Introduction
Basic information
- Developer Name: Direlight
- Full Name: Grimvalor
- Release Date: October 10, 2018
- Released on: Android, iOS
- Cross Play: No
Initial thoughts
I stumbled upon Grimvalor by accident on Google Pass and decided to give it a try. What I expected was a typical mobile action game, but I was pleasantly surprised to find something much more polished and engaging. It’s not every day that you come across a mobile game with such fluid combat and well-designed levels, which even supports controller compatibility for those who want a more traditional experience.
Story and setting
Plot overview
The plot of Grimvalor is straightforward but well-executed. You play as a lone warrior tasked with discovering what has happened to the lost kingdom of Vallaris. As you progress through the dark and foreboding lands, you uncover the mystery behind the corruption plaguing the realm. While the story may not be groundbreaking, it’s much better developed than most mobile games and keeps you engaged as you explore.
World building and immersion
The world of Vallaris is dark, eerie, and full of secrets. Each area is distinct and feels interconnected, making exploration rewarding. The atmospheric setting and haunting visuals create an immersive experience, with well-placed environmental storytelling.
Character development
Character development is simple, but the progression system is satisfying. You unlock new abilities and gear as you defeat enemies and explore the kingdom, which gradually makes your character more powerful and versatile in combat.
Emotional impact
The emotional impact in Grimvalor isn’t its strongest point, as the focus is more on intense combat and exploration. However, the dark atmosphere and the sense of mystery create a subtle sense of tension and intrigue.
Rating for story and setting
I have visited multiple aspects of the story and after some thought and objective thinking, I rated the story and setting with an 7.5
Gameplay and mechanics
Core gameplay mechanics
Grimvalor is a mobile hack-and-slash platformer with fast-paced combat, responsive controls, and a satisfying progression system. You attack, dodge, and unleash special moves to defeat a variety of enemies and bosses. The combat is intuitive yet challenging, with a focus on timing and skill.
Difficulty and balance
The game offers a fair challenge, with increasing difficulty as you progress. The bosses, in particular, are intense and require quick reflexes to beat. Grimvalor doesn’t feel unfair, but it rewards careful play and learning enemy patterns.
Pacing of the game
The pacing is solid, with a good mix of combat, exploration, and platforming. There’s always something to keep you engaged, and the game introduces new challenges and enemies at a steady rate.
Innovation and uniqueness
While Grimvalor doesn’t reinvent the wheel, it sets itself apart by providing a console-like action experience on mobile. The addition of controller support is a huge plus for those who prefer traditional gameplay, and the responsive touch controls are surprisingly smooth.
Controls and user interface
The controls are well-implemented, with responsive touch inputs that don’t feel clunky. You can also connect a controller for a more immersive experience, which is rare to find in a mobile game of this genre.
Microtransactions
Grimvalor is a premium game with no intrusive microtransactions. You get the full experience for a one-time purchase, which is refreshing in the mobile market.
Rating
After combing through many of the mechanics, the pacing and other factors of this game, I rated the gameplay and mechanics with an 8.5
Graphics and art style
Quality of graphics and art direction
The graphics in Grimvalor are impressive for a mobile title. The dark, Gothic art style is beautifully executed, with detailed character models and well-designed environments. The game’s visuals contribute heavily to its immersive atmosphere.
Technical performances
The game runs smoothly on most devices, with no noticeable frame drops or performance issues during my playthrough. The animations are fluid, making the combat feel responsive and enjoyable.
Environment and design uniqueness
The environment design is varied and well-crafted, with each area offering a unique visual style and set of challenges. The level design encourages exploration, with hidden areas and secrets to uncover.
Rating
It took me some time to give the graphics and art style an objective rating. There are many things to consider, but ultimately, I rated this section with a 8.0
Sound and music
Music score and how it contributed to the game
The soundtrack is atmospheric and fits the dark tone of the game perfectly. The music enhances the feeling of tension and mystery, without being overwhelming.
Sound effects quality
The sound effects are crisp and impactful, especially during combat. Every attack, dodge, and enemy action is accompanied by satisfying audio cues that add to the immersion.
Voice Acting
There isn’t much voice acting, but the game doesn’t suffer for it. The story is mostly told through text and visual cues, which suits the game’s minimalist approach.
Rating
After a lot of consideration, I rated the sound and music section with a 7.5
Replayability
Game Length and content volume
The game offers a decent amount of content, with several areas to explore and a good variety of enemies and bosses. The campaign is long enough to feel substantial without dragging on.
