...unless you are craving for more Blackguards. This is a worthwhile but small add-on that provides a few new missions that integrate seamlessly into the game map. Most of these are somewhat demanding so they are probably meant to be played late in the game (completed them before the final chapter without any issues). The basic game doesn't feel incomplete without this so it's not essential, but if you like me also enjoyed Blackguards, this add-on will add a couple extra hours to an already lengthy campaign.
Dragonfall is essentially the game Shadowrun Returns couldn't deliver through the Dead Man's Switch campaign. This "expansion pack" is longer, wider, deeper, and makes much better use of the Shadowrun lore, mixing in elements of high fantasy with futurism in a typical cyberpunk setting. If you were disappointed by the original campaign, give this a chance. Ironically it is the better game, and a great cRPG game on its own. Unlike many mainstream games, this one actually features interesting and intelligent choices with visible consequences, a good, engaging narrative and many opportunities to interact with the world in ways unique to our character build. Well recommended by a traditional cRPG fan!
This game is not only very entertaining, engaging and challenging, it is also proof that 2D graphical adventures can be excellent computer games. In the best style of classical adventures from the 90's, such as the fondly remembered LucasFilm Games, LucasArts and Sierra adventures, this one puts us in the shoes of an unexpected hero-to-be, who discovers by mere chance a scheme of gigantic proportions and finds himself in the line of fire. Compromising his personal goals he ends up interfering with this plan, and along the way he meets a plethora of wacky characters, uses a wide range of crazy devices, and visits multiple wild locations. Puzzles come in varied forms and shapes, but they seem to be a little unbalanced. Some are very easy, while others require you to infer everything, including goals, rules and outcomes. I can imagine this might annoy some newcomers to the genre, but I find it an interesting approach to problem-solving. It's a META-puzzle! You first have to solve the puzzle of how the puzzle works :p I recommend this game to anyone interested in story-telling, problem solving and wacky puzzles, characters and locations. The artwork is very elaborate and aesthetically pleasing, and there is lots of humor (especially some dark German style humor!). And for classical adventure fans, this is definitely worth playing.
I am a fan of the tactical kind of computer RPG's, and never was particularly attracted to dungeon crawling except for a few exceptions. Occasionally I play games like Rogue and Nethack when I'm bored and have a Linux laptop in front of me. Legend of Grimrock is essentially that: a seemingly old-school dungeon crawler with First Person Perspective, that relies on exploration, puzzle solving, intense combat and rune-based magic. Classics like Eye of the Beholder and Ultima Underworld are usually mentioned but Grimrock is a different thing: it is not a modern classic, but it is a good try. I won't go into detail of how it plays, there are plenty others talking about that. Suffice to say, it IS actually a fun indie game with an interesting concept, and I would LOVE to see more games like this, but it is not quite the perfect revival of old-school dungeon crawlers that people claim. First of all, puzzles range from the obvious to the absurd, crossing through the trial-and-error territory often. Second, while combat IS entertaining and particularly challenging, it gets repetitive as the game system encourages you to use cheap tactics to defeat single boss-like enemies, which are slow and hit hard. Not using these cheap tactics is like jumping into a meat grinder, and using them reveals the dullness of a seemingly clever battle system. It just didn't turn out the way it could have. Exploration, however, is very engaging. There are only three general types of dungeons so the entire game looks and feels the same, but discovering new rooms, creatures and searching for secret passages is actually entertaining. The game succeeds at progressively generating an exciting atmosphere, mostly through the use of notes scattered around the dungeon since there is no dialogue. There are several interludes on which your team is talked to by an unknown strange presence, which you will get to meet in the final levels. There is also a parallel story about a former dungeon survivor who managed to get down below, all by himself, and is willing to share his knowledge with other travelers. These things add dimension to an otherwise flat imprisonment. Sadly, the modest amount of anticipation that the game does manage to create is torn to pieces upon reaching the last level and discovering what *really* lies beneath. The general concept of the game is exciting, and its ramifications are FANTASTIC (mechanical devices mixed with magic and ancient temples), but it is brought to a premature, disappointing end. This is a good game overall. It kept me hooked for the 10 or 15 hours it lasted, but sadly the very creative concept wasn't properly executed. There is more to this game than just the main "campaign", though. It includes a level editor so you can create your own adventures and play modules created by others. In other words, Legend of Grimrock might be an engine to tell different, better dungeon-crawling tales. So don't expect a new classic. This is simply a good idea with a promising concept. I hope the developers will not be discouraged by some harsh critics and release a sequel where they actually put some effort into narrative and character development. If you like exploration, hard hitting foes, secret passages, rune-based magic, dark ancient dungeons, fantasy archetype characters (fighter, rogue, mage), and the things that come with them, then play this game. It IS very entertaining.
