lengthy missions after minor mistakes.
The game lacks the magic and replayability of earlier entries, with some maps feeling less engaging.
Pros
- • Engaging tower defense gameplay with strategic trap placement and action elements.
- • Variety of new weapons adds depth and fun to combat scenarios.
- • Early campaigns avoid flyers, focusing on core gameplay strengths.
- • Cooperative multiplayer enhances enjoyment and replayability.
- • Familiar mechanics appeal to fans of the series.
- • Decent graphics that maintain the franchise's visual style.
- • Trap combinations encourage creative tactical approaches.
Cons
- • Long War Scenario missions become repetitive and boring over time.
- • Flying enemies in DLC frustrate due to trap ineffectiveness and immunities.
- • Solo play can be frustrating with difficulty spikes and mission restarts.
- • Later maps lack the fun and replayability of previous games.
- • Some levels rely heavily on killboxes, reducing gameplay variety.
- • Enemy pathing for flyers is annoying and difficult to counter.
- • Post-game content feels padded and less engaging.
Rating Criteria
Slice, burn, toss, zap, grind and gib massive hordes of repugnant orcs in this long-awaited successor to the award-winning Orcs Must Die! series.