Extra Content
The inclusion of a New Game+ mode adds a layer of replayability, changing the layout and enemy placements to keep things fresh. This is a welcome addition for those looking for more after completing the main campaign.
Replay value
The combination of New Game+, controller support, and a well-designed combat system gives Grimvalor a good amount of replay value. If you enjoy challenging combat and exploration, there’s plenty of reason to revisit Vallaris.
Rating
After thoughtful consideration, I decided to rate the replayability and game length of Grimvalor with an 8.
Suggestions and comparisons
Suggestions and feedback
Add more variety to enemy types and bosses to keep encounters feeling fresh.
Improve the narrative delivery to make the story more engaging.
Consider expanding on character progression options for more customization.
Comparisons
Compared to other mobile action RPGs, Grimvalor stands out with its polished gameplay, controller support, and lack of microtransactions. It feels more like a console game, similar to titles like Dead Cells or Castlevania, but tailored for mobile play.
Personal experiences and anecdotes
One of the highlights for me was the boss fights. They were intense and required quick reflexes, which is not something I usually expect from mobile games. It felt rewarding to figure out each boss’s patterns and finally land that last blow. For a mobile game, the quality of these encounters was impressive and kept me coming back for more.
Rating
Taking in all the personal experiences with Grimvalor, I give it a personal rating of 8
Last words
Pros
- Smooth and responsive combat
- Impressive graphics and detailed environments
- Well-implemented touch controls with controller support
- Satisfying progression system
- Atmospheric soundtrack and sound effects
- Challenging boss fights with unique designs
- Varied level design and secrets to uncover
- No intrusive microtransactions
- New Game+ mode for added replayability
Cons
- Limited enemy variety
- Story could be more engaging and better delivered
Grimvalor is a standout mobile action RPG that delivers a console-like experience on your phone. With its responsive combat, beautiful visuals, and lack of intrusive microtransactions, it’s a breath of fresh air in the mobile market. While it has its flaws, like limited enemy variety and a somewhat shallow story, the overall experience is highly enjoyable. If you’re looking for a high-quality mobile game that’s both challenging and satisfying, Grimvalor is definitely worth your time.
FINAL RATING
8.5
Please let me know what you think of Grimvalor in the comments!
I hope you enjoyed reading this review, I hope to see you in the next review!
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This is a rally fun game and the music and sound from this game definitely gives it a more immersive experience that is missed in so many games.
Immersion is very important!
it seems like Prince of Persia Side Scroll game.
A little, lol.
So this is pretty much a souls-like for mobile, huh? Good to hear that is actually a great game! 🙂
Yeah, it was surprisingly good!
Looks like they did a good job with this game
They did!
It seems good, but if it’s action, I want it to be released not only on mobile but also on PC.🐑
There is a beta on PC now I believe!
Looks great, just needs some better plot, and could be the next big mobile-game.
I think the developers will not bring major updates to the game anymore.
Looks to be an interesting game. Digging the theme and story of it so might take a look.
I hope you will enjoy the game!
Looks like a nice game to play in between your free time
It is indeed a good way to kill time!
sounds like a descent mobile game.
Yes, it does!
These are indeed good graphics for a mobile title but it looks like it should be played on a tablet to really benefit from that.
I don’t have a tablet, but you could try it!
Didn’t expect such a high rating on a mobile game. Then again, it does look quite nice! I wonder if it would have still been that high if it was a PC game. 🤔
Well, there is a beta on the PC, who knows, I might review the PC version one day.
Will check this out 🙂
I hope you will like it!
8.5 for mobile game is super good. I dont know actually many decent mobile games, but this one one of them now.
There are indeed not many decent ones!
Solid review, dude! Keep them coming
One a week at least!
Perfect review! I think,that game is better than other clones souls-like mobile game.
It is a bit on the easy sides sometimes, but it is certainly fun!
OK, this one sounds like a solid mobile game actually. Not too complicated controls, all right graphics and NO MICROTRANSACTIONS! XD
The only weird thing are those big numbers in your inventory, but that’s a preference.
The no microtransactions is great, lol.
You probably found a hidden gem in this (mobile) category 🙂 Good review.
Yeah, there are not many of those!
It looks really well-made and impressive for mobile! Cool that it has unique bosses and progression! The scenery and fantasy theme looks nice too!
It does look nice for a Mobile game!