| |
| グリムグリモア Gurimu Gurimoa | |
| Developer(s) | Vanillaware Nippon Ichi Software |
| Publisher(s) | JP Nippon Ichi Software NA NIS America PAL KOEI |
| Designer(s) | Vanillaware |
| Platform | PlayStation 2 |
| Genre | Real-time strategy |
| Release Date | JP April 12, 2007 NA June 26, 2007 PAL |
| Ratings | CERO: A ESRB: E |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
GrimGrimoire is a real-time strategy video game for the PlayStation 2, co-developed by Vanillaware and Nippon Ichi, published by Nippon Ichi in North America and Japan, and Koei in PAL territories.
Gameplay[]
Features[]
Lillet appears onscreen as a cursor, used to guide troops around the field. Units known as familiars are created by placing summoning circles called runes on the map. Mana can be spent to upgrade Runes each fight. New runes and familiars are learned as Lillet collects and studies grimoires. Resource gatherers take the form of elves and other small creatures who harvest mana from crystals. Unexplored areas of the tower are shrouded in a fog of war, and there are a number of different ways to select individual or multiple units. The game consists of a story mode and a series of bonus maps that are unlocked upon completing the story mode for the first time.
The game's plot is presented through cutscenes with large, animated character portraits. While Lillet is the main character, only the familiars are under the player's direct control.
Magic System[]
There are four different magic schools with a rock-paper-scissors arrangement of strengths and weaknesses among the schools.
Glamour: Summons fae-type creatures such as elves, fairies, and unicorns. Glamour is strong against Necromancy and weak against Alchemy.
Necromancy: Summons undead units, which are Astral and cannot be affected by most physical attacks. However, they are weak against magic. Necromancy is strong against Sorcery and weak versus Glamour.
Sorcery: These units are demonic in nature and have high hit points. Sorcery is strong against Alchemy and weak to Necromancy.
Alchemy: Alchemy units tend to be specialized and have fierce ranged attacks. They are strong against Glamour and weak to Sorcery.
Story[]
Lillet Blan is a young magician admitted to a prestigious magic school, the Tower of Silver Star. Though she attends normal classes for the first four days and meets the various professors and students, on the fifth day Lillet awakens to learn that everyone in the tower is dead. Before she is killed as well, she is suddenly propelled back in time to her first night at school. Lillet then proceeds to relive the five days before the tragedy over and over again, retaining the knowledge of magic she learns in those five days and desperately trying to solve the mystery to prevent the same events (or worse) from taking place on the fifth day. Over the course of the plot, Lillet discovers dark secrets about her classmates, teachers, and even the academy itself, all of which will lead her to the truth.
Characters[]
Students
- Lillet Blan (Lillet Blaw in Japan) Voiced by Ookubo Aiko (JP), Wendee Lee (U.S.)
The main character. Lillet was invited to the Silver Star tower, and for the first four days met the people around her and made friends with Margarita. She came from a poor family and wishes to become a great sorceress in order to provide for her younger brothers. Lillet is very studious, quickly mastering more powerful runes during the course of the game's events. She is named after Lillet Blanc, a brand of French Aperitif Wine [1].
- Margarita Surprise (Margarita Frozen in Japan)
A girl who quickly befriended Lillet when she arrived, Margarita has been at the academy for six months. She carries her talking frog familiar Surely on her head. It was Gammel Dore who brought her to the academy, rescuing her from a town that persecuted magicians. Despite appearing very carefree, she is actually a servant of Calvaros. She was sent to the Silver Star Tower to retrieve Calvaros' soul. If she refused, she would have been burned at the stake. Margarita is named for margarita, a type of cocktail.
- Bartido Ballentyne (Batido Ballantine in Japan) Voiced by Yamauchi Yuuya (JP), Michael Soirch (U.S.)
A senior that majors in Alchemy. He possesses a very rustic, blunt personality, but is incredibly observant of the events around him and detects that Lillet is keeping a secret when she uses incredibly powerful sorcery she acquired during one of the time loops. During the first time loop, Bartido awakens Lillet in order for her to escape, though she learns that he died after leaving her. During the third time loop, it is learned that he is an enemy spy from another nation. He soon gives his soul to Advocat to save Lillet, however when times go backwards, the contract does not go with it and he lives. He is named for Ballantine's whisky.
