Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap, huh? This game’s the latest in the series from Robot Entertainment, now with that nifty roguelite twist everyone’s buzzing about. It’s got that unpredictable vibe — you go in, and boom! You have no clue what orcs or monsters you’re up against. Everything’s all randomized, from crazy buffs and debuffs in battle to weather that shakes things up. It’s kind of like life, I guess. One minute you’re chillin’, next minute there’s a blizzard. Anyway, it’s all about being good at smashing those orcs or being lucky enough not to get smashed yourself.
The castle hub? That’s your chill spot. Improve your War Mage, upgrade those weapons, and set some gnarly traps. Oh, and co-op’s a thing too. Grab some friends—PlayStation Plus required, sorry not sorry—and dive into co-op chaos. You can explore bigger maps and use all sorts of combat tricks. I played Orcs Must Die! 3 before, so naturally, I got sucked into this too. More chaos, more fun—what can I say?
Now, here’s the gameplay: It’s a third-person view, right? You’re moving around with that left stick, aiming with the right. It’s all about using the left stick to sprint in and out of action. Things get intense as you zoom in to aim better. Imagine trying to save the Rift from all these monster waves… Jumping around like a caffeinated squirrel helps, thanks to the trusty X button.
Okay, let’s talk War Mages. Each one’s got its quirks. Like, Vaan! He’s got this crossbow, fires like a maniac, and his Rift Protection Overdrive can temporarily shield the Rift. Can’t forget his Charge Beam, though. Slows enemies, and it’s powerful. He’s also got a double jump. Handy, right?
Wren’s another character. Destined to heal, chose destruction — classic. Her wand’s got some power, and she can Blink—teleport in a flash! Plus, her Mirror Images Overdrive is insane. Summoning clones to amplify damage feels like pulling a fast one on your opponents.
War Mage life involves getting your hands dirty with traps. From the Orc Eater plant trap (yep, you heard right) to saws and poisonous flowers — it’s all crafty. Speaking of crafty, Vaan’s Rift Orb boosts trap damage. Nice little trick to pack a punch. And Skulls—those are your currency. Use them to unlock more traps or upgrade the ones you have.
Elixirs? Oh, you can buy those with Skulls. They’re one-time use, so choose wisely. Anti-Death Elixir saves Rift points when you die (handy!), while the Poison Elixir doubles poison damage. Decisions, decisions.
Weaver of Will’s where you spend Skulls on Threads, boosting your perks. Need stronger crossbows or cheaper traps? Threads got you. They’re game-changers, like giving Vaan more crit damage. Quests unlock more Threads too, keeping you on your toes.
Trophies are a thing for go-getters. Orc slayers, chest openers, trap masters—there’s a Platinum trophy if you hit all targets. Pretty satisfying if you’re into ticking off achievements.
So, all this chaos bundled into a $29.99 package on PlayStation 5. Want more? There’s a Supporters Pack for $9.99 adding skins and weapon designs.
That’s the gist! Wild ride, tons of orcs to obliterate, and I’m down for the grind. Wonder if they ever take offense to the whole ‘orc genocide’ thing? I’d ask, but they’re too busy trying to pummel me.
Disclaimer: Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap review based on a PlayStation 5 copy from Robot Entertainment.
