I downloaded this game from GOG yesterday. What a blast. It's a 2012 release, but harkens back to old-school dungeon-crawl RPG's. No plot, all dungeon, silly monsters, no character development other than RPG leveling, no party interactions, just puzzles, traps and combat in damp, echoing hallways. If you're in the mood for some no-stress fun, check it out.

LOL Thanks Hagatha! I did the same thing! I've only played for a few minutes, but once I saw that it was alot like Stonekeep but with better graphics, I had to have it.

I think you and I are becoming psychic btw...hmmmmmm

Tracy, playing Morrowind today but glad to be reminded of Grimrock, maybe that'll be for tonight.

Ohhhhh I love dungeon crawlers Nobody cares if there is dust in them thare corners

Now I've run into a really fiendish puzzle. And I cannot work it out, though I made it to level three before I truly got stuck. But I have reached a thorough degree of stuckedness.

I give myself about fifteen tries before cheating on this stuff - and thank goodness for YouTube and other obsessed gamers like us. What would I do without them?

Oh, and I meant to add that it continues to entertain. It is literally just about moving forward, and in the process finding as many secret hideyholes as possible (that's where all the good weapons and stuff are located).

Edit, a few hours later: Okay, now at level 3 things are getting hairy. Or rather, bitey. Next time I play i'm building my characters differently, that's for sure. I made it through level 3 but that's just a case of out of the pan, into the fire.

Hagatha, that is the fun part...figuring out how to build your character and how you will do it differently next time.

Looney, it is fun, and the character options are really good.

The one thing about this game is that it repeatedly throws the same kind of foe at you and if you aren't prepared for it, you're in for a ride. Fortunately, you can use all sorts of different tactics, so I got through, though with some effort and more than a few reloads.

The puzzles and secrets in the game are great. Some of them are quite challenging, either difficult to find, difficult to figure out, or difficult to execute. This is not a boring, obvious dungeon crawl, after all. It's a keeper.

Glad you've been finding your way Hagatha. I was into my Morrowind again last night and haven't delved back into Grimrock, but I like knowing that it's there....and that if I get stuck I know who to call. lol

Tracy

Tracy, maybe not! There are some puzzles that I've completed and then find I need to take the same path again, and the second time around is just as difficult as the first. I'm stuck right now, going in circles. At least I've cleared the area of enemies, so I can just cruise around, but still, I'm running out of supplies...

One hint:

Edit: I think I may have been defeated by a timed puzzle in level 4. I can't react fast enough. I know exactly what I have to do, but I can't do it. The movements involve turning and hitting a switch quickly and then moving again, and that's just what I can't do.

Time to move on to something else for a while, I think. I'll come back to it later.

Edit: Update. Got stuck, persevered, went on, and am stuck again in level 5. However, I managed to get past one truly evil timed puzzle after a surprisingly small number of tries. When I first saw it and figured out what I had to do I just about gave up right then and there. But I did it. This gives me hope for the current stuckness, which also involves a timed puzzle.

This is a pretty tough game. I would recommend starting on the easiest setting. I wish I had!

I played this for a while and really enjoyed it but moved on to Dark Souls. I'll be back to it before too long.

I restarted on Easy, and the game is a lot more fun now. I was getting to the point where each enemy was almost too much for my party. I finally ended up in a narrow corridor with four high-level opponents and not a chance of even running away. I could've tried it 100 times and not succeeded, but the game is enough fun that it's worth starting all over. However, that'll teach me for trying the game on Hard the first time out.

Edit: Okay, I'm going to add this one last comment for anyone who thinks about getting this game: Buy it! Seriously. The more I play, the more I appreciate what's gone into this game. I've missed many secret areas just in the first five levels, and I thought I was being thorough. There's just so much to enjoy. It's a difficult game, but it's so worth it.

Thanks for the hints, Hagatha! I love this kind of game and can't wait to really get into it, but I wish that there was a strategy guide because that's the only way I made any progress with Stonekeep back in the day.

Tracy

Hagatha, so glad you are enjoying it so much

Tracy, no need for a strategy guide these days. When I get stuck I just Google my question and a dozen YouTube videos pop up showing the solution in great detail.

Ah! That's a great idea, Hagatha. While I'll always prefer old fashioned "paper" guides, seeing how someone else did something in a game would be really cool Thanks!

Tracy

I just bought this yesterday and am enjoying it. However, how does a mage learn spells? So far I have a very useless mage that can,t do anything.

In the fourth paragraph of the review of this game here, it talks about how spellcasting works. Maybe that will help until someone playing the game comes along to explain it better.

Thanks Marian

Did that help, Rowan?

