1Jan

Legend Of Grimrock

1 Jan 2000admin
Legend of Grimrock
Developer(s)Almost Human
Publisher(s)Almost Human
Designer(s)Petri Häkkinen
Antti Tiihonen
Programmer(s)Petri Häkkinen
Artist(s)Juho Salila
Writer(s)Petri Häkkinen
Antti Tiihonen
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows, OS X, Linux, iOS
ReleaseMicrosoft WindowsOS X, Linux
  • WW: 19 December 2012
iOS
Genre(s)Action role-playing, dungeon crawl
Mode(s)Single-player

Legend of Grimrock is an action role-playing gamevideo game developed and published by Almost Human. The title is a 3D grid-based, real-time dungeon crawler based on the 1987 game Dungeon Master.[1] It was originally released for Microsoft Windows in April 2012, and later ported for OS X and Linux in December 2012 and iOS in May 2015.[citation needed]

Legend of Grimrock was the debut game of Almost Human, a four-man Finnish indie development team formed in February 2011, which self-financed the title's development.[2] A sequel, Legend of Grimrock II, was released in October 2014.

Gameplay[edit]

An in-game screenshot with the open inventory of a party member

Apr 11, 2012  Legend of Grimrock is a dungeon crawler inspired by old-school classics of the genre, though it still brings its own twists to the game. Browse 118 mods for Legend of Grimrock 2 at Nexus Mods.

Legend of Grimrock is a first-personaction role-playing game with tile-based movement and realtime game mechanics. Players control a party of one to four characters which they move through a 3D rendered grid-based dungeon, a style of gameplay popular in RPG games from the 1990s such as Dungeon Master[3] and Eye of the Beholder, from which Legend of Grimrock draws heavy inspiration.

Gameplay consists of a combination of puzzle solving and combat. Characters within the party gain experience for slaying creatures and beasts within the dungeon, allowing them to increase in level and progress skills which enhance combat abilities and allow the casting of new spells, and equipment is obtained through exploration and solving of puzzles throughout the dungeon. Many of the harder puzzles throughout the game are designed as bonuses, being optional to the progression through the dungeon but granting superior items and equipment for solving them.

In reference to its classic roots, the player has the option to switch on 'old-school mode' when beginning a new game. In this mode the game's map system is deactivated, leaving navigation through the dungeon's grid down to the player alone; this references the 1990s games which Grimrock is based on, which left remembering routes and paths through the dungeon completely down to the player. The game's digital manual contains a printable grid sheet which encourages players to chart their course through the game to this end.

Plot[edit]

Screenshot of Legend of Grimrock showing an altar room

On top of Mount Grimrock, an airship carries a group of prisoners escorted by armed knights. The prisoners, sentenced by 'the court' for crimes against the King, have been sentenced to be thrown into the pit of Mount Grimrock, at which point their crimes will be absolved. However, no prisoner pardoned in this manner has ever returned.

The surge lacrosse tournament. On being sealed within the mountain, the prisoners make their way downwards through the levels of Grimrock Dungeon, guided by a disembodied voice which comes to them in their sleep promising that a way of escape for both it and the party awaits at the bottom of the dungeon. The party also occasionally finds notes from a previous wanderer of the dungeon named Toorum, who aside from offering clues to certain puzzles and hidden stashes of equipment, talks about his experiences of the dungeon's periodic tremors and the dungeon's design seemingly meant to be 'traversed from the top down'.

Eventually the party reaches the bottom level, signposted as 'Prison'. Inside, the source of the voice guides the player to reconstruct a broken machine which will activate a portal out of the dungeon, however upon assembling the parts and repairing it, the voice is revealed to be the machine itself, which manifests as a giant mechanical clockwork cube which attempts to crush the party. Escaping through a portal, the party locates the tomb of the creators of Grimrock Dungeon, who left behind scrolls explaining the dungeon's purpose of containing the machine, which they refer to as 'the Undying One', until 'the gears of time finally come to rest'. The tomb also contains a weapon designed to be used in the event of the Undying One's escape from confinement.

Using the weapon, which temporarily stuns the machine, the party disassemble the parts which they used to repair the Undying One and deal a fatal blow to it using spells of lightning. The Undying One eventually explodes and falls apart, triggering another tremor which shakes the dungeon apart. The last scenes show the party running down a stone hallway of the dungeon, before a beam of pale blue light explodes from Mount Grimrock, ascending to the sky. A gigantic crater is shown to be all that remains of Mount Grimrock, the final fate of the prisoners seemingly unknown.