- Hiram Menthe (Hiram Green in Japan)
A senior at the Magic Academy who studies Necromancy under Opalneria and maintains a close relationship with her. He is an honor student with a kind personality, and is close friends with Bartido. He reveals later into the game he is of royalty. Hiram's name is a portmanteau of crème de menthe, a type of French liqueur, and Hiram Walker, a brand of the same type.
- Amoretta Virgine (Amaretto Vergine in Japan)
An ephemeral student at the academy who possesses a Grimalkin familiar. She has trouble dealing with Advocat and Lillet rescued her from him on their first meeting. Her body is a homunculus created by Chartreuse. Her cat soon destroys her flask to sacrifice her, to save Lillet from Grimlet twice (the third and fourth loop), however Lillet destroys Calvaros and Grimlet on the final loop, keeping Amoretta alive. Named after Amaretto, an almond flavored liqueur.
Professors
- Gammel Dore (Gammel Drask in Japan)
A legendary magician and the headmaster of the Magic Academy. In the past, he defeated the wicked Archmage Calvaros and sealed the devil that had made a pact with him. He founded the Magic Academy on the Silver Star Tower which was once the Archmage's castle and sends invitations to promising youths in order to better educate the next generation of magicians. His full Japanese name, Gammel Drask, is a reference to Gammel Dansk, a Danish brand of alcohol. His American name, Gammel Dore, is a reference to Dumbledore from British author J. K. Rowling's "Harry Potter" series.
- Opalneria Rain (Opalnera Rain in Japan)
A teacher of Necromancy and Lujei's apprentice. Though she appears cold-hearted, she in fact possesses a passionate attitude and unrequited feelings for Chartreuse. She is named for Opal Nera, a brand of black sambuca.
- Advocat (Advocaat in Japan)
A devil that teaches Sorcery and the uncle of Amoretta. Though he usually acts like a gentleman, his nature as a devil occasionally shines through. His real name is Mephistopheles. His purpose at the academy is a mystery, and he will not reveal if he has a contract with Gammel Dore. He does not actively collect souls while on the campus, but Lillet distrusts him. Advocat clearly knows more about the events in the Silver Star Tower than he cares to reveal. Named for Advocaat, a Dutch liquor.
- Chartreuse Grande
A professor of Alchemy cursed with the head and other features of a lion, though Opalneria laments that he was once a handsome young man. He remains unconcerned about the curse and rejects attempts to undo it despite being told that the power of love would restore his original body. He wishes only to continue his search for the truth. He gets his name from Chartreuse, a French brand of liqueur.
Others
- Lujei Piche
A vengeful ghost that haunts the Silver Star Tower. One of the three great magicians who created the legendary Philosopher's Stone, Lujei was betrayed and assassinated by her lover and student under orders from the kingdom. Upon her death, she became a wandering ghost and now carries a staff with the skull of her former lover who she later killed. Gaff says her ghost is good for keeping naughty children in bed. Lujei also appears in Soul Nomad & the World Eaters, another Nippon Ichi title.
- Calvaros (Calbados in Japan)
The former Archmage. With the help of Lujei and Gammel Dore, he created the Philosopher's Stone at the request of the kingdom, but later made a contract with an ancient devil in order to use the Stone's power for himself. Though he was killed by Lujei and Gammel, he is still sealed within the tower and plots to restore himself to life. At the end of the fifth day, he is about to kill Lillet before she is sent back in time. His soul is soon eaten by Grimlet. His name comes from an apple brandy made in Calvados.
- Grimlet (Gimlet in Japan)
The devil that Calvaros made his contract with. He seeks to gain a host so he can conquer the world. Currently sealed within Gammel Dore's brooch, he breaks free and controls Gammel's body. He is destroyed by Amoretta twice, but on the final night of which the game's second-to-final stage takes place, Lillet tricks Grimlet into breaking a contract with her, which banishes him back to hell for 1000 years. His name in the Japanese version is a reference to the alcoholic drink with the same name.