Thanks, I figured it out. Onward to other puzzles.

Have fun and

I think I've reached a gamestopping puzzle:

I am on level 4 called Archives in the Time and Tide section. I'm in front of a pressure plate with some open pits ahead of that. As soon as I step on the pressue plate there are 3 ticks and a portal opens ahead. I'm supposed to throw an object at the portal and the portal is supposed to carry the object to another pressure plate beside it. That will close the pit in front of me so I can progress. If I miss the portal then my object just falls into an open pit. However, I have hit the portal several times and my object ends up in another area beside me but not on the pressure plate.

Is this a glitch or do I have to go mad with the timing of this puzzle?

Rowan, the walkthrough at GameBanshee sounds as if you have to get the timing just right.

Rowan, You have to get the rock to the portal while the blue light is still shining - in other words the rock has to hit the blue light. (Edit: wait a couple of beats before chucking the rock. You'll get to know the timing soon enough).

It really is all about timing in this game, but I'm a total klutz and I've managed to do the timed puzzles after a few tries. There are some fiendish ones, but only one I gave up on (it was not necessary to complete in order to proceed). I amazed myself on a couple of them - didn't think I'd be able to get past them, but did fine.

Thanks Hagatha

Rowan

I still can't get this puzzle. I have read several walkthroughs and none mention that the object may be thrown back beside me. The only thing mentioned are that the object ends up in the pit if I miss or gets thrown on the other ground plate if I hit the portal. I have tried so many times I have lost count and the object gets thrown back beside me, not on the other pressure plate. That is why I'm wondering if it is a glitch. Hagatha, did your thrown object ever land beside you behind the iron bars like mine does?

Rowan, did you try putting an object on the pressure plate and transporting yourself?

Looney, there is a pit in front of me and you cannot jump in this game. Throwing something to the portal beyond the pit is the only option ... except in my case the portal sends the rock to the wrong position in the dungeon.

OK, I finally got it, but it never worked with thrown objects. It did work when I shot a crossbow bolt. I have more points in bows so this may have been a factor. Thanks for suffering with me everyone.

Rowan, glad you got past the frustration. There are a couple of tough spots but once you get the hang of things it all makes sense. The more I play, the more impressed I am. Unlike many dungeon crawlers, this one requires you to think and use your imagination to get past puzzles.

One word of advice:

I know I've missed many things in the game, but that's part of its charm; there's a lot to discover. I'm on level 7 and still loving it (had a break to go to Toronto for a couple of weeks). I'm playing on Easy, by the way. I initially started on Normal but built my party members poorly and found myself unable to go on.

I'm having a hard time at the beginning of level 4 with the two adult herders. I have two fighters up front plus a rogue and a mage. I am mainly relying on my mage with fire and ice spells, plus the rogue has a bow. Those seem to be about the only effective attacks I have, since any melee attacks bring a quick death from poison. So I am running around trying to keep the two ranged fighters alive, but I haven't been able to kill even one of the herders. Is there anything else I can do? We are all at level 5.

Pokey, I haven't played this. Have you checked on this page?

l4l, I had checked that site and any other I could find. I've looked at several YouTube videos and they seemed to dispatch the Herders without too much trouble. I have hit them many times with spells and melee but can't even kill the first one. It would help if there was a health bar. Maybe I came close. It is a case of being comfortable with using only the keyboard to move. A couple wrong keys and you are dead from poison.

Pokey, I can certainly relate to that.

Finally got through that part. Once I had one dead, I figured I could get the other. We limped out with two members of the party dead and the other two with a shred of life. Glad to get by that.

WoooHooo Pokey You did it

I was getting really worried near the end of level 4 when I had very little food and was afraid we would starve, but the beginning of level 5 has enough to keep us going. Halfway through level 5 now and being careful to not use too much.

Sounds like you are making excellent progress!

I thought I had hit a wall on a timed puzzle on level 5. My computer is not good enough to get me through a door. I found a person on the Grimrock forum who took my save and played past the door. Thanks to him, I am on my way again.

I hope to get an upgrade soon.

I'm so glad someone was able to do that for you. Have fun

Timing based puzzles can be a bit tricky in this game. Even if you have a PC that is good enough.

I detest timed puzzles. They make me rage!

Well, I thought I was done with this game. There is a timed puzzle on level 5 that is very difficult. I have to cross a path of 22 trapdoors that are opening and closing quite fast. My fingers just couldn't keep up with it. Then I spied my Cyber Snipa game pad next to my keyboard, grabbed my husband and sat him down next to it. He did the right and left directions on it and I did the up and down on my keyboard. Didn't take us too long to get through it.

