Fantasy-themed real-time technique coated in traditional Vanillaware attraction.
Initially launched on PS2, GrimGrimoire is a real-time technique (RTS) sport from Vanillaware, the makers of Dragon’s Crown and 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim, and Nippon Ichi Software program (NIS), the makers of the Disgaea collection. The OnceMore re-release options remastered graphics that genuinely elevate the already charming storybook look Vanillaware has change into well-known for, along with a brand new ability tree and revamped person interface. Throughout a couple of dozen missions, you’ll information a younger magician in coaching as she tries to uncover the mysteries of the Silver Star Tower the place she is finding out. Even when the narrative is usually a bit tough to comply with at instances, the controls of this console RTS are strong and the gameplay loop provides a satisfying fantasy-focused tackle the style.
You play as Lillet Blan, a youthful and plucky lady decked out in conventional mage apparel. Throughout her first days at her new faculty, she meets a wide range of professors whose classes train you the ins and outs of GrimGrimoire’s gameplay. Ranges are represented by books on a bookshelf, with cutscenes and particular person missions separated into totally different colours; 25 trial phases have their very own row on the shelf, however these aren’t required to see the primary story by means of. Sturdy voice appearing and writing buoy the narrative components of the expertise, however it may be straightforward to get a bit misplaced by all of the quirky names thrown at you from the hop.
Whereas the 2D nature of GrimGrimoire’s real-time technique can provide the impression that the gameplay is perhaps pretty easy, the number of models and talents to coach and grasp make sure that nearly each stage is a enjoyable problem. Items are summoned from runes, which operate like portals that may be upgraded to provide extra models and strengthen them. The 12 varieties of runes are divided into 4 magical classes comparable to Glamour, which may summon elves, fairies, and unicorns. In most phases, you’ll begin out with only one or two runes and a handful of models from their respective households, however you may construct further runes to actually range up your forces. In fact, nothing is free; each unit, rune, and improve prices mana, which it is advisable harvest from crystals by sending your employee models there and reworking the crystal into a kind of mine. The RTS trappings are pretty simple, and anybody who’s performed one will doubtless decide up the mechanics rapidly. The addition of Grand Magic spells to OnceMore let you carry out spells that conjure up flames to break a large space and even rewind time, however use of this capability is restricted.
Most missions activity you with both destroying your entire opponents runes or surviving for a set period of time. By holding ZR, you may fast-forward time, and the pace of this operate may even be adjusted within the sport’s settings. From the outset, there are three problem modes–straightforward, medium, and onerous–and you’ll select which mode you want earlier than every mission. Finishing the sport unlocks a fourth much more difficult problem. Sure ability tree perks are solely obtainable at a particular problem setting.
The ability tree is among the most blatant additions to the OnceMore model; it permits you to spend cash earned through missions on upgrades to your models and their related rune. For example, for the Hades Gate rune of the Necromancy department, you may improve the ghost and phantom models to spice up their assault and pace, decrease their mana price, and even grant them new skills. The perfect a part of the ability tree is that bought upgrades could be refunded, so you may mess around with totally different loadouts and take again cash to make use of on whichever runes you like. The presentation of those screens may very well be a bit clearer and the font enlarged, however the way in which through which you should utilize the non-compulsory trial phases to earn extra cash and unlock extra upgrades does lots to make GrimGrimoire a extra player-friendly expertise.
Whereas the hand-drawn visuals actually shine when it comes to the cutscenes and character/creature designs, the phases themselves find yourself being a letdown as compared. Though the layouts can change barely, each stage mainly seems to be the identical, with the identical staircases, black background, and pillars. That there are such a lot of totally different enemies to cope with provides selection to the gameplay itself, however the enjoying subject might definitely use some variety as properly.
GrimGrimoire OnceMore (with feeling) is a textbook instance of find out how to retain an pleasant expertise and modernize it for a recent viewers. The whimsical characters and artwork shine in HD, and the RTS gameplay holds up properly on Swap. The phases do get a bit repetitive as you make your method by means of the primary story, however there’s greater than sufficient meat on these bones to justify a purchase order for followers of Vanillaware’s earlier works or anybody on the lookout for a satisfying RTS with a fantasy coat of paint.
