Orcs & Elves II

Orcs & Elves II develops the concept of the first installment - a first-person RPG dungeon crawler set in a dark fantasy world, where the player, as an elf hero, fights through dungeons full of orcs, undead, and other monsters. Compared to the first game, it offers a more elaborate combat system, a wider selection of spells and weapons, and a more branching underground map that needs to be explored and features simple puzzles based on working mechanisms and finding hidden paths. Besides melee combat, the game also offers offensive spells and potions, so the player can build their own playstyle depending on whether they prefer the sword, magic, or a combination of both.

The graphics engine created for the series by studio Fountainhead Entertainment (the makers of both Doom RPG installments) was among the technically most advanced on Java and Symbian phones of the time - textured corridors, dynamic shading, and smooth camera movement looked above-average on small screens. Music and sound effects rounded out the grim atmosphere of the underground adventure, and together with the gradual unlocking of new areas and stronger enemies, kept the player engaged over dozens of play sessions. A compass and a simple map also helped the player avoid getting lost in the branching dungeons, which was essential on a small display with no option to zoom out the view.

Orcs & Elves II confirmed its predecessor's reputation as one of the technically and content-wise most ambitious RPGs for mobile phones before the rise of smartphones. It's still remembered today as proof that even with button controls and resolutions in the tens of pixels, it was possible to build a dense fantasy dungeon crawler with its own identity that holds up even compared to console RPGs of the time. For many players of that era, it was their very first experience with a full-fledged dungeon crawler right in their pocket, and even with the passing years it remains a clear demonstration of how far Fountainhead Entertainment managed to push the mobile RPG genre before the advent of touchscreen phones.

Why play: For fans of fantasy dungeon crawlers who will appreciate a dense world with its own identity that, even with button controls, holds up against console RPGs of the time.