PAX EAST- Hands on Orcs Must Die! Unchained

Orcs Must Die! Unchained is a free-to-play tower defense-MOBA hybrid. At PAX East, I got a chance to play the most current build of the game. This was my first time playing anything in the Orcs Must Die! franchise. I have played numerous tower defense games over the years, but Orc Must Die! felt refreshing to play. Working in a 5 person party, players must build defensive traps, and fend off waves of different enemy types. With many different options available to the player, building defense structures was simple and easy.

I played the game using a melee based hero named Dobbin, a miner who utilizes a shovel as his main weapon, and dynamite as secondary weapon. All the heroes in the game have a variety of skills and traits. With the variety of skill sets different heroes possess, pairing different heroes together brings a different dynamic to the gameplay. Currently, there are only 13 playable heroes in game, with two more heroes set to be announced later.

After playing through a full match of Orcs Must Die! Unchained, I wanted to play more. Even though the game doesn’t reinvent the wheel when it comes to tower defense games, it offers a simple and fun experience. It is hard to compare this game to other tower defense games, as it shares common game elements with other games, yet it still manages to feel unique.

Graphically, the game looks sharp and smooth, with very little to no system issues. I didn't have a chance to find out what computer setup we were using, but I am confident that the game won’t require anything crazy to play at max settings. The game offers bright and colorful characters, is full of humor and personality, and it boasts creative and interesting levels.

While I was playing, members of the development team told me that the free to play model doesn’t restrict anything gameplay-wise. In other words, it's not a pay-to-win game. In game purchases will solely be cosmetic.

Currently, Orc Must Die! Unchained is in open beta. So, anyone interested in playing can follow this link to play it now! Open Beta