Recent reviews by dnm

Despite being in its alpha and early access phase, the game delivers an impressively enjoyable and robust experience. The content currently available is not only good but also promises a solid foundation for the future. I am particularly impressed by the developers' responsiveness to player feedback. With six hotfixes already rolled out, their commitment to refining the game stands out. This level of dedication is a rare find in many early access titles. Some negative comments fail to recognize that the game is still in an early development stage; critics expect a finished product and often unfairly accuse the developers of ripping off players. It is crucial to provide constructive criticism rather than complaining about issues that are typically addressed as the game progresses. The content available to us is genuinely commendable. Overall, this game is shaping up to be a promising venture that could excel with continued development and attention.

Overall, my experience with the game has been positive. Many innovative additions and clear improvements for me as a player compared to CS1. For example, it's much easier to build road systems, poppable buildings have extensions and expansions, roads have water pipes, sewage systems, and electricity automatically drawn beneath them. Even terraforming has been improved. The buildings you can place are also more interesting in terms of design and have more reasonable sizes.

However, there are things I don't like. In my latest stage, I encountered three, what I assume are, bugs:

1. Traffic congestion on pedestrian streets. They don't seem to be working.
   Additional buildings like extra bus garages can't be rebuilt if they burn down. The main building also needs to burn down for reconstruction.
   
2. Why is the Cargo terminal so slow? All cars want to enter through the same gate, despite having around 10 in the original building. This needs fixing, as it causes massive traffic chaos.
   
3. The game would be significantly better if certain things were developed or included. For instance, poppable buildings often have options for extensions and expansions. Additional buildings should be able to be constructed on the other side of a road. For example, extra bus garages. There could be a requirement that these must be built within a certain radius of the bus depot.

Parking spaces shouldn't only exist as pre-determined poppables. It should be possible to zone parking spaces, ranging from a single spot to many more. Parks should be zonable instead of just existing as pre-determined poppables. This way, more dynamic and attractive cities can be created. In general, I think more things should be zonable, but perhaps with basic size requirements linked to them. Why wouldn't it be possible to zone power stations, for instance? Or generator stations? Set a minimum width and height, but open up for more creative solutions that may better suit the city.

I would also appreciate nodes in parks and similar areas so that I can connect them with pedestrian walkways. I also want to be able to build better borders between the water and the roads. Like docks and the like. There are mods for this, but why on earth isn't it included in the base game? It feels so fundamental.

As I mentioned, terraforming is in the game and is very good, but they missed the mark on one of the tools. When you're raising and lowering the land, you can't set it in meters. Instead, large pillars or deep holes are created despite a quick mouse click. It's incredibly odd that the game developers haven't thought about this. It is a supid function, tbh.

Well, I could continue. At the end of the day. What made CS1 good is the mods, and i guess when modding is a thing in CS2 this game will be so, so much better then any city builder out there.

Buy and play.

Do not be fooled by the name of the DLC. This is not the long sought for upgrade to the Loyalist edition for Steam users. This DLC is just really expensive for almost nothing in return (just a few cosmetics). So if you wish to support the devs with money and get (in a sense) nothing in return, this DLC is for you. But it is not enough for me.

The Steam Loyalist DLC is in real terms just a expensive Loyalist-light that includes only a few cosmetics. The real Loyalist edition includes, besides the cosmetics:

• Digital download of the soundtrack
  
• "Crate Story" downloadable PDF will detail our epic struggle to found a game studio and create Grim Dawn, from the final days of Iron Lore to release day. (Coming Soon)
  
• First expansion when released.
  
• High resolution digital game map suitable for use as a wallpaper or to print out for your wall.

I think it is really sad that the devs have not made it possible to upgrade to the real Loyalist edition. I really want to have it and would have bought it even if the prices was much higher.

After the Grim Dawn, the world is in turmoil and everyone is trying to get by with what they can. There are death and despair everywhere. The world is big, based on a single map, and the game is semi linear. That make up for a great game experience! For the naysayers, I only have this to say to you[www.instagram.com]. ;)



Graphics and design:
Grimy, grim and rough. When it comes to graphics Grim dawn is spot on. The game is dark, and include the same type of gore and feel of doom that was present in Diablo 1. You can toggle the view of your camera, the game is in full 3D and plays smooth (not laggy/jerkily as it seems to be in the promotion video clip).

The game stays simple yet effectful regarding to spells, skills and weaponry. There are colours, but not overdone and the gear are “simple” in design fitting within the context of the world. Even though the skills gets more expressive and effectful the more you level, it will never, as far as I know, become like the Diablo 3 roaming discotheques of coloured lightshows and smoke grenades I am used to. And I am greatly thankful for that.

During Chistmas I only had my laptop to play on, and even though my laptop has a really poor graphic card the game runs smooth (but can barely handle Diablo 3 and absolutely not games like Cities Skylines). It feels great to play a new and good looking game that is not forcing you to buy a new computer.

Sound effects and music:
The sound effects are really neat. My first character was a Pyromancer focusing around a gun build, and the swooping falcons have a nices punch to them, likewise the sound of the gun when firing. It is almost like you “feel it”.

The music enhances the graphic expression of the death and misery that surrounds everything.

