Legend of Grimrock review

[robc]

Version Reviewed: 1.1.3
What I like: Sense of exploration, many of the puzzles.
Not So Much: Uninspired combat, too much reliance on teleporters & pressure plates, undeveloped rogue class.
Other stuff you may like: Nostalgia factor
The Verdict: B- / good

If you are interested in the full review, it can be found at:
http://www.oneguytoomanygames.com/2012/ ... eview.html

As always, comments or questions are welcome either here or at the review page.

Because I play too much,
One Guy, Too Many Games

[robc]

Thought I would share some interesting info. My Legend of Grimrock review got 100 hits faster than any other review I did. I guess it isn't really a surprise considering the activity on this forum, but I thought I would share.

[robc]

I decided to fire up the original Dungeon Master game that was one of the inspirations for this. It looks very dated as it is from around 1988. I am only on the first real level. The puzzles have been not as numerous and the combat doesn't involve a lot of strafing. I'm not sure how far I will make it as I am making my own map on graph paper like I did in the olden days. I don't have the patience I used to, specially when you run out of room at one of the edges of the graph paper despite my best effort to center the map on the paper.

[robc]

I couldn't handle having to map my own dungeons so I gave up on DM. I don't have the patience for it like I used to. The worst part was running out of room even after starting my map in the middle of the graph paper.

On a side note, after looking at my review scores, I decided I was too hard on some games and increased Legend of Grimrock to a B from a B-. Being new, I was too worried about grade inflation. I think my criticisms within the reviews were ok, just not the final score.

[earthyearth]

good review, thanks for sharing

[Zero]

Based on your comments, it's a B+

Here's why.

When is the last time you picked up a game and it worked? No, really. No futzing around with patches, tweaks, driver conflicts, etc. Maybe I've spent too much time getting Skyrim to work, so I could be jaded, but I absolutely loved the technical aspect of LoG and that it just RAN - and very well at that.

Some of the puzzles are fiendish, not many titles would have that kind of audacity - and the ability to pull it off. It's worth mentioning that LoG is *much* easier than Dungeon Master was, within its depths were some mind-bending puzzles - some of them spanned many levels. LoG is a nice introductory sampler. They did it well without going over the top. In LoG's case, less is better.

As a reboot of sorts, it does an excellent job at introducing a new audience to an old style of gaming. It's not always about the mindless mouse-clicking that CoD kids are doing now. As for the combat in LoG, it can get the heart rate up. My only critique here is that there are WAY too many "life shrines/crystals". Passed level 6 or so, there should only have been 1 more around level 10 or so. That would make dying the real bummer that it is. And fighting could be revamped but given the game mechanics, it won't be easy.

Overall, however, your review is a fair one.

[Ashtray]

I couldn't handle having to map my own dungeons so I gave up on DM. I don't have the patience for it like I used to. The worst part was running out of room even after starting my map in the middle of the graph paper.

You really don't have to map DM, dungeon layout is quite simple. One deeper level may need map, but you can DL all DM maps from net and check them when you ge lost.

[robc]

good review, thanks for sharing

Thank you, I appreciate it.

[robc]

Based on your comments, it's a B+

Here's why.

When is the last time you picked up a game and it worked? No, really. No futzing around with patches, tweaks, driver conflicts, etc. Maybe I've spent too much time getting Skyrim to work, so I could be jaded, but I absolutely loved the technical aspect of LoG and that it just RAN - and very well at that.

Some of the puzzles are fiendish, not many titles would have that kind of audacity - and the ability to pull it off. It's worth mentioning that LoG is *much* easier than Dungeon Master was, within its depths were some mind-bending puzzles - some of them spanned many levels. LoG is a nice introductory sampler. They did it well without going over the top. In LoG's case, less is better.

As a reboot of sorts, it does an excellent job at introducing a new audience to an old style of gaming. It's not always about the mindless mouse-clicking that CoD kids are doing now. As for the combat in LoG, it can get the heart rate up. My only critique here is that there are WAY too many "life shrines/crystals". Passed level 6 or so, there should only have been 1 more around level 10 or so. That would make dying the real bummer that it is. And fighting could be revamped but given the game mechanics, it won't be easy.

Overall, however, your review is a fair one.

I'll stick with a 'B', but I'm glad you thought it was better.

It has been very rare that I had technical issues with any game I've played. I install the patches when they come out for most games just to have the best game available. I didn't have any problems getting Skyrim to work or experience any noticeable issues. Even LoG had some minor issues that they needed to patch.

The puzzles were good and they are the reason the game went up to a B for me. If this game was all about the combat, with its current implementation I wouldn't be interested in it at all. I would argue that the combat was a bunch of mindless mouse clicking (and keyboard side stepping). I'm not sure I would reduce the life crystals, but I think it would be nice if a scoring system were added to reward players who don't need to use the crystals. Get points for killing the monsters, solving puzzles, finding secrets, etc. Take away points for using the crystals, resting and reloading a level more than 3 times (need to let people save and reload when they want to end a gaming session). Maybe there is other scoring criteria as well.

Thank you for sharing your comments. Review scores are based on opinions and your opinion is no less valid then mine. I'm sure there are people out there who would score the game an A and others who would give it a D.

[robc]

I couldn't handle having to map my own dungeons so I gave up on DM. I don't have the patience for it like I used to. The worst part was running out of room even after starting my map in the middle of the graph paper.

You really don't have to map DM, dungeon layout is quite simple. One deeper level may need map, but you can DL all DM maps from net and check them when you ge lost.

That is a good idea. Perhaps I'll download the maps and use them to navigate. I would like to find a set of maps that don't have secrets labeled on them? I only want to use the maps for navigating and keeping track where I've been. Do you know if a set of 'naked' maps out there?