App Army Assembles - Could Grimvalor be a GOTY contender?

Finally, a game after my own heart. While the graphics and character animation are console-quality refined and smooth, it's the ambiance and environment of the game that makes it so engaging. Dark and brooding, you remain enchanted in the world they present, captivating the player so they want to explore and advance.

The controls are simplified so that anyone from a novice to an advanced player can jump right into the action. I appreciate the attack button that automatically switches to the action button when the scene calls for it, and how it upgrades to a more advanced, but still easy-to-use, attack button for a more powerful attack.

Reminiscent of platform games of before, the long and double jump methods are intuitive. But I do appreciate the ability to continuously attack just by holding down the attack button, instead of mashing it. The dodge button adds a nice layer to the defense and attack a la combo style.

Thank you for making a game that's not only played left-to-right. Being able to explore and continue in all directions make the game more appealing because it adds the sense of openness instead of being linear, even if it technically is.

The story is sprinkled across the game, which doesn't seem to take away from the action, but also seems a bit forgettable. It's a tough balance, but if you just want to get into the game, then you should have no complaints.

The music could be a bit more exciting, especially when critical gameplay happens, instead of just complementing the atmosphere. Many times, the music seems to go quiet, so all you're left with is the sound effects.

Overall, Grimvalor is a steal at $5.99 without any in-app purchases. At 700MB, it's not overly huge for a quality game, either. Thanks for a great addition to my library.

So far I think this game is awesome. The graphics are really good and it looks and runs great on my iPhone 7. The controls are well placed so not to interfere with the gameplay.

I'm waiting to hit the point where the map function works though.

If I had the authority to give out awards for achievements in the mobile gaming industry, for the time being Grimvalor would certainly snatch the title "Discovery of Year 2018".

I am not really into action-packed hack-and-slash adventures, especially after a rather uninspiring experience playing the universally lauded Bastion. However, after less than half an hour into Grimvalor, I was hooked by its grim atmosphere, polished controls, stylish presentation, and gripping narrative.

Despite boasting fairly stellar graphics, the game runs very smoothly on my 5-year old iPad Air, which is not always the case with state-of-the-art iOS games. I could write up a whole essay about all the pros of this title, but I do not want to spoil any details for you should you decide to pick it up.

And you should definitely check Grimvalor out, if you are a fan of premium well-done mobile games giving you a lot of bang for your buck. For now I am bowing out, grabbing my blood-caked axe and venturing into the dark world of abominable monstrosities, because for the first time in a long while I am feeling like a hero.

A perfect blend of everything that makes a traditional console and mobile platforming experience great. Enough character customization to make them your own without getting lost in stats menus.

A difficulty that ramps up but doesn't cripple you when you inevitably die over and over again. And a robust save/mapping system that allows you to play for hours or in bite sized chunks without getting lost in the enormity of it all.

An easy game to recommend to all platform lovers looking for a solid playing experience.

I'm not usually that much into platform games, but I must admit I was pleasantly surprised by Grimvalor. With its dark fantasy theme and brutal difficulty it's clearly inspired by the Dark Souls series, but it never feels like a rip-off.

It's a hack-and-slash action-platformer with some RPG elements, like levelling up your character and finding new weapons and trinkets that boost your stats.

You play as a lone warrior trying to find your kingdom's lost king in a land overrun by all kinds of monsters. Combat is mostly about finding your opponents' attack patterns and avoiding them while trying to hit them yourself. This is easier said than done though as a few hits, especially from the bigger monsters, are enough to kill you and send you all the way back to your last save point.

After that, all enemies respawn and you get another try. At least you get to keep earned experience and items so you get that feeling that you made some progress and it was not all for nothing.

The graphics are beautiful and so are the sound effects. The touch controls work surprisingly qwll and give you a variety of functions without taking up much of the screen. Overall a high quality premium game with no IAPs. A must buy for fans of hack and slash action games.

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Grimvalor is a well polished, highly enjoyable, side-scrolling hack'n'slash game that's a joy to play on touchscreen.

After a brief introductory level you're thrown into the thick of it and the real fun begins. Jump, dash, roll, collect souls, level up, obtain items, weapons and fight your way through endless hoards of monsters, what's not to love?

