Grimvalor is definitely an action-adventure role-playing platformer developed and authored by Direlight. Within this dark Metroidvania, you are taking the function of the warrior investigating the dominion of Vallaris, a kingdom corrupted by its own doing and it is inhabitants turned into abominations. Vallaris was all but lost and forgotten until these abominations started crossing into other lands. Your investigation in to the kingdom of Vallaris goes awry when you are toe foot by having an indomitable foe who tosses you into an abyss upon your defeat.
I’m not really a fan of Metroidvanias due to the exploration and various puzzles, however, Grimvalor could be the first. For all those unfamiliar to Metroidvania style games, you're given a giant map with different areas that you simply explore and you visit each area more than once, solving puzzles and completing objectives. The word is derived from Metroid and Castlevania, two series that are popularly noted for this kind of gameplay. You traverse Grimvalor‘s world in a side-scrolling fashion, jumping on and on down corridors once the need arises. In this game, exploration is everything with not many puzzles to contend with. Early on in Grimvalor, you're because of the tools to adeptly traverse our planet through dashing, double jumping, and dodging. While all easy to do, it’s difficult to master facing many enemies.
Combat is pretty easy. You are able to hack and slash or simply hold the attack button to hand out pain and punishment to your enemies. You have a powerful charge attack you are able to periodically use but to pull off this life-saving maneuver, if you have to have enough Focus. To develop Focus, you have to defeat your enemies and collect Soul Shards.
Combat may be simplistic, however, you are able to equip Trinkets that allow for passive perks in your character. These perks ranges from gaining energy at a crucial moment in a fight or adding an impact to your attacks interior and exterior battle. You are able to further kit out your character to higher your playstyle by leveling up by resting in a shrine. If you have enough Soul Shards, you are able to level up and raise your stats. There are four stats you can choose to focus on Vigor, Savagery, Mastery, and concentrate. Vigor is due to the quantity of life you've and an increase in Vigor means you’re not as likely to become stunned by enemies. Savagery controls your weapon damage and provides the time to stun enemies. Mastery increases your attack speed and provides you the chance to deal critical damage. And, lastly, Focus increases energy gained from Soul Shards and items. This also allows you to gain additional trinket slots.
When in safe areas, known as the Nexus, you are able to rest and level up and forge new weapons and armor. You forge using loot scattered around the world but it’s scarce so it is best to consider your playstyle and just what you need. While carrying a sword and ax may seem the way to go, thus making you seem like a powerhouse, gauntlets as the primary weapon along with a sword as the charge weapon may offer you the mobility you need to get interior and exterior harm’s way.
While gameplay shines, the story lacks. The world of Vallaris is shrouded in mystery and also you reveal what little of the story there is through finding lost texts. The lore that's found is interesting, piecing together the way the world became the way it is, however it stops immediately. This meager lore is simply not enough to help keep me engaged. Besides your own character and exactly how you craft them, the NPC characters are not interesting. The one highlight is a mysterious figure who is pivotal to the game’s plotline. So, what really draws you in, besides gameplay, may be the changing environments and also the game’s ominous soundtrack. Oddly, that’s enough to make Grimvalor work well.
Grimvalor seems like a well-crafted game that’s an excellent entry point for gamers new to the Metroidvania genre. Although the plot is meager, the lore is very interesting as you traverse Grimvalor‘s corrupted world. The game’s soundtrack and everchanging environments sink its fangs into you, keeping you invested. The simplistic gameplay evolves, furthering the “simple to pick up but hard to master” theme for any Metroidvania. Grimvalor has a little something for everybody.
Grimvalor is available now on Nintendo Switch.