Wooo Hooo Pokey, now that's teamwork!

I had a lucky break on level 6. A big bad Ogre was chasing us and we ducked into a room and slammed the gate. I thought we were safe, but somehow he got in (through a portal, I guess) and he hit us before I knew he was there. He slammed us again, knocking us right next to a resurrection crystal. We fought toe to toe till all were nearly dead and then turned and got resurrected. That was enough to keep us going till we killed him. I am nearly through level 6 but have a tricky puzzle to do yet.

Wow! That was great

Level 6 was a tough one but fun. There was a timed puzzle that was the hardest yet and then a room full of lizards with no escape. I finally got past those. One good thing, there was plenty of food from snails that respawn and I can return when I need more. We are getting stronger with better equipment and the fire demons and giant snails are not so scary anymore. Onward and downward to dungeon level 7.

"onward and downward..." I love it

I should really get back to this game. I was having loads of fun.

And then we moved. After 30 years in the same house.

Ugh.

All I ' ve been able to focus on is old comfy games, familiar stuff like MM and BG2. Otherwise it would have been too much newness. But now I think I may be able to get back to all my new games.

The trick to Grimmrock is to know exactly where you are on the grid. For the timed puzzles you have to be exact, with every move worked out in advance. I suprised myself a few times by getting through what I initially thought was impossible.

That's a great feeling, Hagatha

hagatha, I hope you do decide to play some more. I could use the company. I am still on level 7.

I haven't finished level 7 yet but decided to head down to level 8 in hopes of getting Dismantler, the best sword in the game. I just encountered a group of 4 fire demons and 2 ogres. It was tough, but we finally defeated them. Ogres aren't so scary anymore if you just circle them on a 2x2 square and try to avoid their hits.

Did you get it?

Not yet, but getting very close. We just defeated a room full of Herders, the same type that gave us so much trouble on level 4. Not so hard this time. Puzzle ahead.

Way to go!

I got the Dismantler sword and headed up to level 7 to face a puzzle I left undone. There are three faces shooting balls of electricity down alleyways. I need to block about 30 of them. They quickly increase speed, so it is a mad dash to block each of them. The last few are very fast. I have never blocked more than half of them, so I will probably be skipping this puzzle. Thankfully it is not needed to advance.

I really am enjoying this game but some of the timed puzzles seem to be unfair .

Pokey, grats on getting the sword. How does one skip a puzzle?

Looney, the reward for completing the puzzle is a piece of armor. I can just walk away from it and still advance in the game. There were some puzzles that were required and I had to get help with one.

It's great that it's structured so you can walk away like that.

Level 9 was fun and not that difficult. There were puzzles but none were timed and they were fun to do. My characters are getting some nice upgrades and seem stronger. The only real problem was the Ogres at the end. There two in a long narrow passage and they seemed even stronger than before. With no 2x2 area to work in, I ran till I could find room to maneuver and finally took them down. On to level 10. Only a few more levels to go.

Woohoooooo

Oh, now you're ahead of me. I got stuck somewhere around level 7 and 8 and abandoned ship for a while when we moved. Time to get back to it. I may be coming to you for help, Pokey.

Oh, good. Glad to have some company. I just finished level 10. It wasn't that difficult but a bit confusing on where to go next. There was one timed puzzle, but it was short and I didn't have much trouble with it. I just peeked into level 12, you are directed there at the start of 11. Some tough Goromorgs floating around. I'll have to figure out how to take them on.

Let me know how you are doing. I'll help where I can. Are you stalled on that timed puzzle?

You go guys!

So, in the level I'm on, there are gates I can't open and some big fans, with a timed puzzle that seems inordinately difficult but probably isn't if I put my mind to it and map it out - I think this is an optional puzzle, and I remember being stuck around that time.

I think I must be on level 8. I vaguely remember going to a walk-through, still not being able to figure out what to do, and giving up. I'll be back playing tomorrow night and then I'll know exactly where I got lost.

Of course - I'll have to remember how to play the game, too....It's been a while and the combat is very hard. I seem to remember more than one troll in the corridors I'm in.

Is this where you can see the giant spider through the gates? Did you go down a corridor that has an electric projectile you have to avoid? Beyond that is an area with ogres. Bring up your map and you can find out the level and the general area you are in. There are no timed puzzles on level 8. Maybe it is the one I skipped on level 7 where you have to block 30 electric projectiles.

I've been fighting Wardens (4 tougher Ogres) and several Goromorgs in a large room at the start of level 12. I will have to go back to 11 later. It is a hard fight and I was sneaky and ran up and down the stairs to beat the Wardens. It worked, so I'm happy.