The graphics are impressive and smooth, SFX and the music are well done but I feel a special shout out should go to the impressively simple, responsive controls.

It's obvious some thought has gone into these, the layout is almost perfect and the contextual nature of the buttons means you're not overwhelmed frantically tapping the screen in the midst of combat.

Highly recommended to anyone really.

The game reminds me of Castlevania on the 3DS. It looks like it is more hack-and-slash over exploration. Controls are great and responsive - I usually find iOS inputs to be difficult to use in hectic situations and it can let games like this become frustrating and frankly unplayable.

This is not the case - here the game and its combat are designed in a way so as not to be too twitchy. You have a nice roll to get out of enemy attacks and when they attack they are well paced out and you have visual cues. That is not to say the game is easy, it's not at all - you will die and it will be your fault, not the games'.

Speaking of controls, they are mapped nicely. You have left/right directions on the left of the screen and attack, jump, and dash. Your character can do a lot with the little amount of input you have, such as double jump, high jump, tiny jump (to avoid spikes), jump dash, run up walls, and so on.

You get the obligatory upgraded attacks, the input for which is well thought out.

Graphics and sound-wise the game looks nice. This is where the comparison to Castlevania on the 3DS is most apt for me as the game uses a similar art style and colour pallete. Music/atmosphere and voice-over add to the game.

If you are looking for a console-quality Castlevania-style game, this is a good one to get. While it might not have the complex level of exploration some may crave, it has lots of action and is worth playing.

Have you ever felt those shaky hands when battling a difficult boss and you keep dying but about to kill it? Well, that was the case with Grimvalor and the last boss of Act I. The game does a really good job making you feel its precise controls and, as others have said, like a hero.

The game has depth for sure - you'll encounter unlockables, a forge, increasing on complexity attacks, hidden paths with some hints of the story, and statues that act as transportations and others to heal you.

The difficult is always ramping up, something that is worth noticing since that's lacking on most of games nowadays. Also, the gameplay is rewarding and the keys to success are timing and player placement everytime you encounter a foe.

The amount of love that went into this is palpable, the atmosphere is well developed, the scenarios look incredible and I especially adored the enemy design and music of the game.

On the technical side, I didn't encounter any bugs or noticeable frame drops or even overheating of my device so the game is well optimized.

This is an amazing surprise and I can't wait to keep playing and discover all of its secrets.

First off, let me start by saying I loved Swordigo, and Grimvalor takes all the best parts and turns them up to eleven.

The graphics are a great example of how far mobile games have come in the last few years, especially when compared side-by-side to its predecessor. The dark and gloomy backdrops and claustrophobic, torchlit halls go a long way to helping set the scene. The atmosphere here is super and adds to the tension against the boss enemies and the overall feel of the levels.

And what bosses! I've only made it through three of the oversized baddies because the Tainted Guardian (I think that's the name of the huge, shield-carrying second boss) kept laying me out before I finally nailed down his patterns. Yes, the game is difficult in spots, but I will say I got a real sense of accomplishment after figuring out how to pull off a victory. I like that it doesn't hold your hand too much, and each area does present a challenge.

Controls are silky smooth on both the iPhone 8 and the iPad Pro. The onscreen buttons are as responsive as any I've seen, and I love swiping the attack button to do a soul-charged heavy attack. MFI support is included and works great when I attached my GameVice to my iPad. My only quibble is that movement was controlled by the crossbar, but that's just a personal preference. Everything responds great, and with or without a controller the maneuvers in game just work.

And speaking of switching back and forth between devices, the cloud save is nearly flawless. I was able to close it out on my phone and pick up immediately when I started up my iPad later in the day.

The only problem I noticed is that when I left the game running in the background on my phone, my iPad started me at the last place I reached on that device, which overwrote my phone's progress when I switched back, so be careful there.

All in all, this game is one of my new favorites. October has been quite the month for mobile releases, and for action-RPGs, I think Grimvalor may be a new measuring stick. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoyed Swordigo even a little, and in general to anyone looking for a good game to carry with them on their mobile device.

When I started this game I was prepared to not like it. Side scrolling hack-and-slash platforming has been done a thousand times, and I thought, why bother with another?

