Orphen: Scion of Sorcery

• Platform:    PlayStation2, No Operating System
• ELSPA Minimum Age: 11
• Media: Video Game

As Orphen--it's his name apparently, rather than Frank or even Martin--it's your job to explore the intricate in-game world, ably assisted by a couple of companions and a handful of other characters which can be picked up along the way, in a typical large-scale Japanese tale of myth, magic and huge monsters.

Eschewing the combat system so beloved of RPG-ers everywhere, Orphen has opted for a simple and very playable control system involving only the symbol buttons on the PS2 controller. These can be assigned to suit, giving the player access to a subset of the huge range of spells and weapons available throughout the game.

Picking the game is easy enough thanks to a comprehensive tutorial system, thoughtfully built in by the game producers (big thumbs up for this, as it gives far more information than the user manuals ever do).

Gameplay is interesting to say the least and provides some irritations, which may put off the less than dedicated player. The CGI movies, marvellous though they are, are a little stilted and in places totally disjointed, with no way of skipping them through judicious use of the X key.

Whilst not everyone's cup of tea, Orphen is an interesting and intriguing game which, while being far from perfect, is an enjoyable romp which will cheerfully pass a good many hours.--James Gordon

Product Description
Orphen is the stunningly beautiful, action adventure featuring traditional RPG elements such as character "parties". With intelligently designed, event-based puzzles and battles, the mysteries that haunt Chaos Island unfold only as a direct result of the player's actions.

Multiple Playable Characters Play as Orphen and three other event-based characters along your travels. Gain control of your party members as you progress. Add one of several additional characters to your party at the beginning of the game and trigger multiple storylines.

Mysterious Action-Adventure Join your party of unlikely allies as you run, climb and jump through underground caverns, giant castles, ice mountains and dark forests. Solve hundreds of action-based puzzles and collect "crystal eggs" to escape the mysterious Chaos Island.

Event-Based RPG Battles Master 60 attacks, including spells and weapons, as you confront 30 types of mysteriously maniacal monsters. Trigger over 100 event-based encounters, and overcome the unique attack powers of nine terrifying bosses within distinct island environments.

Vast Cinematic World Witness an immense, mystical world of beautifully texture-mapped 3-D indoor and outdoor environments, featuring real-time light sourcing, shadows and environmental effects. Immerse yourself deeper into the story via cinematic anime cut-scenes.

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• PC & Video Games > Games > Role Playing