- Gaff
An elf who accompanies Lillet in the beginning of the game.
Reception[]
GrimGrimoire was well received by the gaming press, currently receiving an average ratio of 78% at GameRankings and 79/100 on Metacritic. GameSpot gave it an 8.4, praising it for its storyline, characters, and aesthetics. IGN, which also ranked it an 8.4, lauded the cut scenes, battle system, and 2D gameplay. RPGamer, which gave the game a score of 3.5/5, also praised the game's interface and its voice acting.
Several critics including GameSpot and RPGamer criticized the small soundtrack and the lack of map variety due to all of the game's battles taking place on one map. 1up, which gave it a C+, criticized the game for being "too watered-down" compared to the layers of complexity found in other titles from Nippon Ichi Software America. On X-Play, it was given 4/5 stars. They also joked about its similarities to Harry Potter.
External Links[]
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| Nippon Ichi Software games | ||
|---|---|---|
1994-1999 |
Pieces - Jigsaw World - The Oni Taiji: Mezase! Nidaime Momotarō - Hanafuda Graffiti: Koikoi Monogatari - Jigsaw Island: Japan Graffiti - Sōryu: Logical Mahjong - Angel Blade: Neo Tokyo Guardians - Doki Doki Shutter Chance: Koi no Puzzle o Kumitatete - SatelliTV - Cooking Fighter Hao - Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure - Logic Mahjong Sōryu - Little Princess: Marl Ōkoku no Ningyō Hime 2 | |
2000-2005 |
Tenshi no Present: Marl Ōkoku Monogatari - Marl de Jigsaw - La Pucelle: Tactics - Jigsaw Madness - Disgaea: Hour of Darkness - Meth Ethereal: Seirei no Sumu Shima - Marl Jong!! - Phantom Brave - Mugen Keitai Disgaea - Hayarigami: Keishichō Kaii Jiken File - Marl Ōkoku no Ningyō Hime i - Makai Kingdom: Chronicles of the Sacred Tome - Eien no Aseria: The Spirit of Eternity Sword - Hayarigami Revenge: Keishichō Kaii Jiken File - Tristia of the Deep-Blue Sea - Rasetsu Alternative - Hayarigami Portable: Keishichō Kaii Jiken File | |
2006-2011 |
Duologue - Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories - Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness - Little Princess i - Soul Nomad & the World Eaters - Neosphere of the Deep-Blue Sky - Amagōshi no Yakata - GrimGrimoire - Hayarigami Mobile: Keishichō Kaii Jiken File - Dragoneer's Aria - Hayarigami 2: Keishichō Kaii Jiken File - Kuon no Kizuna Mobile - Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice - Tori no Hoshi: Aerial Planet - Naraku no Shiro: Ichiyanagi Nagomu, Nidome no Junan - Jigsaw World: Daigekitō! Jig-Battle Heroes - Disgaea DS - Makai Gakuen Disgaea - Dragonvein - Infinite Loop: Kojjō ga Miseta Yume - Hayarigami 2 Portable: Keishichō Kaii Jiken File - Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure (DS) - Prinny: Can I Really Be the Hero? - The Conveni DS: Otona no Keiei Ryoku Training - Phantom Brave: We Meet Again - Musō Tōrō - Disgaea 2: Dark Hero Days - Let's Full Power Hitchhike!!!!!!!!! - Deep Diver - Missing Parts Mobile: Naranai Orugōru - A Witch's Tale - Hayarigami DS: Toshi Densetsu Kaii Jiken - Maruhan Pachinko & Pachi-Slot Hisshō Guide Kanshū: The Pachinko Hall - Hayarigami 2 DS: Toshi Densetsu Kaii Jiken - Hayarigami 3: Keishichō Kaii Jiken File - Amagōshi no Yakata Portable: Ichiyanagi Nagomu, Saisho no Junan - Trinity Universe - Antiphona no Seikahime: Tenshi no Score Op.A - Disgaea Infinite - La Pucelle