But after the very short tutorial I fell in love with it. Sharp graphics create a nicely gloomy atmosphere that really makes you feel like you're descending into some hellish underworld. The common enemies really give the impression of mindless slave-like zombies. And as I plowed into them with repeated attacks, I really got the impression that they were just helpless zombies. That adds to the wonderfully dark and grim atmosphere. On all counts, a surprisingly immersive experience in a fairly simple game.

Controls are simple to grasp and work perfectly on the small touchscreen. Frequent enough places to rest and recoup your strength and cloud save add to the all around high quality experience. Music was good but I generally play without sound. I can easily recommend Grimvalor. It's a keeper.

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First of all the game is beautiful. The 3D caves with wonderful shadows and light effects, the detailed characters and animations, it’s all a sight to see.

The eerie soundtrack that transports us to a creepy adventure horror movie, and the constant humming of monsters growling in the distance, invite the use of headphones. Do yourself a favor and play this game with headphones and in a dark room, it really is something.

I remember having played their early game Swordigo, and I thought to myself at the time that these guys can really make a good platformer/hack-and-slash game. Little did I know how much farther they would take their magic.

This game gets you involved right from the start when it starts to explain the moves and the controls and slowly lets go of your hand, leaving you all alone with all the horrors that surround you.

The controls are spot on - it really is a pleasure to control our character, be it jumping, hacking and slashing away with our sword or axe, or running up the walls. Everything is pretty much straightforward and it never feels that your hero isn't doing what you intend him to do. The game wants you to learn the patterns of attacks of your enemies, so you can time your attacks and dashes perfectly to kill them and avoid being killed ourselves.

You will have to explore the caves and dungeons to find precious items and keys to open new areas. There are shrines along the way so you can take a break, rest, and get your energy restored (it also saves your progress). There are new attacks to learn, you can forge new weapons and powerful items that will help us on our journey, and portals to travel across the map in a few seconds.

When you get to an area where you have to fight a boss, it is very challenging, and then you think "ok this is it, zombie like monsters to fight, a boss here and there, this is the game in a nuttshell". But suddenly the screen turns red, the music changes, and there's a warning in the middle of the screen telling you that you’re being hunted.

What is this? Monsters keep coming, and there's a hunter that wants you dead, and if not killed the attack doesn’t stop. That was a nice surprise, and there are many. Like when I started the game on my iPad, turned on my MFi controller and really thought that I was playing a game on my PS4. It really is a very nice experience.

This is a premium game where you can lose yourself for more than 20 hours if you want to get 100% on every portion of the map. Just perfect and much more than I was expecting.

My go-to genres of mobile games are puzzles, board and card games, interactive stories, just about anything with meditative and relaxing nature.

Being an avid mobile game collector I also own intense, blood-spilling titles, such as Infinity Blade, Bastion, Neon Chrome etc, but they never managed to keep me engaged and well-entertained.

Grimvalor not only exceeded my initial super slim expectations, it literally turned me into a blood-thirsty, hack-and-slash maniac who can not get enough of it. The game consists of five Acts and at the time of writing I am at the beginning of Act 3 (the previous 2 were completed almost perfectly).

Precise controls, manageable difficulty curve, epic boss fights, cleverly hidden treasures - the list of pros goes on and on. There are no cons for me in this game, except that the enemies reappear every time you re-enter a stage. Perhaps the idea is not new, but I both hate and love the necessity to tap and hold the screen for some time in order for the healing potion to work.

Being exhausted and dying I was relentlessly chased by a boss in an attempt to prevent me from using a healing potion, but now he is an unrecognizable pile of bones and charred flesh (Bwa-ha-ha-ha!!!).

If you ever feel the need to vent out, just put on your valor cape, launch the game and immerse yourself into a brutal, dark, savage world of Grimvalor.

I'm struggling slightly with this game. I looks the part with grim but clear graphics. Animation and creatures are great.

Difficulty is high but deaths aren't cheap with one caveat. I just couldn't get on with the position of the dodge button. If they'd swapped it with the jump I’d have faired much better.

Under pressure, I'd often miss the dodge and tap slightly to the left. In this game missing dodge is pretty much game over. If this supports controllers (I don't own one) then it's a no brainer of a purchase. If you are fine with on screen controls then it's also a definite purchase. If you struggle a bit like I did it's going to punish you hard.