I'm on Level 8 and now I remember why I quit. I am absolutely stumped.

I've passed the long hallway with projectiles which eventually led me into a sort of maze area with Ogres. Those, I managed to kill.

I saved just before going into a transporter that leads me to a room where there are two brass keys and a whole load of enemies. I can't get back out with more than one character alive because you get surrounded very quickly. My mage does almost right away.

Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be a healing crystal anywhere near, not on this level or the one above. Otherwise I'd just go heal and carry on exploring. Because I can't do that, it's essentially game over here.

There are many areas in this level that I have marked as not completed, but I spent hours trying to work out if there was anything else I could do other than enter the room with the two brass keys, and I am blocked everywhere, it seems.

Pokey, does that area bring any hints to mind for Hagatha? How did you get around that?

I think I know where you are. There are a lot of Herders, both big and small. You need to move around a lot. I could find corners that seemed safe for a moment. I would get rid of the small ones first, since they are easy to kill while running away from the big ones. When you get the population down, it will be easier. Have health and energy potions available.

There is a crystal on the level. I came down the secret stairs and ran into it almost immediately. It is just before the start of the projectile hallway. You should see some stairs on your map near there. You can see the Giant Spider though bars near it. Go back through the projectile hallway to get to the crystal. It is not hard.

Coming down either stairs from 7, you were very close to the crystal. The secret stairs, it was right ahead. The other stairs, it was to the left and near the room with all the trap doors (spider). Check your map.

Do you have Frost Bolt? That helps.

Hmm. I must have missed something. I explored all of that area and was blocked by bars everywhere.

I have tried the moving around bit in this particular combat, but always lose my mage very quickly. It's almost not worth taking the time to case a spell. I'll keep at it. Good to know that there is a crystal nearby, though I still haven;t seen it.

Anyway, I have a save position with one character left alive so if all else fails - and if I can keep him going until I find the crystal - I'll be fine.

Actually, you can skip almost all the level. Just head NW by the room with the trapdoors and there are stairs to level 9. You would miss a nice sword, though. I think the room you are in is the hardest part. Once you get past that, you shouldn't have any problem.

Aha. Got it. And the sword.

The spider fooled me. For a long time I thought it was dancing out the pattern of a code. Then I got fed up and killed it.

Sometimes the simplest solutions are the best.

You know, in the level upstairs there are a few places I haven't been able to get to. I can see the little blanks at the ends of corridors. I guess those will have to be for next time. One thing I have noticed is that I find the runes very hard to see and I bet I've missed a few.

Edit: Pokey, there is a special door on this level. Did you find the key for it anywhere?

Hagatha, I just saw your edit. Do you mean the Iron Door just before the stairs down to level 9? If so, there is a button in the projectile corridor almost across from the last door on the right. It opens another door nearby. The gear key is there.

The runes are very hard to see. I keep clicking on ones that don't do anything.

Yes, I guess that's the door.

Argh. That projectile corridor again, eh? My mage really doesn't last long in there, even if I do the duck and cover routine.

Okay, back to it.

Once again I'm remembering how difficult and complex this game is, and what a superior dungeon crawl it is, too.

EDIT: Pokey, can you be more specific about the location of that key? I found and pushed that button but nothing seems to have changed in any of the nearby rooms.

EDIT: Oh, I see.

Level 9 was annoying until I remember what my old friend Garrett used to do to tapestries with Constantine's Sword when he got frustrated.

That Hallway - argh. I think I know what to do, though.

Spoke too soon. I'm pretty sure that I have the instructions for advancing down the hallway, but they make no sense to me at all. I've tried various different interpretations of the instructions but none of them have worked. This is one of a few puzzles in the game that I think aren't really properly clued; the clues have to actually make sense or they aren't actually clues. I hate it when I have to resort to a walkthrough so early in a level, but thank heaven for Youtube.

Hagatha, did you get it?

Hagatha, if it is the hallway I am thinking about, watch the walls carefully. The changes you see will clue you in the the fact that you have changed direction. Advance slowly until you notice a change and then reverse direction.

I did get it, but only with a lot of help from YouTube. The note you get with the hints really didn't help me. If I hadn't cheated, I would never have worked that out (i.e. the note doesn't tell you that you have to move forward once each time you advance right or left.)

I did manage to get through the rest of it, but again with some help. Hah! First game I've played where the puzzles are harder than the combat!

Now I'm on level 10 and the puzzles at least make sense. Before I move on I'm going to experiment with some spells; I have some slots available but don't know the spell yet. Time for fun with fizzles.