Development and release[edit]

In 2001 LoG began as Dungeon Master[1]clonehobby project called Dungeon Master 2000 by a former Amigademoscenecoder.[4][5] Later it was renamed Escape from Dragon Mountain and released in its final version in 2004.[6][7] In early 2011 the developers decided to grow the project beyond being a simple clone and started aiming for commercial game quality.[3] The developers used also other games as inspiration for the game, including Eye of the Beholder and Ultima Underworld.[8] The developers established an indie video game company called 'Almost Human' located at Matinkylä, Espoo in Finland.[9] The four founding developers left the Finnish video game industry (Remedy Entertainment, Futuremark[9]) and started working on the game full-time, now named Legend of Grimrock.[10] A forum and development blog was set up and updated frequently.

The game was first released for the Windowsplatform on 11 April 2012 in DRM-free versions on the developer's website and GOG.com, and also a Steam version. On 4 October 2012, with the release of patch 1.3.1, an editor was included which allowed the creation of user generated dungeons & content and led to the development of a vivid moddingcommunity.[11]On 19 December 2012 the game was released as part of the Humble Indie Bundle 7[12] including newly developed ports of the game for Mac OS and Linux. While the Mac and Linux port were released in December 2012,[13] the iOS port did not materialize until May 2015.[14]In 2014 a live-action series, located in the Grimrock universe, from Wayside Creations (the makers of Fallout: Nuka Break) was funded through Kickstarter.[15]

An announced sequel, Legend of Grimrock II, was released on 15 October 2014.

Reception[edit]

Reception
Aggregate scores
AggregatorScore
GameRankings81.50%[16] (PC)
Metacritic82/100[17] (PC)
Review scores
PublicationScore
Edge7/10[1]
Game Informer7.25/10[18]
GameSpy90/100[19]
IGN8.5/10[20]
Inside Gaming80/100[21]

Legend of Grimrock was generally well received by both critics and gamers upon release, garnering an average critic score of 82 from 49 reviews on Metacritic.[17] Reviewers generally praised the game for faithfully recreating the gameplay of old-school action RPGs into the modern era.

GameSpy gave the game a 4.5/5 'Great' rating, saying that 'the best aspect of Grimrock is its puzzles, which have been largely abandoned by RPG developers in this age of Internet hints and walkthroughs.'[19]Destructoid's Patrick Hancock awarded the game a score of 95/100, claiming 'Grimrock takes an old-school feel and injects it seamlessly into the modern era.'[22]Edge said that the game wasn't 'a love letter to Dungeon Master' but 'a near-facsimile', saying that 'Legend Of Grimrock replicates a classic faithfully enough to massage the nostalgia glands of anyone who played the original, and it's a test of the timelessness of an almost universally loved game.'[1]

Some reviewers commented negatively on the game's combat system. Jon Blyth of PC Gamer praised the game's revival of Dungeon Master's classic gameplay, but commented on the 'exploitability' of the enemy AI, as 'any single enemy, no matter how tough, can be dominated by a series of cowardly stab-retreats and sidesteps'.[23] In their 7.25/10 review, Game Informer also stated that while the game's modern presentation of an old-school game format was a 'beautiful marriage', it failed in that 'its lazy monster design encourages the worst kind of tedious, mechanically abusive player behavior, though, which is a grave offense in the world of party-based RPGs.'[18]

In January 2013, Almost Human announced that the game had sold over 600,000 copies.[24] In October 2014, Almost Human announced that the number of sold copies had reached 900,000.[25]

In 2017, the game was selected for a collection of 100 Finnish games, which were presented on the opening of the Finnish Museum of Games in Tampere.[26]

References[edit]

