If you have ever been a fan of titles such as the Wizardry series, Might & Magic, Eye of the Beholder, then you owe it to yourself to buy Grimoire: Heralds of the Winged Exemplar. While many games that are released in this modern age attempt to emulate that old school feel there is none that does so as well as Grimoire which happily keeps itself firmly rooted in an era that has (unfortunately) passed by. Perhaps the most stunning achievement for those lovers of the classics is that it is not difficult to imagine Grimoire occupying shelf space right next to them and not being out of place. The gameplay is deep and engaging, there are many races that can become many classes and at a certain level threshold can choose to multi class. The races and classes require attention, though, as there are bonuses and conflicts depending on what you select. A Vamphyr for example boasts an extremely notable resistance to magic, but during daylight hours their stats are hit with a 50% penalty. Drakes have lethal unarmed attacks due to their talons while Giants require special gear to really maximize their potential. Some of these races also come with special abilities such as Charm Person or Firebreath, in addition to their selected class skills. Speaking of the classes, you will notice on character creation that some of them appear to be locked away. That is because these are seen as specialized or prestige classes. At Level 4 you may opt to dive into this system and tune your party to greater specifics. A Thief can become a deadly Assassin or perhaps a swashbuckling Pirate. The combinations for a party are expansive granting the player a plethora of customization when it comes to dealing with the dangers and trials that Grimoire has lying in wait. Mysterious yet tastefully humorous, well-written, challenging, and carrying a sense of awe in its elegant presentation, Grimoire: Heralds of the Winged Exemplar is a herculean passion project that deserves its praise.