WooHooo Hagatha

OK, that was a different puzzle. You got by the Ogres with no trouble. You're moving along and soon will be caught up with me. I haven't done anything since the first big room on 12.

Yes, those Ogres were odd. For some reason they didn't give the the bum's rush the way they normally do. I just stood there and bashed away at them.

Of course, I am playing on easy, but Ogres have always been tough. Maybe they were baby Ogres.

Right now I'm attempting to get past the door with the shooting ball of electricity. It seems oddly difficult. I'm out of practice for this game, that's for sure. When I think of the timed puzzled I sailed through earlier on, this one should be a breeze.

You hit a glitch with those Ogres. They would kill me in a couple seconds if I didn't run and find a better place to fight. The tougher ones in level 12 are much worse. The timing on that puzzle took me a while.

I love those kinds of glitches

Indeed. Hope I get that kind of glitch when I arrive on the first Ogre level with my party of 1.

Party of one, eh? You're a brave soul. What character class are you choosing?

Edit: I did get past the door and am now moving through the level at speed. Had to cheat past the pillars (again the clue made no sense but then again that's probably just me being senseless) but otherwise have found the level most enjoyable. Again the Ogres aren't doing much damage. I think maybe my tanks have now got good enough armour, weapons and skills to knock them for a loop. The other guys on this level are not so tough on Easy; I can see how they'd be a stretch on any other difficulty setting, though.

Okay, now I'm off to see what I've missed on the level before I go downstairs. Got me some bones here; not sure what to do with them.

I didn't have a choice. It's a new game+ with a very special, fixed, character. You only get that character, no others.

I'm in the basement below level 12 and have been looking to see what I can find. I have the things I need to move on. I won't be able to play tomorrow but will get back to it Sunday evening.

WooHooo Hagatha, sounds like you are having a great time! I hope you find a use for those bones.

On a related topic, did you get the Dungeon editor?

Jarkeld, you'll have to let us know how it goes. No option to add party members as you advance?

Pokey,

Ah.

I heard a sigh recently beside a healing crystal. Could that be the One? I'll find out, I guess.

L4L, There's a dungeon editor?

You know,my other half was commenting yesterday that I should take up something computer-related in my retirement and he wondered about web design, but maybe I should play around with game levels. I always wanted to, but was too put off by Dromed in the early days when fan missions were the new thing.

Hagatha, there appears to be one on their website. Scroll down just a little.

SO, I'm stuck on that poison puzzle after fixing the machine and getting away from the Big Bad.

I think I've tried every combination of button pressing but still trapped in the hallway with the pressure plate and poison gas. At this point a spoiler would be great.

Apparently it comes with the game, at least on the GOG version that I have. I'll have to have a look-see.

Hagatha, what level and what section and I will see what I can find. GameBanshee has a good walkthrough but as I've not played the game, I'm not sure what to look at....

Thanks, L4L. I did manage to figure it out in the end. Obviously there was one more combo I hadn't tried.

It's always that way - as soon as I post, I figure it out. So whenever I'm stuck I tell myself not to ask for help just yet, because obviously I'll figure it out shortly. And then I don't, I give in and ask for help, go back to the game and faster than you can say, "dork," the answer comes to me.

Pokey, I am stumbling around at the point just after the basement level, so we're at about the same point.

Hagatha, I know exactly what you mean because that is how it happens to me too. Glad you are on your way again!

I have to say that the Big Bad here is just too funny. Dangerous, but funny.

I love games with humor

Okay, now I'm playing solo, too, trying to work out what skills to select out of the somewhat limited possibilities on offer.

Edit: Swords. Definitely swords.

I love swords though I love scimitars the most!

Here in the Grimrock you take what weapons you can get. I finally found a decent sword so can now capitalize on the skill points I have given myself. Every so often I'm rewarded with a huge critical hit or a slash. Take THAT, ugly evil un-dead skeleton fighting-type thingy, with your silly spear.

Playing on normal difficulty level, solo character. It's actually easier than a party of four in some places, especially when moving around/strafing is important. Of course, I have no tank to carry me away when things get really nasty...like now...

You customised the character yourself?

Hagatha, is the single player an option?

Jarkeld,I found out about the "special" character. Well worth playing, I think.

L4L I think you can always choose that option but at the end of your first game, if you complete a certain objective, you can get a special character to play.

That's a cool incentive

Very cool

And a very cool character it is, too.

Finally getting back to the game after some diversions. I've put the parts into the machine and taken them out and now am battling it. For a big hunk of metal, it is pretty quick. I've been smashed so many times but will get it eventually.

Edit....I am free! We walked out of the dungeon, leaving a flaming wreck behind.

WoooHoooo