  1. ^ abcdEdge Staff (12 April 2012). 'Legend Of Grimrock review'. Edge. Retrieved 9 May 2012. Legend Of Grimrock isn’t a love letter to Dungeon Master, the 1987 blend of subterranean exploration, survival, switches and traps. It’s a near-facsimile. But that’s not a fact Almost Human is trying to hide; it’s the selling point. Legend Of Grimrock replicates a classic faithfully enough to massage the nostalgia glands of anyone who played the original, and it’s a test of the timelessness of an almost universally loved game.
  2. ^Caoili, Eric (25 April 2012). 'How Legend of Grimrock's dev rolled the dice and won'. Gamasutra. Retrieved 9 May 2012.
  3. ^ abHäkkinen, Petri (16 April 2011). 'Escape from Dragon Mountain'. dungeon-master.com. Retrieved 9 November 2014. [..] a game that we think is no longer a clone but an original game (strongly) inspired by DM.
  4. ^Dungeon-Master.com forum - Escape from Dragon Mountain (2001)
  5. ^Internet Archive - dm2k (2002)
  6. ^Internet Archive - Escape from Dragon Mountain
  7. ^Dungeon Master Encyclopedia - Escape from Dragon Mountain
  8. ^'Legend of Grimrock - Welcome!'. 30 June 2011. Retrieved 5 December 2012.
  9. ^ abhttp://www.grimrock.net/2011/07/14/the-almost-human-team/
  10. ^Announcement by PetriH 'Ok, time to reveal some secrets.. We have started an indie game company and we're now working on this full time (4 devs).[..] at http://www.grimrock.net/'(30-Jun-2011)
  11. ^Dungeon Editor Released + Special Sale
  12. ^Humble Bundle 7 includes Dungeon Defenders, Legend of Grimrock on techspot
  13. ^Tiihonen, Antti (22 September 2011). 'Our release plans'. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  14. ^http://www.grimrock.net/2015/05/07/legend-of-grimrock-ipad-launches-in-app-stores-worldwide/
  15. ^'Legend of Grimrock: The Series'. Kickstarter. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  16. ^'GameRankings: Legend of Grimrock (PC)'. GameRankings. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  17. ^ ab'Metacritic: Legend of Grimrock (PC)'. Metacritic. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
  18. ^ abBiessener, Adam (4 April 2012). 'Old And New Meet With Mixed Results - Legend of Grimrock'. Game Informer. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  19. ^ abWilson, Jason (4 April 2012). 'Legend of Grimrock Review'. GameSpy. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  20. ^Meunier, Nathan (9 April 2012). 'Legend of Grimrock Review'. IGN. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  21. ^Jasicki, Jason (22 April 2012). 'Legend of Grimrock Review'. IGN. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  22. ^Devore, Jordan (4 December 2012). 'Review: Legend of Grimrock'. Destructoid. Retrieved 5 December 2012.
  23. ^Blyth, Jon (17 April 2012). 'Legend of Grimrock review'. PC Gamer. Retrieved 5 December 2012.
  24. ^'Recap 2012, Hello 2013! » Legend of Grimrock'. Grimrock.net. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
  25. ^'News: Legend of Grimrock Sold 900,000 Copies'. gamershell.com. 2 October 2014. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  26. ^Muistatko vielä nämä suomalaiset klassikkopelit? Nämä 100 pääsevät Tampereen pelimuseoon on Aamulehti (15.12.2016)

External links[edit]

  • Legend of Grimrock at MobyGames
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Legend of Grimrock.
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Legend_of_Grimrock&oldid=864477890'

This level is a walk in the park compared to the previous one. You will have to face some demanding enemies here, but they're not all that dangerous this far into the game. The puzzles are less frustrating as well, through still interesting. A moment of relief after being imprisoned on level 6.

You begin the adventure in the Chambers inside corridors with multiple Slimes. Inside the first room (opened with a nearby button) you will find Toorum's Note, hidden beneath a cloth on the ground. There's also a secret here, more on which can be found below (3).

Some more Slimes, a Grim Cap and an alchemy herb.

In order to open this alcove, you will have to complete a very easy activity, i.e. open all the doors in rooms (1) and (2), apart from the southern ones in (2). Inside the alcove you will find the Ring Greaves, Throwing Knives and a Battle Axe.

The northern part of the tunnel is collapsed, so the only possible way is through the door into the western chamber. Here you will find the Maze of Shadows - an easy puzzle with quite a bit of prizes to collect. In order to get through this labyrinth, you will have to move only along the unlit squares, avoiding the light of the torch. I won't draw the track, as you shouldn't have problems with such an easy puzzle this far in the game. Just remember that entering the light takes you back to the entrance door.

Inside the niches in this labyrinth you will find two Slime Bells) used at alchemy.

The Scroll of Darkness can be found here - it's a spell opposite to Light.

On this pillar you can find the Hardstone Bracelet. Right beside, by the northern wall you should also find Toorum's Note regarding this part of the underground.

In this (seemingly) dead end you will find a Wooden Box with a big supply of food inside. There's also a hidden button here which will let you reach a double secret.

Press the button in the wall at (7) and the wall will raise, giving you access to a portal (marked with green) which will take you to a secret room with Herders. After killing them, search the room for Throwing Axes, Crossbow Quarrels and food.

On one of the walls you will also find a stone with a carved rune. Press it and another wall will raise, behind which you can find some Frost Bombs.

This room is the official target of your trip through the 'shadows'. The grate, controlled by the nearby lever, will let you use this nook as a safe spot should you need to run away from the further corridors.

This area is swarming with Uggardians, additionally it's rather narrow and therefore it's hard to avoid their fireballs. It's best to lure them to point (9) and eliminate one at a time there. Jump into the trap door here to reach a secret containing the Bracelet of Tirin. The nearby portal will take you back upstairs.

In order to reach the room behind the door you will have to firstly stand on the pressure plate in the adjoining room. After doing so, immediately return to the door and kill the Slime there. Be quick, as inside the room with the plate the walls have opened and let out more Slimes. After killing all of them, collect the Iron Key found behind the open door and search the neighbouring room for the Diviner's Cloak.

