I don’t know why I completely failed to mention the first game, because it was absolutely amazing in every way, but Orcs Must Die! 2 is even better.

If I had to classify what kind of game OMD is, it would be best described as a “Tower Defense” game, but that would still be something of a misnomer, if only due to how unique the game is.

You are a War Mage, and bloodthirsty Orcs are trying to escape into your work through a rift and it is up to you (and possibly a partner) to stop them.

In addition to third-person control of your character an a wide array of melee and ranged weapons to choose from, your mainstay defense is a cornucopia of different devices and traps which automatically slaughter anything that passes near, over, or underneath. This is the “Tower Defense” aspect of the game.

You collect Skulls based on your performance, and spend them to upgrade your weapons and traps, this system has improved immensely in the sequel as well; which isn’t to say the original setup was bad. I am just having a blast with it, and I logged more time on OMD1 in the first month and a half of it’s release than I’d played Team Fortress 2 since it’s release. I don’t do that with many games anymore, I just can’t.

The controls are smooth, the graphics are amazing, the gameplay is outstanding, the challenge is spot-on, and the story is charming and funny. This game is an all-around 5 Star offering for me. And at only $15 on Steam, it’s a bargain.

If I could change one thing about it, I wish the penalties for accidentally walking off a ledge into lava were less severe (it is pretty much automatic deduction of 2/5 skulls for the level, if you otherwise had a perfect round) or just that it weren’t so easy to walk off of ledges like that when trying to mow down the last few orcs with your boomstick. Being that is all that I have to complain about, I can’t wait for Orcs Must Die 3, and I’m not even finished with 2 yet.

I highly recommend getting this game (the first one is ten bucks on Steam too)

Get them. Love them.