Whilst there are a handful of pros with this version bringing updated graphics, some quality of life changes such as global jobs pool it also finds itself lacking in both features and bugs which really detract from the enjoyment. One example being animals roaming the map - not a single thing you can do about them, randomly kill walkers which given walkers is a massive part of the game leads to frustration. The irony is you could deal with them in the original and the in game tooltip clearly lifted from the original even references this! Stick to the original and maybe relook when it goes on a sale after some serious patching.
Overall I really enjoyed the game and was satisfied with the purchase. The most stand out aspect which I'm sure people grasp from the outset is the graphics style. Whilst pixel/retro has been done a million times in recent years there is something so in depth and so detailed to this that I've stopped myself and taken time to really appreciate the way it's put together. The soundtrack suits the game well and is well varied and adds to the overall experience in a positive way matching areas to themes that help with setting the tone. Gameplay is quite varied, along with your own main character that you control you also have several friends join you along the way each with their own skill that helps you navigate areas, solve puzzles and locate secrets. This also allows you to take on the various enemies you'll find as your character can't tackle them alone. The combat is pretty basic but for a platformer it all made complete sense and served the game well not to over complicate and slow down the pacing. In addition there were a few stealth sections which whilst normally are the bane of my gaming life were made enjoyable given the novel way they were handled and how well it fit to the games aesthetic. The story I enjoyed and was competent - I would say some elements were a little wooly but the characters and some of the heartwarming moments they came up with more than made up for it. One of the minor points I found that let it down were the controls, when using a controller it could be very temperamental between just wanting to jump and activating flight - experience may vary particularly if using PC controls. Frustrating on some of the end sections but generally speaking didn't detract from the overall experience. Worth a purchase? Absolutely!
I bought the game on release, and seeing as it's come up on sale wanted to add a review from my perspective. Overall I was very happy with the game, the aesthetic was one of the major selling points along with the rogue-like aspects which meant I dived into the purchase. I enjoyed the gameplay elements of scavenging and that you were basically weak and meant to avoid trouble at nights, wander in to a place with armed and dangerous people then you will get gunned down. Only one character I found was able to hold their own due to their background so depending which survivors you find or start with will determine your chances. With the randomized elements of the war you never have a clear set goal, you could have a long harsh winter or an early ceasefire, you just survive for as long as you can and hope you make it through to the end. It's important to note that if random isn't your thing then thanks to good post-launch support you can now make your own survivors, create your own scenario or even just choose who to start with which adds some good replay value. It's not without it's flaws though. Shortly after launch there was a bug that messed up trading prices which ruined my first run as before I realised it I had way too much food/meds thanks to the trade glitch and made the first run easy, and a win. I'd have liked to have lost a few times first but these days the bugs have been fixed. I also found there were a few events out into scavenging areas but very few, avoiding spoilers I'd have liked to have seen more occur and more consequences to these set pieces. TL;DR Overall a very solid game, good mechanics and art style. Post-launch support adding replay value and definitely worth your money, especially on sale.
First things first, if you enjoyed the original Legend of Grimrock then you should buy this up immediately though I don't fans of the original will be sat on the fence! Overall the game is a very polished experience. The visuals are absolutely gorgeous and if any undecided folks are concerned about the original's lack of alternate visuals and areas you're concerns are well and truly answered in this. The scenery is beautiful and takes you through a wealth of areas, from a muted cemetery to a fungal cavern there is vastly more diversity than the original and does the game credit in creating a more expansive open feeling whilst still the satisfaction of exploration. Gameplay is largely unchanged, however there are now increased class options, skills, weapons etc so whilst the core hasn't changed there is a lot of new items and some old familiars to keep the game fresh for veteran Grimrock players. All in all, considering the price and the polish that this game offers I'd recommend any dungeon crawling fans and anyone sitting on the fence to dive in and pick this game up. Have binged on it for the last few days and enjoyed every moment!