Use the Iron Key you have found on the lock here and the trap door blocking your way will lock, giving you access to the next puzzle.

Inside this corridor and on the other side of the trap door you will see two demon heads which, as you have probably guessed, spit projectiles. Beside the grate you should see a metal button and a 'socket' for the projectiles mentioned above. The second socket is on the other side of the grate. There's also an open trap door there.

In order to open the grate and close the trap door, you will have to proceed as follows: press the metal button, quickly make space for the incoming projectile by heading towards the trap door (10) and immediately jump back onto the square with the button right after the grate opens. This way the second projectile will close the trap door.

Here you're in for some more Slimes. Beside the pillar in the corner of the room there's a Throwing Axe.

Here you can find the Crystal of Life and an interesting item lying nearby - the Fire Torc.

Inside the first room you will have to solve an easy puzzle using the demon head, socket and of course a light projectile.

You will find two pressure plates here. The first one opens the grate and the second shoots a projectile from the demon head. Stand on the first one and wait for the gate to open completely, quickly stand on the plate below the grate and immediately return onto the previous one. As the projectiles hits the socket, two more rooms will open and you will be attacked by Uggardians.

Inside the room behind the grate you will find a rare treat for the Mage - the Shaman Staff and Scroll of Invisibility lying below the demon head. The second room hides another Toorum's Note and a lever opening the wooden door leading to the corridor beside point (14).

Inside the room with two portals and trap doors. Jump down and you will find yourself in a peculiar, though dangerous room, the floor of which is almost completely filled with pressure plates. Each place releases a poisonous projectile from the demon head found on the other side of the room. Move carefully through the plates so that you're not killed before reaching the other side of the room. There you will find the Boots of Valor (part of a set).

Beside the demon heads you will find a lever which frees Spiders and Crabs from behind the grate in the spot where you landed. Defeat them, search the alcoves from which they headed out in search of food and use the portal to return upstairs.

A portal which takes you to the other side of the room, to point (19).

A portal which takes you to point (20).

Inside the alcove in the northern wall of this room there's a bag containing some alchemy ingredients. Use the portal to return to point (19).

Here you can find a rather easy secret. On the walls there are five levers which need to be arranged in the below order:

1 - up

2 - however

3 - down

4 - however

5 - down

Placing levers 1, 3 and 5 in the right position will be confirmed by a click. After you set them all correctly, you will be able to take the Assassin's Dagger - a great weapon for the Rogue.

Inside this room you will find an easy puzzle, which however requires good reflex. The floor here is entirely made from trap doors which keep closing and opening because of the demon head which spits projectiles into the socket on the other side.

In order to cross this room to the other side and open the door, you will have to head into the middle of the room when the trap doors close and therefore block the path of the projectile. Approach the projectile socket and while looking at it, move left at the right moment, press the button on the wall and immediately move right. Uggardians will fly into the room, so it would be best to retreat to the starting point at (21) and kill them there, without having to worry about the trap doors.

After dealing with the enemies, return to the room with the trap doors and once again block the projectile with your own body. Turn around towards the corridor which you used to come here and to the left of the entrance you will find a not-so-secret secret - a shelf with the Bracer of Fortitude. Stand beside the socket and while looking towards the item, quickly run to grab it at the right moment and immediately return afterwards.

If you want, you can also fall down through the trap doors - below there's an Ogre, which however shouldn't be too much of a threat at this stage of the game, yet still provide some experience points for your party. Inside this basement you will also find a Heavy Shield, a Milkreed and a Crossbow Quarrel. You can use the stairs to head back up.

At this spot you will find a very good, heavy weapon - the Flail. First however you will have to defeat a Tentacle and an Uggardian.

Nearby the room with the Flail you will find a runic stone on the wall. Press it and quickly run south through the corridor to reach a room with a staircase. It leads to a secret part of the lower level - the Dismantler's Vault, inside which one of the most powerful weapons in the game can be found.

On the shelf beside the stairs there's another Skull, one of five which you can find. Of course give it to your Minotaur.

In the end there's still the Iron Door, opening which requires some reflex and dexterity.

Once you enter the room, the demon heads on the other side will start spitting light projectiles. If whichever reaches its socket, you will be immediately taken back to the door and will have to start from the beginning. Face the demon statues and block the incoming projectiles with your own body and keep in mind that they will gradually gain speed. When the statues finally stop, the Iron Door will open, granting you with the Chitin Boots (last part of the set!) and the Scroll of Enchant Fire Arrow.

Stairs leading to level 6.

Stairs leading to level 8.

Stairs leading to the basement below the room at point (22).

Stairs to the secret part of level 8.