Once again we are blessed with an Artifex Mundi game coming to console after being previously released on Steam. Given the large catalogue of games they have released over on Steam compared to console, maybe one day we will see them all eventually. This time however, it is the turn of Grim Legends 3: The Dark City to be reviewed.
Following the usual premise of a fantasy setting for their games, Grim Legends 3 follows the story of Sylvia and her tutor Solomon, as they deal with the supernatural powers of the Maskwraith's, Koshmaar and the theft of the Incanceri Stones which hold unfathomable powers. It's stereotypically Artifex Mundi, that if another developer were to produce work like this, they would likely not succeed in creating anything remotely good.
One of the first things that I always note about any of their series, is the quality of the artwork, with a rich colour pallette and a keen eye for detail. Especially when you're taking part in a hidden object game, and this time around, I felt as though there wasn't anywhere near as many as previous titles, but without counting I cannot say for sure. That aside, every inch of my screen was filled with highly detailed locations as I let the story flow through the games chapters solving puzzles and searching high and low for required objects.
As with the last game I covered, Enigmatis 3, I found that the circular cursor used to select objects in the puzzle games was still having trouble acknowledging that I was clicking on the correct object. A small gripe you may think, but when you assume that you clicked on the wrong item, and later find out that it was indeed correct first time of asking, you are left with a slightly sour taste in your mouth to the 5 or even 10 minutes lost while you searched elsewhere.
The story revolves around protagonist Sylvia, who is mentored by Solomon, and both are a part of The Order who are to protect the Incanceri Stones from evil doers. However, as expected they are tricked and an attack takes place in which an intruder makes off with the stone. Cue the adventure starts and you will soon learn exactly who is responsible. Not to mention the use of runes when the need for combat arises. Yes, we have combat. But its really quite simple to pick up, as you have to select the correct run on your rune shield to successfully attack your opponent. Nothing to hard and it is very easy to win a battle without making a mistake.
Grim Legends 3 felt like it flew by a lot quicker than other games I have played from Artifex, but I don't mind too much, as they have included an extension to the story with a new chapter that unlocks once you complete the story once.
As with all games from them, Grim Legends 3 is no different in that there is another easy list of achievements/trophies available to you. Nothing out of the normal, as there is story progression, items to collect and solving puzzles in a set time or without making mistakes.
Verdict
As per the norm, Artifex Mundi deliver another quality title through the ID Xbox program, and it does seem like one day all their Steam releases will make their way to console platforms. I will not be complaining about this, as I thoroughly enjoy my time with the games, as there's nothing about them that can be considered hard, unless you're looking for that last item in a hidden object game. Always a pleasure to play, and reliably good. The developer has found their niche in the gaming industry and will always dominate it. Just short of a few puzzles this time around.
Overall Score 8/10
Developer: Artifex Mundi
Publisher: Artifex Mundi
Release Date: 11th May 2018
Price: £11.99
File Size: 1.79GB
Xbox One copy provided for review purpose.
Available on Steam, Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and almost every gaming platform.