I really hope this comes out on a system with "proper controls" as the underlying game is great.

Beautiful game that does a pretty decent job with controls on a touch screen. I did get a little of that Castlevania vibe from it, but hack-and-slash games are only a good fit with arcade games in my opinion.

That said it’s a fun game and one of the more polished ones on iOS definitely worth checking out.

I'm thoroughly enjoying this game so far and it certainly lives up to its hack-and-slash theme. There is a story to the game which has you on an inevitable quest but it gives purpose to your journey.

The graphics are very good, the mechanics easy to use, the sombre music in the background suits the game's theme and there are plenty of creatures to kill. There is a definite feel to the game that the developers tried hard to make it a good gaming experience.

I haven't had as much time on this game as I would have liked, but from what I have played so far I would definitely recommend it.

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I had heard mention of the Swordigo developers being behind Grimvalor, so I was quite excited. Grimvalor is a different beast from Swordigo entirely. It is not entirely unlike Dust: An Elysian Tale either, for all the overlap they share in their metroidvania trappings.

I was surprised to find a strong reminiscence of the underrated God of Blades (now mysteriously absent from my iTunes Library), especially where travel and exploration is concerned. You dash through environments cleaving through undead minions like the bubbling and seething wrath of some ancient War-God, occasionally blinking from under a clumsy blade to bring crushing decimation to the back of its wielder's skull, before shooting on.

Swish, swish, Kroom! Crunch! Crunch! Crunch! Kroom! Crunch! Swish, swish. This killing of minions is made interesting by punishing your carelessness if you get hit, you know it's because you lost focus, and you pay for it with a quarter of your health, it makes you feel, at the same time, immensely powerful and painfully mortal.

Then we get to bosses and underboss type heavy enemies. Here the game shifts from God of Blades to closer reflect Animus (some might say Dark Souls, but that isn't a mobile title) - tough enemies with attack and behaviour patterns that change in interesting ways as health diminishes. It's like a jazz-style improvisational rhythm game.

Much of Grimvalor strikes into that tense rhythm, and it works perfectly on mobile, it is accessible to jump into, and gripping when you are engaged. The skill tree has satisfying effects on combat, sink three points into mastery and that axe goes from "Smash! Smash!" To "Whap! Whap! Whap!"

There is so much to love about Grimvalor. If you have any inclination to Metrodvania, or Dark Souls-style boss dancing, I highly recommend it, a stellar premium title for game lovers.

Did I forget to mention enemy character design and world atmosphere!? I did! Wow, it's really good, reminds me of Prince of Persia Warrior Within: dark, grim, and atmospheric in all the best ways.

I'm truly enjoying the Bastion/Velocity/Lara Croft GO (IMO) style gameplay and looks. The controls are not frustrating; relatively fluid and certainly straightforward to do.

The collectibles, shards etc are fun to get in that you have to navigate to some out of the way nooks in the levels to obtain them.

I have to say, while the game runs solid and fast on my iPhone 7 I find myself wanting to play this on a screen that's iPhone 7 Plus or bigger. Don't get me wrong, the graphics look good, and maybe my close up vision isn't what it used to be (ok, that's mainly it!) but ideally, this game would be best enjoyed on a bigger screen than 4.7 inches. I also preferred Bastion on iPhone 7 Plus, so this game isn't the only one I have that opinion on and again, it's nothing personal to the graphics of the game, just a simple size matter issue with games like these.

There is a female character option if you want, so that's always nice to see. I have created save games for both a male and female character, and I can't say I see any difference in gameplay either way, except for looks of course.

Boss fights are fun and require some nimble dance skills along with the right timing. All in all, a truly fun game, and it has all the elements I enjoy in this type of game. It really is a must get!

As soon as I booted the game up, I knew that it was going to be a well thought-out and polished game. The graphics are great for a mobile game; they lure you in and almost encourage you to continue playing.

I did find my phone heating up considerably during gameplay but that's almost expected with a game that looks like this.

The controls have been well thought out and work well on a touch screen. The story is simple but being able to hack and slash your way through a level is almost satisfying after a long stressful day at work. The gameplay is smooth and seamless and is a must have for any platform gamer out there.