S&S; Reviews: Legend Of Grimrock

Title: Legend Of Grimrock
Format: PC, Mac eventually
Release Date: April 11, 2012
Publisher: Almost Human
Developer:Almost Human
Price: 14.99
ESRB Rating: T
Hey there! Have you ever wanted to slowly crawl through a decrepit dungeon while you barely survive from the attacks of angry animals, beastmen, soldiers, and traps in a King's Field/Dungeon Master game? Yeah? Keep reading.

Presentation/Story/Music:
To better explain, the map is made up of squares, and your movement is locked to just those   pieces. This causes the game to feel stiff, but that’s part of the appeal. Getting cornered means death, so learning the map is important.
Admittedly, this game isn’t the best looking title out, nor does it contain jaw-dropping scenes. The real beauty is in the simplistic environments and focus of the art design. Grimrock has a depressingly "realistic" turn on its rocky corridors, setting the bar high for games who make lackluster and easy-to-leave dungeons.
The game lacks a constant score, but there is no need. Sounds of slicing and spell casting are all that is necessary for a game like this. The only downside are the dull sounds in some areas.

Gameplay
Puzzles are a big part of the game. At first, they are baby level easy. So much that many people will drop the game. Stick with it, because as the game progresses you’ll be whining on the forums for help. I know I was.

Fighting in this game is about waiting for your attacks to return from cooldowns, masterful dodging, and smart planning. Your party of a warrior, a mage, an assassin, and one blank slate can all be customized to whatever class you want to turn them to. The amount of depth is staggering and is not for casual gamers at all.
The regen health feature (which is done by resting) feels like a ‘take that’ towards some modern games which are annoyingly liberal about making sure you win. Hitting the R button lets you gain some HP  back, but at the cost of making your party hungry. Decisions matter here, where other games with the same system forget about that importance. A few glitches hinder the gameplay, and so do a few balance issues, but Grimrock is more than playable. Final Thoughts
The game is aiming for a very, very niche crowd. While the price point is low, there is no middle ground. Either you’ll love this game or hate it, but if you aren’t the latter, you’ll enjoy one of the most hardcore games in this generation. Note:Who doesn’t like more of a good thing? The developer is planning to add randomized rooms, more monsters, spells, weapons, and a level editor. Grimrock is already packed with content, so incoming additions don’t feel like cut portions of the game. Final Score = 10/10 Email: ryan.collins1@loop.colum.edu Twitter: @mspoilersahead