Ragnarok - Naraku no Shiro Portable: Ichiyanagi Nagomu, Nidome no Junan - Last Rebellion - Cladun: This is an RPG - Kōri no Haka: Ichiyanagi Nagomu, Sandome no Junan - Z.H.P. Unlosing Ranger VS Darkdeath Evilman - Prinny 2: Dawn of Operation Panties, Dood! - Uta no Prince-sama - Second Novel: Kanojo no Natsu, Jūgo-bun no Kioku - Gendai Ibun Hayarigami: Dai Rei-wa - Gendai Ibun Hayarigami: Dai Ichi-wa - Gendai Ibun Hayarigami: Dai Ni-wa - Blue Roses: Yōsei to Aoi Hitomi no Senshitachi - Gendai Ibun Hayarigami: Dai Saishū Banashi - Phantom Brave: The Hermuda Triangle - Criminal Girls - Uta no Prince-sama: Amazing Aria - Uta no Prince-sama: Sweet Serenade - Disgaea 4: A Promise Unforgotten - Cladun X2 - Disgaea: Netherworld Unbound - Bikkuriman Kanjuku Haoh: Sanmi Dōran Sensōki - Uta no Prince-sama Repeat - Makai Kingdom Portable - Uta no Prince-sama Music - Disgaea 3: Absence of Detention | |
2012-2017 |
Web Phantom Brave - Legasista - Uta no Prince-sama Debut - Special Report Division - Disgaea Makai Collection - Missing Parts: The Tantei Stories Complete - The Guided Fate Paradox - Uta no Prince-sama All Star - Disgaea D2: A Brighter Darkness - Disgaea Legion Battle - Z/X Zillions of Enemy X: Zekkai no Crusade - The Witch and the Hundred Knight - Uta no Prince-sama Music 2 - Battle Princess of Arcadias - Kamigami no Asobi: Ludere deorum - Criminal Girls: Invite Only - Disgaea 4: A Promise Revisited - If You Thought It Was Harem Paradise, It Was Yandere Hell - Hotaru no Nikki: The Firefly Diary - Shin Hayarigami - The Awakened Fate Ultimatum - Great Edo Blacksmith - Criminal Girls: Busse - Fuuraiki 3 - Uta no Prince-sama All Star After Secret - Disgaea 5: Alliance of Vengeance - The Witch and the Hundred Knight Revival Edition - Yomawari: Night Alone - Criminal Girls 2 - Hero Must Die - Disgaea PC - Kamigami no Asobi InFinite - A Rose in the Twilight - Hotaru no Nikki: The Firefly Diary (Steam) - Cladun Returns: This is Sengoku! Labyrinth of Refrain: Coven of Dusk - Shin Hayarigami 2 - Phantom Brave PC - The Longest Five Minutes - Yomawari: Night Alone - Penny-Punching Princess - Criminal Girls: Invite Only (Steam) - Disgaea 2 PC - The Witch and the Hundred Knight 2 - Disgaea 2 PC - Disgaea 5 Complete - A Rose in the Twilight (Steam) - Exile Election - Cladun Returns: This is Sengoku! - Hakoniwa Company Works - Yomawari: Midnight Shadows - Iwaihime: Matsuri | |
2018-2023 |
Labyrinth of Refrain: Coven of Dusk (PS4/Switch/Steam) - Yomawari: Midnight Shadows (Steam) - The Longest Five Minutes (Steam) - Makai Wars (Mobile) - The Princess Guide - The 25th Ward: The Silver Case - Penny-Punching Princess - Logic Mahjong Souryu: Yonin Uchi / Sannin Uchi - The Liar Princess and the Blind Prince - Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana - Closed Nightmare - Disgaea 1 Complete - Labyrinth of Refrain: Coven of Dusk (Steam) - Disgaea 5 Complete - Yomawari: The Long Night Collection - Lapis x Labyrinth - Destiny Connect - Murderer Detective: Jack the Ripper - Void Terrarium - Bokuhime Project - Poison Control - Yoru, Tomosu - Mad Rat Dead - Labyrinth of Galleria: Coven of Dusk - Disgaea 6: Defiance of Destiny - Process of Elimination - The Cruel King and the Great Hero - Shin Hayarigami 3 - Asatsugutori - Monster Menu: The Scavenger's Cookbook - Yomawari: Lost in the Dark - Void Terrarium 2 - Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless | |