That Time I Got Reincarnated as an Orc

You often wonder if some of these Japanese indie RPG developers hold a council to see just how bizarre they can make their game titles. If it were a competition, That Time I Got Reincarnated as an Orc would win by a long mile. It's right to the point and probably defines the quality of the gameplay by the idea there was more focus on the title.

Regardless of how this game came to fruition, it's worth investigating for the bizarre notion behind it. That Time I Got Reincarnated as an Orc is, well, you probably guessed it - about a man who turns into an orc to save the universe. It's a small-scale top-down RPG that tells a comical story through visual novel graphics. I mean, this could be OK, right?

Did I Ever Tell You About...?

If there's one thing you could immediately take away from this game, it's that orcs don't really make appearances in JRPGs. So it seems a bit of a revelation in itself that the core narrative of That Time I Got Reincarnated as an Orc is based around a convenience store clerk transforming into one. Usually associated with the villain of the game, this time, he will serve as the hero.

Since the game is narrative-focused, we won't go spoiling anything into what happens. However, we'll just highlight that this journey is bizarre - yet strangely intriguing. It is about the only part of the game anyone would find fascinating, considering that the mechanics and presentation seem to be a simple copy-paste of every other top-down JRPG.

The combat system is turn-based, leaving players staring at static lewd characters battle demonic enemies. Animations and visuals leave a lot to be desired. Furthermore, level design seems to be an absolute mess. There isn't a whole lot that's redeeming about the gameplay. The fact that the ideas behind the game are so outlandish is about the only positive.

If you are a cult gamer, That Time I Got Reincarnated as an Orc actually ticks all the boxes as a classic. Should you be more interested in a playable JRPG experience, you won't be very entertained. Kudos to the developers for creating something ridiculous enough to be entertaining, but somehow you don't think that was the intention.

Orcish Bellowing

How would you even describe That Time I Got Reincarnated as an Orc to someone that showed interest? Well, it kind of feels like a poor man's Undertale. Something conjured up under the covers of RPG Maker showcasing the developer's daydreams of turning into an orc and running wild in a lewd universe. All the JRPG bells and whistles included.

Pros:

• A funny narrative that makes players actually want to finish the game
• Gameplay an intriguing clash of visual novel and JRPG

Cons:

• The game feels mechanically broken in nearly every aspect
• The basic approach to level design
• Gameplay generally feels like a mess