Attributes, skills and leveling:
The leveling of the character is in all ARPG:s, but apart from for example Diablo 3, Grim Dawn allows you to put out points after each level in core attributes like “Physique”, “Cunning” and “Spirit” affecting everything from health and energy to damages output and chances to hit and get hit.

Each level you are awarded skill points to build your character in your chosen mastery/masteries. There are six masteries and if dual classing there are additional 15 different classes, each with a number of great synergy builds to create.

I think the leveling experience is good. As used to Diablo 3's minor variations, I think the different build possibilities are enormous, which do greatly enhancing the leveling experience.

Mechanics:
As fare as mechanics goes, it seems to be totally transparent. I do not have that much to say on this matter. Yet again referring to Diablo 3, I think this fact is a nice change of pace.

Inventory/backpack and stash/bank:
The system for inventory and stash are as such: Inventory on the character are bigger then Diablo 3 and do I even need to mention Path of Exiles totally lack of inventory space? The inventory is expandable through quest rewards. As far as I have progressed, you have one personal tab in the stash/bank and four shared with your other characters. But as in all of these type of games inventory and stash space, even a great amount of space, is not enough. ;)

Bugs:
I have not noticed any major bugs.

Miscellaneous:

• Exploration: As I let on in the beginning, Grim Dawn are composed of one whole “overworld”, a continuous map that, for the most parts, are open and not depending on the game progression (there is no fixed acts like in Diablo 3 or Path of Exile, where A leads to B and B to C). This makes exploration one extra dimension of the game and the environments are nice; varies a lot with high level of detail. There are randomly spawn dungeons that does not show on the map, as far as it seems. This makes it harder to find them, but you do not need to enter them to progress through the game. It just gives a nice flair to the game. There are also lots of hidden areas that will not show on neither the mini map nor the big map. The dungeons has that great feel of dungeon crawl around, with some of them in a roguelike-ish style. In some extent it feels like Diablo 1 but with much better graphics.
  
  
• Questing: As for questing, there is no holding hand style of gameplay. So do not expect a World of Warcraft path finding system for quest completion. This is more old school. You have to rely on your reading skills. Thus far I have never experienced any problem with completing any quests, and I find it nice for a change that the game is not playing for me. The “hardest” get around finding are the faction bounties. Even though I have taken to account the increasingly laziness of players, I do not think those are demanding in neither reading nor thinking skills.
  
  
• Factions: The game as a faction system that reminds of the systems in MMO:s. There are different steps rewarding you with discounts at vendors and access to quartermasters. You gain negative reputation with your enemies resulting in increasing monster spawn, hero spawn and spawn of nemesis at the most negative stance.
  
  
• Crafting: The game has a meaningful intriguing crafting system. During the game you can buy and find blueprints to learn new craftable items. At your Blacksmith you will be able to craft weapons, accessories, armor, components (things you can use in further crafting or to “enchant" gear you have), consumables and relics.
  
  
• Story: The game has a nice story and as you progress you can make choices through dialogue with NPC:s that affects the game in different ways. I have made some good ones, and some bad ones. One learn as long as one live.
  
  
• Difficulties: There are three difficulties: Normal, Elite and Ultimate. The first unlocks the second after play through. For experience players I would recommend to play normal mode with “veteran” checked. Normal (veteran mode) will provide a greater challenge; stronger and tougher monsters in increased number of spawns.

• No random generated maps, as far as I know. With that said I want to point out that so far it has not been something I thought about. If we are to be fair, the random generated maps in Diablo 3 and Path of Exile “are not much to hang on the Christmas tree” (Swedish idiom for “that's not much to boast about”). However I would like the game to have random generated elements in endgame, maybe in player open “rifts” or something like that (maybe it already exists… I have not made it to endgame yet).
  
  
• No voice acting when giving a storyline, quest or lore. This I think is really negative. There are so much lore that it would be great listening to it instead of reading. I hope the rumor is true, that they are planning to voice the lore, but I do not know if that is the case.
  
  
• Even though I like the storyline and lore of the game, it can be corny to some small parts. As I do not want to spoil the story for someone I will not go into it.
  
  
• It is not a major problem, but worth mentioning: sometime the pathfinding could be better. I think it would do well from some polish, but otherwise I have no complaint regarding that.
  
  
• I have played around 10 hours in multiplayer mode. The experience has been really good, but a couple of times we have gotten off sync for some minutes. I do not think this is a big problem, but when it happens it is a source of great irritation.

I give Grim Dawn a clear thumb up. The game is an impressive achievement, and has huge potential for further expansion. When I look at the map, it seems like that game developers has prepared for an almost doubles sized map. I hope that is the case! :)

537,8 hours in game says mainly two things: (1) No life/to much time on my hands and (2) that this game is great! Terraria is one of the best games I ever played. It is addictive. If you lack self control, this game may be dangerous.

Early Access forever, and almost no development from what I have seen. Sorry to say, it sucks. The potential is there, but I guess the devs got what they wanted, and are just happy with the money they "stole" from people. Yes, it feels like they took my money and ran off. No more Chucklefish games for me, ever.

It is a really great game! All other city builder games falls short in comparison.

Det var ett rätt häftigt spel med en berättarröst som säger vad som händer hela tiden i spelet. Man skulle kunna tro att det blev irriterande efter ett tag, men så var icke fallet. Indispel är oftast lite mer kreativa. :)